a guide to the various software DMX options and features.Overview:\n\nTry before you buy: all mentionned software can be downloaded before you buy it. Download cheap options and expensive to contrast.\n\nFeatures:\n\nEasy to learn: Is it easy to learn. Does it sacrifice features in order to be easy?\n\n3D visualizer: What is the quality of the 3D Visualizer. Can it display all fixture types you want, are there any limitations (such as displaying lasers)\n\nLive speed adjustments: Can you adjust the speed of a program in a live scenario.\n -Sound Active: To the beat of the music?\n -by tapping: by clicking the mouse, spacebar etc.\n -manual slider: by percentage of the original speed\n\nTransparent Cues: Can you setup multiple programs that effect specific elements of a fixture (gobo, color, strobe etc) In order to maximize flexibility in your light show.\n\nBoundary Adjustments: Can you change the pan/tilt boundaries of any particular program to match thedimensions of the venue.\n\nColor mixing: Does the software display a visual representation of the colors in your wash light fixtures\n\nTimeline: Can you synchronize your light show to react at specific points in a music or video file.\n\nTriggers: How many types of triggers can you use to trigger yourlight programs\n -keyboard: by a keyboard key\n -time: at a specific time\n -MIDI: via MIDI commands inside the computer or externally\n -Input DMX: Via DMX signals from external hardware controllers\n\nKeyboard Grouping: Can you group fixtures together to make it faster to change common attributes across those fixtures (gobo, color etc)Input options: Can you hook up an external controller to override the software or to re-route channels for flexibility of control.Standalone mode: Can you upload a light program in order to leave your PC behind\n\nAuto generator/effects: Does it have generators that will automatically create tedious elements of program such as movement patterns, or changing of gobos at x intervals.\n\n\nSoftware Options:\nFreestyler: http://www.freestylerdmx.be\nLightfactory: http://www.lifact.com\nADJ myDMX: http://www.americandj.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ItemNumber=1773&Category=Daslight: http://www.daslight.comLumidesk: http://www.lumidesk.comPCDJ DMX: http://pcdj.com/products/hardware/dmx/Elation Compu Live: http://elationlighting.com/product.asp?ProductIDNumber=1396Chauvet ShowXpress/Sweetlight: http://www.thelightingcontroller.comMartin Light jockey: http://www.martin.com/service/service.asp?support=Martin&category=ALL&cDiscussion: http://start.prodj.com/viewtopic.php?t=45763&start=15&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight= controllers, dj, dmx, external, features, fullspectrumm, hardware, jockey, light, lighting, midi, mobile, mydmx, showxpress, software