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JANDS Vista Software
“The Jands Vista’s unique visual interface provides volunteers with speed and simplicity while offering professional programmers the powerful control they desire."Fred Mikeska, Vice President of U.S. Sales and Marketing, A.C. Lighting Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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AVOLITES Titan PC Suite
Avolites offers the Titan PC Suite product for its Microsoft Windows-based software-only control option. They sell the Titan One USB-to-DMX adapter for connecting to a lighting system.
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CHAUVET ShowXpress
ShowXpress runs on Windows or Mac OS X, and is Chauvet's answer to software-based lighting control.
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ETCnomad
ETC provides a software version of its EOS and Cobalt console lines through the ETCnomad product.
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ELATION Emulation Lighting Software
“The Emulation Lighting software paired with an Elation MidiCon II provides the perfect control solution for smaller churches."Ray Villasenor, product manager for Elation
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MARTIN PROFESSIONAL M-PC
M-PC is Martin Professional’s online and offline editing tool offering. “M-PC gives the user the same power and functionality as the software running on all the M-Series consoles.” Chris Pyron, business development manager—house of worship for Harman Professional
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PATHWAY CONNECTIVITY Cognito PC
Pathway Connectivity offers the PC version of its Cognito console. “The software cost is free and will output one universe of DMX512 when connected to a Pathport gateway.” Van Rommel, director of business development for Pathway Connectivity
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STRAND Neo PC
Neo PC from Strand (a Philips brand) is their software solution which runs on Windows. “The Neo PC has an easy to use graphical user interface."Bobby Harrell, product specialist for Philips Entertainment Lighting
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MA LIGHTING
MA Lighting (distributed in the U.S. by A.C.T Lighting) also has a software version of their grandMA console, that requires at least an MA 2Port node to provide DMX output and a license for running the software.
Controlling a lighting rig was once the sole purview of physical lighting consoles. While there’s been a few software-only lighting control solutions for quite a while, it was unusual to encounter installations that used them.
Since the introduction of the Jands Vista software controller in 2005, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the adoption of software-only lighting control systems in houses of worship that require, at most, a DMX output adapter. And with this rate of adoption has come increased options and competition in the software lighting controller market.
“Software-only systems can provide high-level control options at an entry-level price,” states Bryan Palmer, architectural market manager for Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC). “For smaller rigs that do not require intensive, hands-on live programming, software-based solutions can provide users access to a full set of features—cueing, presets, effects, advanced color control, configurable graphic user interfaces, and digital remote-control—without being tied to expensive or space-consuming hardware.”
“For smaller rigs that do not require intensive, hands-on live programming, software-based solutions can provide users access to a full set of features—cueing, presets, effects, advanced color control, configurable graphic user interfaces, and digital remote-control—without being tied to expensive or space-consuming hardware.”
Fred Mikeska, vice president of U.S. sales and marketing for A.C. Lighting Inc., adds, “Software-based control systems that run on today’s affordable laptops and tablets require only a small foot-print in the control booth. As touchscreens become more and more accurate and more tablets, such as the Microsoft Surface, combine precise pen and touch control, churches now have affordable access to a level of control that previously was only available via high-priced consoles. When coupled with an external touch screen, software based control systems provide instant access to color palates, gobo, position, and beam presets and a host of powerful effects.”
Portable churches also can find great benefit in using software-based control systems for their lighting. “Portable, mobile churches that have to load-in and set up in a rented space each week are always looking for ways to maximize efficiency and cut down on ‘bulk,’” comments Chris Pyron, business development manager—house of worship for Harman Professional. “A software based controller, comprised of a lightweight laptop or tablet PC and a USB interface, is much easier to transport and set up than a full sized console in a road case.”
In addition to these important characteristics, it’s also far easier and cheaper to upgrade the computer you’re using when you need more horsepower as your rig grows, and a software-based system (or a console that has a software-based compatible sibling) gives you the opportunity to work on your lighting show at home without needing to have access to the console.Here, CPM takes a look at some of the software lighting control offerings from the control manufacturers that responded to our request for information.
Jands, distributed in North America by AC Lighting, has its Vista software available for both PC and Mac. “The Jands Vista’s unique visual interface provides volunteers with speed and simplicity while offering professional programmers the powerful control they desire,” describes Mikeska. The available DMX address count is dictated by a purchased USB dongle (a USB device that contains licensing information), and a trade-in program is offered that enables a church to grow their DMX address count as their needs grow. “The Jands Vista provides built-in pixel matrix control for LED tape and LED fixtures, along with graphical media server control,” Mikeska continues. “A powerful built-in effects engine is included with synced intensity, color, position, beam, and gobo effects.”
Jands offers free online tutorials, a well-trained, dedicated dealer network and strong factory support. Jands offers a USB-to-DMX adapter to enable the host computer to talk directly to a lighting system, or can output several Ethernet-based lighting protocols such as ArtNet. Hardware wings are also available to provide physical controls for playback and programming.
