DMX Switch iPhone App – Yeah Another One

Tell me if you have seen this before… A DMX switch calculator app for the iPhone/iPod Touch? Yup, there is another one out there. Honestly people, take a look at the iTunes App Store.  As of right now there are 11, yes 11 dip switch calculators in the store now.  Yes, a good portion of them offer additional features rather then just he dip switch calculator. But another stand alone app?

I am a huge supporter of the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad development process for our industry, but let get real, not everyone loves the iPhone, some people prefer the BlackBerry or Droid.  So where are the apps for those devices?  Take a look around their app stores, there isn’t much there.

A suggestion to future developers, take a look at the Droid and Blackberry SDK… Who knows, you might be the first to market with a useful app.  And if you don’t mind, learn the iPhone SDK, i’d like a copy of the app for the iPhone!

Back to the app. Daniel Greencorn developed and released the DMX Switch App for the iPhone/iPod Touch.  It does exactly what you expect it to do.  It calculates the dip switch position for you based on which DMX address you are trying to address a device to. It is a very simple and straight forward app with no frills or fluff, simple and easy to use.

Give DMX Switch a try, it is a FREE download from the iTunes App Store.

Lighting Design for Modern Houses of Worship Avilable on Apple iBook Store

[singlepic id=1119 w=320 h=240 float=left]Not to long ago, Richard Cadena’s book, Lighting Design for Modern Houses of Worship was released as a eBook through SmashWords.com.  While searching through the Apple iBooks store, I found that Mr. Cadena’s book has made it to the store!  Here is a little background on Lighting Design for Modern Houses of Worship.

Lighting Design for Modern Houses of Worship is a complete step-by-step guide to lighting design for people of all levels of experience. It covers everything from the basics of lighting, including the McCandless method, to more advanced topics like the “jewel” lighting method, lighting for video, color theory, rendering, visualization, documentation and paperwork.

You can purchase your very own copy for just $9.99 through iTunes.

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iPhone Lighting Handbook App Updated to v1.3

Start up the app store on your iPhone, there are some more lighting app updates.  Andrew Derrington just announced his latest update to his Lighting Handbook App, version 1.3. Not only did Andrew update the app for iOS4’s multitasking support, ha also added and update a huge list of items.

New Features:
• Increase in manufacturers to 31!!
• Over 500 fixtures/Consoles/Effects.
• A redesigned detail view.
• 2 New settings – Ability to automatically save manuals when viewed and ability to view power consumption in Amps.
• iOS4 multitasking support.
• Now after you’ve downloaded a manual, the detail page for that fixture will have a small green tick on the manual button, this means you’ve downloaded the manual and that it will load from the device and not from the internet again.
• Lighting Links within the general information section provide links to popular web-sites and forums as well as the blog for Lighting Handbook.
• Most consoles now also have a quick start guide.
• You can add your own manuals via iTunes.

The Lighting Handbook App is just $4.99 from the iTunes App Store.  For those that already own it, it is a FREE update. Check out the full listing of items and manufacturers listed in the app along with details from Andrew’s web site, www.aderrington.co.uk.

Lighting Design for Modern Houses of Worship in eBook Format

I read over Facebook that Richard Cadena’s book, Lighting Design for Modern Houses of Worship has recently been released as an eBook.  First, congrats Mr. Cadena, I still have your print version that you signed, again, thanks!  Interesting question though… how do you sign an eBook?  I guess I’ll just have to have authors sign the back of the iPad?

Lighting Design for Modern Houses of Worship is a complete step-by-step guide to lighting design for people of all levels of experience. It covers everything from the basics of lighting, including the McCandless method, to more advanced topics like the “jewel” lighting method, lighting for video, color theory, rendering, visualization, documentation and paperwork.

You can purchase and download your copy of Lighting Design for Modern Houses of Worship from the Smashwords web site.  If you are like me and own an iPad, which version of the eBook to buy… the iPad uses the “standard” in eBook formats, ePub files.  Smashingwords does offer that format, but doesn’t list the iPad… interesting.  A safe bet would to be to purchase the PDF version of the eBook.  The iBook app on the iPad and iPhone can import PDFs into the app.  An added bonus if you do the PDF version, you can print it from home if you feel like.  Just an idea.

