QLab 4, 2nd Edition

QLab 4, 2nd Edition

by Jeromy Hopgood
Released October 2017
Publisher(s): Routledge
ISBN: 9781351713719

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Book description

Used from Broadway to Britain's West End, QLab software is the tool of choice for many of the world's most prominent sound, projection, and integrated media designers.　QLab 4: Projects in Video, Audio, and Lighting Control is a project-based book on QLab software covering sound, video, lighting, and show control. With information on audio, video, and lighting system basics and the more advanced functions of QLab such as show control, network capabilities, projection mapping, video effects, and cue cart integration, each chapter's specific projects will allow you to learn the software's capabilities at your own pace. In addition to the text, a companion website hosts project files, instructional videos, and more.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Half Title
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Table of Contents
  6. Foreword
  7. Acknowledgments
  8. Preface
  9. Part I: QLab Basics
    1. Chapter 1 What’s New in Version 4
      1. 1.1 Workflow Changes
        1. Cue Templates
        2. Record Cue Sequence
        3. Paste Cue Properties
        4. Batch Editing
        5. Pop-Out Inspector, Cue Lists, and Carts
        6. Keep Audition Window on Top
      2. 1.2 New Playback Options
        1. Cue Triggers
        2. Negative Post-Wait
        3. New Fade Curve Shape and Audio Domain
        4. Looping
      3. 1.3 Integrated Lighting Control
      4. 1.4 Cue Carts
      5. 1.5 Audio Improvements
        1. 64-Channel Output
        2. Mic Cues
        3. Precision Slice Control
      6. 1.6 Video Improvements
        1. HAP Codec Support
        2. Copy/Paste Surface Geometry
        3. Set Durations for Still Images and Text Cues
      7. 1.7 QLab Remote
        1. Brand New Design
        2. Adjust Video Surface Control Points
        3. Access to Light Levels in Inspector
        4. Cart Integration
        5. Create and Reorder Cues
        6. USB Support
      8. 1.8 Summary
    2. Chapter 2 Getting to Know QLab 4
      1. 2.1 QLab 4 System Recommendations
        1. RAM
        2. Processor (CPU)
        3. GPU
        4. Hard Drive
      2. 2.2 Understanding QLab 4 Licensing
        1. How Do Licenses Work?
        2. The Free Version
        3. Professional Licenses
        4. Rent-to-Own
        5. Academic Licensing
        6. Site Licenses
        7. Using QLab 3
      3. 2.3 Installing the Software
      4. 2.4 Adding a License
        1. Removing Licenses
        2. Modernizing QLab 3 Licenses
      5. 2.5 Organization and Work Flow
      6. 2.6 Templates
      7. 2.7 Workspace Settings
        1. A. General
          1. Cue Triggering
          2. GO Button Settings
          3. Panic Duration
          4. Cue Numbering and Auto-Load
          5. Lock Playhead
          6. Cue Row Sizing
        2. B. Audio
        3. C. Video
        4. D. Light
        5. E. Network
        6. F. MIDI
        7. G. Cue Templates
        8. H. Key Map
        9. I. MIDI and OSC Controls
      8. 2.8 QLab Preferences
        1. At Launch
        2. Updates
        3. Send Aggregate Usage Data
        4. Disabling OS Features
        5. Audio Device Buffering
        6. Art-Net Lighting Network Interface
        7. Broadcast Mode
        8. Logging Level
      9. 2.9 Preparing Your Computer for Running a Show
        1. Design Tips: Using Terminal
        2. Internet Related Concerns
        3. Delete All Extraneous Software
        4. Disable Notifications
        5. Disable Screen Saver
        6. Disable Spotlight
        7. Disable Time Machine
        8. Video Concerns
