How to Use Timecode with Onyx and TimeLord

[@drewbicksler]

Thanks David for your help. Doing a Halloween show and want to use timecode for light lighting cues with onyx and it worked. Play with it before I buy it to make sure it works how I intent it to work.

[@CadePedersen]

is there a way to keep the time coding looping? For like a christmas light show?

[@LearnStageLighting]

I would look at the FPP software (Falcon Player), which is designed specifically for this purpose

[@CadePedersen]

I have but the client wanted to use dmx because thew light show will happen before the Actul band takes place and they have a track (with 5 songs in one track) to loop before the show starts@@LearnStageLighting

[@CadePedersen]

@learnStageLighting So is there anyway to loop this?

[@spadz93]

So in order to actually run the timecode cuelist, you need to manually arm the cuelist by hitting the Go button. Let's say we're sending MTC from another DAW (Logic from another computer over rtpmidi in this case). Does Onyx allow you to fire a cuelist via a MIDI command so that a timecoded show could run completely automated, such as most bands playing to a click track would do?

[@LearnStageLighting]

That should work, yes. Or use different timecode ranges for each song and leave them all armed from startup.

[@matijajavoric2598]

Hi, I have a question that I am looking for answer for a long time but cannot get it. I have 24 songs, each song is one hour in time code. for example, song 1 starts 01:00:00:00 (hh:mm:ss:ff). I put markers in reaper and export it in .csv and then import it in onyx. And everything is good till song 10. When I import csv file from song 10 till song 24 in my cue list it says manual trigger. i cannot figure it out why does song 1 to 9 import markers (timmings) but all above does not. Do you maybe know the solution?

[@DustySeven7]

A tip for those out there, you could replace TimeLord with REAPER

[@whogotgame101]

Could a Mac running reaper send the time code ? Or would it need to be a PC since nx1 is PC ?

[@DustySeven7]

​@@whogotgame101you could use a Mac, but with NX1 it's different as that is a console. So you need to convert to audio timecode to connect to input on the console

[@DHL2002]

Thank you so much, this is so helpful! could you use Qlab instead of timelord to trigger the time code using 2 computers connected via midi cable?

[@LearnStageLighting]

Yep, it should work!

[@EdKazz]

Hi Dave ....LOVE the videos !!! Quick question. I am currently using lightjockey and slowly migrating to Onyx. I am opening a club and having guest DJ and not knowing what they will play. Lightjocky had a built in audio trigger (spectrum analyzer) to run thru cue lists. Is this possible with Onyx? Thanks

[@LearnStageLighting]

Nope, as much as they advertise/push ONYX as a replacement for LJ, it's definitely not a "DJ/Venue" easy lighting program...It's awesome, and I love it, but it's designed for pro users, so it doesn't have any audio trigger!

[@EdKazz]

@@LearnStageLighting I have the M-touch and used it once for EDM event a few years back (M-PC). Because of the new club there will be a few other people (that have no idea what dmx is ) I got the mydmx go...they are still trying to make profiles for some of my high-end fixtures and it will NOT work for what we need? Any can you recommend a controller? Will only be using it for DJ (maybe a band once in a while)work. Have mostly Martin movers with some highend stuff thrown in. I love lightjockey (used it for many years) and currently trying to connect a midi surface (using 7faders) and patch it in to lightjocky with little to no success for a large new years show. Thank You for your reply and the time and effort you put into the videos you make !!!! Ed

[@PixelPlayslLP]

If you want to use Timelord dont use midi There is some delay just put timelord on the loop back adapter of your pc and put in onyx time code on network timecode i tested both methods in network no delay

[@DylanHeaton]

Good day David, Many thanks for this great video...for the single PC use I have a question for you, Is it not possible, if you can how, to link via Art -Net/Ether-DMX ? Let's say a Onyx console and Time-Lord on a PC?? Can you make a how to video? Many thanks again, for all your great video's! Dylan

[@LearnStageLighting]

There are 2 methods (and I can make a video/more in Learn Stage Lighting Labs, fyi) - 1) is to use this method, and then connect the PC running ONYX to an ONYX console via X-Net. 2) Is to send the timecode out of timeLord via Art-Net timecode, which can then go directly from the PC via network to the ONYX console. Both are valid approaches.

[@blanefreeman8689]

When I press play on Time Lord my program (onyx) is not playing along. Do you know how I could fix that? Everything (Time Lord and Onyx) is set to MIDI input and output.

[@LearnStageLighting]

Well, somehow the MIDI is not getting to the right place. My best guess is that something is not correctly setup with your MIDI looping port, but it's hard to say without seeing what's going on with your computer.

[@Djlokiny]

Awesome job man, now how could one do this triggering a cuelist from a DJ running Serato? What’s the easiest way? I was thinking having ableon link and play the time code signal from there but was sure what the options are

[@LearnStageLighting]

That's probably the best option - what else can Serato output?

[@winterca]

Hi, I don't see any link on your website about 1-on-1 Consulting Calls. How do we buy this service?

[@LearnStageLighting]

Image on the sidebar of each page leads you here: lp.learnstagelighting.com/book-call-david/ Even better, calls are 1/2 price for Labs members (more about the Labs here: lp.learnstagelighting.com/learn-stage-lighting-labs/ )

[@davidleonardolondonoarias4854]

Thanks for this video. I have a question, in this case is time lord slave or master? I´m going to try timecode with cakewalk. Thanks.

[@LearnStageLighting]

TimeLord is the Master - It drives the timecode

[@davidleonardolondonoarias4854]

@@LearnStageLighting Thanks for your answer. How can i configure onyx to be the master?

