Magicq Audio Input

[Juanjo Pollreisz]

Onthe MQ250M there are two possible audio inputs. The S2L input uses hardware to analyse the incoming audio system - to use this select "ChamSys Audio Interface". The audio input uses software to analyse the incoming audio - to use this select "Internal sound card".

MagicQ PC / Mac supports audio input through the PC / Mac sound card when the PC / Mac is connected to a MagicQ Wing, Connect or Interface (not MagicDMX). In Setup, View Settings, Ports set Audio Input to "Internal sound card". The required device can be selected in the "Audio input device" setting. MagicQ currently supports stereo devices at 44100Hz.

The audio input signal is analysed in 7 different frequency bands: 63Hz, 160Hz, 400Hz, 1KHz, 2.5KHz, 6.2KHz, 16KHz.The levels for each channel can be used on MagicQ to set the level of Playbacks, to step through cue stacks and to set the speed of chases.

Starting from version 1.9.2.0, when a full audio stream is provided, MagicQ now supports advanced beat tracking for an incoming audio signal which can then be used as part of any trigger based audio functions (e.g. Audio bumps GO/FX). This will work with the audio input on the MQ50/MQ70/MQ250M or MQ80/MQ500/MQ500M via a USB audio interface, or on MagicQ PC systems. The beat tracker is enabled when a playback is configured with an Audio channel of "Audio Input BPM". When the beat tracker is enabled, a beat indicator will be shown in the status bar adjacent to the audio input levels display.

On MagicQ Consoles the audio is received via dedicated audio ports on the console. To use these, choose the "Internal sound card" option. MagicQ Pro 2014 consoles require the latest Pro 2014 kernel and the MQ40, MQ60 and original MQ70 require the latest firmware.

When using an external ChamSys USB Audio Interface then choose "ChamSys Audio Interface". When set to "ChamSys Audio Interface - Left Only", any signals received on the left channel are automatically duplicated onto the right channel. This is useful in situations where only a mono audio feed is available. When set to "ChamSys Audio Interface - Energy Only" all 14 received audio bands are combined into one level and all MagicQ audio options will use this one level.

MagicQ supports global minimum and maximum audio levels to enable the levels to be matched to the received audio. Both the Minimum Audio Level and the Maximum Audio Level default to 0 indicating they have no effect.

The minimum is used to adjust for noise whilst the maximum can be set if the audio signal is particularlyweak. When set to non zero values any levels below the minimum or above the maximum are ignored and the levels are scaled appropriately.

"Audio bumps GO/FX" causes the Cue Stack to bump to the next step every time a peak in the audio is detected on the specified channel. This enables a Cue Stack to follow the beat of the music. This is best used with the Cue Stack set to Cue Timing instead of Chase Timing. A divider can be configured using the "Rate divisor" option. This will skip the selected number of beats between triggering Go. For example, when set to 2, every other input beat will trigger a Go.

"Audio beat step" will work with the detected beat number mentioned in the Audio Input Options section above, when the "Audio channel" is set to "Audio Input BPM". It will match the beat number currently being received, and will match the Cue with the corresponding Cue ID to jump to. To use this, generate a new Cue Stack with your required cues, set it to Cue Timing, and enable the "Audio beat step" option to "Yes". The beat number on which to trigger each Cue needs to be set in the Cue ID column. For the basic case, the default Cue IDs will provide steps on incremental beats. To have a Cue Stack where one Cue runs for beats 1 through 3, and then a second Cue runs for beat 4, set the first Cue ID to 1.0 and the second Cue ID to 4.0 and so forth. By default the loop length will loop on every 4 beats, however this can be changed in the "Audio beat step length" setting. Setting this to 8 or 16 will cause the loop to repeat every 8 or 16 beats respectively. If a rate divisor is configured, then this will divide the incoming beat by the divisor. For example with a divisor set to 2, then Beats 1 through 8 would trigger steps 1 through 4.

In Setup, View Settings, Ports, the Audio Output option allows you to select between the internal sound card output on a console, or the external USB sound card if connected. On PC systems, the required device can be selected in the "Audio output device" setting. MagicQ currently supports stereo devices at 44100Hz.

When the USB sound card is selected, the respective internal audio port will be disabled. You can use the external USB sound card for audio output whilst using the internal audio port for audio input, and vice versa.

