Controlling Lights With Ableton Live (MIDI to DMX - Enttec DMXIS)

Today, we learn how to control DMX lights using Enttec's DMXIS hardware and Ableton Live. You can apply these techniques to most MIDI to DMX converters.
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NOTE: DMXIS is no longer supported by ENTTEC, I covered the new version 'EMU' in a more recent video here: • Controlling Lights in ...
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NOTE Enttec no longer sells the DMXIS hardware, the new version is the DMX USB Pro:
www.amazon.com/dp/B077VW1DJH?...
ENTTEC DMXIS:
www.enttec.com/products/contr...
Light Library Community:
fixtures.dmxis.com/
Ableton Live:
www.ableton.com/en/live/
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[@mattruiz6458]

This is seriously one of the best tutorials ever, let alone for something with so many moving parts as diy stage lighting! Love it!

[@JulianGrayMedia]

Thank you!

[@wincenc]

Wanted to circle back here years later... This is still the best tutorial for easy DMX set up! Thank you Julian!

[@audiencewonderland]

Mind Blown. That's a very thorough and excellent showcase for what you can do in Ableton with lighting. Great work, thanks for putting it together!

[@JulianGrayMedia]

Absolutely! More people should learn how to do it! It's wicked when done right

[@ableton_live_well]

Finally got hold of a DMXIS yesterday and this video helped me perfectly. Thanks so much.

[@MrSkylightOffical]

Wow. You actually know how to make an informative tutorial. Thank you. There is literally 0% useless talking in this video. So hard to find these days.

[@codyrathman]

I've been working on this stuff just recently and was trying to figure out how I'm gonna make this stuff work. Plenty of moments in this video where you totally simplified what I had planned and now I hate myself lol great stuff though! This is going to take my light show to the next level!

[@JulianGrayMedia]

Cheers man! Good luck!

[@thefourstringupgrade]

This is like the most helpful tutorial on the internet. Thanks so much dude!

[@JulianGrayMedia]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@thefourstringupgrade]

QQ- how taxing is controlling the lights via Midi on the CPU? Do you think there would be issues running both audio & lights controlled by midi with 8GB of RAM?

[@budgetguitaristcom]

@@thefourstringupgrade I see this question was never answered - MIDI is nothing to a CPU. Nothing at all. Shouldn't be any type of issue.

[@chibbothy]

excellent tutorial, thanks so much! im the resident "ableton guy" at my university and the newest project im helping on is all about lighting and video, which i gotta learn!

[@Scorge120]

Amazing, sold me on a DMXIS unit. This tutorial is epic man great work!!

[@hunterrogersmusic]

Thanks for the tutorial, This will make my show much more compelling with a lightshow.

[@rasputinlenin6699]

Thank you so much. I'm a old railroad man who is not good with modern tech and this taught me on how to get it going and now my stuff is working. Did not know how to get the lights working until I saw this video. Thank you.

[@JulianGrayMedia]

Very cool! where you from?

[@rasputinlenin6699]

Julian Gray Media I live in Portland Oregon USA and was born in Tucson Arizona USA. I am basically a furry who is just starting in DJ stuff.

[@adahoel3798]

Wow, this was an amazing tutorial, thank you so much!

[@yuvigerstein]

Great work man, super clear. Thank you

[@TheAscensionProgram]

Such a great tutorial. Thank you.

[@rajasarapi8082]

Amazing tutorial and ideas. Thank you!

[@HouseNinjaMusic]

Exactly what I was looking for, thank you!

[@breakfastfordinner3648]

Best tutorial for dmxis yet, I use logic and it still made a ton of sense, one question I do have would be how can you mirror your lights?

[@Lincolnbiofl]

This video is very thorough. Thanks a ton!

[@BrianHeart]

You are an amazing teacher. Thanks so much Julian!

[@JulianGrayMedia]

Glad you found the video helpful!