        9. Design Tips: Backup Systems and Saving Protocol
    3. Chapter 3 Understanding the QLab Workspace
      1. 3.1 Understanding Cues and the Cue Structure
        1. What Is a Cue?
        2. Design Tips: Using Time Display Modes
        3. How Do Cues Operate?
        4. Cue Lists
        5. Cue Sequences
        6. Playback Position
      2. 3.2 The Workspace
        1. A. GO/Standby/Notes Panel
        2. B. Toolbar
        3. C. The Main Cue List
        4. Design Tips: Toolbox and Load to Time
        5. D. Inspector
          1. The Basics Tab
          2. The Triggers Tab
        6. Design Tips: Assigning a MIDI Trigger
          1. New Trigger Settings
        7. E. The Workspace Footer
          1. Edit/Show Mode
          2. Cue and Cue List Count
          3. Warnings Panel
          4. Lists, Carts, and Active Cues Sidebar
          5. Settings
      3. 3.3 Adding Cues
      4. 3.4 Setting Targets for Cues
      5. 3.5 Navigation and View Quick Keys
        1. Design Tips: Searching the Workspace
      6. 3.6 Paste Cue Properties
      7. 3.7 The Tools Menu
        1. Load to Time
        2. Renumber Selected Cues
        3. Delete Number of Selected Cues
        4. Jump to Cue
        5. Jump to Selected Cue’s Target
        6. Record Cue Sequence
        7. Live Fade Preview
        8. Highlight-Related Cues
        9. Black Out and Restore Desktop Backgrounds
        10. A. Fade Tools
          1. Set Parameters from Target
          2. Set Audio Levels from Target
          3. Set Video Geometry from Target
          4. Revert Fade Action
      8. 3.8 The Window Menu
        1. The Audition Window
        2. Override Controls
        3. Lighting Controls
        4. Timecode Window
      9. 3.9 Cue Carts
  10. Part II: QLab Audio Control
    1. Chapter 4 QLab and Audio Basics
      1. 4.1 Audio Systems
      2. 4.2 Basic Audio Equipment and Terminology
        1. Microphone
        2. Input Source
        3. Mixing Console
        4. Signal Processors
        5. Amplifier
        6. Speaker
      3. 4.3 Understanding Basic Signal Flow: Input/Output
      4. 4.4 Understanding Software Signal Flow
        1. Audio File
        2. Audio Cue
        3. Inputs
        4. Crosspoints
        5. Levels Faders (Cue Outputs)
        6. Audio Patch
        7. Audio Device Output Routing
      5. 4.5 A Word About Audio Devices
      6. 4.6 Audio System Configurations
        1. Basic Stereo Playback with Multiple Speakers
        2. Multichannel Playback System with External Signal Processing
        3. Multichannel Playback System with QLab Signal Processing
        4. Design Tips: Redundant Systems
    2. Chapter 5 Setting Up QLab with Your Audio System
      1. 5.1 Multichannel Sound Systems
      2. 5.2 Audio Settings
        1. Volume Limits
        2. Mic Settings
      3. 5.3 Cue Templates
        1. Audio Output Patch
        2. The Matrix Mixer
        3. Inputs
        4. Crosspoints
        5. Cue Outputs
        6. Setting Levels Faders
        7. Master Fader
        8. Design Tips: Balancing Audio Output
        9. Default, Silent, and Gangs
      4. 5.4 Editing Audio Patches
        1. Audio Patch Editor: Cue Outputs
        2. Audio Patch Editor: Device Routing
        3. Crosspoints
        4. Audio Patch Editor: Device Outputs
      5. 5.5 Setting Up QLab with an Audio Device
        1. Customizing Your Audio Patches
        2. Project 5.1 — Setting Up Your System
      6. 5.6 Audio Device Volume Levels
        1. Balancing Audio Device Output
      7. 5.7 Audio Effects and How to Use Them
        1. Audio Effects and Cue Outputs
        2. Project 5.2 — Creating a Reverb Send in QLab
      8. 5.8 Using Multichannel Audio Files
    3. Chapter 6 Audio Cues
