Really cheap DAC and software bundle!!

So I found this just now while I was looking at laser-related stuff, and for US$160 + shipping it seems like an excellent deal. Anybody out there have any experience with these? I'm thinking about picking one up, but before I do I thought I'd see if anyone has messed with them before.

Laser Display Projector Software i-Show and USB Interface Bu..

Looks awesome, I wish I has the right equipment to test it out.

Jon

It looks pretty decent. The software does look a bit outdated and not close to as user friendly as LiveQuick or LAStudio software, but again not too bad.

For the price this looks absolutely brilliant, but I would not count on making much more than beamshows and simple graphics with it.

Seb

Is the hardware compatible with better software?

Jon

^If it is, it would be unbelieveably awesome!

@Jaseth.. That's what I was thinking.. I'd be willing to put up with a little bit of user-unfriendliness for that price, but it depends on just how hard it is to use.. Also, it would depend on how many frames it has built in, since I doubt it plays .ild files (but it could, I don't know).. I think I'll go ahead and buy one, I mean what do I have to lose at this price point?

sweet let us know how it works out. is this not the same type program as laserboy / spaghetti though? I was planning on using either of those to create the graphics to spit out. I hope to make lots of frames to create some animations too, I'm usually crazy good at finding the most efficient way to navigate through software so I'm pretty confident I could create like a 30 second animation in a night.

-Kendall

I use spaghetti currently, and while it is buggy, it's probably a lot more user-friendly that this software.. I like it a lot. I use it with a sound card DAC and it works great for my needs. Very clean output, maybe a tiny bit choppier than a more professional program. I just got a discouraging reply to this same question over on PL.. I'll see how that pans out before I buy.

The trouble for me talking about this product is that I am sitting on the high cloud of a person who owns an FB3.. for me creating a really cool 1 minute show is a matter of maybe 10 minutes work, and I have barely started learning how to use the software.

If you don't think you will be extending your budget enough to warrant the purchase of an FB3 I would say this one is a really great buy, but if you consider spending more money within the near future I would skip this one and go with Pangolin.

Seb

BAD IDEA

I have never heard anything good about this hardware/software

Shows for ISHOW ? - Photonlexicon

Just get a Sound Card DAC and Spaghetti...its cheaper and MUCH BETTER

My only issue with the FB3 is that is isn't directly connected to the PC IIRC. It uses flash cards, I believe. I need a solution that allows for direct control from my computer since I prefer to do my shows on-the-fly.. Spaghetti doesn't really allow for "on-the-fly" but I can make changes to shows very quickly if need be. In truth, for most of my needs DMX is sufficient since all I do is beam shows, but the frames that come with most DMX cards are crap. Eventually I plan to invest in Pangolin, but when I do it won't be on an FB3. Presently, my enjoyment of DIY makes my sound-card DAC solution extra fun while at the same time still allowing me to support my family by not making me go take out a bank loan..

I am open to any other low-cost solution, possibly a RIYA or bILDA DAC.. (I'm partial to the bILDA since it's DIY) which is why I found this potentially appealing.

@KGB thanks for the tip about the sound card DAC and spaghetti. I presently use that and I love it.


I am ditching this idea, though. According to the fine folks at Pl, this is possibly the worlds worst DAC and is to be avoided at all costs. I trust them..

ElektroFreak said:

.... I need a solution that allows for direct control from my computer since I prefer to do my shows on-the-fly.. Spaghetti doesn't really allow for "on-the-fly" but I can make changes to shows very quickly if need be. ....

Click to expand...

Just a FYI but there is a program called WetNoodles thats made for live shows. Its made by the same guy(Gary) that made spaghetti BUT I don't think he is ready to release it yet. He has some info about it on his site.http://harperingenuities.com/WetNoodles.aspx

Im not going to post the PL FTP server details here but if you know them, then check out the program. This is such a early version that its only realy just an idea of what the program is going to be like.
ftp://ftp.photonlexicon.com/Software/Spaghetti/WetNoodles_0.0.0.1.zip

While the FB3 does use a flash card to store cues and projector settings on, you can choose to upload single cues to it while playing a show, so you could easily design new parts for a show while playing one.
By using 4 custom projection zones (graphics, atmospheric, target beams and user defined) where any cue can be chosen to go into a specific zone, you can fully control the show for audience scanning, normal party use, home test use and graphic shows.
There are also loads of live settings such as zoom, position and rotation, fade, visible points, colour, animation speed and scan rate and you can change between cues when you want to, live.
The only non-live thing is really that if you edit or create new cues, or change major projection options, you will have to upload to the card for between 3 seconds and 10 minutes.
I don't want to sound like an advertisement for the FB3 but I just don't want you to miss out on a great deal if these things do in fact satisfy your on-the-go needs.
Another great feature is that it can play shows stored on the flash-memory without being connected to a computer

A shame about that DAC, I guess it was too good to be true..

^I know the FB3 is pretty amazing, but I feel that Pangolin's more high-end systems will do better for me.. I just can't afford both. You never know though, I could still eventually end up with an FB3 if I feel that a higher-end system is just economically impossible.

@KGB: Yeah.. I've been messing with WetNoodles but it's really buggy still, much more so than spaghetti. When it's ready it will be awesome, though. I can't wait. Lately I've been in contact with Gary quite a bit helping him work out some of the bugs in spaghetti, and I have confidence that it will eventually be one of the most user-friendly show programs out there. WetNoodles has the same potential.

hi guys let me try help.

do not buy that i-show shit!!

the fb3 with livepro is dream software. it can do anything you want an more. its made for doing fully lie stuff and with a midi controller its pretty easy to create some mind blowing stuff live.

others to consider, moncha lite or moncha.

cheap ish and extremelty user friendly

Midi controller, huh? So I assume that the FB3 must in fact be connected directly to the computer at all times? If there is a continuously active interface I might be interested. I'm definitely not interested in any solution that does not allow for real-time show creation. I can handle inconvenience in the name of DIY, but if I'm going to spend my hard earned $ on a DAC system it must be capable of 100% real-time show creation. I need to have my hands directly in the show at all times, otherwise i feel like I'm simply playing back a pre-recorded show. That's just nowhere near as fun for me.

then the fb3 is perfect. well i say the fb3, you will need livepro. the fb3 isnt worth purchasing without livepro.

off the top of ym head i dot know a dac that isnt connected to the computer for full live us?

yes a midi board, dont have time to explain this very second, but search for a novation.

if you want true live shows, all real time then you will need a midi controller.