ChamSys MagicQ MQ50 Compact Lighting Console

ChamSys MagicQ MQ50 Compact Lighting Console: Full MagicQ in a Carry-On

The ChamSys MagicQ MQ50 packs the full MagicQ lighting-control software into a console small enough to carry onto a plane. It outputs six DMX universes, where each universe is a stream of 512 control channels, giving control of up to 3072 fixtures across a rig. A 10.1-inch multi-touch display, twelve faders, and eight encoders make it a complete programming and playback surface despite its size. For a designer who travels light or a venue that needs real console power on a tight footprint, the MQ50 delivers professional control without the bulk of a large desk.

Six Universes of DMX in a Cabin-Baggage Console

ChamSys' own datasheet specifies the MQ50 as a six-universe console, which addresses up to 3072 DMX channels and 3072 fixtures. Those six universes route over four assignable DMX outputs plus Art-Net and sACN on the network port, so the same desk suits both cabled and networked rigs. Because the whole console weighs about 15.4 pounds and fits carry-on limits for major budget airlines, it travels as hand luggage on a fly-away gig. That combination of real universe capacity and true portability is what makes the MQ50 a favourite for touring programmers and mobile productions.

10.1-Inch Multi-Touch Display With Ten Playbacks

The MQ50's 10.1-inch multi-touch display is the heart of its workflow, presenting the MagicQ programming windows the same way as ChamSys' larger consoles. Below the screen, ten full cue-stack playbacks give hands-on control for building and busking shows on the fly. Twelve faders and eight attribute encoders round out the surface so intensity, colour, beam, and position all have dedicated control. Multi-touch gestures speed up fixture selection and window management, keeping a programmer's attention on the stage rather than the menus.

Four Assignable RDM DMX Outputs Plus Art-Net and sACN

Four assignable 5-pin XLR DMX outputs let you patch fixtures directly and, thanks to RDM, read back their addresses and status down the same cable. The single network port carries Art-Net and sACN, the Ethernet protocols that distribute DMX512 across a show network to nodes and media servers. Five USB ports and audio input/output add connections for peripherals, wings, and sound-to-light. This flexible I/O means the MQ50 drops into a simple club rig or a networked touring system with equal ease.

Built-In Wi-Fi for MagicQ and MagicVis Remote Control

Onboard Wi-Fi lets the MQ50 talk to the free MagicQ and MagicVis apps so an operator can focus fixtures and run cues from a phone or tablet anywhere in the room. Remote focusing from the floor is a huge time-saver during rig checks, because you can stand under a moving light and adjust it directly rather than shouting cues to the booth. MagicVis provides a live 3D visualisation of the rig for pre-programming and previz away from the venue. Wireless control turns the whole space into an extension of the console's programming surface.

Silent Fanless Operation and Large Show Capacity

The MQ50 is completely fanless, running in total silence, which matters in theatres, houses of worship, and broadcast studios where noise is unacceptable. Despite its size it stores up to 5000 cues and 5000 groups, enough to hold complex multi-scene productions in a single show file. That capacity means the console will not run out of programming space partway through a busy season of shows. Silent, capacious, and reliable, it behaves like a full-size desk in a compact body.

Where the MQ50 Fits: Theatre, Worship, Clubs and Fly Gigs

The MQ50 suits small-to-mid theatres, clubs and bars, houses of worship, schools, and corporate events that want genuine MagicQ control without a large console. Its carry-on size makes it a natural fit for fly-away touring where every kilogram of freight counts. Because it runs the same software as ChamSys' bigger desks, skills learned on the MQ50 transfer straight up the range as a production grows. For a first serious console or a portable second desk, it hits a rare balance of power, size, and silence.