Lighting Consoles

Professional lighting consoles from Avolites and ChamSys, spanning compact QuickQ desks for single-operator venue work up to Diamond 7 and Diamond 9 flagships specified for arena and festival duty, with ADJ covering entry-level control.

The two ecosystems take different approaches. Avolites desks run Titan software, so a T3 controller, an Arena Live and a Diamond 9 share the same showfile and syntax, which matters when programmers move between rigs or a show scales up. ChamSys splits between QuickQ, a deliberately simple touchscreen platform for venues where different staff operate night to night, and MagicQ for full theatrical and touring programming; MagicQ wings and interfaces also turn a laptop into a working console for pre-vis and smaller shows. DIN-rail and rack-format versions of QuickQ and MagicQ handle installed systems where the console lives in a cupboard rather than at front of house. Weigh up universe count against the rig you actually patch, physical playbacks against how you like to busk, and whether a bundle with a carry case or Peli case makes sense for a desk that will tour.

Console choice tends to be a long-term ecosystem decision, so it is worth talking through showfile compatibility and training implications with someone who programmes on these platforms before committing.

Lighting Console FAQs

Avolites or ChamSys? Avolites runs Titan across every desk, one showfile and syntax from T3 to Diamond 9, which matters when shows scale or programmers move. ChamSys splits between deliberately-simple QuickQ and the full MagicQ platform. Both are professional standards; the choice is workflow.

What should a venue with one operator buy? QuickQ or a compact Titan desk, enough console that the rig grows without a relearn, simple enough for visiting staff. Talk to us with your fixture count.

Do I even need a console? Under a dozen generic fixtures, maybe not, see DMX controllers for the smaller answer.