4. Using QLC+ — From Startup to Shutdown

Updated: 2026-06*

From here on, you sit in front of the PC and actually operate QLC+.

In this studio, the following setup is already complete.

• ✅ QLC+ installed
• ✅ Connection to the ENTTEC ODE Mk2 configured
• ✅ Each fixture registered
• ✅ The Virtual Console (control screen) built

In other words, the user only needs to “move the defined faders on the defined screen.”

⚠️ Important: Never overwrite-save the configuration (project) file. If the settings change by accident, other users won’t be able to use the studio.

Overall usage flow

From the start of a shoot to the end, operating QLC+ proceeds in these steps.

① Check the PC and Wi-Fi
       ↓
② Launch QLC+ and load the project
       ↓
③ Switch to Operate mode
       ↓
④ Operate the lights in the Virtual Console
       ↓
⑤ Shoot
       ↓
⑥ Turn everything off
       ↓
⑦ Quit QLC+

Let’s walk through them one step at a time.

① Check the PC and Wi-Fi

After you start the PC, first check the Wi-Fi connection.

Points to check

1. Click the Wi-Fi icon (bottom-right on Windows / top-right on Mac)
2. Confirm the connection is the SSID of the studio lighting router
3. If it isn’t, switch to it

For the SSID and password, check the label posted on the operator desk.

Common mistakes

• Connected to “campus Wi-Fi” or “guest Wi-Fi” → the lights won’t respond
• Connected to a phone or tablet’s tethering → same as above

Being connected to the dedicated lighting-control Wi-Fi is the prerequisite for everything.

② Launch QLC+ and load the project

Launch

Double-click the QLC+ icon on the desktop.

When it launches, the main screen opens. At first it may be blank.

Open the project file

From the menu bar, choose File → Open.

When the file selection dialog opens, choose the following file:

File name: studio_lighting.qxw (tentative)
Location: Desktop / or a specified folder

For the actual file name and location, follow the distributed configuration materials.

Opening the file loads all the fixture settings and the Virtual Console screen.

③ Switch to Operate mode

QLC+ has two modes.

Users must always work in Operate mode. If you accidentally change settings in Design mode, it affects other users.

How to switch modes

Click the play (▶) icon at the top-right of the screen to switch to Operate mode.

Once switched, the Virtual Console becomes “operable.”

④ Operate the lights in the Virtual Console

The Virtual Console is a panel within QLC+ that mimics a physical lighting console.

This studio’s Virtual Console has roughly the following parts laid out (for the actual layout, see the distributed materials).

Role of each part

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  [master blackout button]   [scene recall]   │
│                                              │
│  ── Diva-Lite #1–#4 ──                        │
│  [Intensity] [CCT] [Hue] [Sat] × 4 units     │
│                                              │
│  ── ARRI L7-C #1–#3 ──                        │
│  [Intensity] [CCT] [Hue] [Sat] × 3 units     │
│                                              │
│  [Preset: Natural]  [Preset: Studio]         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Basic fader operation

You drag each fader up and down with the mouse.

✅ Tip: At first, move the lights one at a time and confirm with your eyes which fader corresponds to which light.

Using the color picker

To choose an RGB color, click a color on the on-screen color picker (the color wheel).

The color you click is reflected on the light instantly.

Preset (scene) buttons

If there are preset buttons like “Natural,” “Studio,” or “Sunset,” clicking one switches to that setting.

It saves you from moving several faders at once, which is handy for building a base look at the start of a shoot.

⑤ Shoot

Once the light settings are decided, go ahead and shoot.

Adjusting during the shoot

When you want to fine-tune brightness or color mid-shoot, just move the Virtual Console faders.

They reflect in real time, so you can dial things in while watching the finder or monitor.

About saving settings

⚠️ Important: Do not save your mid-shoot adjustments into the project file.

When QLC+ asks “Save?” on quit, always choose “Don’t save / No.”

If you want to keep a setting, photographing the screen with your phone is a good way to do it.

⑥ Turn everything off

When the shoot is over, always turn off all the lights before leaving your seat.

How to turn off (recommended order)

1. Click the “Blackout” button — turns everything off in one shot
2. Or, drag every fader all the way down
3. Visually confirm the ceiling lights have gone completely dark

💡 Why is turning off important? As explained in detail in Chapter 5, due to how DMX works, the lights do not go off just by quitting the software. You need to “explicitly set them to 0%.”

⑦ Quit QLC+

Once you’ve confirmed the lights are off, quit QLC+.

1. From the menu, choose File → Quit
2. When asked “Save?”, choose “No / Don’t save”
3. The QLC+ window closes

⚠️ What you must never do:

• Close QLC+ without turning the lights off → the lights stay on
• Press “Yes / Save” → the configuration file gets overwritten

Quick reference (to post at the operator desk)

■ When starting
  1. Confirm Wi-Fi is the "studio lighting" network
  2. Launch QLC+ → open the project file
  3. Switch to Operate mode with the ▶ at top-right

■ While operating
  - Drag faders with the mouse
  - Recall presets with the scene buttons
  - Changes take effect immediately

■ When finishing
  1. Blackout button, or drag all faders down
  2. Visually confirm the ceiling lights are off
  3. File → Quit → choose "Don't save"

Summary

• Wi-Fi and QLC+ launch → switch to Operate mode → operate faders → always turn off → quit with “Don’t save”
• Never overwrite-save the configuration file
• An explicit blackout before quitting is mandatory