[QLab] Triggering QLab from RS232 or Game Port?

[Christopher Ashworth]

On Jul 28, 2007, at 8:24 AM, Charlie Richmond wrote:

> On Sat, 28 Jul 2007, John Leonard wrote:
>
>> What I miss in all the computer-based playback systems is the immense
>> flexibility that a hardware-based sampler offers to someone who  
>> designs the
>> way that I do. In particular, I miss dynamically variable filters,  
>> pitch
>> transposition, crossfade looping and envelope shapers.
>>
>> I have every hope that Chris will continue to develop QLab so that  
>> it can
>> compete with the highest of the high end systems, but I shall also  
>> continue
>> to choose my playback systems based on the requirements of the  
>> show and my
>> design.
>
> Actually, Christopher and I have a spectacular plan in the works to  
> provide the
> ultimate solution for situations where SFX is the established  
> choice and the
> establishment doesn't feel they can support more than one solution  
> easily.  This
> solution involves simply keeping the Windoze PC that normally runs  
> SFX and
> provides all the connections with the audio interface in its normal  
> position.

Heh heh.  Charlie Richmond: always ready to make the pitch.  :D

At the end of the day, of course, what John said is the base  
guideline: use the right tool for the job, with the right amount of  
complexity (but ideally no more than that).  If that means a CD  
player, cool.  If that means a hardware-based sampler, cool.  If that  
means QLab, cool.  If that means SoundMan Server or LCS, cool.

Just to make sure it was clear, my original comment on RS232 and Game  
Ports was intended to convey that, in the given scenario, using MIDI  
was a much lower amount of complexity than the other solutions, and  
therefore the most appropriate proposal.

For what it's worth, I will absolutely be adding Audio Unit support  
to QLab in the future.  This will add a great deal of the flexibility  
that John describes (pitch bend, equalizers, etc).

But even then QLab will certainly not be the be-all end-all tool.   
There will be times only SoundMan Server will be enough to get the  
job done, and other times when a live foley artist is the right choice.

Cheers,
Christopher