Integrating DMX lighting into my Traktor setup

The new MCX8000 controller has Stagelink option which (as Denon claims) later this year will offer options for the “consumer” to integrate video, lights and even pyrotechnics into their set. But that’s an aside.

Strangely enough, sound to light option, while built in to most fixtures these days, are glaringly absent from a lot of hardware and software DMX solutions.

I personally am not aware of any way that Traktor can accommodate linking something to an audio track that can be used to trigger midi signals suitable for conversion to DMX to fire of lighting FX.

I’d be interested to know if any of our readers has more info/experience in this particular area.

I’m pretty sure you can get some of the way with this, at least as far as controls/performance buttons goes, but as far as I know don’t think you can save midi information with tracks as such, but there are other “events” that I think you might have some success with e.g. something like “loop on” etc.

(Bear in mind this is theoretical – I haven’t done it (yet) and haven’t actually looked in Traktor myself to verify, so this is all semi-educated guessing)

Anyway, basically it will come down to a custom mapping (or tweaking your existing one).

– Create a mapping and set MIDI OUT PORT to your ipad (see the end about midi in)
– Select “Add OUT” and choose the event from the drop down that seems appropriate
– Then you’re going to have to fiddle a bit to work what the midi command is that QLC expects to trigger the light (or you might have to tell it to expect a specific note)… I’m not sure if the “Learn” function will correspond to the one on the control, or if you might even have some luck with it being sent from QLC. (you might even have to temporarily change the MIDI IN PORT to the ipad for that to work and change it back after)
– you’ll get a few options popping up – set some values and see what happens!

MIDI IN??? My first instinct was to tell you set this as your controller, assuming you’d be e.g. hitting a remix deck pad and having the colours change or something, but when I got as far as the “Learn” step I suddenly remembered that I think it would then want to transmit the same midi note that your controller sends to QLC, which might not work out – I don’t know if QLC has a set midi map or if you can customize/remap it. By using “None” or “Traktor Virtual” you may get access to the “events” and the same behavior without relying on the specific knobs. If you set MIDI IN to the ipad, it will be redundant as you’ll have to trigger the lights from the ipad, but by not doing that, I’m not sure that you’ll be able to use the “Learn” functionality, so setting it all up might be a bit tedious. I’m not sure if Traktor will behave well if you change the midi in port after you have done the mapping though.

Happy experimenting – pretty sure this will get you on the path, evn if I’ve forgotten a few steps.

Hi Caleb,
How are things? I am about to embark on the DMX lighting concept with the Kontrol S4 and just wondered how you got on. Do you have any videos for what you have? Any info would be great! Thanks,Sinead