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REVIEWED
REVIEWED: Chamsys QuickQ 20
I have always been an Avolites guy when it comes to lighting control; it was the first DMX software I used and I've stuck with it ever since. Other than non-software-based consoles, I had never used any other lighting control solutions for any of my jobs, so it was a welcome surprise and a fresh challenge when I was asked to review the ChamSys QuickQ 20.
ChamSys started out in 2003, solely focussed on making cutting-edge, innovative lighting control solutions at the onset of an exciting new era of software-based consoles. In 2006, they introduced their MagicQ software to provide lighting operators the hardware-based solution they’d used throughout their careers whilst quickly adapting to the extensive range of features the software enabled. This was followed by the MagicQ Pro range in 2007 for the all-in-one solution the market needed, and which solidified ChamSys’ place within the market.
Since then, the company has been at the forefront of market-leading solutions that meet the needs of modern operators. MagicQ is a fully established range of consoles within the event production world, and now the company is moving into the smaller market in which we all operate, whilst retaining its focus on the extensive features associated with the MagicQ consoles.
Enter the QuickQ series.
Launched in 2018, the QuickQ series comprises three software-based lighting control consoles: the QuickQ 10, QuickQ 30 and QuickQ 20 (which won the PLSN Gold Star Product award for Best Lighting Console that same year). As the name suggests, the consoles are fast and easy-to-use, utilising a number of features that have secured the MagicQ consoles’ success for almost two decades.
Despite the comprehensive feature set found on the QuickQ 20, ChamSys have managed to maintain a small footprint compared to similar consoles. The product measures 56cm wide and 35cm deep whilst only being 10.6cm tall and weighing just over 5kg! In the box you’ll find a USB lamp with a flexible yet sturdy gooseneck, a dust cover, a tablet holder and an antenna. Power comes from a 12V power supply. And there is an optional extra in the form of a high-quality flight case with foam inlays for all accessories.
The QuickQ 20 features two independent DMX universes for a total 1024 channels, allowing you to control the most advanced lighting fixtures. Fixtures can be patched onto either universe through the ‘patch’ screen, as each lighting fixture is added to a show file. Patching is as simple as searching the library (over 35,000 fixtures organised by manufacturer and model) and selecting the channel mode in which you want to run the fixture.
The desk will assign it to the next available channel in your DMX line, or you can set the address manually, and in a matter of seconds the fixture is patched.
Once your fixtures are patched, you can move onto controlling them. To the left of the desk, a bank of 20 multi-function faders allow for quick control of each fixture regardless of which screen the desk is showing. These faders are used to control the intensity (dimming) of each fixture and selection within the desk’s programmer, but are also used to control groups of fixtures and can also turn those same faders into extra executable faders to record cues.
These modes can all be changed via three buttons directly to the right of the faders, allowing quick changes between all three modes, which makes programming a doddle. Below the 9.7in touchscreen are 10 playbacks, which can be used for Cues, Chases and Theatrical style Cue Stacks. For a desk as compact as this, that’s a lot of physical control but nowhere near the limit of cues that can be recorded on the QuickQ 20.
The ‘execute’ window boasts a grid size of up to 10 x 10 squares, allowing up to 100 extra cues to be recorded, and they can be linked together to prevent cues clashing. Each cue can be disabled if it’s not needed and multiple cues can be fired simultaneously. QuickQ also supports many remote protocols which can be used to control both playbacks and executes, including OSC, MIDI or even remotely when connected to the 10Scene Gateway and 10Scene wall plates (sold separately). This makes the QuickQ an efficient and hassle-free solution for installations too.
Navigating the programmer is very simple. The ‘intensity’ page gives you a visual representation of how bright each fixture is, regardless of whether they’re selected or if they’re fired in a cue.
