Q Light Controller+

So I have an old physical lighting desk that's currently just sitting around gathering dust and was wondering if I either buy or build a DMX In to USB could I just plug it into my machine and would it work similarly to a MIDI controller once I set it up on QLC+? Also, do I need a special type of adapter to do DMX Input?

Thanks,
- Caitlyn

There are quite some posts, you can find here, considering your idea having a DMX desk serving as input.
Since we do not know the refresh rate of your old desk - I would opt for a more 'sturdy' DMX IN interface.
My (only) experience says Enttec pro MK2 - where you have 1 channel out and after configuring it, 1 channel in, with the same USB bus.

In theatre you could use it in a traditional way - sending dimmers 1 to 1 and capturing (dump) cue's to QLC+ :: passthrough mode
When complex fixtures are in place - you will quickly run into trouble (lacking channels on the desk) -> in this case you could opt to use the desk to control QLC+ :: input mode
Don't expect wonders - you will have to program your VC entirely for the old desk to do what you want it to do (binding the desk's controls to specific functions on your VC screen)

Since you own hardware, the price to pay for a sturdy interface equals the price you'd pay buying a midi controller...
It all depends on your situation and expectations.

Thanks, and I don't expect wonders, all I was planning to do was to control some functions in my VC using a hardware desk. I was planning of something cheap, if it works, it works, if it doesn't it doesn't. Anything cheap to buy or build you know of, or is it down to just Googling around now?

Cheap is a very relative term . In my experience, there is some point in time where old equipment simply doesn´t cut it and it´s better to invest into something new that really fits your needs.

That said, an old lighting console might be exactly the interface you want, then see how you can make it work. However, I decided to go the MIDI route, which has a few drawbacks, but many more benefits for my purpose.

Buttons: novation launchpad mk3, around 100 bucks new, RGB colored pads, 8x8 and three layers with individual setups of MIDI channel, event type, data, RGB color - and that´s separated on each layer. It takes a while to do the setup, but you can get 192 color coded buttons on 3 pages squeezed out of that. I use 4 of them in parallel, go figure.

Faders and pots: I´m looking at DJ Fighter MIDI twister, but that´s not exactly the cheapest option. A used Akai APC40 may do the trick, sturdy, easily available and has a QLC profile to my knowledge.

Keep in mind that MIDI only gives you 128 values per channel whereas DMX offers 256 values, so MIDI _may_ be too coarse. I never found an issue with using "just MIDI", but it may be different in your application. I mainly trigger things don´t do much live movements and dims, but call pre-programmed positions and movement. Very fine positioning for example may not be as much fun using only half the number of values that DMX offers. Depending on the fixture, you may have a coarse and a fine channel that helps a little with that.