LaserShow Xpress Users

So i been playing around with spaghetti and it just doesnt cut it. I got bored pretty quickly with ilda files. Pretty good for playing shows and nice and easy to use interface but It crashes on me frequently. Im running windows 7 if that makes a difference. I guess im just not interested in syncing with mp3s or anything like that, what I want is something useful in a live setting where the music changes you never know whats next.

Anyways I have been playing with the quickshow demo and it seems very impressive, however the price tag is very steep at about $600

Now I have to say LSX software has intrigued me. Its got a lot of features that seem to be totally unique apart from other software. If it were to go on sale I'd probably buy it today. Still pricey for a piece of software, I better love it if I do buy it or else ill be kicking myself.

For the people with LSX Lite, I am interested in the abstract generator feature. Is it like a visualizer just playing different patterns? Does it respond to mic/audio input? Is it like a set it and forget it type of feature. Im interested in just turning it on and walking away and for the projector not to get boring.

Dr Lava if you are reading this any chance of a working demo or a video demo of the features. The little slideshow with screenshots is pretty useless to me and also LaserShowForums.com is no help. Is there any issues with running it with AUDIOLASE DAC?

Thanks

I believe you can get a demo of LSX from Dr.Lava.

I'm not sure I understand.

I own LSX.

Abstracts range from simple, to a abstract generator that uses equations you type in to mathematically manipulate a base circle or graphics frame. It is not as difficult as it sounds to do the math, once you learn what sine and cosine are. Examples are included. A ninth grader can pick up the baseline math for the high end abstracts.


LSX has at least four dedicated abstract modes in the ABS generator. There are then two graphics tools that can also form abstract images as a unintended consequence. These two tools let you spin lines and single points, and ILDA frames, and make some very unique abstracts when "OVERDRIVEN" to high speeds.

A visualizer is one of the modes , but it does not quite work like a "STAND ALONE" sound program visualizer or MP3 visualizer. By design, it requires considerable manual input. Used properly, the results are spectacular. However you need to spend some time to learn to use it.
It applies its results to other effects, in fact just about any effect in the menu.

A FFT is on board. LSX also talks to parts of WINAMP.


The live engine uses effects made in the show editor, so once you have something you like, you can assign it to a hotkey or DMX slider and call it up and apply about 16 different things to it in real time, or play with it using function keys and a mouse.

Save up and pay a little extra for the version that comes with all the demo shows. You will be very happy if you do.

Steve

Thanks for answering my question in detail. I asked for a demo from the Dr a while ago and was never granted it, I ended up breaking down and getting QS, it will be here weds.

How does LSX compare to QS? (for any LSX and QS users out there)

ARGLaser said:

How does LSX compare to QS? (for any LSX and QS users out there)

Click to expand...

Apples and Oranges, there is no easy way to compare short of attending a LEM, going to a friends, or using one or the other. They both have "learning curves"

Rough explanation:
In quick show, you grab animations as "pearls" and slide them onto a "string"to be played, then you add effects on top of them, either as more pearls or as hotkeys.

LSX is more like a classical multitrack sound editor, just like Pangolin's Showtime, Beyond, or Phoenix or Speghetti.

QS is fast, designed for real time use in clubs, but if you are doing a serious multirack beam or graphics show, or really, really want to have more creative control over your work, you reach for LSX or Beyond, or Speghetti.

QS also has some limitations in processor power and included artwork.

QS is more suitable to dance music, and it makes assumptions about how your show is constructed that a corporate or big time concert laserist would possibly-probably object to.

If your creating serious graphics and need something other then stock frames, your reaching for a higher end product.

LSX is demanding, QS is easy, but easy comes with limitations in what is obtainable, and what can be displayed.

Quick show is just that, designed for quickly layering endless amounts of "canned" stock effects onto a "string" or items in the string.

LSX is more Art and Science, and has unlimited tracks if you get the right version, where from what I have seen, QS has a limited number of tracks last time I used it. Three was never enough for me, I need many more layers for what I do.

When I upgrade my older Pangolin product, I'll skip over QS and go right to Beyond.

LSX is a editor/player, quick show is a player with less edit and more applique. LSX is also somewhat hardware independent. QS is more suited to the FB3, and there are some output limitations.

