Newbie questions about output
Georgie
I've just discovered QLab and am in geek heaven with it!!
I am running tech for my husband's show which involves a lots of
slides, videos and SFX. I've just taken over from someone else who had
been running the show on two seperate PCs, and I thought there has to
be a better way, and there is- QLab!!
I have programmed in all my cues and am very excited to debut it at a
comedy festival this week. I was just hoping for a bit of reassurance,
as I have very little time in advance to prep tech at the venue. I am
not a theatre tech by trade, my background is in TV production so I am
a little nervous I'll get there and it just won't work...
1) As I mentioned, I'll be running audio and visuals (via a projector
and screen). I won't have any prior knowledge of the PA system or
projector. Is it a case of just plugging in the laptop (Macbook
10.5.8) and it'll run or is there a chance I'll need to fiddle with
settings? I noticed something about patching in the tutorial videos
and that made me nervous! Are there any pointers you can give me in
advance? Is it even possible to connect my macbook (not macbook pro)
to a PA system and a projector at the same time- specifically what
cables/ which outputs on my Macbook will I need?
2) Is there a keyboard shortcut to go back to previous slide if in
full screen visual mode? Or is there a way to run without being in
full screen? (obviously still outputting the current slide to the
projector at all times).
Many thanks in advance for your help.
Christopher Ashworth
Welcome to the list!
On Feb 6, 2012, at 1:08 PM, Georgie wrote:
>
>
> 1) As I mentioned, I'll be running audio and visuals (via a projector
> and screen). I won't have any prior knowledge of the PA system or
> projector. Is it a case of just plugging in the laptop (Macbook
> 10.5.8) and it'll run or is there a chance I'll need to fiddle with
> settings?
You'll probably need to fiddle with settings. Checklist would be something like:
1) Open system preferences and make sure the second monitor (the projector) is NOT mirroring the main laptop screen
2) Make sure the desktop background shown on the projector is a plain black image, so whenever there is no output there the projector is black.
3) Launch QLab and open your workspace
4) In the workspace preferences, assign the projector as your video output for your video cues.
5) make sure your audio cues are also assigned to your preferred audio output
6) test audio levels, etc.
Then you're good to go.
> I noticed something about patching in the tutorial videos
> and that made me nervous! Are there any pointers you can give me in
> advance? Is it even possible to connect my macbook (not macbook pro)
> to a PA system and a projector at the same time- specifically what
> cables/ which outputs on my Macbook will I need?
Yes; the simplest way would be to simply connect your extra monitor output to the projector and a stereo jack to your headphone output on the computer. You won't get the highest sound quality that way, but it's easy and serviceable.
>
> 2) Is there a keyboard shortcut to go back to previous slide if in
> full screen visual mode? Or is there a way to run without being in
> full screen? (obviously still outputting the current slide to the
> projector at all times).
QLab is not designed specifically with slideshows in mind, so it does not have the same concepts as PowerPoint or Keynote.
This means there are some key differences you'll have to accommodate if using QLab for slides:
1) You MUST explicitly stop all old still images when they are no longer needed. Otherwise they'll pile up and eventually you'll crash. QLab has no way of "knowing" when you're done with a cue (since we're not operating in a world where we can assume we're moving from one slide to the next), so it leaves it up and ready to be seen unless told otherwise.
2) There is no "go back" button. The operator can recover if things go wrong, but it's not a one button "go in reverse" function, because that has no meaning in QLab.
Cheers,
Chris
Dominic Hargreaves
> 1) As I mentioned, I'll be running audio and visuals (via a projector
> and screen). I won't have any prior knowledge of the PA system or
> projector. Is it a case of just plugging in the laptop (Macbook
> 10.5.8) and it'll run or is there a chance I'll need to fiddle with
> settings? I noticed something about patching in the tutorial videos
> and that made me nervous!
If you're planning to use the built-in "headphone" output of the
macbook, and you've already tested with that, you shouldn't have to
change the patching for audio. Obviously this will not get you a
particularly high quality audio output compared to the USB/firewire
interfaces many of us use with QLab, but it may well be good enough for
your purposes.