Avolites offers the Titan PC Suite product for its Microsoft Windows-based software-only control option. They sell the Titan One USB-to-DMX adapter for connecting to a lighting system. “It is the exact same software as the rest of the console lines,” states Brad White, national sales director for Avolites. “The Titan platform has no limitations (short of the titan one with one DMX output). You get the exact same feature set as the flagship Sapphire Touch product. Saved show files will load on any platform. Additionally, 3D visualization is available in every console including the offline editor Titan PC Suite, and you only need to learn one platform for the entire Avolites Titan line. There are three effects engines, key-framed shapes, a pixel mapper and shape generator.” Also available is the Titan Mobile playback and programming wing with four DMX outputs.
ShowXpress, running on Windows or Mac OS X, is Chauvet’s answer to the software-based controller market. Allan Reiss, senior product manager for Chauvet DJ describes, “ShowXpress’s ‘sequential list’ is the most important feature [also known as a cue stack] which is a list of cues that are played back in the same order by pressing a single ‘go’ button. This is common in theatrical environments because a single operator can effortlessly trigger the correct scenes in order without the chance of a mistake.” In addition to the sequential list, ShowXpress also has a free Live_Mobile app to trigger all scenes from a wireless Apple or Android device; can import and export light shows for use on additional computers; accepts MIDI commands so light shows can be triggered by a band or music keyboard; plays back most file types and can be used as a media server for music and/or videos; and while any show is being played back, the operator can take any moving light and use it as a followspot.
ETC provides a software version of its EOS and Cobalt console lines through the ETCnomad product. “ETCnomad allows users access to the full complement of professional-level Eos and Cobalt family features (customizable graphic user interfaces, playbacks, advanced color control and effects, support for a variety of programming styles) on their own computers—with a range of channel output counts and without any compromises,” states Palmer. “There is even support for the use of USB-connected fader and control wings, making the system even simpler to use than a computer-only interface. The software has the full feature set of the flagship Eos and Cobalt systems in one device—users can choose the software that works best for their application. ETCnomad’s DMX outputs are scalable from 1 to 12 universes so the system grows with you—you distribute data via Ethernet or the Gadget USB>DMX converter.” It’s extremely portable, and ETC provides comprehensive training materials available online or in live training courses around the country. And if a dedicated computer is desired, ETCnomad Puck secure mini-computer also available.
For Elation, Product Manager Ray Villasenor says “The Emulation Lighting software paired with an Elation MidiCon II provides the perfect control solution for smaller churches. It is extremely easy to use, easy to learn, and makes for a fun solution for smaller churches running less than 512 DMX channels. Most people can be up and running in just a few minutes. It runs on both Mac and PC, implements the industry standard cuelist system, is touch screen compatible, has an iOS remote app available, and is a multi-language platform.”
M-PC is Martin Professional’s online and offline editing tool offering. “M-PC gives the user the same power and functionality as the software running on all the M-Series consoles,” Pyron describes. “This means that M-PC can grow as the church’s needs grow. In the beginning, the church can purchase the M-DMX USB interface, download M-PC for free, and have a great control system. As their needs change, they may decide more outputs are needed, or the desire to have a physical control surface arises. This is as simple as adding on additional USB devices (M-DMX, M2PC, or M-Touch) to achieve the desired control. At some point, the church may decide to grow into a physical console, like the Martin M2GO or M1. All the software is the same on all M-Series consoles, so the time spent learning M-PC has equipped the lighting team to easily make that step up into the console. It has an intuitive interface that is easy for volunteers and operators to navigate; a completely user customizable GUI; it’s affordable and scalable; is a light weight/portable control solution comprised of a tablet/laptop and a USB interface; and offline editing/programming that can be done anywhere, free from having to be in front of a console.”
Pathway Connectivity offers the PC version of its Cognito console. “The software cost is free and will output one universe of DMX512 when connected to a Pathport gateway,” states Van Rommel, director of business development for Pathway Connectivity. “Our controllers do not require a user to learn and master a complicated command line syntax. Rather, the user communicates with the lights through a graphic user interface presented as a sequence of SELECT|CONTROL|RECORD|PLAY steps that guide the user through the process.” Users record looks as memories or cues, and can play them back with virtual faders, buttons, show control triggers or as time clock actions.
Neo PC from Strand (a Philips brand) is their software solution which runs on Windows. “The Neo PC has an easy to use graphical user interface,” states Bobby Harrell, product specialist for Philips Entertainment Lighting. “It provides flexibility with virtual submasters; a simple-to-use effects library; and touch screen connectivity.” Additionally, just like the console, it can control Phillips’ brand fixtures without it counting against the DMX channel count. Both playback wings and submaster wings are available to provide some physical controls for the software.
While they did not respond to our request for information, MA Lighting (distributed in the U.S. by A.C.T Lighting) also has a software version of their grandMA console, that requires at least an MA 2Port node to provide DMX output and a license for running the software.These are just a sampling of the software control options that are available for houses of worship. Most range from free to inexpensive, but have significant power and expandability options.