      1. 6.1 Inserting an Audio Cue
      2. 6.2 Inspector: Basics
      3. 6.3 Inspector: Triggers
        1. Affecting Other Cues
      4. 6.4 Inspector: Time & Loops
        1. The Waveform Display
        2. Waveform Zoom
        3. Design Tips: Multitouch Gestures
        4. Preview Cue
        5. Times, Loops, and Slices
        6. Design Tips: Looping Sliced Tracks
        7. Integrated Volume Levels and Playback Rate
        8. Controlling Playback Rate
        9. Project 6.1 — Manipulating Start/End Times
        10. Project 6.2 — Adding Slices
        11. Project 6.3 — Manipulating Playback Rate
      5. 6.5 Inspector: Audio Levels
        1. Audio Output Patch and Device Edit
        2. Set Default Levels
        3. Set All Levels Silent
        4. Assign Gangs
        5. Visible Channels
        6. Audio Levels and Crosspoint Matrix
      6. 6.6 Inspector: Audio Trim
      7. 6.7 Inspector: Audio Effects
        1. Project 6.4 — Editing with Audio Effects
    4. Chapter 7 Mic Cues
      1. 7.1 Understanding the Mic Cue
        1. Signal Flow
        2. Buffering
      2. 7.2 Setting Up Your Audio Device
        1. Design Tips: Getting to Know Your Equipment
        2. Mic Settings
        3. Setting Default Levels for New Mic Cues
        4. Mic Patch
        5. Device Routing
      3. 7.3 Inserting and Editing a Mic Cue
        1. Inspector: Basics
        2. Inspector: Triggers
        3. Inspector: Audio Levels
        4. Audio Input and Output Patch
        5. Visible Channels
        6. Default Levels
        7. Set All to Silent
        8. Assign Gangs
        9. Levels & Crosspoint Matrix
        10. Inspector: Audio Trim
        11. Inspector: Audio Effects
      4. 7.4 Audio Effects and Mic Cues
        1. Cue Output
        2. Project 7.1 — Creating a Global EQ Send with Cue Outputs
        3. Device Output
        4. Project 7.2 — Assigning an Audio Effect to a Device Output
    5. Chapter 8 Fade Cues
      1. 8.1 Inserting and Editing Audio Fade Cues
        1. Design Tips: Cue Naming
      2. 8.2 Inspector: Basics
      3. 8.3 Inspector: Triggers
      4. 8.4 Inspector: Curve Shape
        1. 1. S-Curve
        2. 2. Custom Curve
        3. 3. Parametric Curve
        4. 4. Linear Curve
        5. Audio Domain
        6. Fade Cue Duration
        7. Reset to Default Shape
      5. 8.5 Inspector: Audio Levels
        1. Fade Type: Absolute vs. Relative
        2. Stop Target When Done
        3. Design Tips: Fading Group Cues
        4. Levels and Crosspoint Matrix
        5. Set from Target/Set All Silent
        6. Assign Gangs
        7. Live Preview
      6. 8.6 Inspector: Audio Effects
        1. Fade Rate
        2. Stop Target When Done
        3. Set Audio Effects from Target
        4. Audio Fade Cue Summary
        5. Project 8.1 — Pitch Bend to Replicate a Reel-to-Reel Malfunction
      7. 8.7 Mic Fade Cues
        1. Inserting a Mic Fade Cue
        2. Basics, Triggers, and Curve Shape
        3. Audio Levels
        4. Audio Effects
      8. 8.8 Manual Fades
        1. Project 8.2 — Creating a Zero-Count Fade Cue
      9. 8.9 Automatic Fades
        1. Project 8.3 — Automated Fade-In and Fade-Out of an Audio Cue
      10. 8.10 Panning
        1. Project 8.4 — Panning via Fade Cue
      11. 8.11 Ducking Audio
        1. Project 8.5 — Ducking Audio
      12. 8.12 Copy/Paste Fade Parameters
      13. 8.13 Exploring Trim
    6. Chapter 9 Control Cues
      1. 9.1 Start, Stop, and Pause Cues
        1. Start Cue
        2. Stop Cue
        3. Pause Cue
      2. 9.2 Load Cue
        1. Design Tips: Load Cues and Playback Position
      3. 9.3 Reset Cue
      4. 9.4 Devamp Cue
        1. Project 9.1 — Vamping an Audio Cue with Loops
        2. Project 9.2 — Vamping an Audio Cue with Slices
