I can see this being massively useful for streamers as you mentioned, a lot have been using elgato lights in the past for the connectivity to the streamdeck
Finally! Maybe not as useful for pros, but for streamers who bought into Amaran, being able to even just turn them on and off with a Stream Deck is a massive win. Though having to have a full-blown app running instead of just a little utility just to be able to use the Stream Deck is a bummer. I may just keep using smart plugs instead.
This is awesome. I'm planning on incorporating my streamdeck into my DJ system, and now this app makes it convenient to also control some of my video lights. Next step, only have video lights that also work as my party lights as well 😅 Thanks!
This takes me back to working the light board in my community theater days, except it was all analog and hot lights that we had to gel for any color changes.
Very excited for this as I've been using the iOS Sidus Link app on my Mac. I installed and imported my lights from my account, but can't seem to get any to connect. :(
@@curtisjudd Yep, finally did that... annoying to have to do on tons of lights. Very confusing when all of the lights get automatically imported from Sidus Cloud.
This might be the way for smaller, modern churches trying update their lighting. 4-6 Amaran 150c or 300c and a few P4C lights on the platform all controlled by the app would be a lot less expensive than upgrading to full on DMX spot lights, wash lights, movers, and effect or accent lights.
This app is huge. I have to set this up on my Razer Streaming Controller ... it's better than stream deck cause it has 6 analog knobs. They also released new amaran app for iphone and android. And seems it's much better than Sidus Link ....
Interesting, there is a lot going on here in a short video. I would like to stake the position that DMX primarily refers to a lighting control methodology(hardware, topology, and protocol) for digital control of lighting. With the key distinguishing feature being the reliability for professional use along with modular expansion and scalability. (Wireless DMX is still a 'recent' evolution from the traditionally wired DMX). Light sequence programming is a software app (or software wired into dedicated lightboard hardware) that can communicate with DMX, but also other lighting control solutions from relays to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or proprietary mechanisms like SidusLink. It is more "affordable lighting control" than "affordable DMX"? Lastly, tactile controls, such as professional consoles or consumer button boards like Streamdeck and others, provide a way to interact with software apps through physical controls. Personally, I would think some of the lesser-known (and more expensive) Streamdeck competitors that include rotary dials and physical levers in addition to buttons might be a better choice. In any case, those new to DIY/consumer tactical controls might be interested to know there is a software app that emulates a physical streamdeck available for free (I think from Streamdeck itself?) that provides an easy way to test out whether a Streamdeck is the right solution.
How stable is this? After a computer restart will everything still work? Do you just leave the lights on and like 4 weeks later we'll they still respond? Elgato's own lights don't seem to stay online and I have A lot of them deployed in situations where the user needs to press the button for them to turn on and go live on TV and they just don't come on You need a power cycle then or something they call off the network because their Wi-Fi only Even though they're plugged in via USB to the computer for power
Is there a way to get all aperture lights to work on the stream deck? Sinus link is cool and all but I really would love some stream deck integration for studios
Awesome for people who use DMX! But that's not me. The thing I've wanted for a while is a direct way to control a dimmer from the basic Sidus app coordinated with the rest of their lights, such as a practical. My understanding is that DMX dimmers are available, and this system would work for that, but I'd rather just pay Aputure for a Sidus controlled dimmer box. Maybe someday!
Interesting. A) How is it communicating? Is the Mac's Bluetooth talking to all the lights? Like an IOS device would. B) And why not Sidus Desktop? Seems weird for them to invest branding into the 'lower' brand. Is there any limitation between the Amaran & Aperture lights as far as you've tested?
It communicates via Bluetooth, yes. 2) This is a more simplified app aimed more at the types of users who use amaran rather than Aputure lights. They're making a move at differentiating the two lines - amaran for creators, Aputure for more professional scenarios.
Have been asking them about this forever, glad to see it finally coming even if simplified. My guess is they have started with Amaran to test before going to their more pro oriented Sidus Link branding. For Mac Apple silicon another alternative is using the Sidus Link / Sidus Link Pro apps for iOS / iPadOS and install on the desktop. But the stream deck connection is very welcome! Hoping one day we'll see something coming, hacked or not, to Home Assistant.