You will almost certainly need to set up a patch for the projector.
> Are there any pointers you can give me in
> advance? Is it even possible to connect my macbook (not macbook pro)
> to a PA system and a projector at the same time- specifically what
> cables/ which outputs on my Macbook will I need?
This depends on what desk the PA system will use and what sort of
projector is in use. This is something that the venue tech would be
best placed to answer.
A 3.5" stereo jack to 2 x 1/4" jack cable is probably a wise investment
just in case, assuming you are planning to use the built-in audio
output.
As for the projector, again, you'll need to know what you're expected
to output to (VGA, DVI, HDMI). I believe you'll need displayport, or
mini-displayport (depending on the generation of Macbook) to VGI/DVI/HDMI
converter, which you can pick up from your usual mac accessory shop.
> 2) Is there a keyboard shortcut to go back to previous slide if in
> full screen visual mode? Or is there a way to run without being in
> full screen? (obviously still outputting the current slide to the
> projector at all times).
Once you've put in a separate projector patch, you'll be running the
video part of the cues only to the projector, and you'll have full
access to the qlab window on your built-in display.
It's well worth finding a projector or other external monitor in advance
to practice this with, once you've found out what sort of input you're
going to need to provide.
Cheers,
Dominic.
--
Dominic Hargreaves | http://www.larted.org.uk/~dom/
PGP key 5178E2A5 from the.earth.li (keyserver,web,email)
Sean Dougall
the computer, you'll want to go to the Sound pane of System Preferences,
select the Sound Effects tab, and turn the alert volume all the way
down; and also make sure no other applications are running that make
sound. Otherwise you may end up with extra sound effects coming out the
main speakers.
Dominic Hargreaves
> Hi Georgie,
>
> Welcome to the list!
Oops, replies crossed over :)
Georgie, just to make clear, Christopher is the more trustworthy
giver of advice here; I'm just a novice user, and Christopher wrote
QLab.
Christopher Ashworth
On Feb 6, 2012, at 1:49 PM, Dominic Hargreaves wrote:
>
> Christopher wrote QLab.
Originally, yes, although nowadays I am happily joined by Sean. :)
At any rate, it is always handy to get a variety of perspectives on these things, and because our head is in code doesn't mean we have the best advice for working in the field.
-C
Georgie
response. Will go and digest this and come back with any follow up!
Thanks again.
Keith Smith
On 6 Feb 2012, at 18:41, Dominic Hargreaves wrote:
> On Mon, Feb 06, 2012 at 10:08:21AM -0800, Georgie wrote:
>> 1) As I mentioned, I'll be running audio and visuals (via a projector
>
> If you're planning to use the built-in "headphone" output of the
You may already have this covered, but just in case... I recommend you have a DI Box with you. The venues mixer may provide a ground lift for you but if it doesn't the last thing you need is to discover you have a problem with ground loop hum in the middle of your show.
I like the DI20 as a personal DI to have on hand, but just about any DI will do.
http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/DI20.aspx
Regards,
Keith.
Georgie
response. Will go and digest this and come back with any follow up!
Thanks again.
On Feb 6, 6:52 pm, Christopher Ashworth <ch...@figure53.com> wrote:
Georgie
So, I have emailed my contact at the festival to see if he or the
venue tech have experience of mac and Qlab. Hopefully I am worrying
for nothing and they will have everything I need! I've also asked for
details about the PA system and projector.
But, I am trying to understand my options for cables and ports etc...
VISUALS:
My macbook is 4,1 so I believe I'll be using the mini DVI port to
connect to the projector, does this sound right? I'm checking on the
input port of the projector.
AUDIO:
-Would it be possible to post a link to the kind of headphone jack
cable that was suggested above? I'm assuming it's an XLR?
-When you say the sound quality is not as good, is there a reason you
have not suggested I use firewire/ usb? I have those ports! Does it
get more complicated or expensive? What cables would I require to use
those? I can check if the venue has them. Again, a link would be very
helpful.
Thank you for the directions about settings. They seem pretty clear,
and I'm much more confident about that bit now. Computers don't scare
me so much, it's just the dreaded CABLES and ports and equipment like
PA and projector I'm not familiar with!!!
