Hardware
Syne runs on your computer and talks to whatever DMX gear you have. Here's what works, and what we've tried ourselves.
DMX interfaces
You need one of these between the computer and your lights. Syne finds a USB interface when it's plugged in; network ones get an address in Lights, Output.
| Kind | Good for | Notes | Tried by us |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain USB DMX dongle FT232 chip, often sold as "Open DMX" | Getting started, mobile rigs, one universe | The cheapest way in. Syne makes the DMX signal itself. On Windows it may need the FTDI VCP driver. | Yes |
| Enttec DMX USB Pro | A sturdier single universe; finding and addressing lights (RDM) | Has its own processor, so timing doesn't depend on the computer. | Not yet |
| Art-Net node e.g. Enttec ODE, DMXking eDMX | Several universes, long cable runs, lights far from the booth | Connect over Ethernet. Many nodes also do RDM. | Through QLC+ only |
| sACN (E1.31) node | Venues already on sACN | Multicast by default, or a fixed address. | Not yet |
If your lights hang far away or there are many of them, a network node near the lights is more reliable than a long USB cable. Keep USB cables short (under 5 m).
Audio input (for Listen)
Listen follows the mix by sound. Feed it the mixer's booth or record output, at line level.
- Mac: Macs have no line input, so use any class-compliant USB audio interface with a line or instrument input. A small 2-in interface is plenty.
- Windows: a line-in jack works if the computer has one; a USB audio interface is cleaner.
- Syne sets its own input level as the night goes, so you don't need to match levels exactly. Avoid a mic in the room: it hears the crowd too.
DJ players (for Follow decks)
- Pioneer DJ / AlphaTheta players and all-in-one units with Pro DJ Link. Tried by us on the XDJ-AZ.
- Connect the computer to the same network as the players: an Ethernet cable into the players' hub, switch or router is the most reliable. Wi-Fi works but adds lag.
- Other gear (Denon, controllers, laptops only): use Listen.
Computer
- Mac: Apple Silicon (M1 or later). Intel Macs can't run Syne.
- Windows: 64-bit Windows 10 or 11.
- Analysis takes about 40 seconds a song on an M1-class Mac. Each song's finished show takes about half a megabyte.