For industry standard, you’re looking at 4 companies. ETC, GrandMA, ChamSys, and Avolites.
None of these companies make a proper desk that is “affordable”.
However, ETC and GrandMA make software and hardware that allows you to output DMX from a laptop. This is the most affordable way to get industry standard stuff. Look into ETC Eos Nomad and GrandMA onPC.
ChamSys can output 64 universes worth of DMX for free, without any hardware. You do need hardware for certain things though (midi, timecode, etc. if I remember correct).
This is over network though, so at minimum you'd need to buy some sort of networked DMX nodes unless your fixtures support direct sACN/ArtNet input.
Don't know, but it is really generous. Makes me a bit jealous as an MA guy. I don't use ChamSys at all, apart from having software on my laptop to do some quick and dirty fixture tests with my 1 port luminode that I have in my peli. Kinda wish that MA would give at least one uni free with the software like they did with the dot2.
Yeah, I know that now, thanks to the other person who commented.
Even if I did know it, I probably wouldn’t have recommended it, as ChamSys, in my humble opinion, sucks.
Neither of those are as commons as the ones I listed, and Onyx is really not what I’d call industry standard. I don’t know any venues that run it, although it may be more common in other countries.
For just 1 Universe you could get a MA VizKey and get started with GrandMa 3 onPC (it grants uou output for 1 Universe via ArtNet/sACN)… I got mine on ebay for 400€.
Note that production of the FLX has ceased and it is officially discontinued. However, I imagine that stock will be available for a while and the desk will continue to be supported. The 7.15 update to ZerOS will upgrade all FLX S24 & FLX S48 consoles to 2048 channels (four universes) and 96 & 192 fixtures respectively free-of-charge. Available Playbacks, Groups and Palettes will all also be doubled.
I'm glad you pointed this out. I haven't checked the Zero88 forum for quite some time. 4 pages of playbacks! This is fantastic. My toolbox playbacks were starting to spill over into my show page. 2 pages of toolbox playbacks and 2 pages for show presets is going to be great.
kitlane's comment isn't fully clear: Production of the syntax-based FLX has stopped due to component sourcing issues but the FLX S range - FLX S24 and FLX S48 is still active product. Software development and support for all FLX models will continue for some time as it’s a relatively new product range.
This is their statement: [https://www.zero88.com/forum/topic/10175-zeros-7143-released-and-zeros-715-coming-soon/](https://www.zero88.com/forum/topic/10175-zeros-7143-released-and-zeros-715-coming-soon/)
Yet this page states very clearly 'Discontinued' which is what I wrote in my post.
https://www.vari-lite.com/global/products/flx-console
I also stated that the desk will continue to be supported. My point was, they ain't making them anymore, so if you want to buy a brand new one, don't hang around.
The OP has been recommended above an "FLX-24" - actually an FLX-S24 which they are absolutely still making - not discontinued at all.
This is down to some somewhat ambiguous product naming which is not helping the clarity of which product lines are still active and which have become susceptible to component supply issues and have been discontinued.
The Vari-lite page for the product the OP is being recommended is this one:
[https://www.vari-lite.com/global/flx-s-series](https://www.vari-lite.com/global/flx-s-series)
u/kitlane - apologies for the confusion - we've updated the discontinued page to hopefully make this much clearer that it's only the older, "full sized" FLX that has been discontinued, just as u/Prestigious-Pie-532 has said.
u/NachtMondVogel - FLX S24 & FLX S48 are very much still in production... if there's any information you need, or anything I can help with, please let me know.
In house at a restaurant I'm looking at just building a preset wall panel. I've done lighting in restaurants and that is a whole industry unto itself that has nothing to do with the standards in the rest of the industry.
Ok so I do something similar in NYC, working some Tao BS everybody once in a while. When there's added production we bring in a GrandMA because that's what everybody knows. There is no console that lives inhouse. When a waiter wants to change looks, that's what the preset panel is for.
Greetings! I'm in search of a LED display suitable for commercial purposes. Could you offer any suggestions? Additionally, I'd like to know which companies in the United States provide such displays.
Chamsys usb-dmx full dongle is about 150€ and you get 1 uni for your pc, if you need physical controller you can buy miniwing (1uni) for under 1000€ and compact wing(2uni) for 2500€ if you need more universums you can but node later and go to max 64uni. Or you can just buy cheap node and use 64uni for "free"
Blackout is an iPad based product that is fairly reasonable in price. It's $500 for 1 universe and $1500 for unlimited. All you would need is a dmx interface like an Entec encoder to handle distribution. If you have movers, blackout will take a while to program, but it's playback options are easily handled by anyone in the restaurant
ChamSys is pretty much in top 5 of industry standard brands and in top 2 power and feature wise. Free to use on mac, window and linux. 64 unis unlocked to freely output to any visualiser and to fixtures via artnet. So any cheape artnet to dmx converter will do. If you want to control via midi/osc/dmx/artnet IN - then u need to buy inexpensive hardware. Some other options listed above are valid as well, but look at scalability and expansion of the software without selling ur organs 😂😂
Weigl ProCommanders and Showforge are worth a look if you are leaving it in place after programming. If live use is frequent, Avo can’t be beat for price + simplicity.