I figure I'll be as prepared as I possibly can be, and take the old PC
with powerpoint presentation as a back up.
Thanks again everyone.
Keith Smith
On 7 Feb 2012, at 00:03, Georgie wrote:
> VISUALS:
> My macbook is 4,1 so I believe I'll be using the mini DVI port to
> connect to the projector, does this sound right? I'm checking on the
> input port of the projector.
Yes. And whatever else it may have, the projector is bound to have VGA. So you need two things:
1) A mini-DVI port to VGA adapter, e.g:
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Mini-dvi-To-VGA-Adapter/dp/B00011KHTM
2) A VGA cable, e.g:
http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Go-28012-Monitor-Ferrites/dp/B0002J28NQ
(but I'd bet the venue will have VGA cable in place already)
> AUDIO:
> -Would it be possible to post a link to the kind of headphone jack
> cable that was suggested above? I'm assuming it's an XLR?
To use the headphone port you need three things:
1) A 3.5mm to 2 x 1/4" jack cable, e.g:
http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Pro-PCBL43FT3-Stereo-Y-Cable-Adapter/dp/B004HJ9DBM
2) A DI Box, e.g:
http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-DI20-Ultra--Channel-Splitter/dp/B000CCSWQA
3) Two XLR cables, e.g:
http://www.amazon.com/Whirlwind-MIC03-Female-Microphone-Cable/dp/B001J1SX94
Obviously you should choose cable lengths appropriate to the laptops proximity to the sound desk.
Note: If the sound desk is going to do ground loop isolation for you then set the DI box to "ground" if it isn't (and the box must do it) then select "lift".
For more info on this topic (and examples of what ground loop hum sounds like) see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_loop_hum
> -When you say the sound quality is not as good, is there a reason you
> have not suggested I use firewire/ usb? I have those ports! Does it
> get more complicated or expensive? What cables would I require to use
> those?
USB and Firewire interfaces come in several flavours but can:
* give you more than the two channels of audio you get with the headphone socket
* provide a digital interface (assuming you have a digital sound environment)
* avoid 'mishaps' with OS sounds (such as error alerts)
A cheap, two channel USB interface is at one end of the scale, e.g:
http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-Control-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000J0IIEQ
and a more expensive multi-channel firewire interface is at the other, e.g:
http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-ProFire-2626-High-Definition-Technology/dp/B0014ID036
The cables you need will vary dependant on the unit.
Patching will be different in QLab too, but follows the same procedures already discussed.
Good luck with your project!
Regards,
Keith.
Georgie
list on to the venue and it looks like they may have everything, so
we're looking good. I'm thinking I'll just go for the headphone jack
option this time around, and maybe look into USB later down the line.
The show is tomorrow night (UK) so wish me luck!!! I'll check back in
and let you know how I get on. (That's assuming I don't come back with
any more silly questions now...)
Paul
to that -
I'd have both VGA and DVI adapters and cables for my setup so I could
interface with the maximum number of projectors if I wasn't bringing
my own.
I'd put a lot of thought into where you could be located as projector,
sound booth, cable runs, and other considerations will dictate.
Getting a proper audio interface, firewire or usb, would be a
priority. Lots of reasons it's better than just coming out of the
headphone jack.
Relatedly, I'd have cable such that my audio output could be XLR, and
possibly 1/4 as well just to cover all the bases. XLR though in case
you need to do a longer run or output the audio via a house snake
should you need to be located further from the sound booth for video
reasons.
Would even consider having a little UPS for my setup, but I'm paranoid
like that.
Might be smart to clone the drive with the show files and always have
an updated, cloned spare available - but packed in a different case
etc. than the main system (so that if the system was stolen, caught
fire, who knows what you'd have a cloned drive and the show could go
on)
I -much- prefer to use a proper controller with a Qlab system. The
ducks echo MR6 is what I use and it's a beauty. Highly recommended.
Really gets rid of the possibilities of double triggers and so forth.