Review: Luminair for iPad

When rumors of the Apple iPad started to become serious and it came to realization, everyone went crazy with excitement. One company in our industry, Synthe FX, also became excited about the idea of the iPad and started making big plans. Synthe FX is the developer of the “lighting desk in your pocket,” or Luminair, the iPhone app. Synthe FX expanded on the original design of the iPhone app and developed a version of the popular iPhone app that runs natively on the iPad, Luminair for iPad. With the iPads larger display, about the size of four iPhones or 1024 x 768 pixel viewable area, Synth FX added several new and exciting features to the iPad version.  Seventy-five percent of Luminair for iPad was completely rewritten from scratch for the larger display and to give live events and performance greater control.

Capabilities

Since Luminair for iPad runs on the iPad, a pretty portable device, you can take your console with you as you move throughout the location. The design of Luminair for iPad allows you to run your entire show wirelessly and operate as a remote focus unit, or almost anything other use for a DMX console. Setting up and using Luminair for iPad to control a lighting rig is fairly simple. With a little bit of knowledge of wireless networking and how Art-Net functions, getting up and running can be a snap.

After you have purchased your iPad and your very own copy of Luminair for iPad, you still need a bit of third party hardware in order for the app to talk to you rig. First thing you will need is a wireless access point or router to connect the iPad with your console to send DMX signal out of Luminair for iPad. From there we need a way to translate the Art-Net, which is the protocol for sending DMX over UDP/IP networking to DMX signal to the rig. There are a ton of devices out on the market that translate Art-Net to DMX. One device that is relatively inexpensive and work well in this situation is the Enttec ODE or Open DMX Ethernet device. But as I mentioned, there are quite a few DMX nodes or devices out on the market that can translate Art-Net to DMX.

My goal here is not a step by step installation and setup guide, but to give an overall view of Luminair for iPad. I, myself, used the above mentioned wireless access point and Enttec ODE for the review and found set up straightforward and simple. If you find yourself in trouble, Synthe FX makes a step by step guide on how to connect your network available on their website.

Layout

After setting up Luminair for iPad and all of the network devices and of course my rig, it was time to get playing with Luminair. If you are familiar with the iPhone version of Luminair, then Luminair for iPad will come to you easily (only on a bigger display).

With the multi-touch ability that the iPad offers, Synthe FX took total advantage of this interface control to offer the user what seems awkward at first only because we are used to single point interface with computers. The multi-touch control and input type becomes pretty easy to understand and use if you have ever had to run multiple sliders on a desk at once. Combine Luminair for iPad’s multi-touch control and user interface with controlling and playing with fixtures and recalling cues becomes natural.

[singlepic id=1070 w=320 h=240 float=left]It’s important to know that Luminair for iPad handles any type of device. Synthe FX handles devices a little bit differently than a typical lighting controller. Even though there is a similarity of a slider from 0% to 100% or in true DMX signal 0 to 255, Synthe FX labels these as tracks in Luminair for iPad. Tracks consist of set of parameters: parameter by intensity, RGB mixing or XY coordinates, (pan & tilt), and a single track handles those parameters. Here is where a curve ball is thrown in. Luminair for iPad offers the ability to patch a device from a template or fixture profile in the app, similar to how we select a device profile in most modern lighting desks. Now, most modern lighting desks handle a device with either a single fixture ID or channel number.  But, Luminair for iPad functions a little differently. For a single device, the different sets of parameters are broken down into individual tracks with the associated parameter labeled at the bottom. So for a 23 parameter device like a Mac 700 Profile, you will have 8 different tracks, or “sliders” to operate that one device. This may become a little bit of a problem when you start patching 2 or more high parameter count fixtures because some horizontal sliding across tracks will be required.

Now that we have an understanding of how Luminair for iPad handles devices with tracks, the next important step in any lighting controller, is setting up our patch. Again, Luminair for iPad handles this in a unique way. After you have selected which fixture type or parameter you want the new track to control, you have to assign that track to a specific DMX address for each parameter. Rather then using the common syntax of 1 @ 1 or Address 1 at Channel 1, you get a display of the DMX address available on the single universe of DMX that you are using. Simply selecting the correct DMX address will patch that track to that address.