This screen can also be used to select each fixture and to proceed to the next pages in the programmer. One such page is ‘position’, which enables the rotary encoders beside the screen to control the pan and tilt of your moving heads, scanners, barrel effects and more. The screen also shows a trackpad that provides full control of the X and Y axis at the same time, which proves to be very easy for tracking or simple positioning. Another cool little feature is the ‘fan’ mode. Simply put, it increases or decreases the spread of each fixture on either axis, resulting in a fanning effect that looks similar to a paper fan. This is great for spreading out multiple moving head beams overhead or pulling them all into a central position, without having to adjust each individual fixture’s parameters.
My personal favourite feature is the colour screen. The full colour picker can either be adjusted by moving the crosshair via the touch screen or using the ‘col mix’ encoders at the bottom of the desk. Each of these serve different purposes, with one to control the hue and move around the circumference of the wheel, while a second wheel determines the saturation on the colours. No saturation will bring the crosshair to white in the very middle of the wheel and full saturation allows full colour mixing without washing out each colour. Not only is this cool to experiment with in cues, but it lets you replicate pastel and secondary or tertiary colours without needing to control individual RGB channels, although each channel can be found beside the colour picker if required.
To get a little more in depth, the colour engine is also capable of recalling colours to closely match Lee, Rosco and Apollo gels with LED fixtures – all of which can be recorded into cues and palettes. A nifty feature with the colour window is that the RGB LED indicators above the faders will also replicate the same colour the respective fixture is showing, regardless of whether it’s being controlled from the programmer or another cue. This extends to the colour FX engine, but I will touch on that more in just a second.
The final page is the ‘beam’ page, which controls parameters for any gobos and prisms. Gobo selection is incredibly simple, as the matching personality for the fixture will probably have icons for each gobo, taking out the guesswork. This multi-touch display also allows you to control gobo rotation, prism rotation, zoom, focus, shutter (such as strobe or pulse controls), frost filters and special channels for lamping fixtures on or off, resetting individual parameters or an entire fixture, should these apply to the lighting fixtures being used. You can record any of these as cues to quickly return to a particular effect when needed.
All these effects can be automated in either chases or through the QuickQ FX engine. Each attribute has its own range of editable chases with adjustable parameters for things like movement, colour fades, gobo steps and a whole lot more. Each page has a tab labelled ‘effects’ which brings up a grid of available modes to run, depending on the fixture selected. In another nod to the colour indicators on the fixture faders, whenever a fixture or group of fixtures is in the colour FX engine, the direction, speed, and steps can all be interpreted from the indicators above. When programming moving heads on the fly this helps to determine which fixture is at which step in the chase, without needing to stop all movement and wander in front of the rig (a tedious task whilst programming). Again, these can also be shown regardless of whether the fixtures are selected in the programmer or fired from a cue.
Cues can be recorded from the programmer by hitting ‘record’ on the toolbar at the top and simply selecting where you want to store the cue to fire later. After that, the QuickQ software prompts you to name it for future reference, although this is optional and it is still possible to program instead of having to dismiss the prompt first, which after a while, could get very annoying when programming from scratch. To turn each cue into a chase, follow the steps again. Recording onto the same cue will add a separate cue to the list. This is the simplest and quickest way I have seen on ANY desk to create a chase or cue list, and stands testament to what ChamSys set out to create with the QuickQ series. Double tapping the name on each cue brings us to the cue list, showing each individual cue but also allowing control over fade times, cue names and comments for each.
It also allows you to select how each cue is triggered, which by default will be to wait for the ‘go’ signal before it fires. But these can be changed to fire after the previous cue or at the same time as the previous cue, depending on the use for each.
Digging a little deeper into the console reveals a lot more. The best option, in my opinion, is to enable a wireless network from the desk itself, which can be used in conjunction with the QuickQ Remote app (available on App Store, Google Play for phones/tablets as well as on Windows and Mac based PC/Laptops) for wireless control. This not only saves the need for extra networking equipment like routers or access points, but also allows you to quickly enable a secondary screen. This is done simply by enabling the Wi-Fi network from the desk, connecting to it from an Android or iOS device, and then either scanning the QR code from the app or searching for the console on the network. Within a matter of minutes, the QuickQ 20 can have a fully functioning Wi-Fi network for monitoring and control through an external device – a feature not commonly found on most desks currently on the market.