Thanks for this fast review. First I was very happy to see this. But some bugs make the app pretty unusable for me. I have a MacBook Pro and adding devices (2x 300c, some PT tubes, and a few Aputure LS lights, the 300x and 600x) was no problem with the Mac version. But on Windows I could not make any connection at all. Tried to find solutions in the faqs but there is almost nothing to find on the Amaran/Aputure site. Am I the only one with connection problems on the Windows version? A big disappointment for me was that the app can’t control the light on music beats. The Sidus app can do this and I use it all the time. This app is potentially a good addition but is not yet ready for use in practice.
@@bertrandschmitt7292thanks for your help. The firmware was and is up to date. I keep on working on Sidus and Ihope the new Sidus pro app with Sidus link offers a better solution for my mix of Aputure (dmx) lights and mesh Amaran lights. On location I would like to use Sidus pro on iPad.
The transition problems are to be expected. Godox DMX is not smooth either. Theatrical lights have smooth 10bit dimming because they are designed for live changes and can do usable dimming to black for the camera. The category we are dealing with here is for quick changes between shots, something that is still very useful, especially if you have 40 or 50 lights. You can emulate a switch on camera but even this may require a cut in post.
@@_fabian_3486 10 bit is enough for linear but it has to be true. A led with 0 to 100 may be 4% at 1% which is 40 times greater than a true 10bit step. 12bit can emulate curves with good precision. 16bit can eliminate even traces of quantization. It is better than any camera. If they can fit 12cm fans it is ok but fanless is amazing. I only use fanless lights because they work in small spaces and low ceilings.
@@_fabian_3486 My main application of better dimming would be actual dimming not live changes. Godox can only drop 5 stops vs 100% and even though I get low power versions I sometimes need to scrim or even ND extra stops. A very powerful light with such a dimmer would be very impractical.
That's very neat, thanks for sharing this idea! I'd actually like hear your review of the Godox Knowled app. I hear it can control any light with CRMX, regardless of their brand. That sounds great in theory but as I don't currently own any CRMX lights, I can't test that myself. I believe there are some competing apps as well. Please consider it :)
@@curtisjudd I’m sure they will but as you said you can control aputure light with this app as well so it’s probably a stop gap till they implement it in Sidus link or pro
A amaran smart wall switch would be really cool to see for a permanent set situation, a lot of people have there lights setup with those Amazon remote to avoid opening the app all the time, this is kinda a way to avoid using the app so much too
Just tried it - works well. Before that I tried to control my aputure lights from a phone and it was inconvenient. It's a pity that they abandoned those small remote controls. There are already many tasks for phones in the studio - you may need a phone or tablet for notes, for a prompter, it would also be nice to have, you know... a personal phone not occupied by this nonsense, and besides, lighting manufacturers are not the only ones who make control via apps - now even pocket recorders have apps. I’m not sure that the move away from remote controls is a progress, rather the manufacturer is saving money.
I agree on mobile devices and trying to switch between apps to control all different on-set gear. This feels like a better solution for certain situations, maybe more studio based or where you have a specific need to quickly change scenes/shortcuts.
I can see this being massively useful for streamers as you mentioned, a lot have been using elgato lights in the past for the connectivity to the streamdeck
👍
Finally! Maybe not as useful for pros, but for streamers who bought into Amaran, being able to even just turn them on and off with a Stream Deck is a massive win. Though having to have a full-blown app running instead of just a little utility just to be able to use the Stream Deck is a bummer. I may just keep using smart plugs instead.
Maybe not a solution for that use case, but for others 🤷♂️
This is awesome. I'm planning on incorporating my streamdeck into my DJ system, and now this app makes it convenient to also control some of my video lights.
Next step, only have video lights that also work as my party lights as well 😅
Thanks!
👍🪩
This is excellent & opens up a new options
👍
❤ur content❤ even though i am not a pro just an amateur
I just appreciate the quality thoroughness and scientific method and analysis
🙏
Thanks for keeping us apprised. Cheers.
👍
Y E S !!!!!! I’ve been looking for something like this forever. Perfect for a dungeons and dragons game
Oooh! That'd be a cool D&D experience!
This takes me back to working the light board in my community theater days, except it was all analog and hot lights that we had to gel for any color changes.
