Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Sound Cue System

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onemonkey
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Joined: 7/29/10
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Topic: Sound Cue System
Posted: 7/29/10 at 11:28am

Hey guys i'm part of a high school theater production and this year were planning on using plenty of sound effects. I was wondering if there was a system other than software like physical sound board we could use to play back the audio files. For example a button that would play the entire audio file and you could control that files specific property's like volume and what not. Thanks for your time!!

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amkuntz
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Posted: 7/31/10 at 1:30am

We have used Soundplant for several years. It's free from www.soundplant.org. We use it on our laptop, you assign an cue to a key and when you press it you get the effect instantly and you can overlap effects if you need.

Marilyn

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SM_Ted
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Posted: 7/31/10 at 2:22pm

If this is a "traditional" sound design (ie, a set of cues that are executed the same way on a nightly basis), I would recommend QLab. The basic version is a free download and it is very intuitive and powerful. The only kicker is it is for Mac only. The PC equivalent SFX will set you back a few hundred dollars unfortunately.

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TimmyP1955
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Posted: 8/09/10 at 3:28am

The only hardware box I'm aware of is a lot more money than the software solutions, and I don't think it's as flexible as even Multiplay, which is free (http://www.audiovisualdevices.com.au/software/multiplay/multiplay.php)

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dmoes
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Posted: 8/10/10 at 2:25pm

I was faced with the same problem a while ago and gave up looking for a hardware solution and went to a software solution.

"Show Cue Systems" was the best that I found because it was simple to use, did all I needed and and had a very nice license agreement.

It is easy to use and set up user friendly and works with multiple sound cards. in the end it gives you a Go button for the operator and sound cues including all level changes pans fades and speaker or channel routing are done for you. also has hot keys for effects that you create and the tech support is great. they respond quicky and closely monitor their forums so they can answer questions.

they were called Sound Cue Systems Like the OPs thread title originally but as they added video playback, plus midi, telnet and DMX funcionality (depending on license level) they changed to Show cue Systems. right now we are using it for sound FX only but we will soon be using it with Midi to send cues to the lighting desk (ETC Element)

we did The Woman in Black a few years ago and wished that we had it then. we had two sound men in the booth without a moments rest with 200 plus cues. and I dont think I went a night without messing up at least once. SCS would have been awsome for that show.

what I liked about the license is that it is for the theatre coompany, and not for the computer so if you have several designers for your group they can install copies on their computers as well as the main system so long and the use is for the theatre group that you purchased it for.

I am happy with it it has never crashed in editing or playing (that would be a comlete drag) in Win 7

hope this helps

Edited by dmoes - 8/10/10 at 8:34pm

"Thank You Mr Bunce"

Dave.
Lights, sound, Photography,
Peterborough Theatre Guild

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TimmyP1955
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Location: United States
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Posted: 8/16/10 at 2:58am

In addition to the comparatively affordable Show Cue System, try the free Multiplay http://www.audiovisualdevices.com.au/software/multiplay/multiplay.php

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Lights and Sound
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Lights and Sound

Author	Message
onemonkey Walk-On Joined: 7/29/10 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Sound Cue System Posted: 7/29/10 at 11:28am
	Hey guys i'm part of a high school theater production and this year were planning on using plenty of sound effects. I was wondering if there was a system other than software like physical sound board we could use to play back the audio files. For example a button that would play the entire audio file and you could control that files specific property's like volume and what not. Thanks for your time!!

	IP Logged

amkuntz Walk-On Joined: 8/21/08 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/31/10 at 1:30am
	We have used Soundplant for several years. It's free from www.soundplant.org. We use it on our laptop, you assign an cue to a key and when you press it you get the effect instantly and you can overlap effects if you need. Marilyn
	IP Logged

SM_Ted Player Joined: 7/31/10 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Posted: 7/31/10 at 2:22pm
	If this is a "traditional" sound design (ie, a set of cues that are executed the same way on a nightly basis), I would recommend QLab. The basic version is a free download and it is very intuitive and powerful. The only kicker is it is for Mac only. The PC equivalent SFX will set you back a few hundred dollars unfortunately.
	IP Logged

TimmyP1955 Lead Joined: 12/30/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Posted: 8/09/10 at 3:28am
	The only hardware box I'm aware of is a lot more money than the software solutions, and I don't think it's as flexible as even Multiplay, which is free (http://www.audiovisualdevices.com.au/software/multiplay/multiplay.php)
	IP Logged

dmoes Walk-On Joined: 8/10/10 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 8/10/10 at 2:25pm
	I was faced with the same problem a while ago and gave up looking for a hardware solution and went to a software solution. "Show Cue Systems" was the best that I found because it was simple to use, did all I needed and and had a very nice license agreement. It is easy to use and set up user friendly and works with multiple sound cards. in the end it gives you a Go button for the operator and sound cues including all level changes pans fades and speaker or channel routing are done for you. also has hot keys for effects that you create and the tech support is great. they respond quicky and closely monitor their forums so they can answer questions. they were called Sound Cue Systems Like the OPs thread title originally but as they added video playback, plus midi, telnet and DMX funcionality (depending on license level) they changed to Show cue Systems. right now we are using it for sound FX only but we will soon be using it with Midi to send cues to the lighting desk (ETC Element) we did The Woman in Black a few years ago and wished that we had it then. we had two sound men in the booth without a moments rest with 200 plus cues. and I dont think I went a night without messing up at least once. SCS would have been awsome for that show. what I liked about the license is that it is for the theatre coompany, and not for the computer so if you have several designers for your group they can install copies on their computers as well as the main system so long and the use is for the theatre group that you purchased it for. I am happy with it it has never crashed in editing or playing (that would be a comlete drag) in Win 7 hope this helps Edited by dmoes - 8/10/10 at 8:34pm
	"Thank You Mr Bunce" Dave. Lights, sound, Photography, Peterborough Theatre Guild
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TimmyP1955 Lead Joined: 12/30/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Posted: 8/16/10 at 2:58am
	In addition to the comparatively affordable Show Cue System, try the free Multiplay http://www.audiovisualdevices.com.au/software/multiplay/multiplay.php
	IP Logged

Topic: Sound Cue System( Topic Closed)