eamon

Hi You are correct re my posting in the wrong subject. Albeit the OP is looking for a more bespoke solution, he had mentioned the raspberry pi's earlier in the thread. Upon further reading, he wants GO/STOP options and the software I linked to is a auto loop program for pi based on the raspbian os. Nonetheless, thank you for pointing this out. @Mods, can you move the original post into the topic started by Imagineer Tom? Many thanks Eamon

Hi I am not sure if the following pi software would work for you...? This is a video looping software that auto starts on load up and plays files from an attached USB. I am not sure if you can start/stop with a big button but I predominately use this a media player for installations. It plays automatically once it boots up and does not stop. It is a fairly easy install on top of the main raspbian OS. I have not updated my couple of SD cards as it is bulletproof for simple playback of looping video files so there may be more options in the current version. You can hot swap usb sticks without any issue if you need to play a different file. You can put stuff in a looping order but you just need to append the files in question with a number for the system to recognise the sequence. https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi-video-looper My 10cents Eamon

Hi Pete I am posting a link to the "magic" video wall from info-beamer running raspbery pi's as control. The reason for this link is that your original image reminded me of how daftly simple this is/was to achieve on my previous encounter with this product/company. Have a look at the link HERE and you will see what I mean re how easy this would be to create using their software. Please note I do not have any affiliation with this company; I am just a very happy user. Eamon

Hi I am not sure re the upfront cost or the running costs of the project but I get the feeling this is not your first rodeo... I would look at brightsign, pathport units or raspberry pi's running digital signage software. I say raspberry pi's as I have used them in a similar configuration. This was achieved quite easily by company called www.info-beamer.com The set up was easy and the mapping was even easier. Essentially each screen is connected to a networked pi running its software. Worth a look but all depends on the planned running cost. System was bullet proof for 6 months when I used it. Many others are offering similar but I found info-beamer to be excellent. My 2cents Eamon

Hi all I am wondering if anyone here has any knowledge or experience of JB Systems lighting Control? I have a 14 year old fixed install with 2no. JB Systems DSP 12 dimmer packs. The packs are a mixture of HOT & DIM modules. For the last while, the unit has been stuck on the "ON" position with no external control possible. We cannot control anything and it seems like it is stuck in a panic mode. This is across the unit and not specific to any particular channel. The unit controls some gallery lighting and it controlled via LonBus on the analogue input. DMX is not in this equation. This unit is also integrated into a DALI controlled system which triggers other worklight as part of a pre-programmed set up. I have worked out that the issue lies with the control module. You can swap this out very easily and through some basic fault finding, I have found the culprit. I have since given this to an electronics company who serviced this unit before but they are drawing a blank as where the issue lies. Does anyone have any guidance or experience of this gear or could point in a right direction. I am at the stage where I would buy a 2nd hand control module if it was cheap enough...! Many thanks Eamon Edit: S & G.

Hi A bit late to this topic. It might be worth a quick look at ZoomOSC. This is effectively a specialised variant of Zoom which can receive commands through OSC. Kinda envisioned with Isadora/Qlab controlling it. Any program that can send OSC commands will work with it though. I do not know if the sub rooms are a thing or if the programming element of this is to much for the intended task...? ZoomOSC I have only touched upon it but it is quite powerful. Might not be right for this event. eamon

Hi Understandable re the node programming. I am still at the kindergarten stage myself. They have combined with a 3rd party who is compiling a software called streamweaver which is looking at the control of show computers using isadora as an interface. The link below is to their osc interface. Streamweaver is still under development but you can ask to join the beta. Both companies are expanding the ability to do a remote performance etc. https://www.liminalet.com/zoomosc

