Winding down record player or gramaphone

[cblackley]

For a recent show, we wanted the effect of a gramaphone winding down, but we wan't to be able to call when it happened. So creating a sound file with the "wind down" built in wouldn't work.
So : we linked our SCS computer to another PC, via ethernet network. We used a freeware "Midi over ethernet" software on both PCs - we had the PCs at different ends of the room, so conventional MIDI wiring was too long.
On the 2nd PC we used Arkaos Media Master for audio playback. Arkaos doesn't play audio files, so we embedded the audio track in a video file.
All of the parameters in Arkaos playback are assignable to DMX or MIDI control, so we set the playback speed to a MIDI channel, which we controlled from SCS.
I couldn't figure out how to use a sweepable MIDI channel , so we used a series of SCS subcues to change the speed in small steps.

Two notes :
- Arkaos is a free fully functional download, but without a purchased dongle, it will flash " DEMO" across your video display. However it does not affect audio output
- we run our SCS audio using a Dante virtual sound card, so I was concerned that the "Midi over ethernet" might interfere with it on the same network, but we had no issues.

It was all a bit kludgy, but a fun challenge to crack

Craig Blackley
Fanshawe College, Theatre Technical Program

[PhilVale]

I bumped into a VST (free too) recently that did this and more - darned if I can remember the name now but it might have been - iZotope Vinyl (by iZotope).