So that’s an overview on the desk and what it can do, but I guess it all boils down to an actual road test. And with that came the challenge. Jack Wilson (Kent Media Group’s director) and I were booked for an event the day after I received the desk from ChamSys. The challenge? Learn QuickQ and program the whole show in less than 22 hours.
As I said, I have never touched a ChamSys desk in my life, so before I could start programming I had to learn an entire user interface and workflow. Thankfully the QuickQ software gives prompts to guide you, starting with a completely blank show and flowing through all the workspaces in an easy-to-follow way.
As soon as my fixtures were patched in, I had all the control I needed to record new cues, chases and colour. This was all handled in a matter of minutes – 17 minutes, to be precise! This is exactly what ChamSys set out to do when releasing the QuickQ series. They wanted to build an innovative control solution that can be used by anybody, regardless of how much the user knows about DMX as a protocol or even just lighting control in general. Ultimately, the event went without a hitch, and I even found that the QuickQ 20 took considerably less time to pack away than the Avolites console I am currently used to.
I also took the QuickQ 20 to a SEDA meeting in Kent to show members and guests just how easy it is to program. The show, which included LED beam moving heads and RGB wireless uplighting, was created and fully programmed in less than 10 minutes. There were a lot of compliments from those with all levels of experience, who only needed to glance over the desk to understand the potential the QuickQ series offers.
The product is a hit and the cherry on top is the aftersales care on offer from ChamSys’ UK office. Each QuickQ console is backed by their 24-month warranty, active from the date of purchase. Details for QuickQ and MagicQ training can be found on their website along with online video tutorials, bug tracking to help with stable software development, software updates, and fixture library releases for new fixtures and personality updates.
The company’s constant product development, evolving technologies, incredible customer service and in-depth understanding of user needs have helped ChamSys’ QuickQ series find a firm place in the market, ensuring the QuickQ 20 will be a viable solution for many years to come.
ChamSys started out in 2003, solely focussed on making cutting-edge, innovative lighting control solutions at the onset of an exciting new era of software-based consoles. In 2006, they introduced their MagicQ software to provide lighting operators the hardware-based solution they’d used throughout their careers whilst quickly adapting to the extensive range of features the software enabled. This was followed by the MagicQ Pro range in 2007 for the all-in-one solution the market needed, and which solidified ChamSys’ place within the market.
Since then, the company has been at the forefront of market-leading solutions that meet the needs of modern operators. MagicQ is a fully established range of consoles within the event production world, and now the company is moving into the smaller market in which we all operate, whilst retaining its focus on the extensive features associated with the MagicQ consoles.
Enter the QuickQ series.
Launched in 2018, the QuickQ series comprises three software-based lighting control consoles: the QuickQ 10, QuickQ 30 and QuickQ 20 (which won the PLSN Gold Star Product award for Best Lighting Console that same year). As the name suggests, the consoles are fast and easy-to-use, utilising a number of features that have secured the MagicQ consoles’ success for almost two decades.
Despite the comprehensive feature set found on the QuickQ 20, ChamSys have managed to maintain a small footprint compared to similar consoles. The product measures 56cm wide and 35cm deep whilst only being 10.6cm tall and weighing just over 5kg! In the box you’ll find a USB lamp with a flexible yet sturdy gooseneck, a dust cover, a tablet holder and an antenna. Power comes from a 12V power supply. And there is an optional extra in the form of a high-quality flight case with foam inlays for all accessories.
The QuickQ 20 features two independent DMX universes for a total 1024 channels, allowing you to control the most advanced lighting fixtures. Fixtures can be patched onto either universe through the ‘patch’ screen, as each lighting fixture is added to a show file. Patching is as simple as searching the library (over 35,000 fixtures organised by manufacturer and model) and selecting the channel mode in which you want to run the fixture.