Hi Very interesting reading so far. In terms of control, you could do no harm to look at Isadora by Troikatronic. It is an amazing program that is a mix of video, audio, control and projection mapping. Mark, the creator, has made some brilliant improvements for this coronavirus time. It is a well supported program. You can access all the features except you cannot save in the demo version. Supports numerous control protocols incl osc. www.troikatronix.com This is a link to their approx. 15 covid tutorials all geared towards improving tge experience. The link in particular is for their live streaming session. It works on both PC & Mac and the producy is very supported by an active community. Just a very happy user. No gain here. Eamon Hi Very interesting reading so far. In terms of control, you could do no harm to look at Isadora by Troikatronic. It is an amazing program that is a mix of video, audio, control and projection mapping. Mark, the creator, has made some brilliant improvements for this coronavirus time. It is a well supported program. You can access all the features except you cannot save in the demo version. Supports numerous control protocols incl osc. www.troikatronix.com This is a link to their approx. 15 covid tutorials all geared towards improving tge experience. The link in particular is for their live streaming session. It works on both PC & Mac and the producy is very supported by an active community. Just a very happy user. No gain here. Eamon

wow. I learn something new every day. I have only ever experienced the R120 as a wired unit. Sorry for getting in the way. eamon

Hi Do you mean an R130 or R140? The R120 was/is a wired unit. Alas nonetheless, I cannot help. Eamon

Hi I adding this into the mix as Iike most of us, we have been practising with OBS & Zoom. I am a big fan of Isadora. This is a brilliant & amazing program that is well served by its creator, team and forum community. Anyway, Isadora can do a lot of things with video and multi inputs/outputs but Marc, the creator, has just developed an OBS plugin to control OBS from Isadora. Please note the plugin is only in beta and only just released but it is interesting. Worth a look as once they iron the bugs out, it will make it interesting combined with OBS and live streaming. If you are seeking the plug in specifically, it is available from their Guru 10 broadcast. Here is a link to their sessions where they run through from the start to many possibilities later. Well organised and might help you. This might be a side track off from what you are seeking but nonetheless it is a brilliant program eamon

Hi all I am just following up on this topic. As mentioned, I purchased the Kramer item and so far it works pretty well. The only clanger I had was not reading the manual properly. There are 4no. dipswitches for EDID/HDCP modes and typically, I did not have the right one selected at the wrong moment.... I have since ran a "soak" test for approx. 2 days with 3 different machines and different HDMI to mac adaptors running a test video etc. There has been no green screen of death so thumbs up for the Kramer IC. Hopefully this is the cure in the longterm. Thanks for all the help and advice. Eamon

Hi all Sorry for the slow & late reply. The work thing sometimes takes over our lives... I have to spin many plates in my new job. I am veering towards the ventilator idea. Seems practical and I have a large college medical dept at my disposal. A friend of mine also suggested it as an option and with discussion, seems like the best idea to trial. Plus it is more likely to give the desired effect, I hope.... Thanks again for the advice.

Hi all I have been tasked with helping an artist with an exhibition. The exhibit is a model of the human torso complete with working lungs... It is the working lungs where I come in. I am looking at a pump or some form of automated bellows and I am a bit stumped as to how to proceed. I have yet to see the unit (later today). Has anyone achieved this before? I am thinking a small pump with a pressure switch to simulate breathing as one possibility. The solution will need to run for approx 6-9 months! Cheers in advance. Eamon

Hi Joe Thanks for this. I have already proceeded with the kramer option due to the desire to resolve the issues asap. I had thought of the HDfury but aspects of purchasing are mired in the bureacratic mire of a university with preferred suppliers et al..... If I am unsuccesful in the resolution of the HDCP issue, I will relook at the HDfury options. Thanks again. Eamon

Hi all I have inherited an exisiting installation and have a query re HDMI transmission and using mac laptops. I have a lecture room/theatre with said set up and VGA/HDMI feeds to a matrix switcher, various projectors & screens. I, often, suffer from the HDCP issue via HDMI and resort to VGA for any mac users. There are a couple of switcher units in situ and the actual installation is 10 years old with newer items added into the mix over the years. Hence the issue of HDCP compliance etc. In my searches for solutions, I came across a very helpful discussion within the blue-room about HDCP, Mac laptops and the various works with the annoying green screen. This has helped, along with other pages, of making the issue and resolution seem logical. I understand the issues and I believe I have the solution to my woes. My query relates to whether or not I should go the route of the following product: Decimator MD-LX or the route of a Kramer unit PT-1C. Both seem to bypass/resolve the EDID and HDCP issue. The two units I have linked to are similar in price and spec but is there any other option I may have overlooked..? Is there a difference or just a brand preference. Thanks in advance. eamon Edit: grammar etc.

