Show Cue System

In another forum, we were discussing how to keep redundant systems in sync, so that if the main SCS computer goes down, you can quickly switch to a second computer. There's 2 problems to solve here, the first is how to keep SCS in sync between the two computers so that they are running the same cues, and the second is how to switch the output (usb, video and audio). Switching the output can be done with external switches and the press of a button. However the input is a little trickier and the subject of this request. I found some software on the internet that can control 2 computers from one mouse/keyboard, but haven't tried it out yet.

So this feature request is to have a master/slave mode in SCS that keeps the slave in sync with the master. This is very similar to TELNET control except that you wouldn't have to manually add telnet send cues to every single cue in your list. This would automatically send some sort of command from that master to slave, whenever something changes on the master. Since it just meant to be used for a hot-swap backup system, it could function only in the run mode, and only process cue control input and perhaps master volume control? I guess this could get pretty complicated unless you limit it. Obviously the same cue file must be playing on both computers.

I'll try to get the software solution working this week, maybe it's the simplest solution, here's my best find so far:

http://www.inputdirector.com

I do have plans to implement a master/slave feature via Telnet - this is one of a number of features to be added to SCS 11 once it has bedded down. It hasn't been high on my priority list as the back-up feature is better supported by using an external controller to send MIDI (or other) commands to two PC's both running SCS. I have seen this used for a major production here in Brisbane, together with a KVM switch, as explained in this Forum posting.

However, due to the fairly frequent requests for a master/slave facility entirely in SCS I will work on this asap. You'll still ideally need to duplicate your sound interface etc as you point out ("switch the output...") and that can be quite a challenge.

I agree this isn't high priority as there are existing solutions that should work, this is just a nice convenience feature.

As for audio, one cheap solution I thought of was to use a headphone splitter to merge 2 audio box outputs into one mixer input. Then I would simply MUTE the backup audio output on the external sound box. The switchover would be to unmute this box, and manually take control from that computer (since the original computer failed and it was sending its keyboard/keypad input to the backup computer). I would then power down the sound box for the failed computer in case it came back to life.

Since I use SCS midi out to control the mixer presets, I have to figure out a way to route the midi such that it doesn't fail. I think the sound box will pass midi thru and even if the attached computer crashes the midi will still pass thru. If that is the case I won't worry about it, since the chance of the sound box failing is about the same risk as the mixer failing, which we accept. I once did have a Sony MD failure (due to a bad disk) in the middle of a complex quadraphonic storm sequence involving many song tracks and solos about 12 mins long. This was before I bought SCS and is what pompted me to switch to computers. On that night, the conductor eventually took over playing keyboards by ear since he didn't have sheet music for the recorded tracks. Live and learn!

I do agree that human errors result in more sound glitches/errors than failed equipment. Thus I focus on reducing human errors, which is why I bought SCS and it does a great job at this!

If you have a mixing board with enough channels left, you can go from the main pc to one channel and the backup pc to another channel, all you have to do is on-mute the backup channel in case of failure with the main pc
Or make 2 different groups in case you use more than a stereo output on SCS

I tested out Input Director and it worked great. I had my computers in different rooms, but I could hear SCS playing the same cue, and I was able to ESC , use the arrow keys to move around, and GO again, and it all worked. I would say there's probably < 1/10 sec delay between the computers - due to network latency. I don't see this as a problem, in that you probably will need at least that long to switch things like audio etc.

It is quite nice in that you have many options, e.g. only mirror the keyboard and not the mouse, and you can also use one screen to control both computer in non-mirror mode as if they were side by side, i.e. scroll from one computer monitor to the other (assuming you have 2 monitors). Anyway, the program is free for personal use. I will ask about cost for commercial use and post here.

According to shane@inputdirector.com, Input Director pricing is as follow:

Licenses start at USD $40 (and decrease as the number of licenses purchased increase).
As a special offer, new customers receive 1 free license with their first purchase.

so basically, $40 for 2 systems (1 master , 1 slave ).

For audio switching to the backup computer, my best thoughts so far are to merge the main and backup computer audio using headphone splitters, set to master volume level to -infinity on the backup computer, and have a hotkey that raises it to 0db. So I just press the hotkey to perform the audio switchover. I plan on having 2 numeric keypads ($5 each) so I don't have to unplug them. If I get really clever I can have the cue file on the master computer be slightly different, and define the same hot key tp fade the master volume from 0db to -infinity. Then I can literally switch audio from master to slave while running, in case the master computer appears to be having problems, or say the audio output or sound box dies but the computer is still running.

I discovered Mouse without Borders which is a free program

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download ... x?id=27589

it can control up to 4 computers. It's very poorly documented, but if you go into the ALL PC mode when SCS has input focus on both computers, the master can control SCS running on the slave with the keyboard. You have to be very careful with all these pgms, as it is easy to lose input focus, e.g. if you use their toolbar menus SCS running on the slave computer will often lose input focus. I have my computers in separate rooms, so it was a pain to test.

So... there's at least one free pgm you can use to control the redundant computer and keep it in sync with the master, at least once it is running SCS.