Re: [QLab] QLab hookup to Sound Board (Layman's terms please)

[Mike P]

Hey Jenn,

I'm an LD too, but I'm an ex computer nerd so maybe I can help :-)

Well, first of all, that Audiofire appears to only have 4 outputs unless you count the headphone jack which wouldn't be a good idea for a couple of reasons. Be that as it may, I think your best bet for 6 channels is to use both the Audiofire and the Mac's stereo output together. This will have it's own version of awkward since you will have to address the two different devices with separate cues. So to send something to all six channels at once will mean 2 cues launching together. Hopefully you won't have to do that.

I'm going to approach this as 'how do I just get sound out?' There's a lot more to do after that depending on what you want, but that's your first hurdle. To begin - get drivers for your Audiofire. I found this link that has console software:

http://echoaudio.com/Downloads/MacOSX_Software.php

I like to use the latest version of anything. Browse the Readme file to get an idea of how it works. Once you get that installed, you need to tell QLab where to find the Audiofire. In QLab, click Preferences in the upper right of the window. On the left of the Preferences pane, click on Audio. You should see two columns with 8 patches in one and both your built in output and the Audiofire in the other. If you don't, try a full power down and reboot and look again. To patch them, click and drag a line from a patch to the devices. They don't have to be in order. If you plan to use the Audiofire more than the built in, make that Patch 1 so it's the default. Once you have them patched, click Done at the bottom right

Now you're ready to use the device. Create an Audio cue with a sound file and look in the Settings tab in the Inspector pane at the bottom of the window. You should see a dropdown menu called Output Patch. If the Audiofire is in Patch one, it will be set in the dropdown. To use the other patch, just select it.

In the Levels tab, you should see all four channels of the Audiofire active. The simple way to control this is to just drag the yellow handles for the channels you don't want to '-INF' (negative Infinity) and the signal(s) won't go out those outputs. Now if you launch that cue, the signal(s) should go out whatever outputs are still active to your sound board.

Hope that helps.

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

On Aug 14, 2012, at 3:46 AM, Jenn H. wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> So I'm a lighting designer by trade, but was asked to help run QLab for a show (for audio and video). I'm having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around what I need to hookup to my computer in order to get a signal to the sound board, and control a 6 channel output.
>
> Is anyone familiar with the Echo Audiofire 4? I was given one of those to help somehow, but no one really seems to know how to work it.
>
> I could really use a layman's talk through on how best to hook up my system so that I can get more than a stereo output.
>
> Its all looking like a foreign language to me right now.
>
> Thanks so much!
> (Sorry if this is a silly question for the group)
>
> -Jenn
>
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[Jenn H.]

Hi Mike,

Thank you so much for your help! I really appreciate it.  I've got everything hooked up correctly and running smoothly now.

All the best,

Jenn 

[Mike P]

Excellent! Hope you have fun :-)

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

[Dominic Hargreaves]

On Tue, Aug 14, 2012 at 08:57:58AM -0400, Mike P wrote:
> Well, first of all, that Audiofire appears to only have 4 outputs unless you count the headphone jack which wouldn't be a good idea for a couple of reasons. Be that as it may, I think your best bet for 6 channels is to use both the Audiofire and the Mac's stereo output together. This will have it's own version of awkward since you will have to address the two different devices with separate cues. So to send something to all six channels at once will mean 2 cues launching together. Hopefully you won't have to do that.

I've not tried it, but I believe that you can create an aggregate device
in Mac OS (Audio MIDI setup utility) which would allow you to have a
single cue playing back through 6 channels using the audiofire and the
built in device.

It's probably swings and roundabouts whether the Mac's stereo output
is a better idea than the Audiofire's headphone output in terms of
suitability for feeding to a sound board; however the headphone output on
the Audiofire will, I think, be mirroring a pair of the main outputs in
any case.

--
Dominic Hargreaves | http://www.larted.org.uk/~dom/
PGP key 5178E2A5 from the.earth.li (keyserver,web,email)

[Mike P]

A question came up on another group about needing something that would run continuously 27/7/365 that would allow for random play of a changeable playlist and video output as well. I said QLab would do all that but I don't know about longevity. Has anyone tried to use it as a kiosk? The current mark to beat is 6 weeks of continuous play - anyone run it longer than that?

[John Taylor]

try this

http://www.brightsign.biz

regards

John

[Eric Lott]

We had a rig set up in our lobby last season that ran all season. We used wall lock triggers to start and stop it every day just as a way to reset the workspace. So not really longer than 6 weeks straight but kinda sort of a similar situation. We updated the content every show and once we figured out the cue structure of how to loop hd video content on top of a loop of high-res stills on a Mini it was pretty solid setup. Feel free to let me know if I can answer any specific questions for you.

Best,
Eric

(mobile)

[Charles Coes]

I've done it, the computers need to reboot periodically, and you need to use an applescript or automator program to fire the first Qlab cue. With the scheduler in the OS you can easily setup an automatic turn off/turn on cycle at 2am. With going off at night and turning on automatically I've run them for 8 weeks. But the power cycle is important.

[ra byn (robin)]

I used a brightsigns hd1010 for my last museum project and it ran for 4+
months with failure. In fact it's probaby running right now but the
projector is off. This would be 9 months later. No moving parts. Miniature
and designed for the task. Scheduling, wifi log in and script updates,
contact closures, multiple audio out options. High def video output, web
type drag and drop programming interface. SD card memory. Reusable. Rs232.
Multiple units can work as master/slaves system wirelessly or wired ip.
Server checks for auto updates. For example of you had 1000 of these
showing a restaurant menu all over the planet, you could update the server
file and each x duration of time they would all call in and download the
new script file. I barely touched the surface of what is possible but the
one unit I used just worked and the company provided figure53 like support
:)

Best regards,

ra byn

[ra byn (robin)]

[ra byn (robin)]

This was meant to say "NO failures".

Sorry about that,

ra byn

[Mike P]

Thanks to all for the info. Brightsigns was brought up by someone else and I think that's what they want really. I appreciate the responses

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