      5. 9.5 GoTo and Target Cues
        1. GoTo Cue
        2. Target Cue
      6. 9.6 Arm and Disarm Cues
      7. 9.7 Wait Cue
      8. 9.8 Memo Cue
      9. 9.9 Script Cue
        1. Design Tips: Hotkey Safety
        2. Project 9.3 — Creating a Hotkey Activated Script Cue
    7. Chapter 10 Group Cues
      1. 10.1 Understanding Group Cues
      2. 10.2 Inserting and Editing Group Cues
      3. 10.3 Inspector: Basics
      4. 10.4 Inspector: Triggers
      5. 10.5 Inspector: Mode
      6. 10.6 Workspace Function
        1. Cue Name
        2. Notes
        3. Hiding Group Cue Contents
      7. 10.7 Group Cue Projects
        1. Project 10.1 — Using the Group Cue to Create a Playlist
        2. Project 10.2 — Simultaneous Playback of Children
    8. Chapter 11 Cue Carts
      1. 11.1 Understanding Cue Carts
      2. 11.2 Creating a Cue Cart
      3. 11.3 Cue Cart Setup: Inspector
        1. Basics
        2. Triggers
        3. Grid Size
      4. 11.4 How to Use Cue Carts
      5. 11.5 Integrating the QLab Remote
        1. Project 11.1 — Using a Cue Cart for Flexible Playback
  11. Part III: QLab Video Control
    1. Chapter 12 QLab Video System Basics
      1. 12.1 Understanding Video Systems
        1. Video Playback Systems
        2. Video Reinforcement Systems
      2. 12.2 Video System Components
        1. The Digital Video Camera
        2. Computer
        3. Interface Connections
          1. Video Only — Analog
            1. Video Graphics Array (VGA)
            2. Composite Video
            3. Separate Video (S-Video)
            4. Component Video
          2. Video Only — Analog/Digital
            1. Digital Visual Interface (DVI)
          3. Video and Audio — Digital
            1. High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
            2. DisplayPort
            3. Mini DisplayPort/Thunderbolt 2
            4. Thunderbolt
            5. Thunderbolt 3
            6. IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
            7. Universal Serial Bus (USB)
            8. Category 5/6 (CAT 5/CAT 6)
        4. Output Devices
        5. Digital Projectors
        6. Flat Panel Displays
      3. 12.3 Understanding Video Signal Flow
        1. Video/Image File/Video Feed
        2. Video Cue/Camera Cue
        3. Video Surface Patch
        4. Design Tips: Surface Control
        5. Output Device
        6. Audio
      4. 12.4 Hardware Considerations
        1. The Bottleneck Dilemma
        2. Data Path
        3. Hard Drive/Data Storage
        4. External Storage
        5. The Need for Multiple Drives
        6. RAM
        7. CPU
        8. QLab Video CPU Usage
        9. Regarding Codecs and Compression
        10. Video Card
        11. vRAM
        12. GPU
        13. Output
      5. 12.5 Connecting to a Video Display
        1. What Types of Connector(s) Are Needed?
        2. Cable Runs
        3. Signal Amplifiers
      6. 12.6 Graphics Expansion Devices
    2. Chapter 13 Video System Preferences and Setup
      1. 13.1 Workspace Settings: Video Surfaces
        1. Video Surfaces
        2. Adding Surfaces
        3. Duplicating Surfaces
      2. 13.2 Editing Surfaces
        1. Editing the Single-Screen Surface
        2. Surface Name and Dimensions
        3. Editor Canvas
        4. Screens
        5. Individual Screen Controls
        6. Surface Controls
      3. 13.3 Creating and Editing New Surfaces
        1. Tools of the Trade: Remote Control for Your Workspace
      4. 13.4 Setting Up a Graphics Expansion Device with QLab
        1. Project 13.1 — Plug-and-Play Setup
        2. Project 13.2 — Individual Screen Control with an Expansion Module
      5. 13.5 Creating a Surface with Edge Blending
        1. Project 13.3 — Creating a Surface with Edge Blending
