Using Show Editor in QLC+

The Show Editor tab in QLC+ allows you to create time line based lighting shows which is useful when trying to synchronize the lights to music or a timed performance. In this video I demonstrate and discuss the various features of the Show editor Tab.
This series of videos was created to help community theater groups. It is an introduction and series of tutorials using QLC+, a lighting program that can replace a traditional light board and is a great alternative to community theater groups due to its attractive cost.
To learn more please visit my web site:
comutinytech.c...
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 !!

[@enregistreur]

Your channel is a treasure trove, thank you for producing such clear explanations !!

[@edwardrichards7722]

Glad you found the tutorials helpful. If you ever have any specific questions, feel free to email me direct at [e-mail] Meanwhile, be sure to check out my website. It has lots of information for theater techs: comutinytech.com/TheaterTech/ Ed Richards

[@pepenoto]

First, your tutorials are amazing, thanks Edward. I had the same lights and audio synchronization problems using shows, and I found a solution on the net. You have to include a small mpg video in the project, create a button on the virtual console that launches the video, and the first time the virtual console is activated, launch the video once. From this moment, the lights and sound in the shows will be synchronized. I don't know why it works, but it works. Maybe it's because Qlc+ use the K-Lite audio and video codecs to play the mpg video, but I'm not sure.

[@therealcharliemason]

I have actually had a fair bit of success using QLC to playback audio. I have two audio tracks. With a single MP3 playing back at 0.0 seconds. That seems to work flawlessly as least in the last few versions I have tried it in. I use this for a Solo Singer using backing tracks. The backing track is one track. Then I have a second track which has the vocals in it. I use these so that when designing the lighting (in the other tracks) I can hear the entire song as the audience would hear it. When we go to shows I make sure the reference vocal track is muted. I play it back on a Rasberry PI 4 with the an HD Audio Hat (with two XLRs) to improve the audio quality.

[@edwardrichards7722]

I will have to take a look at it. My experience has been that sometimes the sound file would play back in time with the lighting changes. Other times there may be a one or two second delay. Could possibly be a windows thing? What are the specs of the computer you are running the QLC+ software on?

[@ReedMignon]

325 Nolan Highway

[@EveClara-z1r]

853 Ophelia Loaf

[@soundflyer]

Hello Eward, thank you very much for this detailed video. I have a question about it. I use an audio file with a length of 30 seconds for a show. While the audio file is playing, the colors of defined RGB spotlights are faded in. The show should stop at the end of the audio file, but the RGB spotlights should continue to light up in the color combination (not switch off again or be reset to the start state) until I start the next show. Is this possible in QLC+?

[@edwardrichards7722]

Cannot be done in show editor but here is the work around: When you do some programming in show editor it creates a sequence file. Go to the "functions" tab and find the sequence that was created. Edit the sequence so that the final step duration is set to infinite so that it stays on. Put the audio file and the sequence file in a "Collection" making sure that the audio file is the last entry in the collection. Now you can assign the collection to a button (or cuelist) and it will play back the audio file and sequence together. Ed Richards

[@MrSublimely25]

Edward I love your vids. I am a complete lighting noob but I am learning. I am in a band in Ohio and I am looking to somewhat automate our lights. I currently use a foot switch to go to different scenes/collections but would love how to add cues that will auto change to make things easier.

[@edwardrichards7722]

Hi Ron. So my background is in school and community theater productions but i also had to create lighting for musical groups that would perform at the community theater. In the latter case I would be busking: creating lighting scenes, chases and sequences that I could call up on the fly and then adjusting them to match the beat of the music. QLC+ works great for this. Suggested setup: 1.Create your scenes, chases and sequences 2.Assign them to buttons in virtual console 3.Place a tap/timing widget in virtual console to control the tempo of the chases/sequences 4.Use a touch screen laptop to make all this run or do it remotely by using a midi controller or an OSC app on your smart phone. 5. If desired, you can even synchronize the timing to the beat of your bass drum using QLC+ sound detection feature. I did a video on this. My only suggestion is don't skimp on your DMX device which actually sends the DMX code to the lighting fixtures. There are cheap ones out there but they are very susceptible to static electricity and can easily blow out. Take a look at this site: dmxking.com/ You have given me some ideas for more KZbin tutorials. Meanwhile, if you have any specific questions or tutorials you would like to see just email me at: [e-mail] Best wishes for success.

[@edwardrichards7722]

Hey Ron Check out my latest upload about Busking. I think you may find it helpful for running lights for your band

[@josipdasovic881]

@@edwardrichards7722 Thank you so much! This was very helpful.

[@matmay]

I added the soundtrack to the show in order to have some reference when setting up the scenes. This slows down the playback, so be sure to mute the audio track.

[@edwardrichards7722]

Hello Yes I agree, I never play back my audio tracks using the show editor in QLC+. I experimented with it just to see what it does and sometimes I would get 4 different timing scenarios. I mostly posted the video in case people were interested in how that part of the software works. My preference is to put all my effects/lighting in a cue list and then use show control software to play back the audio track and fire the cues in QLC+ via either midi or OSC. Ed Richards

[@TintiKili69]

"... not recommend using the audio in here and then trying to sync sync to it my experience has been that the audio playback is very unreliable it will play back but the timing is inconsistent I would do the audio playback *with another piece of software* and then just create your lighting timeline here and then ..." what software should i use?

[@edwardrichards7722]

I made a video to help you with this Find it here kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZqvfaStrMidi68 Hope this helps Feel free to email me direct if you have any further questions [e-mail] Ed Richards