Is MyDMX Any Good?
We live in a wild world of church technology. On one side, we have software driven products for lighting and sound that do things that we could have only dreamed of ten years ago. On the other hand we have new hardware that is road ready, sturdy, and dependable. Most of which are still, often times even more, mind blowing from a tech standpoint. So in a world full of software vs hardware arguments, where does a program like MyDMX fit in? Is it trash? Is it a silent killer? Is MyDMX any good for the church world? Let’s talk pros and cons.
PRO: EASE-OF-ACCESS
Take it from a guy that jumped straight from MyDMX to Avolites Titan. This is a real barrier to entry with volunteers and staff alike. MyDMX has great user interface that nearly any volunteer could learn the basics of in a jiffy. Programming would take a little bit for someone with zero experience to understand, but as far as running pre-made scenes, it doesn’t get any easier than this.
PRO: “WORK LIGHTS”
I didn’t have a better way to word this but the MyDMX dongle actually has a preset button that can recall what I like to call a “work lights” preset. This is particularly handy for the cleaning crew that comes in during the week. Essentially it functions as a light switch. So that’s a super handy, built in, feature.
PRO: THE PRICE
At $300, it’s going to be tough to find a better DMX control than MyDMX. There are other alternatives like LightKey, but the price of ADJ is worth it when I consider the crashes that you get from LightKey.
CON: IT’S SOFTWARE
Since MyDMX is primarily software based, it can run into several factors that you wouldn’t have when using a hardware piece like the higher end Avolites or GrandMA consoles. Things like computer health, operating system, and random updates could cause a potential issue or six. Just make sure you stay on top of taking care of your computer.
CON: THE ADVANCED FEATURES ARE BUGGY
Things like visualization for example are kind of buggy and prone to crashes. Maybe they’ll fix this in later versions. My guess is that if your using a visualizer, you’re probably using a hardware based system anyway though.
CON: INDUSTRY STANDARDS
On one hand, if you’re hosting concerts frequently at your church, there’s a strong chance that the contracted party is bringing their own gear. On the other hand, sometimes they don’t. So if you’re doing a lot of events that someone is bringing in their own lighting tech, MyDMX is probably going to be a frustration point for them. I would suggest if you’re hosting these types of conferences or events, splurge for the GrandMA.
IS MYDMX ANY GOOD? ITJUST DEPENDS.
So as far as lighting with software goes, I would highly recommend MyDMX if you’re on a budget or want to just stay away from hardware consoles. Just know be aware of it’s limitations and work around them the best that you can for your specific need. Not every church needs a GrandMA or Avolites console.
