Karaoke Forums

software question:

I'd like to use software to run a handful of DMX LED par cans in sync with the songs, basically automating them by building a bunch of scenes to play in sync with each song so I could just plug everything in and run lights with the songs with one application, the same way every time, no messing with a DMX controller or light switch panel.

I know Enttec's DMXIS can be used as a VST plugin for audio recording software like Cubase or Sonar, queuing off of a MIDI track, but is there any karaoke software that can be used in this manner?

While Googling all the karaoke apps available, I saw one that had a screen shot of something that looked like a DMX controller built into the interface... I don't know if it was really cool karaoke software, or multimedia software that had karaoke capability. And I don't recall seeing anything on the web site that explicitly stated it could be used as such.

Does anyone know of this particular app, or some karaoke/dj/multimedia software that could do this?

Thanks!

You might be overthinking karaoke lighting. You can buy plenty of lighting that cycles along with the bass lines of the music, then chain them in a master/slave relationship to have all of them move/cycle/blink in sync.

This will be much much cheaper than the DMX route and will probably be just as well received by your patrons.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Oh I know I'm overthinking it

I was just hit by the wow-factor when I saw a DMXIS demo and was hoping that there was an easy way to run the app or plugin with attainable karaoke software...

I've been using my par cans in sound-activated mode and it just fails to impress me, and even bothers me when the sensitivity isn't set just right to the volume level and the lights are either in constant freak-out mode, or hardly change at all. I want to be able to do fades, wash the "stage" in different colors, and have chase patterns and such.

My karaoke system is very humble, for small house parties and such, so I was (am) hoping that I could do something like this with the light hardware I already have and make it a more impressive show without making it overly complicated.

Be nice to Exweed.
He could make it happen.

you might be able to use something like ShowMagic software by utilising a MIDI trigger to start a sequence. But do you realize just how much time you'd need to set up sequences for each individual song that you'd have in your catalogue? You're probably better off sticking to the sound-active sequences.

You have a very good point... I've been thinking about this concept with only about ten CDs in my catalog so far. As I expand out to hundreds of songs or more, this could get out of control

I guess I could just go with a regular rack-mount DMX controller and do a little manual operation of the lights to get some of the effects I want.

Thanks!

Actually, I think ShowMagic maybe can trigger scenes and/or sequences with it's own sound activation (if I recall correctly, you can choose one of four frequency bands as a trigger). It may be possible to have a sequence set up which will trigger a new scene each time a frequency band (Low, Mid-low, Mid-high or High) crosses a chosen threshold level. I don't know if it is possible, but maybe you could have just one sound-active sequence running in a loop with each step in the sequence selecting a new scene or sequence of scenes, which would mean you wouldn't have to have a sequence programmed for each track. Each new scene/sequence would be triggered depending on when each track crossed a frequency's threshold level.

I have not read much in regards to this in the ShowMagic user manual, but if you wanted to investigate it further, you can download a fully-functional version and the manuals at www.showmagic.com

What lightng do you have? Keep it simple, you'll be much happier in the end.

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Ralph In Chicago

I use a scene setter.
Only 24 channels.
If I need more I have Freestyler.

So I ended up getting a Chauvet Obey 10 to rack up in my box. This seemed like the easiest, least expensive option to satisfy my needs. I can do washes, chases, sound-activated, and it's just enough to control most of the lights I have.

I have 2 generic Guitar Center LED par 38s that I use as side washes:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Venue-LED38 ... 1446819.gc
Until now, I've used them only as white washes, but now I can do color washes and include them in the chases of all the lights.

I also have a 4-pack of these little 86 LED par 38s that I put along the truss as effect lights (these are the ones I used to just run in stand-alone sound-activated mode and they were too spastic):
http://www.cheaplights.com/cart/page15.html

Lastly, I have a small disco ball and 2 pinspots, but I can't control those from the DMX controller... unfortunately the Obey literature says not to connect a dimmer pack to it, so I don't think I can control the pinspots except with a separate on/off panel switch. I'd like to get 2 small DMX controllable LED pinspots, but there isn't anything I've found that is reasonably priced...

You can use it off a dimmer pack but you would need to treat it like a switch pack.
Either full on or full off.

I hear swift elite 4 has DMX controls built-in. Can anyone confirm?

Swift Elite has MIDI controller support, so it could theoretically do DMX... I'm not an expert on that so I'm not quite sure how.

BTW, I got the Obey 10 set up with my lights, programmed in a few generic chase scenes to run with the music. I also got 2 Chauvet LED Trispot pinspots to use on the mirror ball, so I can control those from the Obey. It's a good starter setup, but not a ton of capability. I have to manually program in any chases.