DiyLightAnimation

Fun => The Porch => Topic started by: richardb on January 03, 2010,

Title: Recommendation for software to us as first timer
Post by: richardb on January 03, 2010,

Based on the members accured thousands of years of experience,
which application is recommended to start learning on making sequences?
Which has the best feature set?
Etc...
Tell me you thoughts.  

Title: Re: Recommendation for software to us as first timer
Post by: WWNF911 on January 03, 2010,

To "get started" you might want to use Vixen. It is free. Go to vixenlights.com for download.

Most here use Vixen. Some use Lightshow Pro.

Leon

Title: Re: Recommendation for software to us as first timer
Post by: rrowan on January 03, 2010,

Hi Richard

Of course the wiki has all of the software links.

Vixen is free to use and LSP has a trial period.

Make sure you have microsoft .net loaded also.

http://diylightanimation.com/wiki/index.php?title=Software

If you download Vixen I would suggest ver 2.1 since 2.5 is more buggy and might not be around. Also ver 2.1 there are sequences you can download and see how other do their show in the Vixen forum.

Cheers

Rick R.

Title: Re: Recommendation for software to us as first timer
Post by: richardb on January 04, 2010,

Sounds like everyone like vixen. I've pleated with it a bit and noticed a few problems. So I will re install and not upgrade.
If both verisions were free, would everyone still prefer vixen?

Title: Re: Recommendation for software to us as first timer
Post by: jnealand on January 04, 2010,

If you set up Vixen 2.1 let it upgrade to 2.1.14 which I believe is the latest.  It does have a fix for one annoying problem when you stop a play in the middle and it crashes.

Title: Re: Recommendation for software to us as first timer
Post by: joshuashu on January 04, 2010,

I guess it is all personal preference.  If i were you i would try both, i use LSP and really like it, has some features that vixen doesn't, but granted that's why it cost. Either way since you are just starting it will be a good experience.

Title: Re: Recommendation for software to us as first timer
Post by: deweycooter on January 04, 2010,

Aurora is another option in the mix.  Official support for DMX will be added this year, but several shows ran DMX (including Lynx Express boards) in 2009.

Title: Re: Recommendation for software to us as first timer
Post by: Trevor on January 04, 2010,

This is my first year of doing this as well. I have been using Vixen and found it very user friendly and love the options that I have with it. I would reccomend it to anyone!

Title: Re: Recommendation for software to us as first timer
Post by: rrowan on January 04, 2010,

Curious

The Aurora website only show support for LOR or D-Light controllers. http://aurorashow.com/features.asp

How did the Lynx hardware work? Did one of the other controllers convert the info over to DMX?

Thanks

Rick R.

Title: Re: Recommendation for software to us as first timer
Post by: RJ on January 04, 2010,

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Curious

The Aurora website only show support for LOR or D-Light controllers. http://aurorashow.com/features.asp

How did the Lynx hardware work? Did one of the other controllers convert the info over to DMX?

Thanks

Rick R.

Yes I am also interested in this as it is always good to have more software options for users.

RJ

Title: Re: Recommendation for software to us as first timer
Post by: deweycooter on January 04, 2010,

DMX support was only available in beta versions - the LEs worked like champs (http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=2364.0)!  DMX ran on a separate network, and the data coming out of the computer was DMX (no conversion downstream was necessary).  D-Light controllers ran on their own network and both networks were ran simultaneously. 

Title: Re: Recommendation for software to us as first timer
Post by: RJ on January 04, 2010,

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DMX support was only available in beta versions - the LEs worked like champs (http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=2364.0)!  DMX ran on a separate network, and the data coming out of the computer was DMX (no conversion downstream was necessary).  D-Light controllers ran on their own network and both networks were ran simultaneously. 

But what made the DMX since computer ports can not create DMX? Or did it work with the DMX Dongle? 

RJ

Title: Re: Recommendation for software to us as first timer
Post by: deweycooter on January 04, 2010,

It used a D-Light style adapter.  Just had to make a custom cable to match up with the LE pinout.