Ambitios proposed VJ/lighting rig performance proposal questions

[Retardia]

Im about to embark on a bit of an elaborate project, and I want to know what you guys think:

1. I want to build a custom midi controller to control ableton live via usb (usbmidi).

2. I want ableton Live (on a new macbook pro) to control vj software on the same laptop through internal midi/communication ( either arkaos, or Module 8, or VDMX ).

3. I want ableton to also control DMX LIghts, converting midi out into DMXusb via a custom MAX program (or whatever else would work) , via a usb to DMX hardware box.

I want it to be as simple as possible to run live, I know the planning and programming of the live clips will be quite a task, but once run I want it to be as smooth as eggs when acctually performing. Its already complicated enough building this insane midi controller I have planned.

When acctually performing I think I may have my midi controller also send midi to a v4 that is recieving the video feed from the vj software and some cameras. I dont want to have to really look at any computer screen, or touch any keyboard during the songs.

Will a macbook pro be able to handle ableton midi (no audio)- vj software and convert all the dmx usb midi stuff? will there be a latency issue?

I plan on having not too many lights, Im thinking something like this: 1 fogger, 1 laser, 4 LED cans, 4 LED vertical Panel things, , 6 strobes, and mabye 2 moterized light digeys.

In the end I guess its kind of a toned down version of Ham Bones setup without the audio. Will this whole thing work, should I consider other ways?
Any really good resources for this kind of planning (other than this amazing forum of coarse)?

Thank you for your help.

[Hambone]

MIDI-only use of Live uses very little CPU. I've had over a hundred looping MIDI note sequences and CC clips doing lighting and video with the Live CPU meter on a G5 at 10%. Save some cash and use a MacBook. A Pro is overkill.

IMO, do it on a MacBook with a MIDI>DMX converter. No software other than Live needed.

It does take some organization to do it this way. I use a separate Live track for every DMX channel, Arkaos patch, layer and CC, visualizer settings, and camera pan/tilt/zoom/exposure/etc settings. Spreadsheets help a lot. Dragging and dropping complete lighting and video sections in and out of Live's browser to build up a library is incredibly useful.

If you quantize your Live clips and use Live's negative track delays to compensate for the lag on various lighting elements, every flash/fade/pan/tilt/etc will be precisely in sync, irrespective of Live's tempo. For example, my strobes take 150ms from the note-on command that fires the CC until the strobes actually flash. By putting a -150ms track in Live, the strobes fire precisely on time, which is important as they're synched up with the Arkaos negative/positive flashing.

Using a step sequencer in Live to sequence audio, video, and lighting all at the same time is useful, too. It makes it easy to match up audio, video, and lighting hit points. Follow Actions, Live's MIDI effects, and virtual MIDI buses are really powerful, too. Make your audio, video, and lighting sequences and control as manual or automatic, and as random or constant as you like.

Have fun!

[DrEskaton]

i wouldn't agree with going with a Mac Book instead of a Pro.

he wants to run VDMX or Modul8 at the same time as Live.... there is a big difference in your layers and fx capability on a macbook pro in VDMX.

the smaller screen size also makes managing all those windows much more painful, and if you want to use the system for making content as well then the mac book pro will run final cut studio while the mac book won't.

[Hambone]

Good point. I missed the VJ software bit. I thought he was using the computer for Live only.