👍
Very excited for this as I've been using the iOS Sidus Link app on my Mac. I installed and imported my lights from my account, but can't seem to get any to connect. :(
You have to do a Bluetooth reset on each light the first time.
@@curtisjudd Yep, finally did that... annoying to have to do on tons of lights. Very confusing when all of the lights get automatically imported from Sidus Cloud.
@@skymakai Yeah, not perfect yet, that's for sure.
i have a amaran cob light and 2 GVM flat panel lights if only one app could control them all lol.. This app looks nice.. thanks for the video..
👍
This might be the way for smaller, modern churches trying update their lighting. 4-6 Amaran 150c or 300c and a few P4C lights on the platform all controlled by the app would be a lot less expensive than upgrading to full on DMX spot lights, wash lights, movers, and effect or accent lights.
Maybe so.
This app is huge. I have to set this up on my Razer Streaming Controller ... it's better than stream deck cause it has 6 analog knobs.
They also released new amaran app for iphone and android. And seems it's much better than Sidus Link ....
👍 this app has a bit less functionality vs Sidus Link but that may change over time.
Nice! I can't find the link to buy the streamdeck el gato, do you have it?
Sorry about that - just added a link to the Stream Decks in the description of the video for you. 🙏
Interesting, there is a lot going on here in a short video. I would like to stake the position that DMX primarily refers to a lighting control methodology(hardware, topology, and protocol) for digital control of lighting. With the key distinguishing feature being the reliability for professional use along with modular expansion and scalability. (Wireless DMX is still a 'recent' evolution from the traditionally wired DMX).
Light sequence programming is a software app (or software wired into dedicated lightboard hardware) that can communicate with DMX, but also other lighting control solutions from relays to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or proprietary mechanisms like SidusLink. It is more "affordable lighting control" than "affordable DMX"?
Lastly, tactile controls, such as professional consoles or consumer button boards like Streamdeck and others, provide a way to interact with software apps through physical controls.
Personally, I would think some of the lesser-known (and more expensive) Streamdeck competitors that include rotary dials and physical levers in addition to buttons might be a better choice.
In any case, those new to DIY/consumer tactical controls might be interested to know there is a software app that emulates a physical streamdeck available for free (I think from Streamdeck itself?) that provides an easy way to test out whether a Streamdeck is the right solution.
Thanks for the insights 👍
How stable is this? After a computer restart will everything still work? Do you just leave the lights on and like 4 weeks later we'll they still respond? Elgato's own lights don't seem to stay online and I have A lot of them deployed in situations where the user needs to press the button for them to turn on and go live on TV and they just don't come on You need a power cycle then or something they call off the network because their Wi-Fi only Even though they're plugged in via USB to the computer for power
You have to manually turn on the lights, but they reconnected to the app even after a reboot for me.
Is there a way to get all aperture lights to work on the stream deck? Sinus link is cool and all but I really would love some stream deck integration for studios
As long as the lights are Sidus Link capable, they work with this app.
Awesome for people who use DMX! But that's not me. The thing I've wanted for a while is a direct way to control a dimmer from the basic Sidus app coordinated with the rest of their lights, such as a practical. My understanding is that DMX dimmers are available, and this system would work for that, but I'd rather just pay Aputure for a Sidus controlled dimmer box. Maybe someday!
I think this can do that, Tom.
Interesting.
A) How is it communicating? Is the Mac's Bluetooth talking to all the lights? Like an IOS device would.
B) And why not Sidus Desktop? Seems weird for them to invest branding into the 'lower' brand. Is there any limitation between the Amaran & Aperture lights as far as you've tested?
It communicates via Bluetooth, yes. 2) This is a more simplified app aimed more at the types of users who use amaran rather than Aputure lights. They're making a move at differentiating the two lines - amaran for creators, Aputure for more professional scenarios.
Have been asking them about this forever, glad to see it finally coming even if simplified. My guess is they have started with Amaran to test before going to their more pro oriented Sidus Link branding. For Mac Apple silicon another alternative is using the Sidus Link / Sidus Link Pro apps for iOS / iPadOS and install on the desktop. But the stream deck connection is very welcome! Hoping one day we'll see something coming, hacked or not, to Home Assistant.
