Development of a Flexible Virtual Lighting Control Console for Live Events

The client faces difficulties in managing complex lighting setups during live events due to rigid hardware consoles, limited customization, and a lack of support for multiple external control interfaces. These constraints hinder show flexibility, responsiveness, and operator efficiency, especially when adapting in real-time or integrating new control devices.

A mid-sized experiential event company specializing in live concerts and theatrical productions seeking advanced lighting control solutions.

• Develop a software-based lighting control console that surpasses traditional fixed-layout hardware limitations.
• Enable intuitive control of lighting parameters through a customizable, resizable, and movable widget interface.
• Support multiple external control protocols including MIDI, DMX, ArtNet, E1.31, and OSC, to accommodate various hardware controllers.
• Ensure reliable real-time operation with uninterruptible control and steady DMX signal generation.
• Create cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.
• Incorporate configurable refresh rates (1-40 FPS) and upgradeable firmware to maintain up-to-date features and stability.
• Implement robust safety and security standards within the system architecture.

• Customizable widget-based graphical interface enabling addition, coloring, movement, and resizing of control elements.
• Multiple input device support including mouse, touchscreen, MIDI controllers, DMX interfaces, ArtNet, E1.31, and OSC.
• Internal buffering mechanism for stable, flicker-free DMX signal output.
• Configurable refresh rate with options between 1 and 40 frames per second.
• Upgradeable firmware architecture for adding new features and ensuring long-term scalability.
• Cross-platform driver support for Windows, macOS, and Linux environments.

• External lighting hardware via DMX hardware interfaces
• Standard control protocols: MIDI controllers, OSC devices
• Firmware update system for future upgrades
• Cross-platform driver support for Windows, macOS, Linux

• System stability with minimal latency and flicker-free DMX output
• High reliability with uninterrupted operation during live events
• Configurable refresh rate to optimize performance for different event scales
• Compatibility with diverse hardware and operating systems
• Secure communication protocols to prevent unauthorized access

Implementation of this advanced, flexible lighting control software is expected to significantly enhance operational efficiency, allowing real-time customization and quick adaptation during live events. The system's support for multiple control interfaces and platforms will expand market reach, reduce hardware costs, and improve show quality, ultimately increasing client satisfaction and potentially reducing setup and run-time overheads.