Is Usine right for me?

[AcdNrg]

Hello. This is my first post, just heard about Usine yesterday, so please consider me a bit clueless . I´m in search of a functionality for my mixed MIDI/DMX setup and Usine was said to be a possible option.

Basically, I´m looking for a pattern-oriented "DMX sequencer" that can be controlled via MIDI and syncs to Ableton Link (or MIDI Clock).
Or, if the sequencing part is handled elsewhere, a DMX software that is operating like a virtual synth: syncable LFOs, envelopes (1-time, repeating), mini sequencers - just with DMX output instead of audio.

Let me explain a bit more:

The setup contains:
- Tradtional DMX fixtures such as pars, scanners, moving heads, ca 1500 DMX addresses
- QLC+ as the DMX control software
- Bitwig Studio as the main sequencer for MIDI devices (drum machines, synths) and triggering QLC+
- NI Traktor for DJing

Output is a mix of DJing, live MIDI based elements, sometimes just one of them, sometimes mixed (transitions between DJ and live set)

Traktor is the timing reference, ie. it generates Ableton Link data to which Bitwig is synched.
Bitwig manages incoming MIDI Note data from Launchpads, which can be recorded, edited and played back
MIDI date is sent to a variety of MIDI instruments, such as drummachine and synths
QLC+ is used as a "light synth", it is also triggered and controlled from Bitwig.
Playing "chords" from controller hardware or bitwig sequences triggers different scenes: one for brightness, one for color, one for position (if applicable), you get the idea.

And here is the issue: QLC+ and most of the other DMX software I have considered are unaware of BPM or can´t use them in a meaningful way. Almost no DMX software thinks in musical timing (bars, beats, subdivision), they all seem to fixate on absolute timing, ie ms and hh:mm:ss: frames. Therefore, as soon as the scenes contain dynamic elements, such as blinking at a certain frequency/rhythm or fading in/out, I end up with fixed times that don´t adjust to the main clock. There is "musical lighting software" but it´s either VJ oriented and doesn´t handle traditional fixtures too well (resolume) - or it´s not very elegant, since you need to jump to scripting level even for a simple BPM synced LFO (lightjams).

While I could animate those dynamic parameters from Bitwig via MIDI CC, this would further reduce resolution to 7 bit and also clog the MIDI bus very fast. OSC? Not sure, never touched that.


So:
Would Usine make sense in that scenario?
Does it scale to the number of parameters (1500 DMX addresses) in performance and GUI clutter perspective?
Has this been done before?
Any ideas that come to mind?


Cheers,
Oliver

[senso]

hi,
No problem to handle 1500 DMX channels if you use ART-NET devices and Usine contains many synchronized LFO, RANDOM, etc. So, on this point be confident with Usine if you have, of course, a good computer.
If you want to keep your environment, the main problem, will be to synchronize Bitwig with Usine, the MIDI time clock is often not precise enough.
The best is to try the free version with only 1 DMX universe (512ch) to investigate deeper.

[AcdNrg]

Hi Olivier,

good computer is relative What would be the main requirements for such a setup, will CPU speed / number of cores / memory be the main parameter? I´ve got two desktop PCs (older gaming machines) sitting around, one is a six-core intel based with 32GB, the other is a threadripper based AMD which I used as an ESXi host but it´s now idling around.

For synch, I use Ableton Link between Traktor, Bitwig and Resolume Arena, which is giving me good results so far. Not sure if Usine supports Link, but if not, I guess MC is the best bet. I can´t have absolute Times such as MTC or SMPTE, as tempo will change depending on what the DJ is setting. It will not constantly change wildly, but I want to run the same lightshow whether audio is at 120 or 140 bpm.

That said, I downloaded a copy and will start playing around in the next days. Currently soldering and mounting the new LED matrix, hopefully I can start with Usine mid of next week.

Cheers,
Oliver

[senso]

Generally an i7 4 cores (8 virtual) with 16Gb enough to run Usine smoothly.
Link is not actually supported but it's planed to implement it.

[AcdNrg]

Thank you for the fast reply!

I guess it will take a little time to learn Usine anyway and as long as MC is the only option, I´ll limit my usage of Usine to DMX/lighting things: If MC is a little unstable, it won´t be as noticable if that impacts "just" the lights.
It will be more critical once Usine handles audio too and needs to sync to other audio. That said, I will give MC a try anyway and see how far that carries me.
I assume Link is on the feature request/roadmap already? Is there a rough estimate for implementation? Or, in case it´s not official, is there any feature request I can submit?

[senso]

The feature request is under the topic 'Suggestions & improvements' on the forum.
We answer regularly.