[@user-co9uj3fp6f]

17:26!!!! Ahhhh now it makes sense. Not one video out there on Ableton Live explains how to use programmed material (midi) in the arrangement view, and then copy it to use it in the session view for live performance! Not one believe me! Every video is about using the session view for making music and using the arrangement view for making music just like any other DAW, but nothing about how these two work together once you have programmed what you want. Thanks Julian. Finally someone who's joined the dots for someone who hasn't used Ableton before. :)

[@JulianGrayMedia]

Cheers man!

[@stertheblur187]

just got mine and programmed all my lights. Ur vid was just OH SO HELPFUL EH!!

[@JulianGrayMedia]

Glad you found it useful!

[@santiagoortega1040]

this tutorial is insane, thanks 🙏👍🏽 man ...real stuff...

[@grind10308]

This was insanely helpful, thank you!

[@DjPowertone]

Awesome bro!!! I’m getting this and getting rid of the airstream DMX... it was great, but crashes too much

[@Durf2354]

dude thank you so much this is super helpful!

[@vigsound]

Really great video! Thanks!!

[@titanproductions796]

Awesome video, thank you! I have a question : How to add & control a second light but with an INDEPENDANT 2nd rack? (1 rack / light)

[@G_H007]

Thanks a lot bro ! SO HELPFUL !

[@unn_4024]

Thanks. Was expecting this.

[@NickBeatoMusic]

Finally what I've been looking for!!!! You're the bestest

[@JulianGrayMedia]

Glad you found use out of the video!

[@russxdrums]

Excellent tutorial!

[@GuiSchwertner]

Awesome! Utilizing this alongside a launchpad controller oughta be bonkers!

[@skulkband]

Great video! Thank you so much!

[@jrbsounds]

Amazing content! Thank You for this video!

[@jrbc0kings]

really good tutorial, thanks!

[@83NCO]

Yo i had NO idea you did a video on this. Ive had DMXIS for a while but havent quite figured out how to incorporate it into my setup

[@tim_arterbury]

Thanks a ton for this tutorial!

[@GarryLee432]

Great video👍🏽 thanks for the help!

[@JulianGrayMedia]

Cheers!

[@DecypherMedia]

That was a great vid, thanks

[@JulianGrayMedia]

Glad you found it insightful!

[@mrbjjackson]

Thanks so much for this.

[@bintje]

thanks so much !! this really helps !!

[@joshuamathermusic]

This is the best tutorial I've founed on the subject, thanks so much!! So would you just group to a new instrument rack for each light you have on stage, since there are only 8 available macros in a rack??

[@unn_4024]

This content is LIT!!! [No Pun Intended]

[@jso2332]

Dude, this is awesome. Thanks for sharing. =)

[@bobbyarchbold9126]

VEry helpful man thank you!

[@saitejakondaa]

JG back after while :D

[@JulianGrayMedia]

Sorry mate! was out of state :)

[@eduardosuarez3342]

awesome sir :)

[@catmartino99]

THX SO MUCH FOR THIS AMAZING TUTORIAL

[@owenfranke7857]

Thank You!!

[@MrRyancangri]

Wow, this is sick!!!

[@musicandres]

Is it possible to create the same groups in Logig Pro X with Dmexis? thanks in advance

[@revelation6541]

I have an "EntTec DMX USB PRO MkII" interface will it work with the DMXIS vst plugin for ableton? If not how can control it with ableton? Also This interfase is supposed to dual dmx 512 can I have 2 universes 512?

[@itsgonnabeokko982]

Thank you !! Very great tutorial. One more subscriber ;)

[@soovui]

Hello Julian, I would like to know, what library should I select for a common DMX Addressable Dip Switch Decoder with RGB Strip hooked up onto it? Wish to hear from you ya... tq...

[@poose]

Some of my lights are 5 pin and some are 3 pin. Can you still daisy chain them together with the proper 3 pin to 5 pin cables without issues? I also noticed that the Enttec DMXIS is 5 pin but the light in this video is 3 pin. so I may already knoiw the answer just want to confirm.