      6. 13.6 Workspace Settings: Camera
        1. Camera Patch Settings
        2. Tools of the Trade: Syphon Output
    3. Chapter 14 Video, Camera, and Text Cues
      1. 14.1 Inserting a Video Cue
      2. 14.2 Inspector: Basics
        1. Cue Info
        2. Design Tips: A Word About FileFormats
      3. 14.3 Inspector: Triggers
      4. 14.4 Inspector: Display & Geometry
        1. The Video Stage
        2. Video Surface
        3. Mode: Full Surface
        4. Mode: Custom Geometry
        5. Design Tips: Rotation Options
        6. Project 14.1 — Fade Controls for Video Cues
        7. Project 14.2 — Animating Image Rotation with Fade Cues
        8. Project 14.3 — Using the Anchor to Your Advantage
      5. 14.5 Inspector: Time & Loops
        1. Waveform Display
        2. Preview Cue
        3. Times, Loops, and Slices
        4. Integrated Fade Envelope and Playback Rate
      6. 14.6 Inspector: Audio Levels, Audio Trim, and Audio Effects
      7. 14.7 Inspector: Video Effects
        1. Tools of the Trade: Quartz Composer
      8. 14.8 Camera Cues
      9. 14.9 Inspector: Basics and Triggers
      10. 14.10 Inspector: Display & Geometry
        1. Project 14.4 — Creating a Ghostly Effect
      11. 14.11 Inspector: Video Effects
        1. Quartz Composer Integration
      12. 14.12 Text Cues
        1. Inspector: Text
      13. 14.13 Text Cue Projects
        1. Project 14.5 — Singalong Lyrics
        2. Project 14.6 — Intergalactic Title Effects
    4. Chapter 15 Video Effects
      1. 15.1 Video Effects Presets: Color and Exposure Color
        1. Controls Exposure
        2. Exposure
        3. Gamma
        4. Sepia Monochrome
        5. Tools of the Trade: macOS Color Picker
        6. Min Max Invert
        7. White Point
      2. 15.2 Video Effects Presets: Titles
        1. Font Placement
        2. Blend Mode
        3. Font Name
        4. Font Size
        5. Show Cue Image
        6. Text
        7. Color
      3. 15.3 Video Effects Presets: Blur/Sharpen
        1. Box/Disc/Gaussian Blurs
        2. Motion Blur
        3. Sharpen Luminance
        4. Unsharp Mask
        5. Zoom Blur
      4. 15.4 Video Effects Presets: Textures and Edge Effects
        1. Pixellation
        2. Screen
        3. Bloom and Gloom
        4. CMYK Halftone
        5. Color Posterize
        6. Crystallize and Pointillize
        7. Edge Work
        8. Kaleidoscope
        9. Median and Comic Effect
        10. Noise Reduction
      5. 15.5 Video Effects Presets: Distortion Effects
        1. Circle Splash/Hole Distortion
        2. Pinch/Bump Distortion
        3. Torus/Lens Distortion
        4. Twirl/Circular Wrap/Vortex
        5. Glass Lozenge
      6. 15.6 Video Effects Presets: Tiles
        1. Op Tile
        2. Perspective Tile
        3. Quad Tiles
        4. Reflected Tiles
        5. Rotated Tiles
      7. 15.7 Video Effects Presets: Custom Compositions
        1. Tools of the Trade: Syphon Recorder
      8. 15.8 Video Effects Projects
        1. Project 15.2 — Video Effects and Fade Cues
        2. Project 15.3 — Combining Video Effects
    5. Chapter 16 Projection Mapping and Surfaces
      1. 16.1 Mapping vs. Masking
        1. Design Tips: Gradation and Masks
      2. 16.2 Overlapping Geometric Surfaces
        1. Project 16.1 — Creating Surfaces for Overlapping Geometric Areas
      3. 16.3 Mapping on Non-Planar Surfaces
        1. Project 16.2 — Mapping to 3D Surfaces
        2. Tools of the Trade: External Mapping Options: MadMapper
      4. 16.4 Masking Made Easy
        1. Project 16.3 — Using QLab as a Masking Tool
  12. Part IV: QLab Lighting Control
    1. Chapter 17 QLab Lighting System Basics
      1. 17.1 Understanding Lighting Systems
