New on the Mac App Store – DMX Assistant

Earlier this month, a new app became available in the Mac App Store, DMX Assistant. Slowly we will start to see more and more lighting software titles become available through the Mac App Store.  The first couple are from start ups and individuals developing Mac programs for us to benefit from.

DMX Assistant is a tool to send and receive DMX via ArtNet, designed to make it really easy to understand what’s happening. You can set DMX values to output to any of the 256 ArtNet universes, separated into ‘Scenes’ (submasters) if you wish. All the ArtNet universes being broadcast around your network are visible in the scene list, so you can inspect what your lighting console or other device is sending, and to HTP merge into a new universe for output.

DMX Assistant had four ways of viewing DMX values:

• Light-Up Faders
• Grid View
• Histogram
• LED Array View

Other Features:

• ArtNet Input
• ArtNet Output
• HTP Merging
• Dark Interface

Douglas Heriot is the developer of DMX Assistant.  You can learn more about the Mac App by visiting his website at www.douglasheriot.com. Head over to the Mac App Store on your Mac and learn more about DMX Assistant. You can purchase a copy for $24.99 USD.

VirtualLightDesk App Added to Mac App Store

Mac Developer Thomas Günzel has the release of VirtualLightDesk app to the Mac App Store.  VirtualLightDesk is a 24 channel console that runs on the Mac platform.  In order to output from the software to any DMX device, you will need the Enttec Open DMX USB interface.

The VitualLightDesk app has the ability to operate 24 channels of DMX with up to 32 programmable sequences and 128 cues per each sequence.  The app also features easy drag n’ drop file system or organizing your desk.  The app require Mac OSX 10.6.6 and cost just $5.99 USD from the Mac App Store.

There are plans for the app to output Art-Net in future versions and updates of the software.  You can learn more about VirtualLightDesk by visiting Thomas’s website at thomas.gruenzel-ag.de.  I have linked the Google translated page in English.

DMXRef App added to Mac App Store

Yesterday, Apple opened up the Mac App Store.  With the Launch of the new store, there are already a bunch of software titles added to the store.  For us, there are already a hand full of lighting software titles available.  One of them being the DMXRef app for mac.

The DMXRef software is from the same developer who brought us the iOS app, DMXRef, Michael Swan. The mac app of DMXRef is designed to take the math out of working with DMX devices so that you can get on with more important things faster.  The test view on the left is where information gets added for you for saving into other documents and printing.  The text view is fully editable, you can even change the font and add images to suit your needs.  Once you have the information you need, you can print to paper or PDF, to quickly save your work or copy and paste it into another document to be saved as needed.

The DMXRef app for mac is available in the Mac App Store for $9.99 USD.

Apple Opens the Mac App Store

You heard the announcement back in November, here we are in January and Apple has opened up the Mac App Store! The Mac App Store is something that, for the time being, is totally separate from the Apple iTunes App Store.  The Mac App Store is free download from Apple.  Think of it kind of like the iTunes App Store, but for mac computer programs.

Rather then heading to a brick and mortar store like an Apple Store or your favorite electronics store to pick up new releases of mac programs, you can now purchase and download those title right from your mac. Just like the iTunes App Store for apps on our iOS devices, your Mac Store App login is attached to your Apple ID so purchases are quick and easy.  Also like the iTunes App Store, you are notified in the Mac App Store of new updates to software titles that you have already purchased.

With the release of the Mac App Store, there are a couple of lighting software titles already available for our community.  Just like the lunch of the iTunes App Store, we will begin to see more and more lighting industry software titles offered in the Mac App Store, just give it some time.

Getting the Mac App Store on your mac is easy as doing a software update from the apple on the menu bar.  To help distinguish the difference between mac software titles and iOS apps, there are two new sections on iSquint, the iTunes App Store and the Mac App Store.