Linked level adjustment

frfortes · Post by **frfortes** » Wed May 24, 2006 1:00 am

Mike.

First of all. Congratulations for version 9!!
I have two suggestions and one bug. One suggestion I know it was already mentioned, the other I think is new:
1. Add RS232 out messages. I use to have some video servers together with the system and they are RS232, so this feature will help me a lot.
2. Imagine that there is more than one sound subcues linked, in order to play a multiple output file. It could be good to have a CTRL+mouse action in order to update level on the fly (it could be CTRL, ALT or SHIFT) of all them together (you can maintain its relative levels, and just adds/subtract the same amount of level for all.
3. I have problems when I move subcues under its three. Sometimes, if I move a subcue to the end of the list it disappears. Sometimes, if I move one last subcue to the top of subcues (under the same cue) this cue stops working or has a misbehaviour.

Cheers,

Fernando Fortes

Mike Daniell · Post by **Mike Daniell** » Fri May 26, 2006 1:01 pm

Fernando,

Can you (and anyone else) give me some info on what RS232 messages you want to send? A link to a web site where I can download a reference manual would be helpful. Are there any standard message formats like there are (to some extent) with MIDI?

Thanks,
Mike

frfortes · Post by **frfortes** » Fri May 26, 2006 10:25 pm

Mike,

Serial commands doesnÂ´t have any standard format of messages.

I suggest you to add in Options menu, a RS232 out configuration where we can set: port number (COM1, COM2...), speed, databits, parity and stopbit. If you add just one serial port as output port is ok, but think about adding multiples serial ports to be used at the same time. This will add more show control power to SCS!! You can also add this config to Production Editor, so we can manage multiple COM out ports the same way we use multiple audio out ports.
Basically, serial messages sends hex ASCII values, so we can have two options of data entry (as entry format), ASCII or hex. So, for example, we can send PL1<CR> (as for a play clip 1 command and <CR> stands for carriage return. Or we can use 504C310D for 50 = hex for P, 4C = hex for L, 31 = hex for 1 and 0D hex for carriage return.
Just to be clear, the ,<CR> simbols is to represent that at the data entry, I did an "ENTER" comand at the end of the PL1 string, ok? So this "ENTER" commands needs to be sent.

ThatÂ´s what I used so far, but if anyone else has any other idea, feel free to add.

Hope it helps.

Fernando Fortes

AndyT · Post by **AndyT** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:26 am

MIke,

I would like to back Fernando up with this request for a serial out control. As well as sound effects generated from our theatre PC, we also have effects, such as ringing telephone, doorbell etc, that are created "live". I have looked into a midi / relay system, but the costs of this are well over our budget. A much simpler method is to use a RS232 reciever, or even direct control of a relay via one of the data or supporting signals.

Providing a field that enables us to enter our hex or ascii data would suffice, along with selecting which serial port to send that data to.

The following is an address demonstrating type of hardware that is available for serial output control
http://www.pencomdesign.com/1ch_relay.htm

Hope this helps, and thanks for all your development work.

Regards

Andy Terry
Manifest Theatre

kmkonline · Post by **kmkonline** » Mon May 29, 2006 3:06 pm

Apart from the sd effect computer, i would like to use it to control a Video Matrix switch from extron / crestron.. or even turning on and off a projector... selecting the source of the projector...

We can do all these with the RS-232 output capability.

Thanks

Mike Daniell · Post by **Mike Daniell** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:45 pm

That's all very helpful, thanks. I particularly like the idea of using a 'live' telephone or doorbell, especially if working without on-stage speakers.

Mike Daniell · Post by **Mike Daniell** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 10:29 pm

I have problems when I move subcues under its tree. Sometimes, if I move a subcue to the end of the list it disappears. Sometimes, if I move one last subcue to the top of subcues (under the same cue) this cue stops working or has a misbehaviour.

Fernando,

I've sorted out the issue of moving a subcue to the end of the list. With moving the last subcue to the top, I notice that the cue panels in the run screen are not being refreshed correctly but in the editor there doesn't appear to be a problem. Does this match what you have found?

Thanks,
Mike

frfortes · Post by **frfortes** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:30 am

I've sorted out the issue of moving a subcue to the end of the list. With moving the last subcue to the top, I notice that the cue panels in the run screen are not being refreshed correctly but in the editor there doesn't appear to be a problem. Does this match what you have found?

Not exactly. I didn't noticed what you explainned. Let's imagine that we have a CUE with 3 SUBCUES. If I want to move the first subcue in this cue to the end (after the last subcue) and I drag and drop it, when it shows a line after the last subcue, this subcue dissappears from the list! Simply try to create subcues and move them a,round, sometimes when you drop it, it dissappears! At least in my system! Best wishes...