Software for Live Theater Playback and Mixing

P

ptalsky

Veteran
Hey all,

A bit off topic since this isn't about filmmaking...

I've been asked to bid a job for next theater season to be the sound designer for a show. I was wondering if anyone here had ever done a live theater show, and what software they used for playback.

Most of the stuff I've seen is more focused on time-code based events (music videos, etc.) I need software that can, for example, have continuous music playback with gradual volume increase and then be able to drive recorded dialog over that music with variable timing (the recorded dialog will interact with an actor on the stage).

I hope I'm making myself clear here. Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks!

Phil
 
Others may have different suggestions, but for playback I would look into DJ software. The music I would have playing in one layer/channel/track, and I would chop up the dialog into individual segments and put them into a queue so you're controlling them manually.

I would definitely look at integrating whatever playback source you use with an automated mixer, and get discrete outs from the computer so they can be controlled onboard instead of fumbling with the mouse.
 
Most shows run off a few CD players feeding a mixing console that are controlled by an operator. Players that pause after each track are your friend, in fact I used to use two early Mini-Disc decks (they ARE useful! swho would have known?) because they had an A. Space function.

A lot of CD-DJ decks do the same thing. And as an added bonus, they've got pitch control. All your operator needs is a queue sheet with SFX cues that coresponds to a track number and level setting on the desk, and if you're feeling really tricky, whichever group you're using. That flows onto amps that drive positinoal speakers in the theatre, think the main, rear, sides and on set speakers that serve as active parts of the set.

As for more complex solutions: I never really saw the point in multi-track. When I used it, it just gave me grief when the hard drive spun down. We got computer artifacts on the track, at a really dramatic moment. I'f you need something more complex than a CD player can provide, get creative on the desk side and pan the channels to where you need them in the theatre and treat the two tracks as mono in pro-produciton.

-DAVE.
 
i would try and use google or other resources to find info specific for theater/live show audio.

i know that a LOT of dj's just use ipods now and i have seen a setup that has two ipods with fader/mixer controls between them.

check on bhphotovideo.com they have a LOT of pro audio stuff and i bet they have hardware/software for live performance stuff.
 
^faldo^ said:
Most shows run off a few CD players feeding a mixing console that are controlled by an operator. Players that pause after each track are your friend, in fact I used to use two early Mini-Disc decks (they ARE useful! swho would have known?) because they had an A. Space function.

-DAVE.
Click to expand...
The way this would work for this particular application is that you would have the music playing off of a CD, and the recorded voice on a mini-disc. You figure out the relative mixer levels during rehearsal, and the operator sets those levels ahead of time during the performance. The operator plays the mini-disc voice track on cue during the performance.

Keep in mind that with live theater you may want to have a bunch of speakers (e.g., two main "house" speakers in the auditorium, plus one off stage left, one off stage right, one in the back of the auditorium, and so on). You don't necessarily want to send the music and the recorded voice to the same set of speakers. That means that if you're shopping for a mixer you should look for one that has enough outputs, as well as enough inputs.
 
Phil,

email me. I did theatre for about twenty years, well actually still am from time to time.

Until recently 1/4" tape ruled. But depending on the facility you find CD's or MD or Cassette decks. Most larger places use dedicated software now (a real step backward in most cases). One pretty decent one is Cricket, made by a guy in SF
http://cricketsound.com/

The big difference from film (as I go back and forth) is that actors don't do anything repeatable. So all those little touches you can squeeze in in a film, you can't in a show. Unless you have a GREAT board op and enough time to tech the hell out of it.

CD's are OK if you get ones that auto cue. MD is flakier but is OK. Cass. can be very good if you remove the leader and record right at the head and only ONE cue per tape. 1/4" is fabulous if you have auto stops (and know how to work it). Cricket is pretty good and flexible, some of the expensive software used in places like Berkeley Rep. suck. Dj software usually doesn't work that well except for very simple shows because it's not designed for many tracks playing independently at the same time, and that is what you ideally want. Two CD players is barely functional for a VERY simple show. Three is workable but is a lot of work for you as designer (every time a cue changes you have to burn a new CD of the whole act).


Also if you have Filemaker I have a Q sheet and designer tracking DB that I use.

Have fun
SK
 
Well, I was searching through some of my old posts for a different topic and ran across this one. I've got a show running right now in San Jose that I did sound design on (and videography - see the commercial I shot for it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggZAXO-XvqM ) so I thought I'd up date.

I'm using a Mac software product called Qlab for this show, and it's been great. You can control the fades, timing, trim each cue and drive it with a "go" button (or the space bar). The SM loves it and it has been working perfectly. And better yet, the two channel version is free.

Phil
 
Phil,

Yes. That was not on my radar when the thread started. I've used QLab for a bunch of shows and it's great. I paid for the advanced version in the 1.x and 2.x series but you can do most shows (sound wise) with the free version. Great support and done be folks who get it. I don't want a graphical sound studio I want a qsheet! Operators LOVE QLab, even ones who have never run a show before. For operators it has just about the easiest learning curve around. Cricket, that I mentioned above, also has a free version now but it's build with (I'm going to say MAX DSP, but I'm pretty sure that's wrong - I always get the name of the app wrong) and that creates a bit of instability. I've been at an opening night when Cricket froze and caused a problem. I have used QLab in the same theatre on the same computer with a LOT more complex show and never had a hiccup. Another cool thing, though it's not a QLab only thing, is to use VLC and airport to remotely control and edit QLab. It lets you (the designer) sit in the house and instead of trying to talk the operator through the change you want you just "grab" control and do it. And even if you are talking them through for learning purposes you can see their screen so you can see what they are doing. Very cool and FREE.

Did I mention that I like this app?
 
JordanBlock said:
I think you may mean VNC. VLC is a media player, VNC is a family of remote control software.
Click to expand...

You are exactly right. Sorry about the typo.
But the ones I recommend are (on 10.4) JollysFastVNC and on 10.5... it's built in!!!, just "share screen". There is also Chicken of the VNC but Jolly is much faster.
 
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