Q Light Controller+

Hello! First I would like to say that I am new to DMX lighting and QLC+ as well. I have read a lot of information about DMX and using QLC+ (along with the wonderfully made tutorial videos) I think I am getting the hang of programming lighting.

My problem is this (excuse some strange wording):

I run two Chauvet LED Shadows close to each other, and my desire is to have them both look identical while playing. I've set it up such that in my DMX chain they are lights 013-015 and 016-018 (I don't think this is an issue with these particular lights, although I have heard it is sometimes good to place empty spaces between the DMX values of your lights). With my midi controller, I have buttons set up to a scene (using flash function as well) for each mode sending to the primary channel of each light fixture a value that corresponds with the automatic modes, with 5 buttons total for mode 1 (40), 2 (80), 3 (120), 4 (140), and 5 (160). While these may look like they are close in how they perform the function, they are never completely aligned in timing. This disparity becomes much more noticeable sometimes while using a slider to alter the automatic mode speed and slowing down or switching between the mode scenes.

Conceptually, in an easy to explain way, one of the automatic modes ( I believe #2 ) goes to full intensity abruptly like a flash, then fades out. Using the button to trigger the scenes will have one of the lights starting it's automatic mode in a different point in time, although the 'command' or channel value is sent out to both of the lights simultaneously. I thought initially it perhaps had to do with when the lights were powered on, and also possibly the DMX cables I use, but I think those aren't the issues and I am missing something incredibly easy to figure out.

Is there a more appropriate way to do this? If I need to clarify what I am asking I can even post a quick video showing the issues. I can also share my workspace to give you an idea of what I am trying to accomplish, maybe the error lies in my virtual console set up.

For reference, I am running Mac OSX Yosemite, the latest QLC+ (4.10.2b), an ENTTEC DMX USB Pro Mk2, and using 3 pin DMX cables(not XLR) which are terminated at the end of the line.

Thanks very much for your assistance! And sorry for my newbie question!

Hello,

Try to put both lights at the same DMX address.
If your issue is resolved with this change, then there may be something wrong with your workspace, and you should share it here so we can find the issue.

If it's not, I don't know what to do.

I have tried what you said, and placed both of the fixtures starting on the same address (010). This removed a lot of the problem when the two units were supposed to display together at the same time, so far as they no longer will start to drift out of sync to the point where one is in the opposite part of the 'cycle' of the mode than the other.

Unfortunately, although they now remain unable to drift, one unit still starts a tiny bit before the other one. My guess would be 0.3 to 0.5 seconds? Definitely noticeable, especially when I set the automatic mode 2 which flashes bright then fades (it allows you to observe the units the best in comparison to other modes).

Regardless of whether I get this fixed, thanks so much for the tip of placing multiple fixtures on the same address! I did not know this was possible.


I have attached my workspace, please excuse the mess! I am still very new to QLC+ and DMX but have tried to get a grasp of the basics.

I didn't check the the workspace file. But if the fixtures are at the same address, the difference/problem is in the fixtures themselves. QLC+ sends one signal for both of them. QLC+ doesn't know how many are patched at that address.
Try to check setup menu in the fixtures, or try to swap them (physically or at least swap the cables) to see if the faster one is still faster when in changes position in the DMX chain.
Try to add terminator if you don't use one, try to remove all other fixtures from the DMX chain