overall volume control for sub-cues

Features you would like in SCS
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d_korman
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overall volume control for sub-cues

Post by d_korman » Wed Dec 12, 2018 10:01 pm

Any possibility of an overall volume control for a stack of sub-cues, with each sub-cue having a relative volume contorl - similar to what we have in playlists?

The show I am currently working on includes a WW1 dogfight, and a few other complex cues, for each of which which I am using about 6-8 audio file sub-cues running concurrently, with level changes as well. In order to balance the various track levels, I have to adjust the level of each sub-cue. However, if I then want to change the overall level of the entire mix, the only way to do that currently is to adjust each individual sub-cue level' I'd like to have a "master" level control for the entire set of sub-cues, to make this muchn easier and avoid the risk of loosing the relative levels when I need to change the overall level.

In addition, setting the overall level is something that would normally be done in the theatre during a rehearsal with the actors and there just isn't time to fiddle about adjusting the levels of that many sub-cues - I just need a single slider to take the whole group up or down. There are over 180 cues in the show, so anything that makes setting the levels in the venue faster would be very welcome.

Thanks.

jmgordon
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Re: overall volume control for sub-cues

Post by jmgordon » Thu Dec 13, 2018 10:10 am

Have you considered using the keyboard shortcuts Shift+F11/Shift+F12 to Decrease/Increase the levels of all playing cues, assuming all the sub-cues are playing? The change can then be saved with Shift+F10.

d_korman
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Re: overall volume control for sub-cues

Post by d_korman » Thu Dec 13, 2018 7:25 pm

That won't work because there are other cues playing, such as background loops and spot effects on hot-keys, whose levels would be affected.

Mike Daniell
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Re: overall volume control for sub-cues

Post by Mike Daniell » Thu Dec 13, 2018 10:42 pm

What about the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+F11/Ctrl+F12 to decrease/increase the level of the last playing cue? This, of course, assumes that the cue you want to adjust is the last playing cue.
Mike Daniell
Show Cue Systems Pty Ltd
mike@showcuesystems.com
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d_korman
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Re: overall volume control for sub-cues

Post by d_korman » Thu Dec 13, 2018 11:26 pm

Mike Daniell wrote:What about the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+F11/Ctrl+F12 to decrease/increase the level of the last playing cue? This, of course, assumes that the cue you want to adjust is the last playing cue.
Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't! Would that adjust the levels of ALL the sub-cues in that cue whilst keeping the relative levels the same - there may be sub-cues in that cue that have completed, but I would still need to adjust their level to keep the relative levels to those sub-cues that I adjust whilst they are still playing, so that at the next time round the whole stack of sub-cues has had its level changed whilst keeping the relative levels of all the sub-cues within the cue unchanged.

Mike Daniell
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Re: overall volume control for sub-cues

Post by Mike Daniell » Fri Dec 14, 2018 2:54 pm

Unfortunately all of the these shortcuts (Shift or Ctrl + F11/F12) only adjust sub-cues that are currently playing. So this feature request is noted.
Mike Daniell
Show Cue Systems Pty Ltd
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d_korman
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Re: overall volume control for sub-cues

Post by d_korman » Sat Dec 15, 2018 3:17 am

Thanks Mike,

Whilst you're in there, can we have the ability to start a sub-cue "xxx before the end of the previous sub-cue", please?

Thanks again,
Dave

Vellemum
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Re: overall volume control for sub-cues

Post by Vellemum » Sun Dec 16, 2018 9:06 pm

I think I know a workaround.
For each set of sub-cues you want to control you haven to make an extra output (A2, A3, etc.) in the device setup and route all these sub-cues to this output.
Now in the physical device you route these outputs to the same physical output.
You can now use the volume slider on the right site of this screen to control the overall volume for each set of sub-cues.

Not exactly what you asked for, but I believe this is the best solution at the moment.

And a +1 for "xxx before the end of the previous sub-cue" as requested in this thread.

d_korman
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Re: overall volume control for sub-cues

Post by d_korman » Sun Dec 16, 2018 9:13 pm

Thanks Vellemum, I'll give that a try, it should make the tech and dress rehearsals easier!
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unfortunately that doesn't work. Because both virtual outputs use the same physical device, the master for either virtual output affects the overall output level of cues played via both virtual outputs

Vellemum
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Re: overall volume control for sub-cues

Post by Vellemum » Sun Dec 30, 2018 8:38 pm

That's strange because I tested it again after reading your reply and on my PC it's working.
Did you apply the device change after the volume was changed? Otherwise you won't hear the difference.

I tried to attach a screenshot of my settings but it didn't work :(. Perhaps someone can point me to what I'm doing wrong?

Have another try. Hopefully it's working now.

d_korman
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Re: overall volume control for sub-cues

Post by d_korman » Thu Jan 03, 2019 12:24 am

No, it does not work. Both master faders move together, regardless of which I click on. Note that I am using ASIO drivers.

In any case, having to apply device changes every time I tweak it is unworkable, I have to be able to do this in real time, there is no time to flip between windows.

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