Software is the new frontier of lighting control. Advances in technology have made computers ridiculously affordable, powerful and readily available. The people who write code for them have harnessed that horsepower and put it to good use in our industry. Lighting control, for example, is making leaps and bounds, and DMXCreator software for the PC is a prime example. DMXCreator is a PC-based lighting control software package designed for clubs, architectural lighting installations and “rental facilities.” The software makes it easy for anyone to program and play back scenes and sequences, so anyone who is familiar with computers can program a light show.
Hardware and Software
The software can be downloaded free of charge from their Web site (www.dmxcreator.com), and though it is fully functioning, you can’t output a signal to any lights or dimmers unless you buy the hardware. There are a couple of options to output a DMX512 control signal, including DMXCreator512Basic, a USB-to-3-Pin-XLR cable and the DMXCreator1024+, a small USB interface with one DMX input, two DMX outputs, a MIDI input and an SD memory card. The 1024+ is the version that we tested for this product review.
The software can run on any version of Windows from 95 to Vista, although you need XP or Vista in order to have USB support and to run the latest software revision (currently 6.0). The hardware requirements are relatively easy to meet, and most computers manufactured in the last few years should have no problem running the software.
Features
The software is rich in features and the functions run deep. In addition to a programmer with scene and sequence builder, it has a simple visualizer, pixel mapper, color picker, media player, effects generator, timeline and more. It has an ample library of fixture protocols from about 85 different manufacturers, which makes it easy to get started.
Features like these are not all that unusual in high end automated lighting controllers these days, but DMXCreator 1024+ does have some unique features that stand out. One such feature is the DMX512 input, which allows you to do some very cool things by connecting the output of another DMX512 console to the input of the DMXCreator interface. Then you can use the DMX512 input to record scenes and sequences for playback in the stand-alone mode, to pass data through the interface on the same data link or to use an external controller as a playback console.
When you assign the DMX512 input to the record function you can use the DMXCreator visualizer with an external controller and record up to 40 sequences using an unlimited number of scenes to the SD memory card. Then you can use the interface to play back a show using a variety of modes including auto, keyboard (PS-2 input), MIDI, audio, or an external controller. It allows you to play back up to four sequences simultaneously, each with adjustable fade time between sequences.
When you assign the DMX512 input to DMX Output mode, the interface uses the DMX512 signal from an external controller to run channels that are not used by DMXCreator. This function would be ideal in a situation where you want another operator to run your conventional lights from an external console while you run the automated lights or vice versa. The software allows you to assign the output to any one of the two DMX512 outputs.
You can also assign the DMX512 input to Physical Masters 1-16, which would allow you to run devices that you might not ordinarily program into a scene such as a fog or haze machine, house lights or strobes. This setup works like having an external playback wing.
Alternatively, you can choose the function of the DMX512 input using a DMX Assignment window in the software. It allows you to assign individual input channels to Physical Master channels, blackout, Play/Stop sequences, or to play individual scenes or sequences. This feature might be worth the cost of the package because it allows you to trigger complex sequences of automated and conventional lights using a conventional console. In essence, it can convert your conventional console to an automated console with visualization.
Bottom Line
DMXCreator is a powerful program with no shortage of shortcuts and programming aids. It is a very graphical program with lots of icons and graphic representations that give you hints about how to program and use the software. I found it less intuitive than I would have thought, because some of the syntax doesn’t follow what I would have guessed. At times, it seems that it doesn’t use standard Windows syntax; for example, you can’t drag and drop fixtures from the plan view into the fixture groups. And when you right click it didn’t give me the options I was expecting. Nor does it seem to follow some of the de facto automated lighting convention; for example, there’s no command line. But some of these differences are also what makes it very easy to use, especially for someone who has no experience with other consoles, and that’s where I think this product is well suited.
For the very reasonable price of the interface boxes you can put together a very powerful lighting controller with enough features to design and program an amazing show. It does take some time to drill down and learn about all the features, but it seems well worth the effort. DMXCreator is a great choice for lots of applications where you don’t want the budget to limit access to features.
VXCO Lighting Systems DMXCreator 1024+
What It Is: A PC-based lighting control system with a hardware interface to output DMX512
Who It’s For: Anyone who wants to run conventional and/or automated lighting, including LED matrices
Pros: Lots of features, very powerful application, very graphical program, very reasonably priced, extends functionality of a conventional console through DMX512 input
Cons: Slightly long learning curve for experienced users of other consoles
Retail Price: DMXCreator Basic: $900; DMXCreator 1024+: $1,500
