Tutorial for DMXControl 3.0

If you are a user of DMXControl 2 and you want to test the beta version of DMXControl 3, you have to be willing to rethink some things. DMXControl 3 provides fantastic new features that did not fit into the framework of DMXControl 2. Therefore, we have prepared a tutorial as a guide to the new lighting control software DMXControl 3 for you.
During the transition from DMXControl2 to DMXControl 3 many new concepts have been introduced. A so-called HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) ensures that the program is independent from the DMX output, i.e. you work primarily with abstract properties such as color, position and beam instead of DMX values. Furthermore, there is now a separation in server and client, so that several people can work on one project at the same time. Great new opportunities in effect programming have been implemented, not inferior to professional DMX programs.

The basic differences between the releases of DMXControl 3 and 2 are described in the german article http://www.dmxcontrol.de/wiki/Uebergang_von_DMXControl_2_zu_3 . It should be emphasized that DMXControl 2 will be maintained for some time and is provisionally proposed for usage as your main light control program.

Because of altered concepts the nature of the programming and operation has fundamentally changed. This requires that you start from the beginning again. We encourage you to study the following tutorial of the operating concepts of DMXControl 3 and to accept the changes. If you have understood the concepts, everything will be as common and simple as in DMXControl 2.

This tutorial is split into three parts:

Lesson 1 to 7: Basic concepts, setup and configuration
Lesson 8 to 14: Programming your cues and show
Lesson 15 to 21: Execution of show and add-ons

DMXControl 3 is in the beta phase. Therefore, there may be unforeseen responses or error messages. In addition, some features are not yet fully mature and DMXControl 3 still does not offer the functionality that provides DMXControl 2. Therefore DMXControl 3 is in its current state is not intended for productive use as long the beta test is running!

If you find errrors anywhere or if you are not happy with some parts, please tell it to us by the bugtracker on the website, email or the betatest-thread on the homepage. If you are convinced that the approach of DMXControl 3 is great, please tell it to others via facebook, feedback thread, etc.;)

Thanks to Arne, Dennis, Franky, Mark, Matthias, Stefan (and others) for all the work they have put into DMXControl 3. At this tutorial Carlo, Frank, Jens-Peter, Uwe and some alpha testers were involved. Also, this tutorial is obviously still in beta stage. Please notify the manual team with your suggestions. A 'proper' manual will be created in parallel to the beta phase.

Now have fun in learning DMXControl 3!

Table of content

Lesson 1: Installation and configuration
Lesson 2: The Panel conzept of DMXControl 3 GUI
Lesson 3: TheProject Explorer
Lesson 4: The Stage view
Lesson 5: Device properties and its control
Lesson 6: Configuration of output plugins
Lesson 7: Summary and some more details of setup
Lesson 8: Cues and cue lists
Lesson 9: Fanning, Chasers and other effects
Lesson 10: The Programmer view
Lesson 11: Triggers in cue lists
Lesson 12: Edit of Cues and cue lists
Lesson 13: Presets

Lesson 14: Summary and details - Programming
Lesson 15: Executors and use of cue lists
Lesson 16: Softdesk
Lesson 17: Audio analyser
Lesson 18: Beamer Tool
Lesson 19: Other DMX Clients
Lesson 20: Create new device definitions
Lesson 21: Summary and details for Execution
Lesson 22: Input Assignment
Lesson 23: Create a RGB Matrix
Lesson 24: Transfer DMX values via ArtNet to DMXControl 2
Appendix 1: Commands and Shortcuts
Appendix 2: Tipps for Testing and behaviot in error case

Links & References

Videos:	DMXControl 3.0 - Videos
FAQs:	DMXControl 3.0 (FAQ)
more infos:	Uebergang von DMXControl 2 zu 3

Thanks for using DMXControl and working with this tutorial.

www.dmxcontrol.org

Now, let's start with Lesson 1 Tut3