Amaran broke off from Aputure.
Thanks for this fast review. First I was very happy to see this. But some bugs make the app pretty unusable for me. I have a MacBook Pro and adding devices (2x 300c, some PT tubes, and a few Aputure LS lights, the 300x and 600x) was no problem with the Mac version. But on Windows I could not make any connection at all. Tried to find solutions in the faqs but there is almost nothing to find on the Amaran/Aputure site. Am I the only one with connection problems on the Windows version?
A big disappointment for me was that the app can’t control the light on music beats. The Sidus app can do this and I use it all the time.
This app is potentially a good addition but is not yet ready for use in practice.
I haven’t tried the Windows version, our computers are all Mac. Hopefully that can be fixed!
try upgrading the firmware of all lights first
@@bertrandschmitt7292thanks for your help. The firmware was and is up to date. I keep on working on Sidus and Ihope the new Sidus pro app with Sidus link offers a better solution for my mix of Aputure (dmx) lights and mesh Amaran lights. On location I would like to use Sidus pro on iPad.
Can you plug one of their sinus link controllers into the computer to have it be a little bit more capable/stable?
I don’t believe so…
The transition problems are to be expected. Godox DMX is not smooth either. Theatrical lights have smooth 10bit dimming because they are designed for live changes and can do usable dimming to black for the camera. The category we are dealing with here is for quick changes between shots, something that is still very useful, especially if you have 40 or 50 lights. You can emulate a switch on camera but even this may require a cut in post.
Yes, may be, and agreed - still useful for switching scenes/shortcuts.
A lot of the better theatrical fixtures support 16bit dimming 🙂
And are built without fans or big nearly noiseless fans…
@@_fabian_3486 10 bit is enough for linear but it has to be true. A led with 0 to 100 may be 4% at 1% which is 40 times greater than a true 10bit step. 12bit can emulate curves with good precision. 16bit can eliminate even traces of quantization. It is better than any camera.
If they can fit 12cm fans it is ok but fanless is amazing. I only use fanless lights because they work in small spaces and low ceilings.
@@_fabian_3486 My main application of better dimming would be actual dimming not live changes. Godox can only drop 5 stops vs 100% and even though I get low power versions I sometimes need to scrim or even ND extra stops. A very powerful light with such a dimmer would be very impractical.
That's very neat, thanks for sharing this idea!
I'd actually like hear your review of the Godox Knowled app. I hear it can control any light with CRMX, regardless of their brand. That sounds great in theory but as I don't currently own any CRMX lights, I can't test that myself. I believe there are some competing apps as well. Please consider it :)
👍
Awesome for so many reason, DP in village can just adjust on the fly from a stream deck while previewing the image from the monitors
Hopefully a similar thing for Sidus Link is coming?
@@curtisjudd I’m sure they will but as you said you can control aputure light with this app as well so it’s probably a stop gap till they implement it in Sidus link or pro
A amaran smart wall switch would be really cool to see for a permanent set situation, a lot of people have there lights setup with those Amazon remote to avoid opening the app all the time, this is kinda a way to avoid using the app so much too
Just tried it - works well.
Before that I tried to control my aputure lights from a phone and it was inconvenient. It's a pity that they abandoned those small remote controls. There are already many tasks for phones in the studio - you may need a phone or tablet for notes, for a prompter, it would also be nice to have, you know... a personal phone not occupied by this nonsense, and besides, lighting manufacturers are not the only ones who make control via apps - now even pocket recorders have apps. I’m not sure that the move away from remote controls is a progress, rather the manufacturer is saving money.
I agree on mobile devices and trying to switch between apps to control all different on-set gear. This feels like a better solution for certain situations, maybe more studio based or where you have a specific need to quickly change scenes/shortcuts.
The Sidus link app also disconnects from the fixtures when you lock your phone.
me, having gone all in on nanlite a while back: I've made a huge mistake
Oh no!
I think a lot of Nanlite products can be controlled with DMX with USB adapter cables and DMX is an older, more universal standard for lighting design.
@@monodistortion Fair point, if you're ok with cables.
Love you stuff Curtis but I don't have the background to grock.
Sorry about that and thanks!