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MagicQ Leads with Media Server Connectivity

ChamSys celebrated the launch of their new MagicQ lighting consoles at PLASA in September with an innovative demonstration of their powerful distributed client / server architecture. Media clips were selected from thumbnails displayed on the MagicQ touch screen.

The MagicQ 100 console controlled a Hippotizer video media server with live retrieval of the media thumbnails onto the console over an Ethernet network. "Being able to select media clips from thumbnails on the touch-screen of your lighting console has to be the way forward," pointed out VJ and LD Francis Martin. “I cannot understand why companies supplying both products for several years have not already done this.”

MagicQ is ideally suited to controlling media servers with all their associated control parameters through the eight separate encoder wheels and support for six universes. And with full Cue Stack capability on every playback fader it becomes easy to control highly cued shows, incorporating video, lighting and LED elements.

The MagicQ operating system based on Linux has a fully distributed design which will allow future systems to control an almost unlimited number of channels. As well as expandability the client / server architecture allows information for the user interface to be requested from any source. In the PLASA demonstaration this was from a video server. When the ACN protocol standard is finalised this could equally be a moving light supplying pictures of the gobos installed to make selection easy. With the solid base of a distributed client / server architecture designed from the bottom levels up, ChamSys expect to be in a leading position to take advantage of the Advanced Control Network (ACN) protocols when the standard is agreed.

ChamSys had an extremely busy stand at PLASA with many visits from lighting designers, rental and sales organisations alike. The word had clearly got around quickly that there was a new console in the market place to replace the gap left by the end of life of many older consoles, say ChamSys. Lighting designers were picking up the console in no time at all - the familiar layout, Hog style interface and ease of use through the large colour touch-screen making it an easy step for desk operators and programmers alike. Many could not believe the price for so much control, power and functionality. By utilising the latest components from the telecommunications industry, and advanced production techniques, MagicQ is priced well below the equivalent competition.

At PLASA 2004 ChamSys also launched the PC version of the MagicQ consoles, MagicQ PC, bringing the power and flexibility of the MagicQ system to low cost PC based control. The software is free to download from ChamSys' website and has exactly the same functionality as the consoles. And unlike other PC based software it is not limited to being an off line editor – it is fully functional and outputs six universes with all the features of the MagicQ consoles. With standard Ethernet to DMX boxes or DMX interface dongles (available from many companies world wide) you have a complete Hog PC style lighting desk.

For extra control you can connect the MagicQ PC wing via USB. Software director Chris Kennedy commented: "We expected MagicQ PC Wing to get a great response and we weren't disappointed. With a playback wing, a programming wing and DMX outputs all combined into one package we couldn't really go wrong. Where else can you get a six universe lighting desk, with high quality Alps faders, HP encoders and optically isolated DMX outputs, that you connect to your laptop for under a £1000 list?"

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MagicQ Leads with Media Server Connectivity

9th November 2004

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