Show Control Systems

An Introduction To Show Control Systems

Welcome and thank you for taking the time to read this manual. First off, let me say that what you read in this manual will be in no way exhaustive, but hopefully it gives you the basic information and an understanding of how to set up a show control system for your theatre show.

What we will cover in this manual are MIDI, OSC, and how they work and interact with show playback software, sound consoles and lighting consoles. Specifically, we will pay close attention to QLAB, ETC Lighting Consoles, MA lighting Consoles, Yamaha Sound Desks and Digico Sound Desks. This manual will cover how to set these controls up and how to use them within a show.

As Qlab is the industry standard for show control and playback operation, we will pay close attention to this software and it will form the grounding for all our examples of operation within this manual.

Disclaimer

This manual is written by Calum Paterson, for a Negotiated Project. The Information, materials and/or technical assistance within this manual are intended as informal guidance and may change or alter in the future.

Overview of Midi

Musical Instrument Digital Interface (Midi), is a technical standard, which describes a protocol, interface and connectors. The protocol allows a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers and other devices to connect, interface and communicate with one another.

There are two main ways in which Midi is used for show control, and these are Midi Musical Notes and Midi Show Control. For the purpose of this manual I will explain the difference between these actions.

Midi Musical Notes

Midi Musical Notes carry event messages that can specify a wide array of actions, such as note, pitch, velocity, panning, etc. It is worth mentioning now, that Midi doesn NOT carry any show media information, such as audio files or video files, but only carries the information to execute these files.

Midi Show Control

Midi Show Control (MSC), a significant real time system exclusive extension of Midi. MSC enables all types of entertainment equipment to easily communicate with each other for the purpose of show control. MSC messages are transmitted in the same way that Midi Notes are, and are completely compatible with all types of midi hardware. Modern MSC devices now use Ethernet communications for higher bandwidth. MSC messages are more likely to take the form of conventional theatrical cues, such as GO, PAUSE and STOP.

Fundamentally, both Musical Midi Notes and Midi Show Control are both acceptable forms of show control and both can be used to trigger an Midi enabled device within your show control system.

Overview of OSC

Open Sound Control (OSC), is a protocol for networking sound controllers, computers and other multimedia devices. Similar to Midi OSC is used extensively in show control operation. The advantage of using OSC is that includes interoperability, its more accurate, extremely flexible and offers greater levels of organisation.

OSC messages are primarily transmitted over Network, meaning they have a greater reach and can also be transmitted wireless over local area networks and the internet.

Like Midi, OSC does not carry any show media, but just the message to carry out the intended action.

Qlab and ETC

Qlab can communicate with ETC via both Midi and OSC.

In order to achieve show control, via Midi, between Qlab and an ETC Console you need the following:
• A Mac Computer
• Qlab Software
• A Midi Interface (or an Audio Interface with Midi Out Port, or a USB to Midi device)
• Midi Gateway (Depending on which ETC Console you are using)
• ETC Console

The following is a basic diagram of how to set up the system in its simplest form:

MacBook Pro – USB Cable – MIDI Interface – Midi Cable – ETC Eos Ti

To allow all the components to talk to each other via Midi, the follow settings must be changed within QLAB and the ETC Ion: