Batch editing of text cue video effects in QLab 5

[Robert Allen]

I have a large number of text cues that are in need of having their video effects edited. I can use applescript to select the relevant cues and edit their other parameters as expected (changing q number, font, geometry, etc.). Unfortunately, I'm having trouble finding a foothold when it comes to editing the video effects parameters via AppleScript.

A non-working example that reflects my current line of thinking:

tell application id "com.figure53.QLab.5" to tell front workspace

set theCues to every cue whose q name contains "Test Text"

set fxParams to {EdgeWork:{Choose_Effect:1, inputIntensity:3, inputRadius:1}}

repeat with eachCue in theCues

try

set the [yetUndiscoveredProperty] of eachCue to fxParams

end try

end repeat

end tell

Has anyone attempted to use a script to edit a set of cues' video effects in QLab 5? It seems like this would be a valuable tool for titles designers.

Thanks,

Robert

[micpool]

The Qlab 5 manual is a bit confusing when it comes to scripting video effects. The only mention of video effects in the video cue dictionary is the boolean do video effects which isn't a QLab 5 parameter and throws an error.

The Video effects section of the  parameters reference says

Video effects and their parameters are scriptable using their scripting name. 

but It's not clear how to do this, if it is possible.

The parameters reference does make sense as OSC parameters, although you need to look very carefully at the capitalisation of parameter names as they are not consistently camel case like the rest of the OSC dictionary

So for your example you could use 3 network cues with 

/cue/selected/videoEffect/EdgeWork/parameter/Choose_Effect 1

/cue/selected/videoEffect/EdgeWork/parameter/inputIntensity 3

/cue/selected/videoEffect/EdgeWork/parameter/inputRadius1

In a timeline group with a hotkey trigger.

Or if you needed to put them in a script :

--set no passcode access in settings/network/OSC access

tell application id "com.figure53.QLab.5" to tell front workspace

set theOSC to "/cue/selected/videoEffect/EdgeWork/parameter/Choose_Effect 1"

do shell script "echo " & quoted form of theOSC & " | nc -u -w 0 127.0.0.1 53535"

end tell

The simplest way to do this is with a batch edit.

Set the video effects up on 1 of your text cues and copy it,

Select the cues you want to batch edit

Paste cue properties.... (from the edit menu)

Mic

[Sam Kusnetz]

Hello

AppleScript support for video effects is only partially implemented at this time, and is asked about very rarely so we have not pushed it up the priority list. As Mic points out, there’s thorough OSC and Paste Cue Properties coverage for controlling video effects, so that’s the way to go.

If anyone out there feels we should prioritize developing the AppleScript library for video effects, I encourage you to write to sup...@figure53.com and say so!

The reason for the inconsistent parameter name formatting, by the way, is that the OSC command simply reflects the actual parameter name as programmed in the effect itself inside Metal. The OSC command just reaches down into that code and passes values back and forth, and we have no control over what it’s called.

Best

Sam

  

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Sam Kusnetz (he/him) | Figure 53

s...@figure53.com

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[Robert Allen]

Thank you both for the excellent answers!

Mic, I appreciate the workarounds as well as the sanity check regarding the "do video effect" boolean.

Sam, thank you for the additional information, advice, and clarification. Hopefully others will reach out to request AppleScript support for video effects. Fingers crossed.

Thanks again,

Robert