DMX light control app for iPad using Photon 2 to use with your backing tracks using Photon 2 

Thanks Clement! Hopefully, these can be a reference for beginners. I hope to make a few more.

Yes!!! I am going to be down there the weekend of July 21st, if you guys have a gig, I'd like to be there!

No gigs at the moment unfortunately. I will be out of town then visiting my daughter in Seattle. Hope we can catch up in the future. No luck finding a keyboard player, we used keys tracks at our last gig in May.

Thanks so much for the encouragement! I got 6 of these www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D778PLC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 And I have 2 of these, which I absolutely love! www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Swarm4FX--chauvet-dj-swarm-4-fx-3-in-1-moonflower-laser-strobe-effect

Thanks for the encouragement! Yes, you can control Photon2 via midi note triggers embedded in the lyrics. You cannot import MIDI tracks into ST3, yet. Hopefully, they will add that feature. I own ST3, but it is a little underpowered for my needs. Midi from Cubase/Cubasis can't be used with ST3, sadly. With quantize enabled, and continuous controller for DMX effects, Multitracker still delivers, since it has a dedicated MIDI track similar to an actual DAW. ST3 seems most appropriate for a solo or duo artist using backing tracks. But, yes, Photon2 could definitely work with ST3 (without any efficient quantize or continuous controller for MID, nevertheless). Thanks so much for your question! Let me know if you have any more questions.

@@CaliforniaCreedence thanks for the response! I’ll have to check out multitracker. I really like ST3 for tracks but I can see how it might not be as efficient of a workflow for lights. I’m amazed how quickly you were able to generate something. Thanks again!

I don't think I have. I will have to create one this weekend!

Youb sure can, any channel you want, in fact each light can respond to a diffetent MIDI channel (but then why would you do that?)

Ivam, I am glad to hear your encouragement! I would go the route of triggering Photon 2 on an iPad before using a PC. Use of a PC would only be acceptable if you got a CME WIDI BUD Pro (I have one) to minimize the latency that happens when a PC tries to use BLE MIDI via MIDIberry for windows. The iPad is BLE MIDI ready and would be a great fit for Mainstage. Connections would be; Mainstage MIDI out>BLE MIDI connected iPad>Photon2>Network DMX Node (sacn not ArtNet)>Lights connected to the node with either dmx cords or the donner wireless dmx. The nice thing is that you can still program the DMX show in Logic Pro if you simply point BLE MIDI from the track in Logic to the iPad that has Photon2 installed since your MIDI controller connected to Logic Pro will still trigger Photon2 via BLE MIDI. Then you import the MIDI track you recorded in Logic (like I recorded in Cubasis) into Mainstage and route that MIDI track out to BLE MIDI to the iPad with Photon2. Photon 2 will use WIFI to connect to the node connected to your router. So much easier than with a PC. However, if you have already purchased a DMX Program for PC, I would suggest investing in a WIDIBUD Pro to handle BLE MIDI to the PC and loopmidi to offer up the network as a MIDI device (if possible). If you have any further questions, I am happy to help. Our iPad handles everything. Audio tradks, MIDI Tracks and DMX light show. I suppose you are using Mainstage because you have Software Synths (which sound so much better than hardware synths). Again, feel free to ask any questions!

Thanks for the encouragement! You guys sound pretty sick! You have a great voice and musicianship! Absolutely! Ableton link BPM will sync via Ableton link. Here is how you do it via interapp (which can also be done if you have 2 different devices connected to the same router with Ableton Link enabled on both). For Review to make sure everything is in place: 1. Create your devices and create a show. 2. Create your sequences or presets respectively 3. Create your live panel to trigger or assign MIDI controls to the live panel Now the fun starts. Go into your live panel and tap the tempo at the bottom right of the live panel to expose the Live Button at the top of the pop up panel. Enable Live by tapping the Live button. Underneath there is a Beat Tracker Mode. Choose Ableton Link, then go below the tempo and tap the Ableton Link Settings and enable Ableton link. If you are only using one iPad be sure to choose interapp from the main settings menu related to MIDI. If using both interapp and network to use Ableton Link then I suggest you choose all inputs for MIDI. Click Done on the Tempo Pop Up Menu and start your Midi source BPM app (since Photon should be the slave to another apps tempo) and you will see that Photon will change tempo with the Master App. Keep in mind that if the Source App (Master) does not have Ableton Link (Such as Multitracker) then that app will not change Photon2's tempo because Photon2 is not receiving any information via Ableton Link. This is why our band uses MIDI triggers via MIDI lanes in Multitracker to sync our lights to the backing tracks. I hope this helps!

@@CaliforniaCreedence thanks for your kind words and detailed instructions. No matter what I've tried so far I've never seen an Ableton Link option on the live sceen under beat tracker mode.

Update: the Ableton Link option shows up on my iPad Mini 5 but not on my iPad Pro 10.5" (the 'Automatic' built-in mic option is also missing). I uninstalled/reinstalled twice (second time after force restart) and still no love. Just ordered a new iPad Pro 11" 4th gen, trading in the older one.

@@TomMullin1017 That is strange. It sounds unique to the particular iPad. I have never heard of that. I have the 11 pro 3rd gen and 12 Pro 5th gen. These are very powerful devices. I run backing tracks, DMX light show, mixing and patch changes simultaneously per show and not a single hitch. 12 pro is the main device and 11 is the backup (which has never needed to be used) but I use the 11 for lots of other stuff, as well. We specifically got a NYE gig based on our tight sound and timed light show, and we are getting paid well. It is all very important! I hope to hear good news about Ableton Link in the 11 Pro.

