Show Cue System

hi-

unless i'm missing something, i don't see a way to automatically migrate my show to another computer. ie, i put the show together on my desktop with the sound files on the E: drive, but when i load the show into my laptop (which will be used to run the show), there's no E: drive, only a C: drive... so that's where i have to put the sound files... and SCS can't find them. so i need a way to point SCS to the new sound file location. as it stands now, it looks like i'm gonna have to manually re-point each cue to the new sound location?

a few more things:

i don't quite like the way the volume fades currently sound. i'm having trouble with my fade-outs having that "dropping off the cliff" sound. i think, at least, i need an inverse of the logrithmic curve that you currently have- ie, when i do a fade-out, it should start fast, and slow down as it gets closer to zero. the current log curve does the opposite.

also as regards levels, i'd like to be able to enter them numerically instead of just with the slider. either that, or the slider should be able to select *all* the numerical levels. ie, let's say i decide to keep the default "850" level for a particular cue, and i follow it with two level change cues: a fade down, and then a restore of the initial level. currently i actually can't restore that initial level, as the closest i can get to "850" with the slider is "854." i realize this is a very subtle difference, but it seems rather silly to not be able to set levels with total numerical accuracy.

plus, there should be a numeric readout on the faders on the playback page, and the ability to write a level that was manually set on the playback page to be the programmed level for the cue itself. i think this would make it quicker and easier to set and revise levels during a tech rehearsal where you don't want to have to constantly stop and go into edit mode.

also, what do the current numerical level values represent? it'd be nice to see them in dB.

on the edit level page, the "expected level before change" and "expected pan before change" text displays need to be adjusted, as the word "change" is currently mostly covered up by the fader disply below it.

there's a bug when you select the "create a new stop cue after this cue," such that if you do that, and then edit that stop cue to trigger automatically (instead of manually), it still shows up as a "manual" cue in the "activation" column, even though it behaves properly as an "auto" cue.

it'd be nice if edit mode had an option to be password protected to safeguard against unauthorized cue revisions.

loop mode should be more detailed- ie, you should be able to set loop points down to the sample level (or even import them directly from an editing app like sound forge) and also you should be able to set a specific number of repeats (ie, if i have a phone that needs to ring 4 times, it'd be nice to just set this as a 4x loop of a single ring).

when initially entering cues, it'd be nice to have a sound file browser with drag/drop capability. in any event, though, if the current model is kept (ie, entering cues one at a time by hitting the "insert cue" button), it should default to inserting the next cue *after* the previous cue, instead of before it, so i can just hammer out all my initial sound file entries in chronological order. as it stands, after entering each cue i have to manually select "end" in order to insert the next cue before the "end." it's an extra step that doesn't need to be there. for that matter, i shouldn't have to leave edit mode at all during this phase- there should simply be a "new cue" button in edit mode that creates a new cue after the one i've just edited, and advances me to the edit page for it.

i've only just started working with this app yesterday, so i'll let you know if i come up with any more issues. so far i like it overall and it's a great value compared to things like sfx, which has tons of features i'd never use and don't want to have to pay for.


pea

Migrating a show: On the View / Options / General tab you can specify an Initial Folder. If you place your cue file (the .scs file) and also all your required audio files in or below that folder then that makes life easy when it comes to porting the setup to your laptop. On your laptop you need to specify an Initial Folder that is suitable for the laptop, and then if you copy the same structure of folders and files from the desktop 'initial folder' to you laptop 'initial folder' then the files will open on the laptop without any problems. For more info see 'Portability' in the SCS Help file.

Volume fades: This has been brought to my attention before and I am currently working on improving this. The mod will be 8.3.6 (or I might label it 8.4 as it also contains a new feature). If you'd like to try a pre-release version of this let me know by email and I'll give you details.

Entering levels numerically: In SCS 9.

Numeric readouts on faders on the playback page: The main reason for this request seems to be to make it easier to accurately transfer the level to the edit window. SCS 9 addresses this in a different way. In SCS 9 if you manually adjust the level or pan of a cue on the main page then you will be able to just click a 'Save Settings' button and that will immediately update the cue with the manually adjusted settings without you even having to go to the (new) production editor.

What do current levels represent? Not much. SCS 9 will display dB levels throughout.

Level change wording partially covered up: Could you email me a screen shot so I can see how it appears on your PC?

Bug re 'create stop cue': I'll look into that.

Password protection for edit mode: In SCS 9.

Loop mode enhancements: The request for 'number of times' was raised recently. Regarding setting points at the sample level etc, I'll make a note of your request. One of the enhancements in SCS 9 is that the editor will show a graphical view of the file and you will be able to set start, end and loop points by clicking on the graph.

Drag/drop etc: In SCS 9 the 'cue editor' is replaced by a 'production editor' which will enable you to insert and edit as many cues as you wish without going back to the main page after each one. You will also have drag/drop facilities.

Bug re 'create stop cue': I have found a similar effect with an auto-start cue. However, this was only in the creation phase of the show, after saving, exiting and re-opening the activation appeared correctly.

Malcolm

The problem of sound fades is not uncommon in sound software. One workaround is to divide the fade in to 2 parts.
The first part would be a fade down most of the way. The 2nd part is to do the remaining part very slowly.
This should minimise the "drop off the cliff" effect.
HTH
Adair

I have also noticed the fade issue, and I'm glad someone else noticed the logorithmic fade curve to be inverted. I thought perhaps I was crazy, or learned it incorrectly.

To me, a logorithmic fade starts fast and ends slow. Currently it does the reverse of this.

I can't wait to have the drop off fades fixed, it is really my only major criticism of this software. I can't tell you how many times directors have asked me about this.

Thanks for the tips on what's wrong with the log fades - I'm working on a fix to correct the 'inversion', and also improvements to both log and linear fades. Should be ready over the weekend if the results of the changes are OK.

Mike

Awesome!