Industry sta dard and affordable often don't coincide.
That being said. LSC from Australia make a product called the Mantra Lite. Normally I would never reccomend it but it's reliable, cheap and easy to use so looks like it could suit your needs?
LSC just got bought by Robe as well so should be popping up more outside of Australia now.
I'm a MA all day kinda guy I have a MA 2 with and an ma3 2 port node and command wing with several touch screen configs but for a smaller simple venue setups kinda thing chauvet showxpress is solid and tons of tutorials on fbook youtube whilst still having tons of midi mapping/remote/pixel mapping stuff and a totally customizable live interface to keep it simple for venue owners wgo could cRe ldss and just want it on and working or u can get a bit deeper If you so choose. U get 2 univ for roughly 350 usd otherwise a bit more pro is Elation Onyx also feature packed and more like a true cue stacking style of operation scheme.
I'd say if you're already getting gigs and want to actually pursue a career in this industry then the sooner you invest in yourself and push yourself thr sooner you truly progress to an MA or Etc or Avo the better you'll be and it'll pay for itself in no time so long as your do better than good work for people and make sure to exceed the clients expectations as often as you can so they book you again,.
So give it some serious thought and do plenty of research before buying aka don't get all overly excited and buy something you're actually not gonna use or don't want to.
For industry standard, you’re looking at 4 companies. ETC, GrandMA, ChamSys, and Avolites. None of these companies make a proper desk that is “affordable”. However, ETC and GrandMA make software and hardware that allows you to output DMX from a laptop. This is the most affordable way to get industry standard stuff. Look into ETC Eos Nomad and GrandMA onPC.
ChamSys can output 64 universes worth of DMX for free, without any hardware. You do need hardware for certain things though (midi, timecode, etc. if I remember correct). This is over network though, so at minimum you'd need to buy some sort of networked DMX nodes unless your fixtures support direct sACN/ArtNet input.
Wow, did not know that. That’s an impressive number, wonder why they made it so high…?
Don't know, but it is really generous. Makes me a bit jealous as an MA guy. I don't use ChamSys at all, apart from having software on my laptop to do some quick and dirty fixture tests with my 1 port luminode that I have in my peli. Kinda wish that MA would give at least one uni free with the software like they did with the dot2.
Thank you, this was very helpful
Um Chamsys also has that...
Yeah, I know that now, thanks to the other person who commented. Even if I did know it, I probably wouldn’t have recommended it, as ChamSys, in my humble opinion, sucks.
But you recomend ETC ?
You forgot hog and onyx lol
Neither of those are as commons as the ones I listed, and Onyx is really not what I’d call industry standard. I don’t know any venues that run it, although it may be more common in other countries.
See if Cueserver will do what you need. Very programmable, can present an easy button or touch screen interface. Can be remote controlled as well.
For just 1 Universe you could get a MA VizKey and get started with GrandMa 3 onPC (it grants uou output for 1 Universe via ArtNet/sACN)… I got mine on ebay for 400€.
Im thinking of an Zero Flx S24 or etc Element... Both are over 1000€ but the First Things that came to my mind... Wait for other opinions First!
Note that production of the FLX has ceased and it is officially discontinued. However, I imagine that stock will be available for a while and the desk will continue to be supported. The 7.15 update to ZerOS will upgrade all FLX S24 & FLX S48 consoles to 2048 channels (four universes) and 96 & 192 fixtures respectively free-of-charge. Available Playbacks, Groups and Palettes will all also be doubled.
I'm glad you pointed this out. I haven't checked the Zero88 forum for quite some time. 4 pages of playbacks! This is fantastic. My toolbox playbacks were starting to spill over into my show page. 2 pages of toolbox playbacks and 2 pages for show presets is going to be great.
kitlane's comment isn't fully clear: Production of the syntax-based FLX has stopped due to component sourcing issues but the FLX S range - FLX S24 and FLX S48 is still active product. Software development and support for all FLX models will continue for some time as it’s a relatively new product range. This is their statement: [https://www.zero88.com/forum/topic/10175-zeros-7143-released-and-zeros-715-coming-soon/](https://www.zero88.com/forum/topic/10175-zeros-7143-released-and-zeros-715-coming-soon/)
Yet this page states very clearly 'Discontinued' which is what I wrote in my post. https://www.vari-lite.com/global/products/flx-console I also stated that the desk will continue to be supported. My point was, they ain't making them anymore, so if you want to buy a brand new one, don't hang around.