[singlepic id=1085 w=320 h=240 float=left]But there are more options and functions available within patch or channels display within Luminair for iPad. Lets take a closer look at patching a simple and generic RGB mixing device.  Say we want to patch a track starting at address 1. We have the RGB device addressed at 1 as well.  As we all know, that simple and generic RGB mixer take 3 DMX address to function, so we have to patch them within Luminair for iPad as so. Starting off with address one, after selecting it, the box turns to red and has an “r” in it representing that the Red is patched there. Then to patch Green we would simply select 2, it turns red, but we need green! Select 2 again and the box turns green with a small “g” in the box. Great, Green is patched. We do the same for Blue by selecting address 3 and select it until it turns Blue with a b in the box. Done! Our simple generic RGB mixer is ready to operate!

[singlepic id=1081 w=320 h=240 float=left]Let’s look even closer at the individual tracks for an RGB or CMY mixing device. The main control of the track, what I am calling the slider, is the intensity control of the fixture. With Luminair for iPad, Synthe FX added some features under the track controls and the color wheel picker. You are still able to choose any color from the color wheel, along with saving that color to what we might call a color palette or color preset for quick recall of that color across color mixing devices.

A new feature added to Luminair for iPad from the iPhone version is Groups.  I mentioned that your control screen may get filled up with tracks pretty quick. Luminair for iPad offers the ability to group like devices or any tracks that you want to control into one group. Rather than having 10 individual tracks or patching all 10 dimmers into one track that controls my front of house wash, I can keep my 10 individual tracks for separate control and make a new group that controls them all together.  This also frees up some space in the control section in the app while still offering the 10 individual tracks for control.

All of this control is great, but what about playback? Luminair for iPad wouldn’t be much of a lighting controller with out the ability to playback looks or cues that we have created within the app. Just like the iPhone version, Luminair offers the ability to record cues or looks and have them playback just like we would expect a traditional lighting desk to with fade times. Just like a typical desk, cues can be arranged into stacks for traditional playback or for chase effects, the possibilities are limited only to your imagination.

With the release of Luminair 2.0 for the iPhone earlier this year, Synthe FX worked closely with Cast Software to integrate some controls and function between Luminair and WYSIWYG.  Luminair 2.0 added the ability to see your cues in a cover flow display. With integration from WYSIWYG release 25, you can take a snap shot of your rendering and import that image into Luminair and attach that to a cue. So in cover flow view, you can horizontally swipe through your images of cues and execute them right there. Synthe FX included that function in Luminair for iPad.

[singlepic id=1076 w=320 h=240 float=left]Another feature that has been added to Luminair for iPad is the ability to view and capture incoming DMX from a single universe of DMX values from another control device on the network.  From the controls view, you can bring up the DMX input view and see what each address on the universe of DMX is outputting. Synthe FX took it a step further and added the ability to record the incoming DMX signal as a cue for replay right from the app. Just add another use for Luminair for iPad, a full back-up console to your rig!

[singlepic id=1073 w=320 h=240 float=left]What about saving shows, something that is MOST important in any programmer’s view. Since the introduction of Luminair for the iPhone and now for the iPad, Synthe FX has made it possible to open and save show files on your device within the app. Even though Apple does not offer a file system for saving and storing files like we are use to either on a Mac or PC. Luminair for iPad offers the ability to save different shows files right on the iPad. Synthe FX also included a simple web server access to Luminair so you can connect to the app via any computer with a browser to connect and transfer files back and forth. This makes backing up and saving show files quick and easy.

Wrap Up

There are some things that seems to be lacking in my eyes with Luminair for iPad, specifically when dealing in gobos and color wheels parameters of devices on a track.  Likewise, any indexing wheel track on Luminair for iPad doesn’t offer any additional options or graphics when choosing an index on a wheel. As a result, we still left have to bring the slider to a specific level so the wheel moves to the appropriate level. Not a deal breaker by any means, but maybe a future update for Luminair for iPad?

