wireless romote control

[Jim Passe]

I have a regular crew of 4 dancers that work my illusion shows. The techs that work the show never get to see more than a rehearsal or two before a show. They wind up with a lot of early or missed cues.
I am starting to try and get smaller shows (i can get more of them if i can remove a tech from the show andrge a lower price) consequently with SCS working so well in the show i'd like to be able to use a wireless remote like a presentation remote or the like in shows where i dont have to set up a large sound system requiring a tech. Preferable that woud be small as either myself or a dancer will actually have it onstage.

Anyone have experience or suggestions what would work best? Any options other than presentation remotes?

Jim Passe

[scarlco]

My first suggestion is a wired footswitch from x-keys.com - place it somewhere on the stage where you can tap it for sound. However, that limits you to one place...

Depending how tech savvy you are, an inexpensive solution would be to get this product from x-keys which allows you to use any switch to perform a keystroke, and get yourself a wireless relay such as this and wire a small remote for yourself. I haven't found a simple remote system for a single keypress, though.

[Jim Passe]

Both interesting solutions. A hard wired remote won't work for us. the reson for the remote is we are always in a different location on stage. I do like that the wireless has extra remotes for 10 bucks but one is then limited to 2 buttons without purchasing another card. I am using a lap top but i assume that card has some sort of copatable outs to the x-keys? the card can go in its own container? i'll check and see if they have remotes with more than 2 keys. however its seems that ESC and GO under ideal situations is all we need.

[scarlco]

Here's a possible solution for you... Remote Relay from Home Depot

What you would need to do is this: Purchase the product I mentioned from x-keys which provides you with 12 programmable switch inputs... each switch can be programmed as any key on the computer keyboard. You'll only be using 4 to 6 of the inputs for now.

Then, you take the Home Depot remote and wire the relay (switch) outputs into 3.5mm mono plugs (they look like small headphone plugs).

You would then program the devices as necessary, and you've got yourself 4 to 6 remote buttons to be used as "Go", "Esc", and possibly some hotkey entries for those on-the-fly sound effects.

I could offer to assemble the system for you, if you'd like. Just email me and we'll chat.

Do note, although I've put together some really odd wireless systems in my time (for instance, I used a keychain transmitter as an emergency stop device for loading set pieces onto a hydraulic platform under the stage so the stagehand wouldn't get crushed if the platform started moving while he/she was still loading it), I've never intergrated it with SCS... this would be an experimental project. I'm sure it would work, though.

[Mike Daniell]

In his latest posting, scarlo is offering to assemble a system for this 'remote control' application. I would like to advise that scarlo cleared this with me before posting his reply.

I have no problem with users wishing to provide custom solutions built around SCS, provided this does not detract from the free support offered via the forum. The forum is designed to allow users to benefit from the experience of others, as well as saving me emails, etc. With particularly complex situations there may be a market for custom solutions, and if an SCS registered user would like to provide a service in that area then that is fine by me. I reserve the right to withdraw my endorsement if I consider it necessary.

[michael dow]

I have developed a remote control system for SCS using a bluetooth logitech mouse. The mouse has six keys on it, ie 4 additional keys to right and left click. All keys are fully programable so that for instance left click can be assigned to alt-B which would take you back to the start of the tract on SCS. The mouse itself is quite large so I hard wired a set of three minature switches onto a ring on the second finger, with a cable going up my sleeve to the mouse in my inside pocket. The three switches were programed to activate a) next cue b) back one cue c) repeat assigned cue, but any combination of SCS sortcuts can be assigned. I would recommend bluetooth over other wirefree mice. It has a much better range (at least 20 meters) and less likely to suffer interferance from other radio devises. The laptop with SCS can be on stage or in the wings using a DI and xlr cable to connect to the sound desk. Hope this is of help.