[@ProfessorShyguy]

How do you do macros for a second light? It has like 10 macros and if I try to group inside, it copies the same parameters as Light 1, and if I group outside, it won't let me map. I also can't open a 2nd instance of the DMXis Vst. Thanks!

[@ynglegend9382]

Definitely help… wish it was a two light setup but i get the gist

[@JulianGrayMedia]

same thing applies to more lights, just gotta scale the idea up.

[@ItsWesSmithYo]

2023 ;) any updates on hardware chain? DMXIS is discontinued, any links etc awesome. Great run down 🖤😎🙌

[@Sprenklefish]

QUESTION: Why do I need Ableton (and it's learning curve) to control my bands lights and sequences when I can use Show Buddy Setlist? I'm debating which one to buy. Thanks!

[@jomo50236]

Hey dude where did you find the VST for Mac? I can't find it anywhere on the download page?

[@mudmavis2011]

I use DMXIS with Capture to program my bands lighting scenes. I have to cue the changes with a foot switch which becomes difficult while I’m playing. Does Ableton support loading in DMXIS scenes already programmed into an audio track?

[@budgetguitaristcom]

This is THE best overview I've ever seen on how to do this. I'm not quite ready to automate my lights in live gigs, but probably will be soon, and now I have a nice roadmap. THANKS!

[@adampope1064]

great tutorial. do you know if it is possible to have multiple instances of the plugin sending dmx to the same dmxis hardware? it would be nice to have each fixture have its own rack and macros.

[@adampope1064]

never mind you already answered this i just didn't read the comments.

[@prenumenumedefamilie3418]

Hi there ! I am planing using this or similar box with fl studio !Do you think will be possible ?

[@kekxdose]

Hi, is there a way that I can record automation in Ableton using the DMXIS Plugin as input source? Goal is to just record the macros of the plugin into the setup Fixure-Lines in Ableton...

[@MrRundas]

Is it possibile to do this but using light rig simulation software like Realizzer instead of actual lights?

[@poxyz5878]

Do you have to use the dmxis box or can i use just an normal dmx to usb cable? Plz answear

[@keremk]

Thanks, enlighting :)))

[@holdenglazer]

This vid is so helpful! Thank you. Question for anybody that may know: I downloaded my light fixture and copied it into the library on finder, but it doesn't show up in the program. How do I fix this? For some reason I can only find the fixture library folder, but not ENTTEC or DMXIS. Where can I download or find those folders? Thanks.

[@JulianGrayMedia]

are you on mac or pc?

[@rubenrobles7275]

is it possible to use this with a dmx spi decoder, to be used with spi led strips?

[@MarcelGrebMusic]

what if i have a few songs more? the arragement locator will start everytime at the beginning.. when i have 10 songs, i need the locator in the arragement window at different positions, because i will have the same lightshow over and over again.. can you help me with that?

[@randykowalczyk527]

Julian - Thank you so much for this video. I'm happy I found it, yet cannot find the DMXIS Open or Pro on the market anymore. Is there an alternative that works well with a VST for ABLETON Suite? It would be nice to find one capable of grounding before my computer and take some of the CPU task load...

[@JulianGrayMedia]

The newest version is called EMU and it's also by DMXIS.

[@bertvanmaris8647]

i cant find the vst plugin. the link doesnt work for me. can sombody help me?

[@SceneOfAction]

Hey Julian, thanks for the video. I'm just getting into this stuff and while this is amazing because you can automate specifically to the beat I'm still wondering how quick it will get tedious with many fixtures. One light is one thing but 30 lights and I can imagine it getting crazy right away. Anyway, cool stuff man. Thanks.

[@JulianGrayMedia]

Its actually not as tedious as you'd think if you buss lights into individual control macros, then automate the busses instead of each individual light. I explained this at the end of the video.

[@edross717]

Hi there, awesome tutorial! Question - is there some sort of interface that lets you see a virtual preview of what the lighting I program with DMXIS will look like? I'm hiring lights for an event but won't get to test them with the physical lights until the few days before! Thank you!