There is nothing like Luminair for iPad on the market. There are, of course, similar apps for both the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch, but nothing comes close to being a fully functional lighting console on any of our favorite Apple portable products. Overall, Synthe FX put a huge amount of time and effort into developing Luminair for iPad and it really shows. Configuration and setup are a breeze. Bringing tracks to a level and recording cues are simple. Synthe FX makes an interesting point when explaining the ease and use of Luminair for iPad, building and playing back shows is as easy as creating an iTunes playlist. Not a bad explanation! Synthe FX even included a sleep override function into the app.  Rather than having the iPad “go to sleep” and lose the connection to your network, Synthe FX added a simple override function to the app settings that keeps the app and iPad active while you are programming or playing back a show.  Simple things like that make Luminair for iPad stand out and show the lighting industry that yes, there really is an app for that!

To learn more about Luminair for iPad, visit Synthe FX web site at www.synthe-fx.com.  To pick up a copy of Luminair for iPad, visit the iTunes App Store for $129.99.

Your Thoughts

What did you think of the review?  Do you have Luminair for the iPad, did I miss something?  Leave your thoughs in the comment section of this review, I would love to hear what you think.

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Synthe FX Announces Luminair for the iPad Available on iTunes

You have heard the rumors, you have seen the pre-release announcements, it is finally here, Luminair for the iPad has hit the App store on iTunes!  After months of development, Synthe FX, the developers of Luminair for the iPhone are proud to announce that you now have a lighting desk on your multi-touch device, the iPad.

Here is more from the official Press Release:

Synthe FX has announced the immediate release of Luminair for iPad, it’s new desktop-class multi-touch DMX lighting control app for Apple’s iPad. Luminair uses the Art-Net protocol to transmit DMX data over Wi-Fi, giving users wireless control of colormixable LED fixtures, dimmers, studio lighting, moving lights, media servers, and any other DMX enabled equipment.

Luminair for iPad is a giant leap forward from it’s related iPhone version, and includes new features like instantly editable quick-touch cues, project-based draggable color swatches, popup contextual controls, external keyboard support, and a user-configurable UI. It’s also built for future expansion, which means users can expect the same rapid feature updates that Luminair for iPhone customers have received for the past two years.

When paired with a compatible Art-Net to DMX interface, Luminair for iPad has a low overall price that makes it a lighting console which almost anyone can afford, and use in a multitude of ways. Whether it’s used for architectural lighting, theatrical and musical venues, by educators, or by cutting-edge visual artist’s and VJ’s, the possibilities are infinite.

Luminair for iPad can be purchased and downloaded directly from the iTunes App Store immediately for $129.99. Full details and product videos are available at: http://synthe-fx.com.

West Side Systems Updates All Their iPhone Apps for iOS4

Looks like West Side Systems is leading the pack in the lighting apps with updating most of their iPhone apps for iOS4 and multitasking. So all of you iPhone and iPod touch users that have taken time time to update your devices with Apple’s latest iOS update, head over to iTunes or the app store app on your device and get the free updates from West Side System.  That is if you have already purchased and downloaded them.

Just last week, Apple released it’s latest version of the iPhone and iPod Touch operation system which has been named iOS4.  The new iOS is geared towards Apple’s latest iPhone, 4G.  But Apple didn’t leave it’s current iPhone users in the dark.  Owners of 3G, 3Gs and iPod Touch devices are able to upgrade for free and get some of the great new features Apple added such as multitasking.

Multitasking gives us iPhone users the ability to run multiple apps at once now rather then opening one, going back to the home screen and opening up and another and so forth to work with multiple apps. The catch being that not only do you have to have iOS4 installed, but the apps have to have the multitasking support.  West Side Systems is the first lighting app developer to update and release their apps in the iTunes app store with the multitasking support.  I am expecting many of the other lighting app developers to follow suit very shortly.

In addition to getting multitasking support, BeamCalc also got a few updates to improve how it renders and draws beam projections.

Wybron Releases Gel Swatch Library HD App for iPad

LiteGear Iphone App – TechScout Touch

Do you create a lot of equipment list and shop orders? Guess, what, there is an app for that!

