"Riding" Levels in Qlab

[anshu]

Hi,
I have a question about Qlab. My spaces just went to new iMac systems with Motu output boxes which are great. I am wondering about a way to ride the levels for preshow music? My sound mixes are getting fairly complex and I usually now have a few inputs skipping the board and going straight to the amps, and am being forced to relocate the the actual sound board in a non convenient place. Is there any way within the actual software to bump up or take down a "master level" to compensate for bodies in the room? Keep in mind these shows are run by one person....

Thanks!
Anshu

 

[cpf]

Try looking in the Preferences pane under Audio, I vaguely remember seeing some "volume" sliders in there. Not that convenient though.

 

[deadlygopher]

You could make a group that fires all children simultaneously that contains short fade cues that raise the volume for every cue, and a matching group that lowers the volume.

By repeatedly calling those cues, you could have a rudimentary mixing system, but I'd strongly suggest keeping at least some sort of control over your sound with the operator.

I had a machine die during a show, and it started making a very nasty stuttering noise out all the outputs. Having at least a mute switch handy was rather convenient.

 

[chausman]

What about using the volume up/down buttons on the keyboard itself? From System Preferences, you can turn off the volume change noise.

 

[DuckJordan]

What about using the volume up/down buttons on the keyboard itself? From System Preferences, you can turn off the volume change noise.

While that may work on things like Itunes i believe Qlab bypasses the volume control on the operating system.

 

[chausman]

While that may work on things like Itunes i believe Qlab bypasses the volume control on the operating system.

That is annoying.

EDIT: I just checked, and at least with the version I have, the volume controls on the OS do work.

 

[ScottT]

I just checked, and at least with the version I have, the volume controls on the OS do work.

It depends on how your outputs are set up. If you're outputting through a Firewire/USB interface, it will not change. If you are outputting through the headphone out, then it will.

 

[anshu]

Indeed the volume buttons dont work. But I wonder if you could make a series of "triggered" shortcuts that would fade up and down a relative level on the "preshow" group. Seems like a lot of work though......

 

[ScottT]

Indeed the volume buttons dont work. But I wonder if you could make a series of "triggered" shortcuts that would fade up and down a relative level on the "preshow" group. Seems like a lot of work though......

You might try looking at this Add/Subtract Levels Script or this Set Master Level Script. Both scripts allow you to change the volume. A word of warning though: One changes the master volume. This will change all of your levels.

 

[themuzicman]

If you're on QLab 2, why not hop into the preferences tab and just build some fade automation in? It may take some time, but its fairly simple.

 

[Fatcatpro]

One thing that i do in qlab when I'm doing on the fly stuff is I will put everything, all my cues in a single folder then outside that folder put a fade that fades all the way out. I use this as a fail safe if I need to stop music so I don't use esc and get the horrible chop.

You might be able to do this with a series of fades, have one for every few decibels. However I dont know for sure wether this will fade the group as a master or set every track in the folder to the level of the fade. (i.e. if you have 2 tracks mixed one at -5db and one at -10db and your fade at 0db if it will take both tracks to 0db, because then the mixing element is gone)
might want to try messing around with it.
Addison

 

[NicktheEvil]

In either version of Qlab there is a master fader for the over all output.

Go to your sound patch and click edit device on the device that you're using as your output. In there you'll find a master fader. Bump it up or down as needed... it works differently depending on the version though.

In Qlab 1 if you set it down to -10 dB (just as an example) each individual cues master will still say 0.0 but it will be - 10 dB... if that makes sense.

In Qlab 2 if you set the master to - 10 dB (again, example) every individual sound cue master is set to -10 dB.