Question - Best Practices - SCS at Show Time

[mbatchelor]

Hey all,

I'm new to SCS, and I'd like to solicit best-practice information on cue-file setup, and operational experiences. Below are some questions that I've asked myself as I went along - questions that I figure people have worked out with SCS in the past have answers to:

1- Manual cue launch key - since we'll be in tight quarters, it occurs to me that someone may bump the space-bar rather easily. I've deactivated the right-click mouse button - has anyone else found the need to use a cue-launch key other than space-bar? What key works the best for people? I've considered "n" since it's a bit guarded by the space bar and keys around it. I'm considering right-arrow as well (I don't know if that's an option - I haven't tried yet) but I know it'll be dark so I don't want it to be too difficult.

2- I notice that hitting the space-bar while playing one cue will launch the next manual cue. This has implications that were discovered by the kids using SCS at rehearsal this weekend - namely that the next audio file started playing while the existing one was playing. Do any/most of you create SFR manual cues after each song that you have to launch manually, even though they are unnecessary - just in case of an ooops? Have you guys experienced the oh-crap moment that we did this weekend where the space-bar was hit at the wrong time causing multiple audio files to play at the same time?

3- How many of you use SCS as an orchestra replacement? That's what I'm going to be trying for this show. Are there any hard-learned lessons (battle scars) that you have taken away from using SCS in this manner?

4- I've presently created two cue files for this show. The rehearsal cue file subdivides songs not just for necessity (multiple loops/vamps in a single file, grand pauses, etc) but also for the sake of rehearsal marks for the convenience of the director. The performance cue file only subdivides a song where absolutely required for loops/vamps and grand pauses. Is this typical?

Anything else I should know before running the audio portion of a show before I hop into the lion's den?

Thanks,

Marc

[mbatchelor]

Sorry - I know it's usually bad form to reply to your own post - but I did discover that "Exclusive Cue" will keep the kids from stepping on themselves while a cue is playing, and SCS behaves predictably for my performance cues with this setting. I don't know how it would behave when I have cues that start with other cues still playing for my rehearsal scenario. But for the performance cues, this is a much-needed discovery.

Marc

[Theatre III Sound]

Hello Marc,

I see you've discovered the "Exclusive Cue" checkbox. A year ago, I was one of those pressing Mike to add that feature as I was planning to use SCS for a local production of "The Nutcracker" to run the entire show including preshow and intermission music and really wanted to reduce the "oops" factor as much as possible.

Some of the other things I did to make SCS as bulletproof as possible:

1. Power settings on the PC/laptop - I turned off all power saving options so the disc would not spin down, the display go blank, the USB ports shut off, etc. Also, I terminated all the processes I wouldn't need, like virus protection, firewall, etc.

2. Used an external (USB) audio interface rather than the built-in device, thus eliminating the possibility of windows sounds mixing in with the music.

3. Defined the master fader control keys as shifted keys. I use right angle bracket for volume up, left angle for volume down, shift M for mute and Shift N for fader reset (I think of it as "normal"). Also, I defined the "Stop All" key as shift ESC. With those definitions and running all cues as exclusive, I could pretty much do a dance on the keyboard without affecting the running cue.

4. In my case, I didn't create a separate rehearsal cue list. During rehearsals, the choreographer would tell me to start a number at such-and-such a time and I'd just move the progress pointer to approximately the right place. We do the show at two different venues with different principal dancers who often supply their own music that has the tempo they're looking for. So for that reason, I have two cue lists, one for each venue.

I'm happy to say that last year's performances went off without a hitch (in the audio department, that is) and SCS played a big part in that. I even got compliments from the videographer for the smoothness of transitions and overall quality of the music.

Bruce

[jkowtko]

It's been almost three years now with SCS and no problems

* I set up the theater with sound PCs that have nothing installed but SCS and goldwave. They are not on a network and do not have wireless. So definitely:
- turn off all network devices
- turn off the screensaver
- power settings to leave screen and disk on always

* I use M-Audio Deltas (PCI card to external breakout box) ... definitely use an external sound interface for both sound quality and, as already mentioned, separationg of Windows system sounds. HOwever, please note that Windows will pump it's sounds through your interface device if you set it up that way. For example, if you want to play music through Windows Media Player or Goldwave, you may find yourself setting the audio output device to your interface box ... that may also change the windows systems audio to go through your interface as well. Just be careful on this.

* I use the spacebar and bought the Dell keyboards with the huge spacebar, to make it very easy to hit. I don't use shift keys at all -- the operator is usually fairly dedicated to the PC usage, and no one else is allowed near that keyboard during a show. I'd rather the keys be easily accessible than the op fumbling around in the dark to try to hit shift or control keys and mess something up ...

* Currently the theater is running it's fifth or sixth show with music tracks. I have taken care to set up the theater with a 5.1 speaker configuration (or stereo with appropriate fills), really good audio interfaces, and dedicated production and backup PCs ... and the shows sound pretty good The only glitches we've ever had here were due to operator error.

* One more "best practice" -- I always shutdown and restart SCS before pre-show to make sure we clear out the Windows memory from any rehearsal shenangangs (lots of paused cues, jumping around on the cue list, etc).

[mbatchelor]

* I set up the theater with sound PCs that have nothing installed but SCS and goldwave. They are not on a network and do not have wireless. So definitely:
- turn off all network devices
- turn off the screensaver
- power settings to leave screen and disk on always

Thanks - I created a hardware profile on the machine called minimal, and disable all the non-essential services. This works great!

* I use M-Audio Deltas (PCI card to external breakout box) ... definitely use an external sound interface for both sound quality and, as already mentioned, separationg of Windows system sounds.

I just set windows up to have no sounds at all (sound scheme is "No Sounds").

* I use the spacebar and bought the Dell keyboards with the huge spacebar, to make it very easy to hit. I don't use shift keys at all -- the operator is usually fairly dedicated to the PC usage, and no one else is allowed near that keyboard during a show. I'd rather the keys be easily accessible than the op fumbling around in the dark to try to hit shift or control keys and mess something up ...

Cool - for this show, we've created a virtual orchestra pit where I'm sitting - so nobody will be able to accidentally hit a key on the keyboard.

* I have taken care to set up the theater with a 5.1 speaker configuration

I wish - no $$$ for this.

* One more "best practice" -- I always shutdown and restart SCS before pre-show to make sure we clear out the Windows memory from any rehearsal shenangangs (lots of paused cues, jumping around on the cue list, etc).

Good one - I agree.

We have dress rehearsal and the first show this week. So - we'll see how things work out.

[dbn]

I go further. I never use laptops for real-time critical operations such as show control (lighting or sound). I purchase (inexpensive) used desktops (e.g. Dell Optiplex P4 systems) and dedicate one system for one function. I have one that runs only LightFactory and one that runs only SCS, Audacity and FreeRip. I don't allow anyone to install anything else on these systems or download stuff from the Internet.

I also employ all of the other suggestions, listed above, around turning off Windows generated sounds, and so forth.

I find that Windows XP is very stable as long as you don't install poorly-tested applications and DLLs that are the root cause of many system stability issues. Of course, Windows is subject to security issues, so I do turn on the Automatic Updates feature. I just ensure that I leave the system running and on the Internet all during production week, so that any updates happen at 3 AM while I'm in bed and not during a show, because I've just turned the machine on and it has found a new critical update. Of course, you could also simply take the machine off the "net" during production week.