damyitaly Posted July 19, 2017 Report Share Posted July 19, 2017 Hello, what midi controller you recommend for watchout? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator jfk Posted July 19, 2017 Moderator Report Share Posted July 19, 2017 MIDI control boxes are a personal choice. Dataton's only requirement is they comply with the MIDI standard. So that is Dataton's recommendation - the control box must comply with the MIDI standard for Note and Continuous Controller. Do not think I have ever seen one of these boxes that do not do that. You might want to try searching the Forum, there have been various discussions on MIDI control device choices in the past. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dataton Partner RBeddig Posted July 20, 2017 Dataton Partner Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 We use a couple of Korg nano KONTROL which are handy and do not consume much space. The newer version nano KONTROL 2 uses MIDI control changes for the push buttons as well. One has to be aware but it is not a problem when using MIDI. I also bought an AKAI APC mini which is still compact but offers more push buttons. As Jim stated all MIDI devices which are detected by Windows should work with WATCHOUT. I would though focus on the USB connector a bit. We had some problems in the past with USB mini-B cables and our Korg nano units. The physical connection was not that tight and it could happen that pulling the cable a bit unintentionally could make MIDI disappear. Once this happens you have to close WATCHMAKER and open it again to reconnect the MIDI inputs. Units using the larger USB type B connector are more reliable in this aspect. If you need to control two or more WATCHMAKER computers in sync (e.g. with a full backup system) you should look at DMX/ArtNet devices. There are a few small format lighting controllers available. Most if not all of those use DMX which makes an additional DMX-ArtNet converter necessary. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator jfk Posted July 20, 2017 Moderator Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 ... If you need to control two or more WATCHMAKER computers in sync (e.g. with a full backup system) you should look at DMX/ArtNet devices. There are a few small format lighting controllers available. Most if not all of those use DMX which makes an additional DMX-ArtNet converter necessary. Interesting comment. Show Sage just completed a newly created training class for WATCHOUT theater staging technicians. (We did not teach programming / production techniques, we taught everything you needed to know to ready a system for that process and what is needed to operate the system once production is complete.). In that class we covered operation of a full backup system using MIDI (MIDI Show Control sourced from an ETC Ion lighting board in our case). The technique we used is relatively simple. A MIDI Solutions "Thru box" is used to feed the MIDI signal to both the primary and backup systems. A simple low cost MIDI to USB interface was used to deliver the MIDI signal to each system (no driver install needed, the simple MIDI USB interface works with the Windows default MIDI USB driver). Worked perfectly. Of course, to use the same technique from a MIDI control device, it would require the MIDI control device output real MIDI (a USB computer connection for the MIDI would not work in this scenario). MIDI control devices with real MIDI output do exist (Show Sage has one). i.e. The inclusion of a true MIDI output might be worth considering when choosing a MIDI control box. A box with USB only connection would not work in a full redundant scenario. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Playground Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 Hi Many USB midi devices have both the usb and 5 pin din connector so you can run the main via usb and the back up via midi using another USB to midi device. In our case we use an APC20 connected to the main via usb and on the back up we have an M audio uno conneted to the backup and then the midi out port of the APC is connected to the midi in of the uno. Cheers Ben 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damyitaly Posted July 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 Thanks for the answers. The thru box is perfect for manage 2-4 workstations. Optimal solution 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonnyFaint Posted May 19, 2018 Report Share Posted May 19, 2018 Hi, I am using an Akai APC mini, it is working well, only problem is that the buttons do not light up as I would expect, is that because there is no signal being sent back to the controller? Would love to find a solution. Thanks 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dataton Partner RBeddig Posted May 19, 2018 Dataton Partner Report Share Posted May 19, 2018 Yes, WATCHOUT only receives MIDI but does not send anything back to the controller. Depending on the number of buttons you need, a device like the B-Station from Visual Productions could be a solution. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dataton Partner Nigel Posted January 9, 2019 Dataton Partner Report Share Posted January 9, 2019 Hi Forum Has anybody tested / used midi in on a Watchpax 20? (cluster mode) Looking for recommended devices to receive cues from GrandMA 2 LX console. Thanks 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Lorenzo Posted January 17, 2019 Member Report Share Posted January 17, 2019 Hi All, i use a Behringer x-touch combinated with wocube that permit to store values e moving the motorized slider. Very cool This is the midi controller This is the wocube system 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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