[@JulianGrayMedia]

That's something i've been asking dmxis for for years! I'm hoping that they integrate something like this in the next revision!

[@zlmusiq]

What kind of Lixada light did you use in the video?

[@JayJulesDRC]

Does anybody have suggestions to the discontinued Enttec DMXIS? Its a shame they discontinued them..

[@suzymartinez2260]

How do you keep the dimmer on the whole time without programming it as a macro?

[@paulsouthern]

fantastic, this is the best tutorial on KZbin, now the only problem is we can't get a DMXis unit... they have stopped supply. Any ideas?

[@therockhour1386]

Great Video. In your experience, is there a controller that you can use in real time with this setup, in addition to the programmed ones? Lets say you have a band that uses ableton for 60% or their set, and plays the other songs without backing. Is there an on the fly addition to this ?

[@JulianGrayMedia]

I quite like the ableton push and the launchpad for this!

[@johnpopjohnpop]

Thank you for the tutorial. Im having a strange issue with my setup. Im using 215 DMX channels. Some fixtures are grouped into macros, some are individual (such as the intimidators for individual X and Y control). My problem is switching between songs. I use Cmnd Shift M to group the automation, CMnd J to consolidate, then paste it over to the arrangement view. The problem is when I play the master, some of the fixtures parameters don't recognize the automation. I have to click on each fixture, click the dimmer and move it from 0 to max in order to "activate" it. Then I click re-enable automation and it works. The problem is having to do that for every fixture for every macro before every song seems extremely unnecessary. I'm sure its something dumb that i'm missing.

[@JulianGrayMedia]

I think you may be running into a fundamental issue with Ableton's automation not picking up an automation curve. generally you can fix this by drawing a small adjustment at the beginning of the automation, on the corresponding clip

[@halfdanfalck]

Great video! Could you do a follow up using a launchpad if you happen to have one?

[@JulianGrayMedia]

I have a whole series on live performance

[@xavierfischer3499]

Hi ! Thanks for this video. It helped me a lot. I have still a problem. How do I use your macro tip when I have more than 8 lights ? Thanks !

[@JulianGrayMedia]

You can use more than one instance of DMXIS in different channels! I run a lot more than 8 lights when I'm playing out :)

[@Lzzzam]

Hi Julian, Will multiple instances of DMXIS inst. vst work simultaneosly? I haven't bought the DMXIS box yet so I am wonderign if it possible to create differente instances of the VST, one for each Light fixture ,and create automation for each fixture in its corresponding channel. I want to automate all the 512 DMX channels so I am wondering if it is possible to create cluster of automated DMX channels that can be played separately as clips.

[@TEMPTBand]

This was so helpful. One question. What is the advantage to programming in Ableton as opposed to programming in DMXis and triggering with Ableton?

[@JulianGrayMedia]

Light by light control sequences.

[@LEIDBACKREGGAE]

hey julian awesome vid!! would it be possible for a light show to be controlled by a roland spd-sx drum pad? could the USB out instead of going to laptop to dmxis just go straight in to dmxis? thanks so much!!

[@JulianGrayMedia]

DMXIS is discontinued, check out my new video on EMU! it should be possible.

[@vybe670]

Nice

[@smowmusic3190]

Hi! Since 2019 I've kept on coming back to this video because you inspired me to purchase this. 2 years later... I finally have the budget to buy the Dmxis and will order it online. Hope you see this, and I also have some questions. 1. Does the Dmxis software keep on getting updates? 2. If per say you used up 100 channels on dmxis software, how hard does it affect the CPU usage? 3. Can I make my own lights and programs and use it on Dmxis software? Even if you don't see this, Julian. I do appreciate you for shedding some light to us people on how great this product is... Thank you!

[@JulianGrayMedia]

I've heard that theres a new version of the software that will utilize the same hardware coming soon! I'm not sure about your other questions.

[@smowmusic3190]

@@JulianGrayMedia I think it's called Emu, but it's still on Beta though. Alright, man! Thanks again.