The desk will assign it to the next available channel in your DMX line, or you can set the address manually, and in a matter of seconds the fixture is patched.
Once your fixtures are patched, you can move onto controlling them. To the left of the desk, a bank of 20 multi-function faders allow for quick control of each fixture regardless of which screen the desk is showing. These faders are used to control the intensity (dimming) of each fixture and selection within the desk’s programmer, but are also used to control groups of fixtures and can also turn those same faders into extra executable faders to record cues.
These modes can all be changed via three buttons directly to the right of the faders, allowing quick changes between all three modes, which makes programming a doddle. Below the 9.7in touchscreen are 10 playbacks, which can be used for Cues, Chases and Theatrical style Cue Stacks. For a desk as compact as this, that’s a lot of physical control but nowhere near the limit of cues that can be recorded on the QuickQ 20.
The ‘execute’ window boasts a grid size of up to 10 x 10 squares, allowing up to 100 extra cues to be recorded, and they can be linked together to prevent cues clashing. Each cue can be disabled if it’s not needed and multiple cues can be fired simultaneously. QuickQ also supports many remote protocols which can be used to control both playbacks and executes, including OSC, MIDI or even remotely when connected to the 10Scene Gateway and 10Scene wall plates (sold separately). This makes the QuickQ an efficient and hassle-free solution for installations too.
Navigating the programmer is very simple. The ‘intensity’ page gives you a visual representation of how bright each fixture is, regardless of whether they’re selected or if they’re fired in a cue.
This screen can also be used to select each fixture and to proceed to the next pages in the programmer. One such page is ‘position’, which enables the rotary encoders beside the screen to control the pan and tilt of your moving heads, scanners, barrel effects and more. The screen also shows a trackpad that provides full control of the X and Y axis at the same time, which proves to be very easy for tracking or simple positioning. Another cool little feature is the ‘fan’ mode. Simply put, it increases or decreases the spread of each fixture on either axis, resulting in a fanning effect that looks similar to a paper fan. This is great for spreading out multiple moving head beams overhead or pulling them all into a central position, without having to adjust each individual fixture’s parameters.
My personal favourite feature is the colour screen. The full colour picker can either be adjusted by moving the crosshair via the touch screen or using the ‘col mix’ encoders at the bottom of the desk. Each of these serve different purposes, with one to control the hue and move around the circumference of the wheel, while a second wheel determines the saturation on the colours. No saturation will bring the crosshair to white in the very middle of the wheel and full saturation allows full colour mixing without washing out each colour. Not only is this cool to experiment with in cues, but it lets you replicate pastel and secondary or tertiary colours without needing to control individual RGB channels, although each channel can be found beside the colour picker if required.
To get a little more in depth, the colour engine is also capable of recalling colours to closely match Lee, Rosco and Apollo gels with LED fixtures – all of which can be recorded into cues and palettes. A nifty feature with the colour window is that the RGB LED indicators above the faders will also replicate the same colour the respective fixture is showing, regardless of whether it’s being controlled from the programmer or another cue. This extends to the colour FX engine, but I will touch on that more in just a second.
The final page is the ‘beam’ page, which controls parameters for any gobos and prisms. Gobo selection is incredibly simple, as the matching personality for the fixture will probably have icons for each gobo, taking out the guesswork. This multi-touch display also allows you to control gobo rotation, prism rotation, zoom, focus, shutter (such as strobe or pulse controls), frost filters and special channels for lamping fixtures on or off, resetting individual parameters or an entire fixture, should these apply to the lighting fixtures being used. You can record any of these as cues to quickly return to a particular effect when needed.