QS does not do so well with 3D frame creation, nor interface to commercial graphics programs such as 3D studio Max.

I hope that answers your question. I play with a QS once or twice a year, just enough to keep current on it.

LSX has a larger color gamut, yet I can make up a quick single track song in about a hour on QS.

APPLES AND ORANGES< they are two different ways of doing things, and there is NO "RIGHT ANSWER" as to which is better.

Steve

Wow. Thanks for the explanation, that's exactly what I needed!

Which version of LSX do I have to get for unlimited tracks?
I am drawn to the idea of "Quick and Dirty" with QS, but I want to know how much I will have to spend on each before I choose.

I may just jump in feet first with Beyond and QM2K.net, once I've tried the Demo. Once thing I've learned with lasers is you will always want more :eg:

I have 128 tracks in LSX Pr0, if I ever needed more then 12-16, something is really wrong, or I have changed solar systems and am making 16 planets orbit in a graphic. :na: If I had two really complex beam show effects running on 2 different projectors, I could then need maybe 20 for a EPIC production.

I usually just need 6 tracks.

Steve

IMO this is a real simple question.

Pangolin = top notch customer service, and service after the sale that is second to none. Bill Benner (the founder/CEO of Pangolin) will often answer your questions himself, and you never have to wait very long for a reply.

DrLava = Well... suffice it to say he's the exact opposite of everything i just wrote about Pangolin. Never has time to be bothered to reply to inquiries, takes forever to ship, really just can't be bothered with much of anything. If you have problems after the sale you will very likely visibly age before you hear a response. But don't take my word for it, use the search function. There are plenty of references to Lava's stellar customer care.

There is a price difference in favor of LSX, but IMO that is more than made up for by the great way Pangolin treats their customers.

Sorry if this offends anyone (but not really), but facts is facts.

True enough, I've asked Lava for a demo copy multiple times, here and on PL, and he's never responded. I guess I will go with Pangolin QS2, just for the customer service.

It's sooooooooooo expensive.

But sweet

But expensive.

But sweet.

But expensive.

Trust me, I used to feel VERY conflicted. I even got upset for awhile at what I thought was price gouging....... until I tried QS. THEN I was sold.. for life. Freaking awesome setup for the money. You're not going to find a software/hardware combo that is as user friendly, simple to learn, full of features, robust, and well-supported at the $600 price point. I know it's costly, but believe me when I say that it was well worth it when I took the plunge. I put aside $100 from each paycheck until I had enough, and I would encourage anyone to do the same if they don't have $600 in hobby money laying around.

ElektroFreak said:

Trust me, I used to feel VERY conflicted. I even got upset for awhile at what I thought was price gouging....... until I tried QS. THEN I was sold.. for life.

Click to expand...

I can remember the very first laser meet in Florida (FLEM), I was in the minority as being the only person with a QM2K. By FLEM 2, a majority of folks had QM2K's. Not here to knock LSX because it looks like a very nice peice of software, I think it will even run on the QM2K so I probably should pickup a copy and check it out.

Pangolin = top notch customer service, and service after the sale that is second to none.

Click to expand...

1PM, New Years eve, had a show to do that night using 2 QM2K's and 1 FB3, it was discovered that the FB3 just would not work at all. We thought it was a total loss and would just have to improvise running 5 graphics projectors on 2 QM2K. I called Pangolin and sent in the log file. By 4PM, I had an email back with a file attached that fixed the problem. Just in time! Bo Bice Grand Finale Laser Show with DreamBeamz.com 2010 NYE Event - YouTube

i use LSX for a couple of months already and am very happy.
Drlava indeed responds slowly on skype, but when he does, he's very helpful. He actually fixed some bugs i noticed in LSX, and he does it very fast. i also had problems with a cable and he send a complete new one. (although the new one isnt really much better).

i never ever used QS, but know from people with desame hobby that it is not easy to make beamshows. Its all there to make it beautiful but sometimes you have to dit a bit. in LSX its real easy to make a show without alot of knowlegde.

My god! I just got my Panglion QS demo license today and holy shit is it ever amazing... I am going to start saving my pennies! I neeeeeeed it now