[QLab] Qlab and Modul8

[Raine Hicks Wheeler]

Got a question for you. I am designing multimedia for a dance production and had my first production meeting today. Ok...the choreographer wants 3 projectors and 2 live feeds running live motion through Modul8! Does Modul8 work with Qlab? I've never used modul8, but am willing to learn it. I'm just trying to wrap my head around how I would run the show with still images, video AND live motion coming from live feed! I use normally use Qlab with one or two projectors running still images and video, but have never tried anything beyond that. This is a theatrical production, so I will need to use Qlab to cue up the show. I will be using a Mac Pro (8-core)
The live feed he wants is just manipulated dancing silhouettes projected. I am wondering if I can pre-record the footage, run it through Modul8 and record it to cue into Qlab and get the same effect and be able to control it more effectively. Any ideas?
Thanks
rainewheeler

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[raymond soly]

On 9-Oct-10, at 1:16 PM, Raine Hicks Wheeler wrote:

Got a question for you. I am designing multimedia for a dance production and had my first production meeting today. Ok...the choreographer wants 3 projectors and 2 live feeds running live motion through Modul8! Does Modul8 work with Qlab? I've never used modul8, but am willing to learn it. I'm just trying to wrap my head around how I would run the show with still images, video AND live motion coming from live feed! I use normally use Qlab with one or two projectors running still images and video, but have never tried anything beyond that. This is a theatrical production, so I will need to use Qlab to cue up the show. I will be using a Mac Pro (8-core)

The live feed he wants is just manipulated dancing silhouettes projected. I am wondering if I can pre-record the footage, run it through Modul8 and record it to cue into Qlab and get the same effect and be able to control it more effectively. Any ideas? 

I'll let the VJs answer this one in detail but........  Modul8 is to video what few, if any audio players/editors,(although Live comes to mind) can do...in real time!!!!! it is designed for"live feed"  and can, of course, play back stills and video as well....all these can be manipulated in real time up to a certain degree, speed of computer, hard drive access time and resolution etc....all come into play......and, a properly configured remote (Lemur, iPad? etc.....) also greatly enhances the live presentations and the user's(VJ) enjoyment.....I will also guess if the choreographer wants modul8 for live motion he wants some "reality" that cannot be achieved thru pre recorded sequences such as a duplication of this exact movement with lighting with of course identical camera angle etc.........(you'd need to ask for more details). Also, since the main purpose for using Modul8 is for manipulation of live images I would probably relegate Qlab to the shelves for that one, at least for the video parts (Qlab' still the best for the audio portion) .

In the figure 53 archives I found this that might be of interest to you: http://lists.figure53.com/htdig.cgi/qlab-figure53.com/2008-November/004888.html perhaps you could contact the user.......

also Søren Knud has experience with live motion/dance, try contacting him directly.........he's on the list........

good luck,

Ray

[Pierre-Luc Brunet]

Hello Raine,

1st of all you can control 3 projectors and have 2 live feeds in Qlab if you're using a Mac pro. So if you don't want to apply any real time video effect on you videos or live feeds then Qlab itself will do the job. But if you want more video capabilities then you can use both softwares together!

I was exactly playing around with this idea of using both Qlab and Modul8. I've just spent a good part of the afternoon playing with this and it is very exciting!! Because it is possible to use both softwares in conjunction and use the best of both worlds (Qlab = Marvelous Audio capabilities, Precision, fine tuning etc & Modul8 = real time video modifications and effects).

Almost every command in Modul8 can be midi mapped and that's where the fun is since Qlab sends midi. :)

So you can use Qlab to run all the audio and cue up modul8 by sending it midi messages with precise timing.

I am in a situation where it will be useful for me to do so because I want to "luma key" a live feed on top of another video but I also have audio and precise cueing. The other good thing is that Modul8 now supports up to 4 simultaneous live feeds and that there are more options for capture hardware than there are with Qlab so far.

Of course, as you said, you will need to learn Modul8 which is pretty simple. 

You'll need to know how to map midi commands which is also very doable.

-Then you turn on the IAC midi driver of Mac OS X.

-Open Qlab and make a midi control change message with a fade time of say 5s that outputs to the IAC midi driver.

-Open Mpodul8 and put it in midi mapping mode, select the control you want to affect. (TIP: there are 3 categories of midi mapping that you can choose from at the top the modul8. Most likely you'll want to go to the "Position" tabs. That will affect the controllers and not just put the focus on them.)

-Press Go in Qlab and then right away switch the application focus to Modul8 while the midi fade is happening. Then Modul8 will receive the midi mapping. You'll know this by seeing something like 1/1 on the controller you selected.

-Then you repeat as needed with different control numbers in Qlab, go out of the midi mapping mode.

-Set up the right midi info in Qlab and you're go to go.

Let me know what you think. And if you have more questions, go right ahead. I know I didn't right all the details of the operation.

This is fun! :)

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Pierre-Luc Brunet
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