All these effects can be automated in either chases or through the QuickQ FX engine. Each attribute has its own range of editable chases with adjustable parameters for things like movement, colour fades, gobo steps and a whole lot more. Each page has a tab labelled ‘effects’ which brings up a grid of available modes to run, depending on the fixture selected. In another nod to the colour indicators on the fixture faders, whenever a fixture or group of fixtures is in the colour FX engine, the direction, speed, and steps can all be interpreted from the indicators above. When programming moving heads on the fly this helps to determine which fixture is at which step in the chase, without needing to stop all movement and wander in front of the rig (a tedious task whilst programming). Again, these can also be shown regardless of whether the fixtures are selected in the programmer or fired from a cue.
Cues can be recorded from the programmer by hitting ‘record’ on the toolbar at the top and simply selecting where you want to store the cue to fire later. After that, the QuickQ software prompts you to name it for future reference, although this is optional and it is still possible to program instead of having to dismiss the prompt first, which after a while, could get very annoying when programming from scratch. To turn each cue into a chase, follow the steps again. Recording onto the same cue will add a separate cue to the list. This is the simplest and quickest way I have seen on ANY desk to create a chase or cue list, and stands testament to what ChamSys set out to create with the QuickQ series. Double tapping the name on each cue brings us to the cue list, showing each individual cue but also allowing control over fade times, cue names and comments for each.
It also allows you to select how each cue is triggered, which by default will be to wait for the ‘go’ signal before it fires. But these can be changed to fire after the previous cue or at the same time as the previous cue, depending on the use for each.
Digging a little deeper into the console reveals a lot more. The best option, in my opinion, is to enable a wireless network from the desk itself, which can be used in conjunction with the QuickQ Remote app (available on App Store, Google Play for phones/tablets as well as on Windows and Mac based PC/Laptops) for wireless control. This not only saves the need for extra networking equipment like routers or access points, but also allows you to quickly enable a secondary screen. This is done simply by enabling the Wi-Fi network from the desk, connecting to it from an Android or iOS device, and then either scanning the QR code from the app or searching for the console on the network. Within a matter of minutes, the QuickQ 20 can have a fully functioning Wi-Fi network for monitoring and control through an external device – a feature not commonly found on most desks currently on the market.
So that’s an overview on the desk and what it can do, but I guess it all boils down to an actual road test. And with that came the challenge. Jack Wilson (Kent Media Group’s director) and I were booked for an event the day after I received the desk from ChamSys. The challenge? Learn QuickQ and program the whole show in less than 22 hours.
As I said, I have never touched a ChamSys desk in my life, so before I could start programming I had to learn an entire user interface and workflow. Thankfully the QuickQ software gives prompts to guide you, starting with a completely blank show and flowing through all the workspaces in an easy-to-follow way.
As soon as my fixtures were patched in, I had all the control I needed to record new cues, chases and colour. This was all handled in a matter of minutes – 17 minutes, to be precise! This is exactly what ChamSys set out to do when releasing the QuickQ series. They wanted to build an innovative control solution that can be used by anybody, regardless of how much the user knows about DMX as a protocol or even just lighting control in general. Ultimately, the event went without a hitch, and I even found that the QuickQ 20 took considerably less time to pack away than the Avolites console I am currently used to.
I also took the QuickQ 20 to a SEDA meeting in Kent to show members and guests just how easy it is to program. The show, which included LED beam moving heads and RGB wireless uplighting, was created and fully programmed in less than 10 minutes. There were a lot of compliments from those with all levels of experience, who only needed to glance over the desk to understand the potential the QuickQ series offers.
The product is a hit and the cherry on top is the aftersales care on offer from ChamSys’ UK office. Each QuickQ console is backed by their 24-month warranty, active from the date of purchase. Details for QuickQ and MagicQ training can be found on their website along with online video tutorials, bug tracking to help with stable software development, software updates, and fixture library releases for new fixtures and personality updates.
The company’s constant product development, evolving technologies, incredible customer service and in-depth understanding of user needs have helped ChamSys’ QuickQ series find a firm place in the market, ensuring the QuickQ 20 will be a viable solution for many years to come.
The full review can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 112, Pages 78-82.
