Trouble running two laptops with identical backing tracks

[Chris Gee]

Hey guys

These are some new tricks for this old dog, and I can't get my head around syncing these two laptops with QLab together... What I need is that when I trigger a cue to play a track on the first laptop, an identical cue on the other laptop starts simultaneously, resulting in identical main and backup tracks running at the same time.

Then if for some reason the first laptop or preamp cuts out I can bring up the tracks playing on the second machine, with the artist still in time... or If the first laptop fails to trigger, I can then cue the second laptop manually.

I have two Mac Book pro's running QLab on a rental license, connected by ethernet and using the IPMidi app.

Any help appreciated... I feel like a kid again trying to work this out. 

Cheers

Chris

[Chris Gee]

I guess just hitting both space bars at the same time is a possibility too! haha... Its not like they are both going to be up at the same time or anything... a new milliseconds out wont matter...

[Matthieu Gaillet]

Hi,

See http://figure53.com/qlab/documentation/preferences.php#remote_control

You'll need a Pro Midi license though...

Matthieu

[Charles Coes]

Generally most folks find it preferable to use an external device to trigger both, usually a MIDI button box.  There are several out there (Duck's Echo springs to mind) that have dual midi outputs that you could connect to both computers.  that way even if your main fails to trigger your backup will be running when it's unmuted.

Does that help?

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[Chris Gee]

Yeah I have been trying to find one in New Zealand that I can get in time, but haven't found a thing that is not going to take weeks to get here... 

[Charles Coes]

Ah,

The other way would be a MIDI button device (any button that isn't velocity sensitive will do.  

You can then use a MIDI splitter (the MIDI solutions Quadra Thru is my weapon of choice) to go the the two computers.  Or... You could use a MIDI device that has both USB MIDI and a hard midi out.  So the USB would go to your main, and the physical MIDI out goes to the backup.  You'll need to make sure that the device will echo it's outputs to the DIN connector when hooked up to USB.

That help? 

[K. Kometa]

Hi,
before I bought the midi-license for syncing, I used a DIY-triggerbox built from two simple computer-mice. Connect both left-click-button contacts to a push-button in a small enclosure, move the cursor with the laptop-trackpad to the GO-button an fire.

Regards,

Thomas

[Jeremy Lee]

Use real MIDI, not IPMidi.  I'm assuming that you're having the first computer trigger the second? That's not redundant.

SOP:

MIDI Go Button -> MIDI Splitter/ Thru box -> 2x QLab Machines

Then both machines will trigger at the same time.  For the audio switching on the other end, you can either get a purpose built box like the Whirlwind AB8, use your console to repatch or mute/ unmute, or get a custom box from one of the sound shops.

On Oct 17, 2012, at 5:57 AM, Chris Gee wrote:

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Jeremy Lee

    Sound Designer, NYC - USA 829

        http://www.jjlee.com

[Jeremy Lee]

Any footswitch or button would work with a MIDI Solutions F1 or F8, and a Thru box.  Or I'm sure that Andy @ Duck's Echo can FedEx/ DHL one to you.  Won't be cheap to get it around the world quickly...

On Oct 17, 2012, at 7:18 AM, Chris Gee wrote:

[ra byn taylor]

I'll add that if the laptops aren't the same exact model with the same resources, OS, installed apps running, midi i/o, audio i/o etc... you're machines probably wont stay in sync or even start at the exact same time.

I run 3 machines on my rig (A/B/C). I use (2) autoswitchers. A is a forced state via a pilot tone. If A fails, B is the default. C is a forced stage by pressing the A button on the second autoswitcher.

the A/B machine were born on the same day & have the same everything. The C machine is a newer Mac Book Pro. It runs a different speed. Ever so off.

I setup the A machine & then cloned it via firewire.  On a good day, I can run for 45+ minutes freewheeling & if I switch between the A/B systems, you can't notice a change.

In your case with backing tracks, if you truly want seemless redundancy, look at the Radial Engineering SW8 or the Whirlwind AB8 8 channel autoswitches. I have both.

Not cheap to get to a truly redundant system but it's worth it when something goes bad:)

Best regards,

ra byn (robin)