For audio interfaces, I continue to recommend Metric Halo and RME as
having the best drivers, hardware, and generally being some of the
most rock solid stuff you could have for a live gig. (I'm all Metric
Halo myself).
As usual, some of the above takes money, but I think it's well worth
it. Consider adding that stuff, having the cables, backups, and even
the proper remote control as soon as you can and you will be in a much
better place. I do all of the above as a matter of standard practice.
Once you've had a backup, or UPS, or adapter or whatever save a show
you certainly realize the value of it (while the audience doesn't
realize anything!)
Here are a couple extra links -
http://mhsecure.com/metric_halo/
http://ducksechosound.com/
http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_overview_firewire.php
http://www.apc.com/products/category.cfm?id=13
Georgie
visual cues appear as broken. They're fine again when I unplug it. Any
suggestions?
Christopher Ashworth
> SOS!!! Am at the venue and find when I plug the projector in all the
> visual cues appear as broken. They're fine again when I unplug it. Any
> suggestions?
Hold the mouse over the red X and a tooltip will appear describing why it is broken.
My guess is you need to re-assign the screens in QLab now that there is a new screen attached.
You can do this by going to the workspace preferences, then selecting "video" from the list on the left side, and dragging a connection from your "screen 1" to the projector.
Important tip: attach the projector and turn it on BEFORE you launch QLab. It can get confused if you do it after.
Best,
Chris
Jeremy Lee
Are there any pointers you can give me inadvance? Is it even possible to connect my macbook (not macbook pro)to a PA system and a projector at the same time- specifically whatcables/ which outputs on my Macbook will I need?
This depends on what desk the PA system will use and what sort of
projector is in use. This is something that the venue tech would be
best placed to answer.
A 3.5" stereo jack to 2 x 1/4" jack cable is probably a wise investment
just in case, assuming you are planning to use the built-in audio
output.
Georgie
I just thought I'd update, in case anyone having similar problems in
the future comes across this...
The problem was a faulty connection- the VGA cable was really worn out
and a terrible fit. I think it just kept flicking in and out of the
connection, so macbook was trying to recognise it but couldn't. The
projector guy was very unhelpful and anti- mac so I almost gave up and
used the PC, but eventually I got him to turn the cable round so that
the bad end was in the projector and then all of a sudden it worked as
if by magic! I had already turned off mirroring and f inallly I just
had to patch the output to the projector as I'd seen in your tutorial
vid.
I had a very professional sound op there so all I had to do was plug
into the headphone jack, and I was very happy with the sound quality
for our purposes. He was also unfamiliar with mac and wary of it, but
then as soon as everyone saw how well the show tech went (lots of
music, SFX, videos and pictures) they were sudenly all crowding round
wanting to know what the software was and stuff! So I sung QLab's
praises.
Also, to get around the problem you mentioned about not explicitly
stopping each "slide", I peridodically have a black slide in the show
anyway, so when I have the black slide on I take that as an
opportunity to hit escape and cancel all slides, then go back to
black.
All in all, my husband and I are THRILLED with QLab, the show is
running so much smoother now. And also, the support you've provided is
invaluable, and I think fairly rare these days, so thank you very
much.
Keith Smith
On 8 Feb 2012, at 14:58, Jeremy Lee wrote:
> In my experience on everything from a Mac Pro to a Mac Mini or MacBook Pro, whenever the headphone jack is used for audio while the computer is hooked up to a video system, it's a total hum and noise fest. The quick/ ghetto workaround is to use the headphone jack as an optical output, and put an old MD or something inline to convert to analog. Then it's at least clean...
That's ground loop hum. Either use a DI Box or lift that input's ground on the mixer. Removes the issue completely.
K.
Jeremy Lee
ra byn (robin)
with a new console (Vi6). At some point, I was running low on battery & so
I pulled out the charge & plugged it in. On our next test, there was all
kinds of noise. WTF???
Then I realized the difference was the PSU. Pulled the cord & it was
completely clean again.
So in a case where this issue arises, if it's a mac book, try pulling the
PSU & see if the noise is gone. If so, solar charger & a 1k fixture in a
closet?
*
Gordon P. Howell, Jr.
geep
M. Florian Staab
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