[@djmannyleon9204]

Amazing, very helpful and informative video. However, I need more guidance. I'm a DJ and on large events, I have an assistant in separate lighting booth control the lighting show for me via ONYX on a Dell Laptop. However, how do I get the audio from my DJ mixer to the DELL laptop, 200ft away? And would I setup up TimeLord and ONYX in that manner?

[@LearnStageLighting]

Hi DJmanny, You totally could do it that way. What would probably be better would be to have the timecode generated by the DJ software, then sent over the network to a 2nd computer that had Onyx on it. There's probably 5-6 ways to make it happen, but hopefully that gets you in the right direction. If you need more help, be sure to check out Learn Stage Lighting Labs.

[@stennarmartinson8307]

This is great. How do you do this in a console setting though? With an NX2. I'd like to play audio from a computer and send the timecode to the console. Any help would be great.

[@LearnStageLighting]

You can send it over Art-Net Timecode from a lot of sources, the consoles also have (or can have) timecode cards with SMPTE inputs (XLR), or I believe you can use an NX-Sync with the consoles.

[@MartinMcDaniel]

How do I do this from the console? I can't find any info or videos on how to use timecode on the console. I've searched all over. Only thing that I keep seeing is about the PC versions and it seems you need all kinds of in-between stuff to make that work. So how do I get LTC to Onyx on an M2Go? Ive tried all kinds of things. Any help would be appreciated.

[@LearnStageLighting]

If your M2GO has the optional timecode board on the side, you can come right in with LTC and it converts to MTC (choose MTC - MIDI Timecode in the software) - if not, I believe you can use a Martin MSync, NX-Sync, or put a PC on the network with the console and have the PC accept the timecode.

[@MartinMcDaniel]

@@LearnStageLighting how do I get the pc to send the timecode thru the network? I don’t have the smtpe in/out ports. So I’m trying to figure out how to make this work. How would I make the pc route the timecode down the network line? I can’t find any other info on doing this. Thanks for your help!

[@MartinMcDaniel]

@@LearnStageLighting so I now have timelord sending timecode to my console. That’s working. But I can’t seem to get any of the midi functions to work. I’m trying to send midi from ableton to timelord to tell it to fire. I’ve got it set to the point where I can see midi being received on timelord, but…. No matter what midi message I’m sending from ableton, I can’t get timelord to fire. Any help would be greatly appreciated. At this point I’d pay someone to make this work!!

[@Tomlin242]

So then we should also be able to use Timecode out of Ableton into Onyx to run preconfigured lights too, correct? Would we still need TimeLord?

[@LearnStageLighting]

Yes. You can run Ableton as your timecode generator, or a variety of other programs as well. I used Timelord in this video because it is quick and simple to setup. Depending on your show type, I like to do MIDI notes out of Ableton instead, so there aren't timecode blips (if you are switching around in time often). More info in the new "Automatic and Live" action plan inside of Learn Stage Lighting Labs: lp.learnstagelighting.com/learn-stage-lighting-labs/

[@jessecoonen7881]

What I’m still having a hard time understanding with timecode is does the console “recognize” different pieces or audio clips of timecode. Like is the timecode associated with the audio? Or is it strictly clock based? What If I wanted to have multiple time code cuelists? How would onyx differ from one “clock” to another. I’m used to MIDI commands more than I am timecode so I’m trying wrap my head around what’s going on behind the scenes

[@LearnStageLighting]

Hey Jesse - I just made a full course on this inside if Learn Stage Lighting Labs, so it's fresh in my mind. :) Timecode is generally generated by whatever source is playing the audio, so yes, it is associated with the audio and synchronized in that way. It is a clock, but not a time of day clock. You can do multiple cuelists, either by arming them separately (timecode cuelists don't start themselves), or even better, doing that AND having your timecode generator do each song at a different hour. Once you get into it, it makes more sense. Timecoded has hours, minutes, seconds and frames (it was developed by video engineers) Hopefully that helps (a bit of a long answer, but I have the joyous luck of being selected for jury duty this week!,)

[@kuhlen9028]

Is there an free alternative to timelord you can suggest?

[@LearnStageLighting]

Honestly, I haven't found one. TimeLord is pretty cheap... :)

[@dylanheaton4055]

Hello There.....David, I'm just asking have you connected Time-Lord to an Onyx console via the good old Ethernet cable? How did you set this up? Also to trigger a Time Lord cue from the console? I have tried it out....and...I can't get it to work......? I have also tried to email the software development...."team"....No reply. Can you help? Will they send me a license? Are they still going? Looking forward to your reply and information, many thanks, Dylan.

[@LearnStageLighting]

It's sad, I've emailed them before and never got a response. But I also don't have an alternative program, and it does still work well, so I don't have a newer reommendation. I have used TimeLord to a ONYX system over network using the Art-Net Timecode output. When you buy, the license is sent via an automated system, and as recent as May of this year I had a client purchase a license and they got it.

[@dylanheaton4055]

@@LearnStageLighting Hello David..... I hope that you are well, I have had Time Lord license for some time now....working very well...Timecode via the network cables...all great! I'm having issues trying to get to trigger a Time Lord cue from the console?? Can you help me with this, please? Many thanks, Dylan

[@raulstoner]

Thank you!!! how can onyx PC (nxtouch attached). read LTC input ? Do I need special hardware? Do I need a bridge software like rdshowcockpit?

[@LearnStageLighting]

There is a box - the Martin M-Sync - that should allow you to do this - I would check with Elation support to be sure. Or else, you could do it in ShowCockpit, but you'd still need to buy a timecode interface, which would cost about the same as the M-Sync...and be a more complex setup!