Reliable remote control options

[Dave Horoschak]

What is the current recommended approach to a bulletproof remote control of Qlab?

Ideally, I'd like wired for robustness. But I'm willing to consider wireless if it's tested and proven. 

Specifically, this is for a live concert application for the drummer to control backing tracks.  Currently the Qlab setup lives by the drummer to be controlled directly. But we need to move that rig and the associated inputs and outputs to the side of the stage. 

I consider wifi, both 2.4g or 5g, too unreliable for a full venue of people.  That rules out the app style remotes. 

I also need direct access to cues if the setlist changes on the fly. That means something like Perfect Cue won't work. 

I like the idea of a Streamdeck but the controller might need to be 40' or 50' from the laptop. Is there a USB extension solution that's proven to work at that distance?

That leaves Audio Ape which looks like it would get the job done but I'm reluctant to spend that kind of money on an experiment. 

Does anyone have any practical experience with this?  Or are there any other solutions I haven't considered? 

 - Dave 

[Kevin Faulhaber]

Wired MIDI is a good option. I’ve used keyboards for direct cue access where each key was a different cue, and small custom built button boxes with a MIDI Solutions F8 for simpler Go/Stop controls.

Either give you wired control from a good distance.


Kevin

[Andy Dolph]

There is a version of Bitfocus companion that runs on a raspberry pi that you could connect a streamdeck to, then Ethernet to your Qlab rig.

On Jun 5, 2024, at 7:50 PM, Dave Horoschak <dth...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Alexander R. Taylor]

I've had good success using an iPad with an Ethernet adapter (Lightning or USB-C).  They're readily available on Amazon for $30 or so.

Alexander

Sent from my iPhone!

On Jun 5, 2024, at 10:22 PM, Andy Dolph <acd...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Richard]

I use ‘Midi Designer Pro’ hardwired to a mac, the mac see’s it as a midi device, and you can design the most amazing interfaces. Midi can be extremely long

The best bit is the customisation of how it looks. I have created an inter face for my show. Here’s a picture if the buttons

The big green buttons are the cues (containing text info) top right are transport buttons top middle is text of current status. 

Hope this is useful. 

Richard

Sent from my iPhone

On 6 Jun 2024, at 04:38, Alexander R. Taylor <alexand...@orol.org> wrote:

I've had good success using an iPad with an Ethernet adapter (Lightning or USB-C).  They're readily available on Amazon for $30 or so.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/qlab/E2FEC063-3878-4D6E-9E28-0E5A76022412%40orol.org.

[Patrick Dalgety]

Wired Midi is the best! 

I  generally use a Midas MR18 as an interface and mixer

A Behringer X-touch mini has 16 assignable buttons, 8 assignable lit knobs and an assignable fader

The X-touch lower row of buttons can be assigned to various QLab controls, Play, Pause, Panic, etc etc 

then if I have spot cues they go onto  next row of buttons

I generally assign the fader to a DCA and assign that to all eight of the MR18s outputs, like a live-level override 

the Knobs are also each usually assigned to MR18 outputs but sometimes to a live mic channel or similar

-when assigned to a live mic channel when qlab fires a level change the Knobs LED ladder echos this, if you change the knob it will be from the current level, no matching required

you can even do the whole thing again on a 2nd page in the X-touch

The only really irritating thing is you have to find a PC to program the X-Touch mini! (non-mac, sigh)

-I tend to use the one pre-set changing other controls only occasionally, but I have never been not able to borrow a PC and edit within the hour

midi & power connection is via USB to your Mac