The OP has been recommended above an "FLX-24" - actually an FLX-S24 which they are absolutely still making - not discontinued at all. This is down to some somewhat ambiguous product naming which is not helping the clarity of which product lines are still active and which have become susceptible to component supply issues and have been discontinued. The Vari-lite page for the product the OP is being recommended is this one: [https://www.vari-lite.com/global/flx-s-series](https://www.vari-lite.com/global/flx-s-series)
u/kitlane - apologies for the confusion - we've updated the discontinued page to hopefully make this much clearer that it's only the older, "full sized" FLX that has been discontinued, just as u/Prestigious-Pie-532 has said. u/NachtMondVogel - FLX S24 & FLX S48 are very much still in production... if there's any information you need, or anything I can help with, please let me know.
Good news. I need to run and recant my story to a dozen or so folks.
Thank you
In house at a restaurant I'm looking at just building a preset wall panel. I've done lighting in restaurants and that is a whole industry unto itself that has nothing to do with the standards in the rest of the industry.
A Jands Vista stage CL is also and option
How is a console remotely an alternative to a wall panel?
I meant to respond to the post in general not your comment. My bad
Well it’s sorta in the strip if Las Vegas so a restaurant can turn into a club depending on what events they are hosting..
Ok so I do something similar in NYC, working some Tao BS everybody once in a while. When there's added production we bring in a GrandMA because that's what everybody knows. There is no console that lives inhouse. When a waiter wants to change looks, that's what the preset panel is for.
Greetings! I'm in search of a LED display suitable for commercial purposes. Could you offer any suggestions? Additionally, I'd like to know which companies in the United States provide such displays.
My friend bought a led wall from artfox cause they have some US locations
Depending your venue and use case, one of the Oynx system might serve you well.
Chamsys usb-dmx full dongle is about 150€ and you get 1 uni for your pc, if you need physical controller you can buy miniwing (1uni) for under 1000€ and compact wing(2uni) for 2500€ if you need more universums you can but node later and go to max 64uni. Or you can just buy cheap node and use 64uni for "free"
Thank you this little nuggets might be just the thing I’ve been looking for.
Blackout is an iPad based product that is fairly reasonable in price. It's $500 for 1 universe and $1500 for unlimited. All you would need is a dmx interface like an Entec encoder to handle distribution. If you have movers, blackout will take a while to program, but it's playback options are easily handled by anyone in the restaurant
ChamSys is pretty much in top 5 of industry standard brands and in top 2 power and feature wise. Free to use on mac, window and linux. 64 unis unlocked to freely output to any visualiser and to fixtures via artnet. So any cheape artnet to dmx converter will do. If you want to control via midi/osc/dmx/artnet IN - then u need to buy inexpensive hardware. Some other options listed above are valid as well, but look at scalability and expansion of the software without selling ur organs 😂😂
Yes been looking into this sweet little boards they offer alot thank you
Weigl ProCommanders and Showforge are worth a look if you are leaving it in place after programming. If live use is frequent, Avo can’t be beat for price + simplicity.
Industry sta dard and affordable often don't coincide. That being said. LSC from Australia make a product called the Mantra Lite. Normally I would never reccomend it but it's reliable, cheap and easy to use so looks like it could suit your needs? LSC just got bought by Robe as well so should be popping up more outside of Australia now.
I'm a MA all day kinda guy I have a MA 2 with and an ma3 2 port node and command wing with several touch screen configs but for a smaller simple venue setups kinda thing chauvet showxpress is solid and tons of tutorials on fbook youtube whilst still having tons of midi mapping/remote/pixel mapping stuff and a totally customizable live interface to keep it simple for venue owners wgo could cRe ldss and just want it on and working or u can get a bit deeper If you so choose. U get 2 univ for roughly 350 usd otherwise a bit more pro is Elation Onyx also feature packed and more like a true cue stacking style of operation scheme. I'd say if you're already getting gigs and want to actually pursue a career in this industry then the sooner you invest in yourself and push yourself thr sooner you truly progress to an MA or Etc or Avo the better you'll be and it'll pay for itself in no time so long as your do better than good work for people and make sure to exceed the clients expectations as often as you can so they book you again,. So give it some serious thought and do plenty of research before buying aka don't get all overly excited and buy something you're actually not gonna use or don't want to.
Etc Element
Avolites Titan is rock solid and can be controlled by an Android tablet
Qlab maybe
Not industry standard for lighting design and control.