How Does MIDI Work With Lighting?
Console
Theatre lighting can be controlled by MIDI using a DMX cable and a MIDI capable lighting console. This feature is called MIDI Show Control. A DMX cable connects the lighting console to the lighting equipment. Lighting consoles have differing numbers of MIDI channels available depending on how many lights you have to control.
Programming
Using a lighting console, you can manually turn lights on and off, or you can program a series of lighting arrangement (called "looks") to trigger in sequence. The MIDI signal travels through the DMX cable to signal the lighting equipment in the theater. Using a series of special commands that are sent via MIDI, the lighting console will record and play the lighting looks.
Intensity
There are differing levels of control and precision in MIDI controlled lighting, depending upon your lighting equipment and lighting console. Most MIDI-controlled lighting allows you to control the speed and intensity with which the light turns on, and the speed at which it turns off.
Moving Lights
Some lighting consoles allow you to trigger moving lights, lights which rotate and spin. You can also control devices which hold and rotate color filters and light stencils (called GOBOs), to change the shape, color and motion of the lights.
Audio-Based MIDI
If you have a compatible lighting console, you may also use the same MIDI sequencer as you would use in audio to trigger your lights. To do this, find a MIDI-controlling device, such as a laptop with a midi-out or a portable MIDI keyboard.
MIDI Sequencing
After you have determined which MIDI keys control which lights, you can either play the MIDI keyboard like a piano, triggering the lights manually, or you can program the laptop to play a MIDI sequence through the lighting console by recording the sequence you intend to use to an audio MIDI sequencer. Using your device manual, you can then direct the software to play the MIDI through the MIDI-out, which will communicate with the lighting console to turn on the lights.
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