QLab Problem

[JCC1996]

Hi,

 

I'm having a bit of trouble with QLab at the moment. I've got all my video cues loaded up- they are all short clips about 3 seconds in length which are set not to 'auto-stop at end'- as I need the next clip to carry on playing from the end of the previous one. All was going well, I played through the sequence just using my laptop screen; then I hooked it up to an external monitor (my tv) through the iWires miniDP to HDMI cable, with the displays mirrored and it all worked fine. Then I set the displays to work as extended desktop (with the video being shown on my TV and QLab visible on my laptop) and the problems began!

 

The cues trigger, but only a black screen (which is the background for all my clips) shows or the first frame show up, but freezes. My first thought was that I was overloading the laptop, but as everything moves fluidly- the action time on QLab, the cursor etc.- I don't think this is the case. I then thought it was possibly to do with not auto-stopping so everything is still technically playing although I can't see it so I programmed everything in as group cues, including a stop for the previous cue. However, the same problems still occurred.

 

Now this happens even in mirrored screen mode and I've run out of ideas for solutions. Has anyone had these problems before and know of an answer, or is my laptop just not powerful enough.

 

*I'm running a 3001 macbook pro with 4GB ram and 750GB hard drive, core i7 processor.

 

Thanks

 

Joe

[paulears]

Stupid question - but resetting the monitor display hasn't reset your license permissions has it? Mine - which isn't licensed for video as I rarely use it, so just use the short licenses for projects that need it - shows video files fine on the laptop screen, but doesn't allow them to be seen on the external monitor? Maybe something has upset your licensing if you could do this ok before?

[nothingatall666]

I Joe,

 

I encountered this during my last show, I'm not really sure how I rectified it as it just started working but there are a few things you can try..

 

first - do you have a video pro licence?

 

Ensure you save the file

Load the cue before going with it (select cue and press 'L')

 

what may also help is restarting the laptop with the external display connected. (though if you don't have the pro licence your saved cues will not fire)

 

I noticed that my macbook (though much slower than yours) was slightly sluggish with 1080 video.. but a 3 second clip should be fine.

 

I really have no idea what helped when I got the same problem. - I was in a rush so tried multiple troubleshoots at once..

 

Hope you find a solution, I know its an easy fix!

[JCC1996]

I've not got the license yet as I'm only hiring it for the fortnight around the show, but I've manage to fix it by restarting my laptop with the external monitor connected, but I'm not sure if thats what fixed it or if it was just coincidence. Thanks anyway,

 

Joe

[paulears]

I suspect it's a license issue - you just need to make sure it doesn't re-engage during the show. You can license qlab for short term events - that's what we always do. qlab works free for audio, but video is a pay for upgrade.

[Biro]

If you do not have the licence then this is your problem, it wont output until it has the licence present.

[CharlieH]

I had this problem too. I remember it being one of those solves where you fiddle with it and it works http://www.blue-room.org.uk/public/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif I tried opening the source file in an editor and saving it in a different form, deleting and re-creating the cue, rebooting the graphics card, rebooting QLab etc And it finally worked. I'm afraid I cannot remember exactly which 'fiddle' fixed it, but it definitely wasn't a license problem with me.

[plinque]

There are two things that come to mind immediately here:

First, in Preferences make sure that QLAb is attached to the external monitor. Sometimes it isn't, especially if you make the physical connection after starting QLab.

Second, Under the "Settings" tab on the right-hand side, you will see "Screens" with the numbers 1 through to 8. Your Macbook's screen is 1 and your rxternal screen is (usually) 2. If 2 is not engaged, you will not get output on the second monitor.

HTH.

[Andrew Edwards]

In my experience, any hardware attached or changed after Qlab has been launched will behave unexpectedly. Relaunch Qlab after adding or changing hardware, even if it is showing correctly in the prefs. For some reason Qlab will quite happily 'see' the hardware but will not necessarily output to it.

 

I now always relaunch Qlab just before going up as I have had situations where someone has moved the power for a projector or fireface without my knowledge.