Brand new iPad Pro 11" 4th gen... options are missing on that device as well

Hi Paul, there are a lot of things that could be happening. This may be worthwhile discussing over the phone to save time possibly. The MIDI file is probably fine, especially, if you import the mixdown midi file back into Cubasis and it runs properly. Feel free to call me. You can get my number from our website under contact, and I may not pick up until I get a message (lots of spam calls). Factors influencing the note on/off is whether midimttr is in the data flow, what you dmx node is, how you set the routing from multitracker, are there any other MIDI commands running, did you route the cubasis file in MT with the MIDI file, is Photon set to Live, are midi controls on FLash, what are your router settings etc. Again, feel free to call me!

@@CaliforniaCreedence Thanks John. Your videos are amazing and have been really helpful. I was able to do a work around by making each scene change button solo so it shuts off the preceding button. Tonight I ran into another problem. When I try to assign my light midi track to photon 2 in Multitracker photon 2 does not show on the list of options. It was working fine yesterday. What ami doing wrong? It is showing up on the list in Destinations in midimittr.

@@pmclellan123 photon 2 will not show up as an option if it is already assigned. Try assigning it to another output, suddenly you will see that output disappear and photon appear.

@@CaliforniaCreedence You’re right. I forgot that I had already assigned it. What a goof. Thanks for replying so quick John.

Thanks Garret, for the question. First, let me note how to get data from Photon to the DMX lighting system, then I will explain how to get the MIDI recorded and lastly how to use Multitracker to deploy the light show from within the app. I noticed that I did not cover how to MIDI map Photon controls. I will have to do a video on that. MIDI data flow is preparing a custom MIDI control surface in Photon (Live mode) by connecting your MIDI device to your ipad, create a control in Live mode, put the Live mode into edit mode and choose MIDI Input Mapping to associate a MIDI message to a DMX control. Move or press a control on your MIDI controller and that will be the Note or Controller assigned to that control. To get that control command to the DMX lights is by associating your iPad with a router wirelessly (router does not need to be connected to the internet at all), connect a DMXking edmx 1 Pro or Chauvet DMX AN2 to the same router and connect the series of DMX lights according to channels set in Photon. Some pitfalls with communication is whether to use Art-Net or sACN. In Photon settings, set it to sACN for the Chauvet and either (I prefer sACN) for the DMXking node. After I have mapped my MIDI in photon, I open midimttr and Cubasis 3. I confirm that Cubasis is the source and Photon is the Destination in midimttr. In cubasis, (in cubasis) I create a midi channel pointed to Photon, set the tempo to my backing track, import a mixdown of that backing track into cubasis and record MIDI data (Photon should be in Live mode with the Live button engaged or it won't work properly). Use the Mixdown in Cubasis and be sure that only MIDI is selected as mixdown. This exports the midi track to the Mixdown folder in Cubasis. In FILES on your iPad, go to cubasis and Mixdown folder. Move the midi file to the folder of the backing track song. Open MT in config mode and load the song with the song folder selected on the left pane. Tick the MIDI file that you moved to the folder and be sure to tap the two midi tracks that come in to Photon. If photon is in Live Mode with the Live button engaged, the DMX show should work. If you need a zoom session for this, it can be arranged, if this is confusing. I hope this helps. Let me know what you think!

Hi Baran! Thanks for asking. There most certainly is functionality for Philips hue lights in this app! I use used a basic setup for information about the app and configuration. Running wifi at 5g is very low latency. One of the issues about lights and latency is that if you have a fairly basic sound set up, the lights will appear early due to the latency of sound travel as opposed to light.

@@CaliforniaCreedence Glad to hear that. As far as I understand, it's okay if I want all the lights to turn blue when the chorus of the song comes on. Suitable for not very complex shows.

Hi ! Yes Photon will work with Philips Hue. The app is using Entertainment mode (compatible with minimum bridge v2). This mode is good for a minimum of latency but you can’t manage more than 10 Philips Hue bulbs. You can of course use it with midi and beat detection

A tall order but it can be done.

@@CaliforniaCreedence or 3 separate videos... And a question. Is it possible to just send midi notes from Ableton through a DMX interface in order to automate lights with no other additional software or controller?... Thx so much

@@alexfr811 Thanks for the question. Unfortunately, that is not possible. DMX lights have differing "channels" which, in MIDIspeak, would be like parameters. Say you have dmx lights, like RGB LED's with 6 channels (or 6 ways to control it). Then, say you have 4 of them you would like to control separately. You will need software, a node, or control surface to appropriate the MIDI traffic for DMX coming from ableton. There is no way around that to my knowledge.

@@CaliforniaCreedence OK got it... So what's the cheapest way to go, software or controller? But as far as I've understood, with a simple controller I could skip buying an interface... Is that right? Sorry for being a pain and asking so many questions. Thx so much

@@alexfr811 No worries at all. I use the Carver 2 universe Ethernet node, but I control it with an iPad and iPad software. I would suggest just getting a USB to DMX node and be careful that it is the 3 pin kind. DMXking has one, and they suggest on their site, all kinds of software for controlling DMX that works with it.