control lights with ableton

juliensourya · Post by **juliensourya** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:52 am

Hello,

I would like to control a few lights on stage using ableton.
I just want to match lights pattern to my electro pattern so taht lights could go on/off in rythm and look cool.
i'm looking for hardware to do that. An MIDI lights controllers.
Anyone has any idea ? I'm not rich so the cheapest the better ;o)

Cheers,
Julien

Dj-Grobe · Post by **Dj-Grobe** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:01 pm

I think you can do that using some software accpet midi and send dmx..... (just google for that)

If lights are dmx, you can make lights on with some notes etc etc

Best regards.

dbaudioware · Post by **dbaudioware** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:16 pm

Hi Julien,

Search this forum for "DMX", and you'll find lots of messages from a chap called "hambone". He's an expert in using MIDI-DMX interfaces to control lighting rigs from within Ableton - I'm sure he'll be more than happy to help you.

There are also a couple of upcoming DMX lighting solutions that use USB-DMX interfaces. I am working on a new product called DMXIS (www.dmxis.com). It's a VST/AU plugin and standalone lighting controller that runs in most audio hosts including Ableton (on PC or Mac). We're currently in final beta test stage.

Another ambitious PC lighting & video solution is under development by a chap called "ava". You'll find plenty of information about that one if you just search the forum for "DMX".

Dave
db audioware limited
www.db-audioware.com
www.dmxis.com

BongoBennie · Post by **BongoBennie** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:16 pm

Are you talking DMX straight from ableton?? I just purchased ableton for the first time and have been on this forum for 10 minutes. I do have a full size Grand MA on the desk to play with... I will be interested in adding light to my show, running GMA on a laptop, I am VERY interested in a USB to DMX device that will work with GMA software.

http://www.malighting.com/43.0.html?id=43&&L=0

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:24 pm

All of my lighting is straightforward MIDI CCs>DMX through a hardware converter. No other hardware, or software is required.

In a nutshell, any CC value/curve you create in Live will be doubled from 7-bit 0-127 CC data to 8-bit 0-255 DMX. Using Follow Actions, virtual MIDI buses, dummy clips, step sequencers, Live clips, etc makes it not only easily to synch your lighting tightly to your music, but also to video by using the same CC values and curves to control video effects and parameters. Use various MIDI effects and random Follow Actions to make lighting and video as random or controlled, automatic or manual as you want. I also use Live to control and sequence remote pan/tilt/zoom cameras.

Once you create a library of lighting clips, it's easy to use them as building blocks to create more complex sequences that can be 'played' live or automatically sequenced.

I'll get around to doing a tutorial one of these days...

Khazul · Post by **Khazul** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:48 pm

Suprised our resident spammer hasnt been in here yet

eisnein · Post by **eisnein** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:50 pm

its all about this guy-

http://www.instrumentpro.com/P-ELACP

you got 4 channels which correspond to 4 notes and velocity=brightness.

be forewarned- not sure if they changed it or not but when i got one the three prong power plug has a commercial sideways plug which you either need to hack off and put a new one on or make an adapter...

here is an exampley-

http://youtube.com/watch?v=HCfVSe234NY

BongoBennie · Post by **BongoBennie** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:47 am

I'm very excited about controlling lights via ableton, but I'm looking at lights like these

http://www.highend.com/pub/products/aut ... UN-FUN.asp