FB3 and Quickshow

[Howie]

This sound card DAC thing is a bit of a sticking point right now and I'm considering the Flashback 3 and Quickshow option.

From what I've been reading, the Flashback3 would replace the sound card DAC so would it be....laptop running Quickshow-->FB3-->galvo drivers and analog signal from FB3 to laser driver(s). Sound about right?

For the amateur hobbyist that just doesn't know, does the ease of use and performance justify the cost? I'm unfamiliar with what options all the other software offer so I guess I'm looking for opinions from those of you who have had the chance to work with a few different setups.

The last thing I want to do is spend less money, more time, and then say, "Man, maybe I should have just went the Pangolin route". So, who thinks it's worth the price for a total newbie hobbyist and who thinks it's overkill?

 

[ElektroFreak]

This sound card DAC thing is a bit of a sticking point right now and I'm considering the Flashback 3 and Quickshow option.

From what I've been reading, the Flashback3 would replace the sound card DAC so would it be....laptop running Quickshow-->FB3-->galvo drivers and analog signal from FB3 to laser driver(s). Sound about right?

For the amateur hobbyist that just doesn't know, does the ease of use and performance justify the cost? I'm unfamiliar with what options all the other software offer so I guess I'm looking for opinions from those of you who have had the chance to work with a few different setups.

The last thing I want to do is spend less money, more time, and then say, "Man, maybe I should have just went the Pangolin route". So, who thinks it's worth the price for a total newbie hobbyist and who thinks it's overkill?

I started with a soundcard DAC and I still use it regularly.. they're very, very good given the cost.

That said, the FB3/QS combo is unbeatable IMO. I bought one a few months ago and it's amazing. It's simple to use and exceedingly powerful. Do I think it's worth the price? Every dime!

Is is suitable for a beginner? Absolutely. Given the ease of use, it's ideal for a beginner if they can afford it.

If you've got the cash for an FB3, don't hesitate to pick one up. You won't regret it and they keep their value.

 

[Solonar]

I started with a soundcard DAC and I still use it regularly.. they're very, very good given the cost.

That said, the FB3/QS combo is unbeatable IMO. I bought one a few months ago and it's amazing. It's simple to use and exceedingly powerful. Do I think it's worth the price? Every dime!

Is is suitable for a beginner? Absolutely. Given the ease of use, it's ideal for a beginner if they can afford it.

If you've got the cash for an FB3, don't hesitate to pick one up. You won't regret it and they keep their value.

Ditto to both. I recently upgraded my main projector to FB3 and QS. My Soundcard DAC will be going into a secondary single color scanner.

Quickshow is extremely powerful, yet very easy to use.

 

[flecom]

From what I've been reading, the Flashback3 would replace the sound card DAC so would it be....laptop running Quickshow-->FB3-->galvo drivers and analog signal from FB3 to laser driver(s). Sound about right?

yep pretty much

The last thing I want to do is spend less money, more time, and then say, "Man, maybe I should have just went the Pangolin route". So, who thinks it's worth the price for a total newbie hobbyist and who thinks it's overkill?

not overkill, FB3/QS is extremely powerful yet very user friendly and *gasp* intuitive... and QS2 is going to add even more to the FB3's bag of tools... which is going to be a free update for FB3 owners...

I own an LD2000 setup from Pangolin and to me its been worth every penny... I am considering getting some FB3's eventually since QS will eventually (supposedly) support simultaneous use of FB3's and QM2000 cards...

even tho I still use my sound card dac to playback captured ADAT shows... if you want to make shows/do live stuff an FB3 is an awesome choice...

 

[andy_con]

you can also buy livepro for the fb3, so if you do decide to try and make some money from shows you can upgrade at a later date.

livepro is a must for doing proper shows

 

[flecom]

you can also buy livepro for the fb3, so if you do decide to try and make some money from shows you can upgrade at a later date.

livepro is a must for doing proper shows

actually QS2 does a LOT... certain things (like DMX for example) it can do MORE than livepro (livepro can only do TTL > DMX... QS2 has a DMX sequencer and a virtual dmx board etc)

 

[Things]

The soundcard DAC still has it's uses, but the FB3 is definitely the way to go.

