I'm in the process of putting together a lighting rig for my band. Our drummer plays along to a backing track and click coming from a piece of software called Multiplay.
What I want to do is use Multiplay's ability to play MIDI files to control a lighting rig via a USB -> DMX interface, and I want to program the rig from Reaper (my DAW of choice) using MIDI.
So, the workflow is something like:
- Pull up my audio project in Reaper
- Set Reaper to output MIDI on a 'fake' MIDI output that loops around to a virtual MIDI input (i.e. something like MIDIOx or LoopBe1)
- Set up QLC to see that MIDI output and convert that MIDI data into DMX in real time
- Program the lights to match the music
- Export from Reaper to a .mid file
- Close Reaper
- Import .mid file into Multiplay
- Set the .mid file to trigger at the same time as the relevant audio cues play, so they're running alongside each other
- Again, set QLC to see that MIDI input and convert that in realtime into DMX for the show
Does that make sense?
Is it possible?
Where do I start (I know the very basics of how DMX works [channels, universes etc], but have never tried to actually program any lights)?
Thanks.
Is this possible? MIDI -> DMX
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janosvitok
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It is possible and many people use QLC+ like that.
Check viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7460.
There are two ways to do the conversion:
1. Raw (1:1) conversion. Means you program everything in Reaper/MIDI and QLC+ just does the conversion.
2. Remote control. Means you program the show (or parts of the show) in QLC+ and use MIDI to trigger them.
In other words, in QLC+ you program what and how happens and in MIDI when.
I expect 2. is much easier, simpler and faster.
1. For each universe needed, select desired MIDI device as input, desired DMX output device and enable passthrough.
In MIDI settings select MIDI channel. Mapping of MIDI to DMX channels is here http://www.qlcplus.org/docs/midiplugin.html#channelsmap
Note that:
- you can't use the same MIDI input device for multiple universes. You have to split each MIDI channel to separate MIDI device
- the mapping above is fixed
2. create scenes/chasers/EFX as normal. create buttons/sliders in virtual console. assign external input to them from MIDI.
There are tutorial for this, check http://www.qlcplus.org/tutorials.html or youtube.
When you get stuck, tell us what's not clear enough.
Check viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7460.
There are two ways to do the conversion:
1. Raw (1:1) conversion. Means you program everything in Reaper/MIDI and QLC+ just does the conversion.
2. Remote control. Means you program the show (or parts of the show) in QLC+ and use MIDI to trigger them.
In other words, in QLC+ you program what and how happens and in MIDI when.
I expect 2. is much easier, simpler and faster.
1. For each universe needed, select desired MIDI device as input, desired DMX output device and enable passthrough.
In MIDI settings select MIDI channel. Mapping of MIDI to DMX channels is here http://www.qlcplus.org/docs/midiplugin.html#channelsmap
Note that:
- you can't use the same MIDI input device for multiple universes. You have to split each MIDI channel to separate MIDI device
- the mapping above is fixed
2. create scenes/chasers/EFX as normal. create buttons/sliders in virtual console. assign external input to them from MIDI.
There are tutorial for this, check http://www.qlcplus.org/tutorials.html or youtube.
When you get stuck, tell us what's not clear enough.