The MagicQ 100 console controlled a Hippotizer media server with live retrieval of the media thumbnails onto the console. "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 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 data for the user interface to be requested from any source. When the ACN protocol standard is finalized this could equally be a moving light supplying pictures of the gobo's 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 also launched PC version of the MagicQ consoles, MagicQ PC. 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?"
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