Hi Simon I am unsure as to what you refer to when you say board dimmers..?? When in SUBMASTER mode, all the faders become submasters. The only active ones for use will have an amber led lit. If it does not have an amber led, it possess no information or is empty. When in SINGLE mode, all the faders become channels. If you are moving between different modes and a fader is up, the contents of the fader will not change until you fade it to zero. This goes for when you move out of the SUBMASTER mode and the SINGLE mode if a channel fader is up and you enter the SUB mode, the channels will remain live until you bring the fader to zero. Think of each fader as either a channel or a submaster. The dimmer terminology is confusing the issue. If you are referring to the A/B faders at the bottom centre of the desk, best to make them at full. A should be at the top and B should be at the bottom (full!) Clear as mud! Eamon Hi Simon I am unsure as to what you refer to when you say board dimmers..?? When in SUBMASTER mode, all the faders become submasters. The only active ones for use will have an amber led lit. If it does not have an amber led, it possess no information or is empty. When in SINGLE mode, all the faders become channels. If you are moving between different modes and a fader is up, the contents of the fader will not change until you fade it to zero. This goes for when you move out of the SUBMASTER mode and the SINGLE mode if a channel fader is up and you enter the SUB mode, the channels will remain live until you bring the fader to zero. Think of each fader as either a channel or a submaster. The dimmer terminology is confusing the issue. If you are referring to the A/B faders at the bottom centre of the desk, best to make them at full. A should be at the top and B should be at the bottom (full!) Clear as mud! Eamon

Hi Simon My normal work flow is to a) Mark out my channels so I know which fader does what at the channel level. - plan or tape on the desk, nothing fancy here. b) Make sure the Mode select is for SINGLE. Not TWO SCENE or SUBMASTER . c) Hit RECORD. the re light will illuminate indicating you are in the record mode. d) Set your channel faders to the levels you wish. e) Once you are happy, hold the bump button directly underneath the fader you wish to record. The LED on the fader will flash amber after 3 secs indicating you have recorded the channels into a sub. f) Change your channel faders to the next scene and repeat the process of holding down the button directly underneath the new fader. g) Continue on till you are happy. h) Hit RECORD to exit the record mode. The red LED will turn off. I) Press the MODE select button to change the desk into SUBMASTER mode. The programmed subs will have an amber led present. If the channel faders are still up, pull them down to 0 to release them. Only subs programmed will be accesible on the SUBMASTER level. The same goes for channels on the SINGLE level. When you have finished programming, just fade the channel faders down and move to the SUBMASTER level/mode. For playback of scenes, I would manually fade the subs in/out. You can use the timed function but it is a convoluted mess and a waste of time. If you want control over the timing, the only really way is to manually use the faders yourself. I meant to say that any word in capitals is referencing a command or button on the desk. Does this make more sense? N.B I never use the TWO SCENE mode I have given up on the Timed playback option for the submaster levels. When are you next at the desk? eamon

Hi Thanks for all the pointers. I am finding laptops and other items randomly in desk drawers. There has been a gap since my predecessor left and my starting. Simply put, I do not know where half the items are or should be. I am responsible for the base IT of the organisation. This involves getting laptops ready for staff, exhibitions etc. I am looking for something that I can do a basic track of where something should be and also look at a replacement cycle. As the organisation is quite tech heavy, "older" items may end up being surpassed etc. Hoping that I could use it help get an overall view of what they actually have as opposed to hearsay. The asset tiger looks like it could be a possibility. I do not mind paying for stuff but I am not needing a full system OS approach. Something that I can attach a scanner and tag the barcode once a year/exhibition/start-end of new contract staff etc. I think excel might not be enough for what I am looking for. I want to be able to generate a whats active and whats not working list quickly. Eamon