        1. Power
        2. Control
        3. Lighting Instruments/Accessories/DMX-Controlled Devices
        4. What Is DMX?
        5. What Is an Address?
      2. 17.2 Understanding Lighting Consoles
        1. Input/Output
        2. Channels
        3. Master Control
        4. Submasters and Groups
        5. Playback
        6. Palettes
        7. Effects
      3. 17.3 QLab as a Lighting Controller
        1. How QLab Communicates
        2. USB-DMX Interfaces
        3. Channels
        4. Master Control
        5. Submasters and Groups
        6. Playback
        7. Palettes
        8. Effects
        9. Summary
    2. Chapter 18 Preparing to Cue Lights
      1. 18.1 Network Setup
        1. Design Tips: A Word About Polling
      2. 18.2 Adding Your Lights
        1. Patch
        2. MIDI Control
        3. Groups
      3. 18.3 Definitions and the Light Library
        1. Light Library
      4. 18.4 Putting It All Together
        1. Setting Up Your Lights
    3. Chapter 19 Light Cues
      1. 19.1 Inserting a Light Cue
      2. 19.2 Inspector: Basics and Triggers
      3. 19.3 Inspector: Levels
        1. Command Line
        2. Add Command
        3. Prune Commands
        4. Safe Sort Commands
        5. The Lighting Commands List
        6. Design Tips: Live vs. Blind Programming
        7. Collating Effects
      4. 19.4 Inspector: Curve Shape
      5. 19.5 The Light Dashboard
      6. 19.6 The DMX Status Window
      7. 19.7 Understanding Lighting Command Language
        1. Selection Ranges and Passing
        2. Pulling Values
        3. Up Arrow
        4. Ad-Hoc Groups
      8. 19.8 Cueing Examples
        1. Project 19.1 — Creating a Chase Effect
  13. Part V: QLab Show Control and Networking
    1. Chapter 20 Show Control Systems
      1. 20.1 Terminology
        1. Entertainment Control Systems
        2. Standards
        3. Show Control
        4. Network
      2. 20.2 Entertainment Control Systems
        1. Sound Control Systems
        2. Lighting Control Systems
        3. Video/Projection Systems
        4. Additional Control Systems
      3. 20.3 Show Control Systems
        1. Sound Control Systems
        2. Lighting Control Systems
        3. Video/Projection Control Systems
      4. 20.4 Show Control Considerations
    2. Chapter 21 Understanding OSC and Network Cues
      1. 21.1 What Is OSC?
      2. 21.2 OSC Settings Settings: Network
        1. Design Tips: Networking Options
      3. 21.3 Network Cues
        1. Inspector: Basics and Triggers
        2. Inspector: Settings
        3. OSC Messages
        4. Commands
        5. QLab Messages
        6. Playback Control Commands
        7. Parameter-Change Commands
        8. UDP Messages
      4. 21.4 OSC and Cue Carts
        1. Project 21.1 — Creating a Cue Cart Interface
        2. Tools of the Trade: OSCulator
    3. Chapter 22 QLab and MIDI
      1. 22.1 MIDI Basics
      2. 22.2 What Is MIDI Show Control?
      3. 22.3 QLab and MIDI
        1. Workspace Settings: MIDI Controls
        2. Workspace Settings: MIDI
        3. Design Tips: MIDI Across Network
      4. 22.4 MIDI Cues
        1. Inspector: Basics and Triggers
        2. Inspector: Settings
      5. 22.5 MIDI Voice Message
      6. 22.6 MIDI Show Control (MSC)
        1. General Commands
        2. Sound Control Commands
      7. 22.7 MIDI SysEx
      8. 22.8 MIDI File Cue
        1. Tools of the Trade: Go Box
    4. Chapter 23 Timecode
      1. 23.1 How Timecode Works
      2. 23.2 Timecode Settings
      3. 23.3 Triggering Cues from Timecode
      4. 23.4 Timecode Cues
  14. Index

Product information

  • Title: QLab 4, 2nd Edition
  • Author(s): Jeromy Hopgood
  • Release date: October 2017
  • Publisher(s): Routledge
  • ISBN: 9781351713719