I was putting together a touring package for a solo touring artist and instead of giving them an NX DMX and sending them on their way, I had to pivot to using MadMapper for everything with an Enttec USB DMX Pro device.
The issue is OSC/MIDI IO. I would either have to send them out with a $600 dongle + a USB DMX Device, or send them out with an NX K + a USB DMX device.
They are using Ableton Live to drive their show off a single laptop. To ask them to plug in an NX K just so they can use OSC/MIDI or tell them they have to buy a $600 license that they’ll use for a single tour. (MadMapper and the USB DMX Pro is less than $600 combined).
There doesn’t seem to be an in between option, or a way to unlock OSC with the NX DMX (which is already a $449 device).
I get that the there is a single universe free version of Onyx, but I wish there was an in between license option, or at least that the NX DMX unlocked OSC/MIDI capabilities.
I like how the NX K can be used in this way, but it makes less sense to send out a musician with a device they are not familiar with. With OSC / MIDI I am able to give them an “automated” show running out from Ableton Live.
I’m curious to hear anyone else’s workaround ideas for smaller tours. -Thanks
I’m curious to hear anyone else’s workaround ideas for smaller tours.
Quote them a MA for $500 a day. Then the $599 license doesn’t seem that expensive.
MadMapper is $51/ month rental and a QLab Lighting rental is $5/day, and QLC+ is free. They all work with MIDI/OSC/DMX.
To the best of my knowledge, Onyx doesn’t have rental license.
If someone is spending $500 on a NX DMX that’s proprietary to Onyx, I think it makes sense for it to unlock MIDI IN communication at the very least so a show can be run from Ableton Live or another commonly used DAW.
The point is to have a compact / single laptop driven show without the need for more gear or another person. This is very different then asking for a lighting desk and a person to run it.
The best bang for your buck would be an NX-Touch. You get a physical DMX output, plus it gives you the NOVA+ license.
Alternatively (which I would not recommend), you could find old Martin devices and never upgrade past 4.10.1271
The NX Touch is discontinued.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this.
We offer the ONYX KEY 8 for this purpose and the value of the key is outstanding compared to all other professional lighting desks.
At this time no other licenses are planned, it is the entry price to be able to use ONYX’s advanced IO features. We hope you agree and find the key is affordable enough even for the smallest shows.
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I’m in a bit of the same boat. I have an M-DMX and an NX-K that I use when running lights for other bands at my local venue and it’s fantastic for that. However, my own band likes to bring our own lighting setup, geysers , etc… when we play shows out of town, that I trigger through MIDI and have had to lug along the NX-K to gigs just to get the licensing to work.
I do eventually plan to buy the USB-Key when I can afford it, and agree it’s a good option, but I definitely wish there was an option with less than 8 universes, as we only really need 1 for lights on the stage, but I do need the MIDI option. And quite honestly, this is the only situation I can ever see myself using the USB key (for my own use case).
So I guess what I’m saying is, if there was ever the option in the future to purchase an OSC \ MIDI license on a daily \ weekly basis for one off situations like that, I would be all over it. Potentially still using a USB key (iLok style).
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Thanks for chiming in, and I obviously agree—a 2-4 universe unlock with OSC and MIDI is exactly what’s needed. At the very least, if someone is already using the USB NX-DMX, that hardware should unlock OSC for the two universes it controls.
This whole issue was highlighted for me while working with a musician on their solo tour. They’re now running a 1-month rental of MadMapper with an Enttec USB DMX and Ableton Live, all on the same computer without any issues. Their entire set is timecoded, and if they wanted to add a MIDI foot pedal or controller to tweak things live, it would be super easy. I can’t say the same for Onyx, which would require them to lug around an NX-K or buy a $600 dongle, not to mention navigate a higher learning curve.
There’s definitely a market for this type of license beyond touring. For smaller installations in children’s museums or arts and tech exhibits, it would allow us to do the programming, set up a simple touchscreen interface, and have it work with other applications. As it is now, proposing Onyx for that kind of project makes little sense.
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