Equivalent of QLab "Group" cues?

[s3m]

First, let me (a noob) apologize for the length of this request. I'm considering SCS as the primary software element in a system that will support my project but I'm having a little difficulty understanding whether or not it will be able to do what I need. I'm hoping that the gurus in this forum can answer my questions. The total cost of the new hardware and software is significant enough that I need to make sure the new system can do the job before I shell out (for me) big bucks.

The project is a music/band show and the live group will be supported by additional audio tracks (.mp3 files). I need to send the tracks to a digital audio interface via ASIO (e.g. a MOTU 16A). That will, in turn, provide the D/A conversion to analog outs that will go to the FOH engineer through the snake along with the outputs from the live players.

So the first requirement is to be able to play multiple audio files simultaneously and in sync. I've seen the forum string discussing how to do that, so that piece looks feasible. However, what's not yet clear to me is the next requirement.

I need to be able to group several songs together - e.g. in medley fashion - so I need software that can sequentially play one group of tracks (cues) and follow it with another such group and another and so on. Essentially, I'm trying to find out if SCS has a feature that's the equivalent of QLab's "Group" cues.

I've been digging through the documentation, but imo, it's not well written for the learning process - from what I can see, it's really a reference doc. I see that there are "Playlist cues" that "Play a list of audio files either consecutively or randomly. Designed primarily for pre-show and intermission music, but can be used during for other cues where you need several audio files to be played consecutively."

The way I read that, it looks like I could play a series of single audio files, but what I need to do is play a series of multiple audio files. Is this possible with SCS? If so, how is it done?

[Mike Daniell]

SCS doesn't have 'group' cues, although there have been a few requests for this feature. Possibly we need a facility to build a group cue somewhat like a playlist cue but selecting other cues rather than audio tracks. From your description of the requirements it seems you want to be able to set each selected cue in the group to be either manually started or auto-started, presumably auto-started after a specified time (which may be 0.0 seconds). Are there other requirements for 'group' cues?

[s3m]

Thanks for the response, Mike. The only other thing I'd want (I believe) is some form of API that would expose the the loading and playing of a named medley (group). I say this is because my research to date hasn't turned up the kind of touch-screen UI that I envision and if I had to write one myself - well within my capabilities - I'd need to access the playback software (e.g. SCS) via that API.

One of the difficulties I'm facing is that it's not at all clear to me which audio playback software best fits the job. My musician friends all seem to feel that Ableton Live is the right way to go, but from what I've seen so far in the trial version, that seems like the wrong tool for the job. Ditto Max For Life. QLab seems to have the functionality I need - key phrase is "seems to" - but the price tag is pretty steep, especially because I'd have to invest in a Mac as well as the software.

And so the search continues.

[Mike Daniell]

If you want to control SCS from a touch screen UI then this can be done via a network connection. There is a remote app available for this - see this Forum topic: SCSremote.

If you prefer to write your own UI then have a look at features available for Cue Control. For example, see Production Properties - Cue Control Devices - Network in the SCS Help.

[s3m]

Thanks again, Mike, for the follow-up. While I hadn't yet looked at SCS Remote, I had briefly looked into control from an external app via the OSC protocol and that indeed looked promising. That said, the blocking issue at this point would be the "group cue" thing. I had a further thought along that line but will contact you offline for possible further discussion.