I use my chamsys mostly for stuff involving music, but I'm finding myself spending a lot of time trying to sync up multiple stacks, playbacks and FX with the beat of the song. I've been looking into the audio interface, and ideally I would just hire one to try it but no-one seems to hire them out. So, a few questions for anyone who has used one:

Although not a chamsys user, I have used the Red Sound Voyager beat detector to sync chases to beat, and it does indeed track beat, and outputs MIDI clock (not MTC, which iis something altogether different).

But I DO see the point of having separate [PREV PAGE] and [GROUP]. Not always easy to use two hands. The [sHIFT] is also placed on right side on old PCWing. Well, I have had my wing for 8-10 years now, and still it is working well. :-)

While the audio interface gives fine-grained control over audio triggering, it's quite expensive. I believe there may be a cheaper workaround that will allow you to trigger cues from audio. It seems that MagicQ supports Winamp - see manual, section 36 - and can trigger cues from Winamp's time code, allowing lighting to be synchronised with a music track file being played in Winamp. However, there are input plugins available for Winamp that allow sound card inputs to be treated a file, so it should be possible to set up a chain - microphone/line input on PC soundcard to Winamp Input Plugin to Winamp to MagicQ - which will work in the same way as the old versions of Magicq used to - with the additional benefit of Winamp's Graphic EQ to allow selective frequencies, i.e. bass beat triggering.

You could Synchronise cues in MagicQ to the timecode from Winamp, this doesn't work with audio-in in Winamp however as it opens up a constant stream from the sound card, it has no idea of any interrupts in audio and can't tell the difference between silence and pink noise in terms of the outputted timecode, it'll just spit out timecode from the second you hit play.

Personally, I wouldn't be without mine, I've even gone to the extent of buying a small mixer so that I can take a split from sound to allow me to pick out certain instruments as triggers. It is probably the best and most useful lighting accessory I've ever purchased.

Imagine being able to have a red wash on the drums on one fader with the fader set to listen to the low end on the right channel. Every time the bass drum is used the wash pulses, the louder the drum gets, the brighter the wash gets.

You can get a slight delay if you're using the interface to control a lot of different cues at the same time but generally it's not noticeable to anyone other than the drummer who is comparing it to their playing rather than the sound that is coming from the PA.

The MagicQ Compact Connect is a lightweight USB control surface that connects to your PC or Mac to control lighting, media, and LEDs.Small enough to travel inside hand luggage, the portable Compact Connect is packed with powerful features. It has 2 direct DMX512 outputs and sends up to 64 universes of ArtNet and sACN directly from its onboard network port without the need for additional licenses or dongles. The design of the Compact Connect provides illuminated access to fixture parameters via 8 rotary encoders and live show control through 10 playback faders featuring Flash, Go and Select buttons as well as dedicated Grand Master and Crossfader for overall level control. An internal USB hub, audio input, 10Scene/Remote Input port and working light socket bring additional connectivity and convenience.The Compact Connect is ideal for use by touring Lighting Designers or for installation into theatres, schools, clubs, studios and venues. This affordable solution offers quick tactile playback control in combination with the power of MagicQ software running on Windows, Linux or OSX.

MagicQ software offers powerful lighting control with loads of features that lighting designers have some to rely on, such as full lighting visualization, pixel mapping, and HD media playback on up to 8 different layers, all integrated smoothly to streamline workflows, save time, and shorten learning curve.

Small enough to travel inside hand luggage, the portable Compact Connect is packed with powerful features. It has 2 direct DMX512 outputs and sends up to 64 universes of ArtNet and sACN directly from its onboard network port without the need for additional licenses or dongles. The design of the Compact Connect provides illuminated access to fixture parameters via 8 rotary encoders and live show control through 10 playback faders featuring Flash, Go and Select buttons as well as dedicated Grand Master and Crossfader for overall level control. An internal USB hub, audio input, 10Scene/Remote Input port and working light socket bring additional connectivity and convenience.

The Compact Connect is ideal for use by touring Lighting Designers or for installation into theatres, schools, clubs, studios and venues. This affordable solution offers quick tactile playback control in combination with the power of MagicQ software running on Windows, Linux or OSX.

You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).

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