Portability Features

Features you would like in SCS
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creativearts
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:11 pm

Portability Features

Post by creativearts » Mon Aug 08, 2011 5:28 pm

I most often use SCS on a laptop, developing and carrying the show with me. It started out as my development platform and then I'd transfer files to a local computer connected to the board, but over time it was easier to connect the laptop to the board and run it there. This works well when I'm the one doing it. I don't generally use multiple outputs or such, simple panning, no video, MIDI controls, etc. I've had no problems with sound quality or latency in these smaller theater environments. BUT, I also program traveling shows where the talent travels and uses local technicians and I'm not sending my laptop with them. It's not too easy to find someone with both SCS software and equipment, available time, etc. in different locations. Now I have to build the show, then edit the files to combine the more complex cue sequences and sub-cues into a single file and put them on CD to send with the talent and then I lose all quality control of fades and sequences, etc.

I would love to see an SCS Runtime environment, where I program and test it, pack it (sound files and runtime SCS) and send it to a tech by CD, USB or file transfer so that it can be loaded on any computer and run as a simple "free" app for that one show (no editing, just play and operate the cues). I'd pay extra license fees for this. I have used SCS to build fairly complex sound cue lists with volume/panning changes and notes and fades and lists, etc., and then let kid techs (as young as 15) at the schools run it as-is, with great results. They don't have to be "sound techs" or do the programming or sound system adjustments (other than basic volume as directed by the director), but rather they just run the cue list according to the script cues. It's intuitive with minimal operation training needed. A run-time app would work perfectly in these lighter situations.

An even cooler idea to make it portable is to source it to the iPad environment. My biggest headache is having to carry my LAPTOP, with cables and power and mouse and such. I frequently run complex dance and musical shows, with very limited cue requirements, off of iPhone/iPad/iPod and the sound quality is quite good for most applications. There's no reason SCS couldn't run as a traveling app on iPad (not with all the editing and complex features, but certainly with the basic cue running process). I'm using iPhone and iPad to both source, run and control projector shows directly from the hand-held device - I think it work as good with SCS as well.

Yes, I'm not discounting all the sub-surface development technical challenges, but it would make it more travel friendly.

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