Jump to specific slice marker during playback

[Thor Winther]

I can't seem to find a way to jump to a certain slice marker, during playback of the audio.

I have multiple infinite loops in the audio. I've tried to do a stop cue and then a load cue at the time of the slice and then a start cue, but this doesn't work with infinite loops. 

[micpool]

Infinite loops are rarely required in audio cues! the best way to deal with this problem is to assess the maximum number of loops you might need, double it and put in a finite number. For loading beyond the loop a negative time from the end is often easier.

If you need to do this programmatically, there is an OSC method that ignores repeats and just loads to the actual file time

https://qlab.app/docs/v5/scripting/osc-dictionary-v5//#cuecuenumberloadfileat-number

/cue/{cue_number}/loadFileAt {number}
/cue/{cue_number}/loadFileAt {hours} {minutes} {seconds}


If a single argument, number, is given and is a positive number, load the specified cue to number seconds ignoring any slice loop counts. If number is a negative number, load the specified cue to number seconds before the end of the cue. QLab will automatically add the pre-wait of the specified cue so that the cue is loaded to the given time as though it has no pre-wait.

If three arguments are given, and each are positive numbers, load the specified cue to hours:minutes:seconds ignoring any slice loop counts. Negative numbers are not accepted. QLab will automatically add the pre-wait of the specified cue so that the cue is loaded to the given time as though it has no pre-wait.

If no argument is given, this command is equivalent to load, but ignores slice loop counts.

Mic

[micpool]

You can also use this script:

--requires a network cue numbered Ltime with the OSC message "/cue/selected/loadFileAt #/cue/Stime/notes#"

--requires the cue containing this script to be numbered Stime

tell application id "com.figure53.QLab.5" to tell front workspace

try

set theCue to last item of (selected as list)

set theMarkers to slice markers of theCue

set theSlice to text returned of (display dialog "Slice Number?" default answer "1")

set the notes of cue "Stime" to (time of item theSlice of theMarkers as text)

start cue "Ltime"

end try

end tell

Screen recording attached

On Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 3:39:37 PM UTC+1 thor.ag...@gmail.com wrote:

[Thor Winther]

Wow thank you so much! I will check both out. 

Yeah, it seems that doing infinite loops isn't the best practice, though I don't really understand why. If i don't know how many times something should loop, and I'm cueing on someone else, I think I should in principle be able to loop it indefinitely. Also when using finite loops, the resulting length is calculated and is to be used when using a load cue. So then it's a different time value from where I've put my slices and the only way I can find to get it, is by calculating it by hand.

[micpool]

On Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 7:57:44 PM UTC+1 thor.ag...@gmail.com wrote:

Wow thank you so much! I will check both out. 

 Also when using finite loops, the resulting length is calculated and is to be used when using a load cue. So then it's a different time value from where I've put my slices and the only way I can find to get it, is by calculating it by hand.

 

I think you have missed the fact that 2 of my examples use the OSC  

/cue/{cue_number}/loadFileAt {number}

that uses the file time,  which can just be read directly from the waveform window. 

Mic

[Sam Kusnetz]

Yeah, it seems that doing infinite loops isn't the best practice, though I don't really understand why.

 

There’s nothing wrong or not best practice about using infinite loops; I use them all the time!

 

The only strong reason not to use them is in cases like this, where you need to have access to the cue after the looping point.

 

If you’re doing a scene where it’s like “lights up on a summer meadow” by all means, loop the breeze and the crickets infinitely and then fade them out at the end.

 

Best

Sam 

––
Sam Kusnetz [he/him/his] (what is this?)
Figure 53
https://qlab.app | https://figure53.com

[Thor Winther]

Yes, thank you, I got that:) It was just in regard to using the "built in" load cue. 

I've made this kind of janky "stutter, seek" script that works as a panic play at this slice cue, if for example the playback didn't enter the loop before having to devamp. 

tell application id "com.figure53.QLab.5" to tell front workspace
try

set theCue to cue "Q1"

set theMarkers to slice markers of theCue

set the notes of cue "Stime" to (time of item 1 of theMarkers as text)
stop theCue
delay 0.01
start cue "Ltime"
delay 0.01
start theCue
end try
end tell

I do wish qlab had the same musical functionality for this as for example ableton did where you can go to markers during playback in a musical way that aligns with a given subdivision.

Thanks for all the help:)

[Thor Winther]

Yes, I understand that, but I just don't like that logic. I would just like to make it infinite instead of having to set it to some arbitrary number of loops I don't know if will hold through all that i need, that then also adds to the time qlab thinks the audio will run for. 

[Sam Kusnetz]

Hi Thor

Your request is reasonable, but what you want simply is not possible in QLab right now without doing something like what Mic has described.

This is an area of QLab which we hope to develop soon.

Best

Sam

—

Sam Kusnetz (he/him) | Figure 53

s...@figure53.com

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