The ONYX NX-Touch has become one of my favorite PC console wings to work with because it allows you to get started on creating a great show for a very reasonable show.
If you’re new to working with the ONYX NX-Touch wing this is a great tutorial to get started with and learning all of the basics with.
Before you get started, it’s important to know that the ONYX NX-Touch does actually have any software that it runs. It does plug into an ONYX Console or any previous Martin consoles. It’s not a wing that will run by itself but it does with ONYX, Martin, or even a PC Console through the USB Port.
Getting Started
Before you get started, you will need to download the software. To do this just go to Support.ObsidianControl.Com. Here you will see the option to download the latest version of ONYX. Just get started by downloading and following the prompts.
A great series you may want to check out is my Beginning with ONYX Series that has great tutorials on how to get started with ONYX.
Once you’ve downloaded ONYX there are sample files to get you going. To do this just launch ONYX, click “Load”, select the “Sample” folder, and select “ONYX Training Show”.
Using the NX-Touch
Now that you have ONYX downloaded and the show loaded up, you’re ready to get started with your new NX-Touch.
One thing to make note of on the top of the NX-Touch is your 10 Playback Faders. These are the ones that are actually located on the bottom screen of ONYX. These are 10 faders that can have multiple cues recorded to them.
Main Faders and Playbacks
On the NX-Touch, to record a cue just click “Record“, select the fader you want to assign the cue to, and inside of ONYX, you will set the parameters to record to that fader.
To change a cue inside of ONYX, just “right-click” the appropriate playback, the options will come up, and click “Function Assignments”.
The top box inside of ONYX will be your top row of faders, the second row will be the buttons below the top row, the third row on the ONYX menu will be your faders, and the last row will be the bottom row of buttons on the NX-Touch. The fourth line on ONYX for the down action does not apply for the NX-Touch.
Multi-Action Playbacks
In the middle of the NX-Touch, you will have the 10 multi-action playbacks. you can access this inside of ONYX by double-clicking the 11 – 20 located on the bottom right of the screen. To record this you can do so inside of ONYX or just use the record feature on the NX-Touch.
Inside of ONYX you can select lights, toggle “Base” on the NX-Touch until the light blinks. By pressing the multi-action playbacks you will access the different parameter types in the ONYX software.
By clicking the “Base” button again it will switch over to the effect options and you will be able to toggle through the different effects.
The four fader or slides located to the right of the NX-Touch act as your encoder wheels. By sliding up them up and down you will be able to modify the parameters you’re working with. As you modify these parameters the button will turn red indicating that you made a change.
If you toggle the “Base” button to F-Keys, you will be able to assign functions to your multi-playback buttons. Just click “Edit” on the NX-Touch and this will unlock your workspace inside of ONYX. In ONYX, just select “Function” on the left sidebar, select the button you want to modify on the NX-Touch, once it starts blinking you will be able to make the changes.
To the right of the base button, you will notice the buttons “Last, Next, and High Light”. The next and last button can be used to go through channels and fixtures while you are programming. By using “High Light” you can turn any fixture to white and open up whatever you set high light to.
Command Keys
Located on the top right you will notice your command keys, record, edit, update, load, and clear.
Most of these are self-explanatory but something to note is clicking “Clear” twice will clear out the information in ONYX.
Lastly, you have the keys located on the left beat, select, snap, and so on.
By toggling the “+ and -“ you will be able to go through the different banks.
One feature I like is that when you use your faders the buttons will light up to indicate which playback the NX-Touch is using.
You also have the “Beat” button which is great for tapping chases.
For the “Snap” button if you hold it will make all of your cues come in at zero time and ignores any fade time. The “Release” button allows us to release the selected cue lists or any cue lists that we tap why holding “Release”.
Lastly, you have the “Pause/Back” and “Go” button applies to whichever cue list is selected. To select cue lists you can do this inside of ONYX or on the NX-Touch by pressing “Select” and pressing which cue you want to work on.
Where to Go From Here?
While this article and video give you the basics of working with the Onyx NX Touch, you’ll want to check out my FREE, Basics of Onyx video playlist here.
If you did enjoy these videos, you’ll also enjoy the rest of my complete guides to Onyx, known as “Onyx for the Complete Newbie”, and “Advanced Onyx”.
Inside these videos, you’ll gain not only the “how-to”, but also the “what to do”, to make Onyx work for your specific type of lighting.
Sound good? These complete guides are available inside Learn Stage Lighting Labs. Learn more about Learn Stage Lighting Labs and join us here!
