Obsidian Control Systems’ Onyx platform \u2014 the NX-series consoles paired with the free Onyx software descended from Martin’s M-Series and M-PC \u2014 is one of the great value stories in lighting control. Free, genuinely capable software plus affordable hardware make it a real alternative to ChamSys for budget and live work, and that pairing is what keeps operators recommending it. Here is an honest round-up of what operators actually report, framed as community synthesis rather than a hands-on test.<\/p>\n
A synthesis of recurring opinions across English-speaking communities (r\/lightingdesign, ControlBooth) and Onyx operators. See also our DMX software guide<\/a>. The consistent framing here is “what operators report,” not a first-hand bench review.<\/p>\n The headline everywhere: Onyx is free and genuinely full-featured, with free DMX output up to a number of universes before you pay for anything. Like ChamSys, that makes it a superb way to learn the platform and run real shows without a software bill. Operators repeatedly frame it as removing the biggest barrier to entry \u2014 you can sit down with the whole environment at home and only spend money when you need more output.<\/p>\n Operators rate Onyx highly for fast, live operation. The workflow is described as approachable and quick to busk once you know it, which is why it shows up on budget and mid-level live gigs where hands-on, on-the-fly control matters more than deep pre-programming.<\/p>\n The NX1 and NX2 consoles and the NX wings bring real console control \u2014 physical faders, encoders and a proper surface \u2014 at prices operators consider accessible, backed by Elation\/Obsidian. For anyone who has learned on the free software, stepping up to matching hardware is a natural, affordable move.<\/p>\n A good fixture library and regular updates keep the platform current, and operators note that new fixtures are generally well covered. Steady development is part of why the community trusts it for working shows rather than treating it as a hobby tool.<\/p>\n The most common caveat: the user base and the pool of online knowledge are smaller than grandMA, ETC or ChamSys. When you get stuck, there are fewer forum threads and YouTube tutorials to lean on, so you rely more on official resources. It is manageable, but it shapes the learning experience.<\/p>\n For the biggest shows, grandMA and ETC remain the expected desks. Onyx is far more common on budget and mid-level gigs than on top-tier tours, so if rider ubiquity is part of your career plan, that is a genuine consideration.<\/p>\n At the entry level the hardware is described as functional rather than tour-tank rugged. It does the job, but operators temper expectations about the cheapest units surviving years of brutal touring the way flagship metal does.<\/p>\n Capable software means there is real depth to master. As with any serious platform, expect to put in time before you are fast \u2014 the free download lowers the cost of that learning, but it does not remove the effort.<\/p>\n This is the comparison operators reach for most, because the two free-software value champions go head-to-head. Both offer powerful, free software and affordable hardware, so the decision rarely comes down to raw capability. Instead it usually turns on UI preference, how each handles fixtures, and which community you click with. The common advice is to try both, since the software is free, and let your own workflow instincts decide. See our ChamSys MagicQ review<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pulling the threads together, Onyx reads as a strong free-software value pick<\/strong> \u2014 capable, live-friendly and backed by affordable NX hardware. The trade-off, by consensus, is a smaller community and less top-tier ubiquity than the big three. For budget and live work it is well worth a serious look alongside ChamSys, and the fact that the software costs nothing to evaluate makes there little reason not to. See our pro DMX controller guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n Yes \u2014 Onyx is free and full-featured, with free DMX output up to a number of universes, which makes it a genuine option for learning and for running budget shows without a software cost.<\/p>\n Both are free-software value leaders, so choose by UI preference, fixture handling and community fit. Because both are free to download, the practical advice is to try each and see which workflow suits you.<\/p>\n The NX consoles offer solid value and real console control; the caveat operators raise is that the cheapest units are functional rather than heavy-touring rugged.<\/p>\n It has a growing base, but a smaller community and less rider ubiquity than grandMA, ETC or ChamSys \u2014 something to weigh if you want maximum online support or top-tier gig portability.<\/p>\n Photo credit: Photo: Obsidian Control Systems (obsidiancontrol.com)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Obsidian Control Systems’ Onyx platform \u2014 the NX-series consoles paired with the free Onyx software descended from Martin’s M-Series and M-PC \u2014 is one of the great value stories in lighting control. Free, genuinely capable software plus affordable hardware make it a real alternative to ChamSys for budget and live work, and that pairing is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":112,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":113,"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56\/revisions\/113"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/112"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}What operators love<\/h2>\n
Free, capable software<\/h3>\n
Good for live and busking<\/h3>\n
Affordable NX hardware<\/h3>\n
Solid fixture support<\/h3>\n
What operators flag<\/h2>\n
1. A smaller community than the big names<\/h3>\n
2. Less of a rider standard<\/h3>\n
3. Build of the cheapest units<\/h3>\n
4. A learning curve<\/h3>\n
Onyx vs ChamSys<\/h2>\n
My honest take<\/h2>\n
FAQ<\/h2>\n
Is Onyx software really free?<\/h3>\n
Onyx or ChamSys MagicQ?<\/h3>\n
Is the NX hardware good?<\/h3>\n
Is Onyx widely used?<\/h3>\n