While this is documented in many places elsewhere, a brief run-through of the QLab interface feels required prior to launching into the years-worth of tutorials that I have been writing.Īt the time of this writing, I have not switched to version 4, which came out only a couple of months ago. My goal as an educator and advisor is to help them grow their critical thinking skills, so that they are empowered to make decisions and be stakeholders in the production. Even if it isn’t totally necessary upon first look, it provides for me a unified user interface as I cut across from city to city designing and running different shows and in different departments (lighting, sound, video).Īs a designer in the college space, I make sure that my students become well-versed in this multi-tool of an application. I use QLab for almost all of the live shows I work on these days. I'll have to check that out as well.QLab is for more than just playing back audio and video files – and easy to use. Thank you, also, to Margaret for the reference to a windows based cue system. The newest version evidently supports DMX cues as well, but haven't tried that. I don't use QLAB for video cues, mainly because we don't have the capacity for video in our space. This takes some time and practice to set up, but can make a difference when trying to create an immersive environment. We map each input channel to a different speaker using the Main L/R and Auxiliary outputs. We use the Pro version in productions as it supports multi-channel output through USB so we can use directed sound to practical speakers and various locations around the house. It takes about 2 minutes to close one show and open a saved one. This allows us to design multiple shows at the same time. After this, the show can be saved and shared using the "Bundle Workspace" command. We set up and design the cues on the free version, and this is generally sufficient for most productions. (That means that after 100 days of rental, you own it.) I rent the Pro version for tech week, and a few days before. And, I use my own systems for it and lighting anyway.Īs others have posted, the Pro version has a rent to own option, with the latest version at $4 per day. As a Mac user already, it makes sense for me to use it. Was introduced to QLAB while in the Master of Theatre Studies program as Southern Oregon University. I also liked that I could localize other sound effects: the clock tower upstage left street noise stage right the burglar walking around in the downstairs (orchestra pit house left) then climbing the stairs to the attic area, and being heard outside the Annex door (upstage right). So my actors could confidently cue off of specific sounds or lights for their reactions or lines. The beauty of using QLab for the sequence meant that it was exactly the same each time, whether in rehearsal or performance. And the entire bombing raid was triggered by one push of the space bar. If I remember correctly, the entire effect had over 50 separate sound and light cues. Once she was hands on, it was a piece of cake. Then I explained QLab and she was a little more confident. When I initially described the effect to my student in the booth, and told her she'd be running all lights and sound for the effect, she literally started to have a panic attack at the thought of that responsibility. Then the bombers flew off behind and to the left. Bombs fell from up high, and exploded all around them, with explosive flashes of light perfectly timed to the sound. During the bombings on Amsterdam our audience heard the planes approach from behind and to the right. The interface also provided MIDI connection to our ETC Element lighting console, so QLab could send MSC (MIDI Show Control) triggers to the lighting. I used an audio interface to give me 7 distinctive sources of sound - rear of house left and right speakers, left and right speakers in our orchestra pit, left and right speakers behind the set, and our main center cluster. Just an example of what it can do: We did Diary of Anne Frank and I used QLab to control all sound and lights. Their current plan is renting for 110 days equals buying a license. If you search for "QLab After Dark" you'll find a series of 14 video tutorials that touch on a lot of the capabilities of this software. Current cost is $4.00/day, and it accrues towards me owning a copy. I've rented the audio version for my last three production. If you try something with a cue that is not allowed in the free version, the software will flag the cue to let you know. It is worthwhile to download it, and experiment. The free version is very capable for basic stereo sound cues and basic video to one external monitor/projector.
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