Hi all I have recently moved employment to a gallery setting. It is a slight bit different from the theatre world but maturity in life has beckoned me forth to the new enterprise. I have a query re asset management and how others manage their systems. I have inherited a large amount of laptops, ipads, iphones, various chrome books and an assortment of various sized monitors. As of now, there is no asset management or proper knowledge of the various bits of equipment. I am not sure if I am opening Pandora's box here but I believe I need to consider a system that I can track all the kit etc. I am also straddling a line between asset management and a rental software approach as there is a lot of short term contracts etc. I am wondering if anyone has been in the same boat and has any possible pointers for good management practice and software approaches? Thanks in advance. eamon

Hi Whilst not a youtube specialist, I can lay out some helpful tips and workthroughs for using a strand 200. I will try to explain how I use the desk to help you out. I am not sure where you stand with the information so apologies if I am teaching you how to suck eggs but you sound frustrated. Overview: There are two types of 200's. Both are pretty identical in terms of use and only differ in their fader/channel count size. I have used a Strand 200 for over 15 years and I have never connected a monitor to the desk. You do not need one to operate it. Clear out the desk: -There are 3 buttons directly under the small LCD screen on the right hand side of the desk. These 3 buttons correspond to the the menu items directly above them; follow the lines. They are noted F1 - F2 - F3. - As a rule, the F1 button is always an escape or move back up a level. - The F buttons change functions dependent on the menu you are in. The normal "Live" view is SCENE, FX, SETUP. Respectively F1, F2, F3. - Hit SETUP & use the +/- buttons to move up and down the menu. - You are looking for option 9. I cannot remember the text but it will give you the option to reset your desk back to 1:1 and wipe all submasters. - Do not bother trying to get a memory card for them. It is just not worth the pain. - Once you have reset the desk, use the left hand "soft" button to escape back up to the live menu. About 3 presses until you see SCENE, FX, SETUP. - You should have to worry about softpatching or anything like that at his point. It might be easier to start afresh dependent on when you are doing the show? Scene & Sequences: - There are 3 operational modes to the desk; SINGLE, 2 SCENE & SUBMASTER. These are accessed/stepped through from 1 button. This button is located in the middle of the operational buttons below the LCD screen and a bit to the left. It has the 3 options and the active option will have the amber LED lit next to it. SCENE or SINGLE - This means single channel mode e.g. Fader 1 = Channel 1 and so on. You program your Subs at this level. This is the first mode of the desk and where you access channels etc. 2 SCENE PRESET - Only really for using the desk as an A/B cross fade manual desk. TBH, if it is programmed subs etc that you seek, you can ignore this mode. SUBMASTER - This is where you playback your programmed subs. You would normally program your subs from the SCENE/SINGLE level and use this layer to run the "cues". The subs with programmed information possess a amber light below them. Note: - When you press this button, it steps through each of the 3 options. There is no other dark magic here. If you have a fader live in SCENE and select the SUB level, the value of the active fader will not change until you bring the fader to 0. Only then does it become active. - There are two time faders at the top centre of the desk. These are just adjacent to the last channel/sub faders on the top row. Make sure they are placed farthest away from you. They can control timings on the desk and can trick you when they are not at "0". Often making you wonder why your channels/subs are not coming up when you move faders but in fact they are fading up over a very slow time..... They are only really used when you are playing back a sequence. Leave them there. - Make sure your Grandmaster Fader is at full. This is the fader on the bottom right. - There are also two faders marked A/B. These are located adjacent to the channel faders on the bottom row. They are purposely opposites. The main reason for this is ensure a split dipless cross fade when running the desk in 2 SCENE PRESET mode. - When all the above is checked and happy, proceed to recording your subs. Record Subs: - I normally record the SUBS from the SCENE level. - Press RECORD. This is at the top right of the desk just adjacent to the the LCD screen. - The RECORD button will flash red or remain red. I cannot remember which but it will stay lit until you exit the record mode. - Put the channel faders to the desired positions you want. Once you are happy with them, press and hold down any one of the flash buttons underneath the submaster you wish to record the channels too. The button will flash amber after approx 2-3 secs. When you see it flash amber, this means that the sub has been recorded. Do take a moment to work out a logic to the subs/buttons you use. This becomes quite evident and important when you use SEQUENCES. - Rinse & repeat - To exit the record mode, hit RECORD once. The red light will disappear. - Now you move to the SUBMASTER level via the menu button. You should see the programmed subs with the amber light under them. To edit a SUB, you have to enter the blind menu in the LCD panel and move a small cursor around. It is often quicker to re-program the submaster and I am being polite when I say this.... To record over the existing sub, repeat the steps above and hold the corresponding flash button down for about 5 secs. It will flash to indicate new information has been programmed. I will not go into the SEQUENCES as I gave up using this method of playback a long time ago. It is a cumbersome and awkward way to runs cues. If the above works for you, I would work with manually fading the submasters and ignoring the timing function of the sequences. If you want to do it, I can post a guide for next time. There is probably enough information above to get you started. Have a go at the above and see how you get on. Found a youtube video.. Link to manual. Clicky Enjoy Eamon Edit: links & grammar.

Hi I can probably guess the venues but at that price ouch. Mac 301's......!! Anyway, I am local to Dublin and will put a few names into the hat. Very few will do all aspects in house and often an AV company has a preferred lighting supplier rather than supplying it inhouse. Dublin is not that big! In no particular order: Conference Servces/GFD Ltd www.conferenceservices.ie John Anderson is the contact. Do AV/Audio/lighting Cue One www.cueone.ie Kieran Cooney is the contact. Mainly lighting but do a lot of corporate QLX www.qlx.ie Noel Murphy is the contact, Part of a larger group of companies called EQ Audio. C.A.V.S www.cavs.ie Corporate AV & sound. Have a lighting dept. AVCOM www.avcom.ie Corporate AV/Sound/Lighting Production Services Ireland www.productionireland.com Have a Belfast & Dublin base. Mainly lighting but worth a call. Good people. Ciaran Tallon is the Dublin MD Justlite Large lighting company. www.justlite.com Alan Smith is the main contact. Ion Solutions https://ionsolutions.ie/ Good AV company There are more companies about like Litton Lane and Magpie mentioned above. I do not know them but they are good at what they do. Hope this helps point you in the right direction. Have no idea of the above companies pricing with regard to your gig and the restrictions the expensive venue might put on you! Eamon

Hi You can transfer an FX onto a sub once the fx is programmed. The sub is just a playback device e.g. if you wish to edit or change the fx, you have to do it in the fx control section. Select the fx & then hold the flash button for about 1-2 secs on the intended sub. You should be in sub mode for this and (probably) in rec mode.. This should work but I do remember the sequence being a bit gimpy. I have a strand 200 but I have not used this function in years....! I am hazy on it and will check in the am. Eamon

Howdy I did all of the above and more. Checked and re-checked all settings every second day. All the issues were random and the units would ignore/forget the settings. The sumo players were just terrible and I could not move away quick enough. A gentle persuader was used to send them on their way...:) I bought them online and "may" have bought copies without realising. I do not believe I did. The Pi's with interchangeable OS give me a great deal of flexibility and worked with a little tlc. Eamon

The video looper is a simple (once set up). You can dial in and manually run shut downs with adafruit. TBH, I have just been pulling the power at the end of the night. The gallery power on/off is done by our box office so simple switches and lo-fi for all set ups. I have yet to have a problem with a card getting corrupted and I did worry about it at the start. Yes, long term you will probably screw up the card but it is easy to have spares etc. I have been using them this way for about 2 years with little hassle. If you are worried re control, have a look at info-beamer.com Fantastic display signage for rasp pi. Simple to set up and totally customisable from any browser. Maybe overkill but free for 1no. Pi. Can do scheduler etc. Eamon Re the sumovision players, some of my issues: a) formatting. Sometimes I would have to format the usb stick from a PC not a mac due to mac creating hidden folders. This was a random problem. Very random and often would appear very randomly....! b) may autostart, may not. Again worked randomly with no obvious solution. c) would stop recognising working formats mid way through runs. d) remote control was hit and miss in terms of working. e) I threw them all away!! Bought cheap and paid for it in the long run.... Eamon