Messages

1

Enhancement Requests / Re: SMPTE time code sync / slave

« on: July 28, 2016, 11:03:34 PM »

Good to know.  It sounds like the FPP is solid enough to provide a timecode on one soundtrack channel for the time being.  I'm buying a Pi 'bundle' from Amazon.com this weekend and look forward to seeing this setup run through the F16V2 pixel player and expansion board. 

2

Enhancement Requests / Re: SMPTE time code sync / slave

« on: July 27, 2016, 10:21:41 PM »

Wow... I just noticed the stream of replies from the group.... thanks!  It sounds like the Pi unit is reliable enough to provide a mono audio track with the other track providing the master SMPTE timecode, operated through the web browser.

Is there a link to a thread where I can see how to trigger events through e1.31 or "a GPIO header contact or a software command"?  This may be an adequate solution for the immediate future.

Other than a 'play' button, does the browser have the ability to jump through the timeline or through songs in the playlist?   Again, your input is very appreciated.  I'll contact those who may be able to modify the source to follow SMPTE after the busy Halloween and Christmas season.

3

Enhancement Requests / Re: SMPTE time code sync / slave

« on: July 27, 2016, 03:28:46 PM »

I think the easiest way to make the SMPTE part work would be to make a normal show in Nutcracker, synched to a soundtrack and then be able to change the timing reference from the original audio track to the SMPTE timecode reference.  As an example, I use Cakewalk's "Sonar" audio / MIDI sequencing software to send MIDI cues to external equipment, making new MIDI 'tracks' to record MIDI cues which will trigger my DMX lighting board.  I make additional 'tracks' to send MIDI cues to an inexpensive DMX board which will trigger fog, bubble and snow machines.  Just like using Nutcracker, I program using a .mp3 file along a timeline to sync all of the activities in the show.  Since the main soundtrack is identical to Sonar's, but mastered in multi-channel audio, an external HD-based audio player is used (which also plays the main SMPTE track).  I switch Sonar's timecode reference from following the .mp3 I used to program to now listen to the audio track with the SMPTE reference.  When playing back the main audio player's soundtrack, you can turn up the volume on the Sonar computer and hear an almost-perfectly synched soundtrack as it follows the SMPTE timecode.  What's convenient is knowing that as long as your main soundtrack is playing and multiple computers are following the same timecode, if one of them crashes during the show you can reboot while some elements of the show are still playing and the audience is still hearing a soundtrack.  Let's just say that Windows, to this day does not have my vote of confidence so I tend to look for hardware-based solutions as much as possible.  Hope this helps... thanks again!

4

Enhancement Requests / Re: SMPTE time code sync / slave

« on: July 26, 2016, 03:55:53 AM »

BTW, just curious from those of you using the Pi unit... does it ever crash?  Is it more reliable than the PC version of Nutcracker/Xlights?  I could see encoding the audio file to have mono audio on the left channel and SMPTE timecode on the right, sending a timecode to the rest of the units waiting for a 'tone'.  The web interface is cool.  Can you skip to certain times in the soundtrack or do you need to jump through the playlist and start each song at the beginning?

Much appreciated!

5

Enhancement Requests / Re: SMPTE time code sync / slave

« on: July 26, 2016, 03:22:05 AM »

I appreciate that you were the original post pointing out the Pi unit... thanks.  I just hope this is a project that could be explored and hopefully implemented in the future.  Not sure who's developing software or a software/hardware solution capable of doing this.  I do, however have a display at my home during Christmas and now plan on using the Pi unit.... it's a great fit for both e1.31 and DMX!

There's a lot of $$$ potential for commercial use and I currently have a client who inquired about it.  No harm, no foul.  Thanks for your input.

6

Enhancement Requests / Re: SMPTE time code sync / slave

« on: July 24, 2016, 11:49:27 PM »

I'm trying to add a megatree to an existing outdoor show.... concert-level.  I bought the E1.31 controller from falconchristmas.com, so that's why I assumed they made both hardware and the software which supports it.  I was told to contact them which I am currently doing. 

I have an existing SMPTE stream I would like to sync the megatree's sequences to.  It's not a home Christmas show but this is the only stand-alone solution I've found online so I thought maybe I'd get some help or pointers from people who could answer my questions instead of telling me to do it their way.  Hopefully someone will have a positive suggestion and I can make a solution work for this upcoming project.

7

Enhancement Requests / Re: SMPTE time code sync / slave

« on: July 24, 2016, 05:33:15 PM »

Thanks again for the replies!  So, I have the F16v2 Pixel Controller and have had good luck running xlights / nutcracker through my laptop.  Just to clarify, if Falcon Christmas updates their pc software to read SMPTE then will the Pi version automatically have the same ability?  I was going to ask FC if they were going to add this feature but I've also been wanting to get away from the PC if possible and use a standalone unit which could play back the show I programmed in Nutcracker.  So far the only solution online is the Pi unit.  If anyone knows of a setup which could either sync to timecode or read a set of cues from a DMX, MIDI, etc. cue and 'fire off' patterns without the need for a PC (I would rather rely on a hardware solution over a PC crash any day), it would be appreciated.

8

Enhancement Requests / Re: SMPTE time code sync / slave

« on: July 24, 2016, 10:10:07 AM »

Thanks for clarifying.  Is there any way the unit can run as a slave? Are there external triggers which can be fed to the Pi (MIDI, DMX, etc.) for starting a show, playlist item or individual cue?  I have several SMPTE/MIDI DMX recorders but none are capable of recording E1.31 data for synchronized playback.  I've scoured the internet for one with no luck and would like the reliability of a standalone (preferably rackmount) setup if there is something out there. 

9

Enhancement Requests / Re: SMPTE time code sync / slave

« on: July 24, 2016, 03:29:10 AM »

Thanks for mentioning the Falcon Pi Player.  I had heard of it but didn't research its capabilities.  I've been in the forums and watched the assembly and programming of the Raspberry Pi unit but I haven't found any mention of SMPTE or MIDI timecode sync.  Which methods of sync are available with the Pi unit?  If I could feed it DMX cues to fire off a series of 'looks' that would be fine as well.

Thanks!

10

Enhancement Requests / SMPTE time code sync / slave

« on: July 22, 2016, 11:05:14 PM »

Hi,

Are there any plans to include SMPTE or MIDI timecode sync to the program?  I am using this setup to operate a megatree and would prefer to have it sync to the other computers and systems which are slaving to the same SMPTE reference. 

The plan would be to use the same .wav / .mp3 file in the sequencer that would be playing during the show as a timing reference for programming the tree.  Afterwards, the sequencer would be set to slave to SMPTE.

Thanks!