Using Midi Sequence to synchronize light cues to audio

In this tutorial I use free DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software to create a midi sequence aligned with an audio cue. I then use that midi sequence in a show control program to create a cue that plays back the audio cue and sends midi messages to QLC+ that are synchronized. In this way the light cues are always in time to the audio. Programs used:
SFX 6.7 Show Control Software
www.timelineth...
Virtual Midi Cable for PC computers
www.nerds.de/e...
DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) program to create midi sequences aligned with audio cues
www.tracktion....
Audio Track used in this tutorial is:
Legendary Epic Heroic Cinematic Music | Heroic by Alex-Productions | onsound.eu/
Music promoted by www.free-stock...
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommon...
The QLC+ software can be downloaded here:
qlcplus.org
This is fabulous software developed by Massimo Callegari and other contributors. Please consider making a donation for all their efforts !!

[@jayg2580]

I have made a few efforts to learn dmx lighting over the years and left it discouraged each time. Recently I have been motivated to learn it once and for all as lighting has always greatly fascinated me since I was young. This past week I finally made genuine progress in QLC and made my first simple light show. You are great at what you do and gifted with the ability to teach. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. You have helped grasp a big challenge.

[@edwardrichards7722]

Hello Glad that you found my tutorials useful. If you have any questions or would like to see any specific tutorials please message me. Also, check out my website for theater tech: comutinytech.com/TheaterTech/ Ed Richards

[@sirjolmes]

Hello Edward. You have done a very good job with all of your tutorials. I have learned so many things with all of them. But now i am trying to help you a bit. I think there is a better way to try to adjust the midi file instead of using the wait function. Try this: put a midi message in the very first moment as your music file starts in your daw, not the music but the file (perhaps music starts one second after the file starts) You can use what ever midi message you want for example a reset controller, a note off….but be sure it is not in use by a qlc+ function. By this way when you export your midi file it is going to start in the same moment as your audio file. In any way its possible that you have to use wait function but it’s just blame on the windows operative system I think. I’ll hope you understand this post because my English it’s not fair well….

[@edwardrichards7722]

Thanks for the tip and glad you enjoyed my tutorials. Let me know if there is ever anything specific that you would like to know or need help with. I get my best ideas for tutorials from my subscribers. Happy Holidays !!

[@tompy1145]

Dear Edward thanks for the great video. How do you render the midi information into a file? I don't find a way to do that. Thanks in advance.

[@edwardrichards7722]

In Waveform Free First: Place the start marker at the beginning of the file and the end marker at the end of the file by dragging them into position Highlight the midi track by clicking on it In the lower left choose :file” then choose “render to a file” In the drop down menu under “format” choose “midi file” Put a check mark where it says “only render selected track” Put a check mark where it says “render each track to a separate file” Click “Render” and the file will be created. Close the drop down menu In the browser (by default located on the left) choose “Project” In the browser window you will see the file you created under “Exported” Click on the file and then drag it to you desktop. All Done !! Hope this helps !!

[@tompy1145]

@@edwardrichards7722 Thanks !

[@Luisinuay]

whats the loopbe link?

[@edwardrichards7722]

Here is the link to Loopbe1 www.nerds.de/en/loopbe1.html The loopbe1 program runs in the background and creates a "virtual" midi cable on your computer. It allows you to run two programs on the same computer and connect them via midi so they can send and receive midi messages. I send midi messages from my "show control" program to "QLC+" so that my show control program can play back audio cues but also call up lighting cues by communicating with QLC+.

[@Kevin_Daniel]

can i do it on mac? do you have ideas? thanks

[@edwardrichards7722]

Hello So the answer is yes but it is a bit complex. QLC+ will run on a MAC so you have your DMX output. Now you need a program that can play back audio and midi simultaneously. Most performance venues that have MACs use Qlab to do this. qlab.app/overview/ The downside is the basic audio version of Qlab will cost you $500 You could use Garage Band to do this. Have your audio cue in one track and your midi cue in another track. Make sure you set it up so that the midi cues are sent to QLC+. This is somewhat cumbersome if you have multiple audio and midi cues as you would have to select which tracks to play back and which tracks to mute as you progress through your show. A lot of worship service performers use Ableton Live to accomplish this: www.ableton.com/en/shop/live/ It would be similar to Garage Band where you would have your audio in one track and your midi in another. You will find a lot of KZbin videos explaining how to do this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXeaoHV9aLFqj6M Hope This Helps Ed Richards

[@Kevin_Daniel]

@@edwardrichards7722 great! i was thinking the same. I'll stick to PC anyway. Mac is just much reliable in my experience but this time windows win. thank you