[@mp2866]

I think I figured out how to group multiple instrument racks within a rack and how to add multiple instances of the DMXIS plugin to those different instruments racks. So if I want to have independent control of various features on each light, then that would mean using 16 different instances of the DMXIS plugin (for 16 different lighting fixtures). I'm wondering if this would be very taxing on the CPU and create issues. Do you recommend this approach if using multiple fixtures when wanting independent control?

[@sendforacar9323]

You already have independent controls over each fixture in this example. Just run a DMX cable to the next fixture and place the terminal adapter on it. Then name the next fixture "d002" and setup a new fixture lane on the DMXis program. It will send different signals down the line. No need to instantiate multiple DMXis plug-ins. Hope this helps.

[@MrSkylightOffical]

Is there a workaround for the cpu load issue?

[@FeatherzMcG]

Hey, thanks for this. The idea of using macros for patches is a great idea. Though, I am stuck somewhat. You can have up to 16 macro knobs controlling a group. Do you have a solution for when you need more than 16? I tried putting the group inside another group, but the macros of outer group don't seem to be able to pass to DMXis. Any ideas?

[@JulianGrayMedia]

Unfortuantely there really isn't a solution outside of just midi mapping each parameter individually.

[@haystacksniperr]

Any idea if a DMX laser works the same way?

[@drewlsy]

Does it have to be that specific light and brand? Can you connect a diverse range or types of lighting devices and brands? Or is there an adapter that could allow us to do so.

[@JulianGrayMedia]

You can connect any DMX device.

[@notalone7740]

great video does this work in session view in Ableton Live too.

[@JulianGrayMedia]

Yup!

[@ariendb]

Hi Julian, great tutorial. Can I use the Enttec DMX Pro or DMX Pro MK2 (both cheaper than the DMXIS) to do this instead?

[@JulianGrayMedia]

I'm not totally sure .

[@tudorgheorghe4532]

How about using midi notes to programming lights?

[@traviscarrier3339]

Hey man! Just want to say that this video helped me out TREMENDOUSLY with my bands light show. I do however have a couple questions and i was wondering if you had the time to answer them? They're just some quirky things with abelton i cant seem to figure out. Like how when im selecting an automation clip to copy and paste onto another lane, my whole show scrubs through while im dragging the mouse. Only reason im concerned about this is it might turn out to be harmful for my moving head lights to do this over and over again every time i need to copy something. Do you maybe know a fix for this? If not it's totally okay, I just thought i would ask. Keep up the awesome videos!!!

[@JulianGrayMedia]

I've never heard of that being an issue. I'm glad the video was able to be of help!

[@vladimirpultra9661]

same shit bruh! big shoutout to Julian

[@neeon861]

thats nice thanks! I have one question and its about latency. How is it handeled if I plan to trigger a flash everytime I hit my drum pad conroller. Will it be noticable? Do you have an idea about the ms.? thanks!

[@electronictonalities7949]

Try Ableton's track delay. if you go to the bottom right beside your master channel in your session view. there is a D symbol open that and you can compensate for delay per channel

[@ableton_live_well]

Anyone had issues with the VST loading up on Live 11.1 on Mac now it’s all Silicon based?

[@nickelle3268]

Thanks for the video! But, I have a question. Can I run multiple instances of the DMXIS plugin on multiple tracks? My goal is to have some clips to control color, and some clips control intensity, and some to control pan & tilt. Is that possible?

[@sendforacar9323]

You don't need multiple plug-ins. You just need to create a new automation lane to do what you need.

[@Yes-xn8du]

Well I don't have any lights at all, but I feel like the more you know can help down the line right?

[@JulianGrayMedia]

Sure!

[@jochemcode4570]

I've a setup with just on par 7, traktor DJ 3, entec usb pro. Is there a way / software that you know to automatically can do some sort of a light show that actually responds. I do not want to program every song that is going to be played for an at home party.

[@jochemcode4570]

Tried it with soundswitch but through Ableton link, only BPM share is possible, that is something but it is so far away from something good.