Laser Midi Control

[disco4hire 1]

Any midi experts out there? Laserworld sell (at an inflated price) the M-Audio Oxygen 8 v2 25-Key USB MIDI Controller as a simple, easy to use controller for their higher end lasers. To my mind, they have obviously mapped the keyboard out to use it this way. Does anyone know how to do this, or uses one themselves? I want to use one of these keyboards with a proline 500mW RGB laser. I would be happy to recompense anyone who can sort it out for me for their time and effort.

 

[norty303 0]

Unfortunately, Lasers are either controlled by DMX (generally bad) or ILDA (genrally good!)

 

The midi bit comes into play as a way of interacting with the software/hardware, so if you have a DMX desk that acepts midi in, then you can do this (although prob best off just using the desk) or ILDA software (such as Pangolin Live/LivePro, the Laserworld software which iirc is Lasershowdesigner rebranded) But you do need a DAC of some sort first.

 

I use a couple of controllers myself, just with pots mapped to CC controllers for rotations and things, but I already have Pangolin LivePro and an Flashback 3 interface. The midi control is the ising on the cake rather than the actual method of controlling the laser patterns.

[disco4hire 1]

Thanks for the reply, I've spoken with the laserworld UK distributors today and they tell me the keyboard plugs straight into the back of the laser. Apart from that, the info they had on the keyboard was limited in the extreme, but the salesman was pleasant though. When I asked if they had demo facilities, it turns out they don't even have most of their products in stock, you are expected to buy their stuff unseen. I've just joined a specialist laser forum, and will see if I can glean any further info there, but I won't hold my breath, most seem to regard laserworld as the DJ community regards Skytec.

thanks once more.

Edited April 24, 2009 by disco4hire

[norty303 0]

Hopefully the laser related forum is Photonlexicon, you won't go far wrong there...

 

Be sure to read the seller review about Laserworld :wink:

 

I'm not sure its about being the Skytec of lasers, its about their honesty and dealing with customers.... I also have a review of LW there too....

 

I'm curious about the midi controlled laser, especially when you consider the cable length limits associated with the communication format... not much good when it's rigged up in the roof!

 

Have you got a link to the laser in question? The Laserworld site has their products listed, along with pics, perhaps you can locate it there for us? Midi is certainly not a control format I've come across b4 for lasers directly.

 

I've spoken with the laserworld UK distributors today and they tell me the keyboard plugs straight into the back of the laser

 

Out of interest, who is the UK distributor and are they a specialist laser supplier, or are they a disco equipment supplier? I'm questioning just how much they know about lasers and control systems....

 

*awaits to be proved wrong*

 

 

 

edit - have just been to the Laserworld UK site and seen the controller you are talking about. IF you read the description it actually says ILDA keyboard. I suspect the reason why it's 'overinflated' in price is because they custom build an ILDA interface into the keyboard. It's not simply a midi controller, and it doesn't plug in with a midi cable, it uses a regular 25 pin DB25 cable, you can see it on the pic on the website.

 

As a stand alone ILDA controller i presents pretty good value for money, although its not clear what control and patterns it gives. For about the same money (maybe a bit less) you could buy Pangolin Flashback 3 DAC and a copy of LivePro. It's basically what the big guys use to control their laser shows, and Pangolin is without doubt the leader in laser control. But if you've joined Photonlexicon you'll feel the Pango love soon enough.... ;)

Edited April 24, 2009 by norty303

[Dream Catchers 0]

Norty is correct, they have built a DAC into the midi keyboard, it wouldn't suprise me if the DAC was more like the DMX boards built into the chinese lasers that have a couple of dozen patterns built in. The keys would then just select the appropriate pattern, the 'volume' controls will probably adjust speed, x and y gain and mic level.

 

You also won't go wrong if you go to www.photonlexicon.com they are the experts and great at giving down to earth advice.

 

Jim

[disco4hire 1]

Yes it's the Photonlexicon forum I've joined, and I've read the reviews (and seen the videos) , I wish I had had the info before I bought the laserworld laser. I suspected from the day I got it that the output was not the full 500mW that I expected, the blue is lacking power IMO. I contacted laserworld and was fobbed off, since I could not prove it (and still can't) and don't have the knowledge to contradict what they were saying. I also suspect the diodes aren't correctly aligned, so that needs checking as well.

The laser in question is the Proline RGB500 - A the software is the Show Editor 2008. The UK distributors are Sound Light Ltd of Warrington Cheshire. In my opinion they're just general distributors, they could/did not answer specific questions about the keyboard or laser, just the general stuff that's on the web. My laser does not have a midi input and the guy said it was an IDLA signal from the keyboard I suspect they have fitted additional electronics to the standard M Audio keyboard, that would explain the price rise from £60 to £525.

To be honest, I have lost faith in laserworld and couldn't bring myself to spend that sort of money on something that may well not do what I expect of it. The user manuals for the keyboard and for the laser itself are totally inadequate, and in the case of the showeditor software is non existent.

I suppose I will just have to settle for getting it working properly and finding someone to demonstrate the software to me so I can sync the laser to music and display text. Since I don't play to the same crowd week in and week out, the 10 pre written shows I have, will probably be sufficient for my needs.

Edited April 25, 2009 by disco4hire

[norty303 0]

I'll correct my previous post about the origins of the LW software, if you read this thread you'll see the various versions that existed (again, cracked Mamba version doesn't instill confidence...)

 

http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/showth...orld+showeditor

 

I expect you've got the version that is HE-Laserscan clone. If you need documentation or help might be worth looking for that software rather than the LW version.

 

edit: BTW if you have the software, do you also have a DAC? If so, there may be a good chance the one you have is compatible with Mamba Black from Medialas. Might be something worth looking into as this is a well supported piece of software and has a user feedback forum on Photonlexicon, and the developer posts there too.

Edited April 25, 2009 by norty303