TechScout Touch is designed for lighting professionals in the Theatre, Event, Movie, TV, Commercial, and Video production, almost anyone that needs to rent lighting equipment. The app helps you create lighting rental orders intended to be submitted to rental houses or to studio set lighting departments. Featuring a simple interface, you can easily include job, date and production information. Adding equipment is a simple process using the over 1000 lighting equipment items separated into categories and sorted by type and wattage. The end result is a professional, organized equipment list ready to be emailed to anyone.

Notable features:

• Over 1000 professional lighting products included
• No typing of equipment names, just tap quantity.
• Email orders to your Producer, DP, Gaffer, BestBoy, Rental House, and even yourself.
• Refer back to an old order for reference.
• Customizable gear lists
• Add optional notes

The TechScout Touch iPhone app is a FREE download from the Apple iTunes App Store.  To learn more about the app, visit the developers web site at www.litegear.com.

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ETC Updates iRFR iPhone App to v1.1.33 with iPad Support

Mid last week, ETC’s, (Electronic Theatre Controls), iRFR iPhone App was approved through the Apple iTunes App store for release of version 1.1.33.  The most significant change from pervious versions of the iRFR app is the support to run the app natively on the iPad.  ETC has taken full use of the larger screen and added more functions to the app. Some of the new features found in version 1.1.33 are thus:

• View the active cue list
• interact with the active cue list, in a separate screen
• Access to a pan/tilt encoder display
• Console connect list
• iPad specific – create full encoder controls page, add cue notes

The iRFR app can be used with version 1.6 or higher of the Eos Family of consoles and version 5.1.0 or higher of Congo consoles.  There is a little bit of networking and wireless access point setup that needs to be completed before the iRFR app can connect to any of the afore mentioned consoles.  ETC has written up some how-tos and step by step guide to connect the iRFR to your console which can be found on their WiKi pages.

The app is a free update to current owners of the app and works both on the iPhone and the iPad.  For new users, the iRFR app cost $49.99 USD.  There are still to versions of the iRFR app in the iTunes app store, the iRFR-BTS and the iRFR-LR.  They are the same exact app, just that the procedes from the iRFR-BTS goes to ESTA Foundations Behind the Scenes and the procedes from iRFR-LR goes to Light Relief, both industry charities that support our fallen or disabled brothers and sisters.

Helpful hint, if you do not have a console to connect your iRFR app to, no worries, you can connect the app to the offline editor of either console family and get up running to get use to the new update.

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Synthe FX Lifts the Lid on Luminair for the iPad

After months of speculation leading up to the announcement of the Apple iPad and then finally the release of the iPad to the gen pop, the lighting industry and iPhone lovers have been craving something special for the iPad to control our rigs.  Since the announcement of the iPad, Synthe FX, the iPhone app developer of the Luminair app has been dropping hits about their plans and release for Luminair as a native app on the iPad.

I have heard from a pretty reliable source that the iPad version of Luminar is finishing up it’s beta testing and is getting ready to hit the App Store in the near future.  Just last night, Synthe FX updated their web site with a TON of details and a short preview video to hold us over until the iPad app hits the store.  Here is a quick run down of some of the features exclusive to the iPad version of Luminair.

Pricing has not been released on the iPad version of the Luminair app.  To lern more about the upcoming app, visit www.synthe-fx.com.

ShowTool LD iPhone App Updated for iPad

Daniel Murfin, the iPhone lighting app developer of such apps as ShowTool Sm and ShowTool LD recently hinted about an update of his app, ShowTool LD getting an update. I just got word this morning that Apple has approved the update, (V2.2) and has released it into the iTunes App Store.

The update brings a couple of new features such as a Gel cutting list and a power requirements formula section.  Probably the biggest feature of this update has to be the support for the iPad. Daniel is the second iPhone lighting app developer to release an iPad native app into the market. ShowTool LD on the iPad makes use of the entire screen by enlarging the user interface as well as expanding the view of each screen.

ShowTool LD runs $4.99 in the Apple iTunes App Store.  For current owners, the update is a free download.  To learn more about some of the lighting and entertainment apps Daniel has developed, visit his web site at www.dsmurfin.co.uk.

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