I've had mine for around 2 years now, and it's still going strong, even after having it's outputs shorted (broken cable) and all other kinds of abuse.

QS is a definite selling point for the FB3, even replaces LivePro IMO ...

Hopefull the Pangolin Show-Space will start listing some FB3 shows, or allow LD2K shows to be played on the FB3 as well.

 

[andy_con]

guys have you ever done a proper paying show using livepro or quick show??

if not then i rest my case.

bill has said on PL that QS is not a replacment for livepro. livepro can do so so much more than QS. if you dont own livepro then i can understand why you wouldnt know this, if you own livepro then your clearly not using it properly.

 

[ElektroFreak]

Bill did say that and I'm sure the statement has merit, but there was a bit of an issue recently about the fact that the latest build of QS does have certain features that LivePro doesn't which led to some LivePro users feeling like their software was no longer "full-featured" in comparison. That flap may have been resolved I don't know, but I do know that in terms of live control Quickshow is pretty fabulous.

 

[andy_con]

no quickshow is not fabulous when it comes to live controls.

honestly speak to anyone who has livepro and they will all say the same as me, QS has nothing on livepro.

i wouldnt use anything other than livepro for doing live shows. all the zones are awesome for when setting up text, over head beams, animations and beam shows.

honestly i have both quick show and livepro, i have used both at a festival recently and QS really doesnt cut it.

 

[flecom]

guys have you ever done a proper paying show using livepro or quick show??

if not then i rest my case.

bill has said on PL that QS is not a replacment for livepro. livepro can do so so much more than QS. if you dont own livepro then i can understand why you wouldnt know this, if you own livepro then your clearly not using it properly.

not even bill could make livepro do more than one DMX task at once when I asked him at SELEM... and it only supports TTL (0 or 512) on DMX... nor can livepro do more than 32 DMX channels

so ya, QS2 is starting to surpass livepro in certain things...

and yes I own livepro and have done "proper" paid shows with it

additionally livepro is at the end of its development cycle... short of whatever is replacing it in "beyond" livepro is probably not getting any new features

 

[flecom]

no quickshow is not fabulous when it comes to live controls.

honestly speak to anyone who has livepro and they will all say the same as me, QS has nothing on livepro.

i wouldnt use anything other than livepro for doing live shows. all the zones are awesome for when setting up text, over head beams, animations and beam shows.

honestly i have both quick show and livepro, i have used both at a festival recently and QS really doesnt cut it.

well your going to be impressed with QS2 and the zones... the demo bill did with it @ SELEM really blew me away

 

[chipdouglas]

How much is fb3? i couldn't find princing on the pangolin website.

michael

 

[ElektroFreak]

^$595 direct from pangolin. Includes software, hardware and free updates for life.

no quickshow is not fabulous when it comes to live controls.

honestly speak to anyone who has livepro and they will all say the same as me, QS has nothing on livepro.

i wouldnt use anything other than livepro for doing live shows. all the zones are awesome for when setting up text, over head beams, animations and beam shows.

honestly i have both quick show and livepro, i have used both at a festival recently and QS really doesnt cut it.

Have a read here (to be 100% clear this discussion involves QS version 2 specifically, which has not been officially released yet): Pangolin Quickshow for FB3 released!

Bill weighed in on the discussion with some great info, but it really all boils down to the user's needs and whether they are being met by whatever software they're using.

I assume that at least one or two of the people involved in the discussion have experience with LivePro as well as QS. Based on the new features in QS2 one can only assume that whatever Pangolin produces to follow or improve LivePro will be simply amazing..

 

[Howie]

Obviously you guys that are doing live paid shows are more involved and advanced that I am but it's cool to see what people think about different options.

For me, the basic beginner, I'm not planning to do any professional shows or anything like that. I just want to get this growing pile of parts on my table to do something that doesn't hurt the eyes to look at.

Give me some time to play and maybe I'll have some input about QS vs Livepro. Right now I'm trying to justify the $600 option and I can't even imagine thinking about a $700 add-on to a piece of software that is a few grand itself.

How much is fb3? i couldn't find princing on the pangolin website.

michael

This should be the pricelist...

Laser show software from Pangolin Laser Systems

 

[chipdouglas]

^^^thanks.


michael