Trigger Qlab on a second mac from another mac.

[nizer]

I am working in a venue that doesn't like me touch their stuff. They have the second mac running qlab that is hooked up to a midi interface that I don't have access to. This controls the lights.

I want to trigger light cues from my mac without physically plugging into that computer (via wifi?) or perhaps just plugging in a second midi-usb interface into the 2nd mac via it's wired keyboard and then do some plugging in and out via the Qlab preferences panel to have my mac trigger the list of MSC cues in their version of qlab.

Thoughts?

[ra byn (robin)]

So your mac is running Qlab only?
Their mac is running lights only?
What app are they running lights with on the Mac?
Do you already have a midi out on your mac rig?
They already have a midi in on their mac rig but it's tied up?
They are willing to let you add a second USB to midi interface?
Are they willing to let you dictate what settings you need setup on the
lighting mac?
Are they willing to let you install a driver if necessary for the USB to
Midi device you might add?

I wouldn't rely on WIFI for show critical triggering.
1. because of the inherent issues with wifi in general
2. because of the possible lag

Midi seems like a much better option. Maybe even over a hardwired ethernet
connection.

I know people are doing this but I'll have to let them step in here.

[Mike P]

What you suggest is do-able, but you'd have to touch their Mac at some point. Or have them set it up. If you want to use MIDI, you'll need to enable MIDI show control and set an ID on that machine. If you want to use Screen Sharing to control their machine, you would have to have that enabled and get the access set up - username and password.

If they're using MSC to trigger light cues, they're controlling another console unless they're doing something funky internally. Could you connect to that? You could get a QuadThru from MIDI solutions and have your own line in...

BTW - if they're running QLab v1, then you can't send a MIDI command with a particular cue number. V1 ignored the numbering.

Mike Post
(601) 307-8657
mdp...@mac.com
http://mdpostdesign.com

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[Mike P]

+1 on the WIFI comments. Yes, it can be done, but it's kind of like shouting GO commands across the room to an operator in a crowded bar...

Mike Post
(601) 307-8657
mdp...@mac.com
http://mdpostdesign.com

[nizer]

Thanks for the replies everyone...see below for answers to your questions.

On Thursday, July 26, 2012 10:12:25 PM UTC-4, ra byn (robin) wrote:

On Thu, July 26, 2012 8:58 pm, nizer wrote:
> I am working in a venue that doesn't like me touch their stuff. They have
> the second mac running qlab that is hooked up to a midi interface that I
> don't have access to. This controls the lights.
>
> I want to trigger light cues from my mac without physically plugging into
> that computer (via wifi?) or perhaps just plugging in a second midi-usb
> interface into the 2nd mac via it's wired keyboard and then do some
> plugging in and out via the Qlab preferences panel to have my mac trigger
> the list of MSC cues in their version of qlab.

So your mac is running Qlab only?  Both computers are running Qlab v2. 
Their mac is running lights only? They are triggering lights via Qlab v2 by sending MSC to their lighting via a midi interface out of a lock mac I can't access. I thought perhaps plugging in a second USB-MIDI interface and changing the AUDIO MIDI SET UP utility to route request from my midi interface to the one plugged into the lighting board.
What app are they running lights with on the Mac? Qlab v2
Do you already have a midi out on your mac rig? YES
They already have a midi in on their mac rig but it's tied up? It goes to their light board but it is not accessible.
They are willing to let you add a second USB to midi interface? YES

Are they willing to let you dictate what settings you need setup on the

lighting mac? maybe :-/

Are they willing to let you install a driver if necessary for the USB to

Midi device you might add? Probably no.

[Mike P]

To be honest, it's doesn't sound like you have much of hope unless you can get the venue to cooperate. Just 'hacking in' isn't going to work, and quite honestly is a bad plan ethically. They have reasons for locking out their system and if they don't want you in there, all your going to do is make them mad and at best, you'll wind up out of a job. Stick to being open and honest. I don't mean to imply you aren't, I'm just making sure that's said here before I start answering questions.

You imply they are at least willing to talk when you say they'll let you plug in a second interface. You'll need to get them to go further if you want this to work. This isn't something you're going to be able to do without their help at least. If nothing else, they have to let you connect to their Mac and tell you what the settings are.

> They already have a midi in on their mac rig but it's tied up? It goes to their light board but it is not accessible.

The MIDI IN comes from the light board? That would mean the light board is talking to the Mac and triggering cues? You were describing the other way around - the Mac was triggering the light board. That would be the MIDI OUT on the Mac. Of course it's possible it goes both ways, but that makes my brain hurt... :-)

> They are willing to let you add a second USB to midi interface? YES
> Are they willing to let you dictate what settings you need setup on the
> lighting mac? maybe :-/
> Are they willing to let you install a driver if necessary for the USB to
> Midi device you might add? Probably no.

Unless the answers to all three above questions is a 'yes' then you can't use MIDI. Plugging in a MIDI interface may work so long as it's the same make/model as the existing one and uses the same driver. However, if you can't set MIDI up on their QLab, then you can't trigger it. It may be that it's already set up (if their light board is triggering it) in which case you would just need to use those settings in your MSC commands.

> Midi seems like a much better option. Maybe even over a hardwired ethernet
> connection.
>
> I know people are doing this but I'll have to let them step in here.

MIDI over Ethernet isn't tough provided you can install ipMIDI on the machine... and there we go needing to install something on their machine again :-(

[ra byn (robin)]

On Fri, July 27, 2012 4:44 am, nizer wrote:
>> So your mac is running Qlab only? Both computers are running Qlab v2.
>> Their mac is running lights only? They are triggering lights via Qlab v2
>> by sending MSC to their lighting via a midi interface out of a lock mac
>> I
>> can't access. I thought perhaps plugging in a second USB-MIDI interface
>> and
>> changing the AUDIO MIDI SET UP utility to route request from my midi
>> interface to the one plugged into the lighting board.
>> What app are they running lights with on the Mac? Qlab v2
>> Do you already have a midi out on your mac rig? YES
>> They already have a midi in on their mac rig but it's tied up? It goes
>> to
>> their light board but it is not accessible.
>> They are willing to let you add a second USB to midi interface? YES
>> Are they willing to let you dictate what settings you need setup on the
>> lighting mac? maybe :-/
>> Are they willing to let you install a driver if necessary for the USB to
>> Midi device you might add? Probably no.

If you just need to bypass their mac so you can access the lighting
console too, a simple Midi Solutions MERGER will take the two midi outputs
from your systems & merge them into one input of the console. This would
sidestep their rig entirely.

http://www.midisolutions.com/prodmrg.htm

If you think you'll ever need to merge more than 2 midi streams, get the
QUADRA MERGE.

http://www.midisolutions.com/prodqmr.htm

If you are instead trying to get your cues to trigger the other "locked"
rig, that is another matter. Bribery?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bribery

:)

ra byn