Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Laptops running sound

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sap11
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Joined: 5/22/06
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Topic: Laptops running sound
Posted: 5/22/06 at 8:29am

My community theater is curious about finding a computer program to
run the sound cues. Does anyone know of any? For MAC and/or PC
Thanks for the help!

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Playwright
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Joined: 4/01/06
Location: Canada
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Posts: 126

Posted: 5/22/06 at 10:10am

One of the CT's I work with uses a mini-disc for sound. No computer to run it but the player makes it incredibly easy to do sound.

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dougb
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Joined: 3/30/04
Location: United States
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Posted: 5/22/06 at 10:56am

I have been using a program on my PC laptop called Sound Cue System for two or three years. It is absolutely great. www.soundcuesystem.com.

They have recently come out with a new version but I am still on release 8. It can do just about anything I need it to do and we do a lot of complex shows.

I looked at their description for release 9 and I would NOT get the lite version. I am using release 8 professional level and would suggest you at least start with the standard level.

The only problem I have had with it is starting more than one cue at a time - if a cue starts off at a low level, the operator thinks it didn't start and hits the start key again ending up with two cues running at once (ugly).

What I particularly like is the control over the sound cues. Start and stop times can be set to the individual frame, they can be manually started or automatically started by another cue.

Other than being a satisfied customer, I have no relationship with them at all.

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acmeactor
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Joined: 2/25/04
Location: United States
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Posts: 28

Posted: 5/22/06 at 10:58am

We have been using Sound Cue System for a couple of years now and it has been PERFECT. I do alot of sound work and this program works for all of my needs.

Sound Cue System for theatre sound effects and music cues

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organ grinder
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Joined: 10/18/05
Location: United States
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Posted: 5/22/06 at 1:08pm

I can't say enough about the SCS program....I have both versions, 8 & 9, (which does handle multiple start cues quite nicely. A nice feature is password protection that allows 'locking in' the program once it's set. AND the entire program including music and the sfx can move from computer to computer on a media card or the like. I have also used it to build backup cds and mini disks - which I have never needed. But I do like the piece of mind. The laptop is a $300 (ebay) Dell and is much more than actually needed.

"Fly specks, I've been living my life among fly specks"
Dr. Chumley

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hessian
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Joined: 8/07/06
Location: United States
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Posted: 8/07/06 at 6:38pm

We have found iTunes to be a remakably easy way to run both sound effects and music. Just bring your audio files to the theatre no a memory stick or CD and import them directly into iTunes. (You can't use an iPod unless you re-synch your iPod to the audio computer, which promptly erases your iPod.)

You can even make a separate playlist for each show. You can stack both the music and sound effects inthe order you need them, and just click to play.

It's also quite helpful for choreography rehearsals - much easier to cue to a specific spot than a CD.

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

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avcastner
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Joined: 12/21/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 85

Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:25am

Believe it or not, I used Windows Media Player to run sound a couple of plays ago. The only thing I found frustrating is that I needed to put the cue on "pause" before pressing "play" or it would take forever to load--much like a CD player.

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brendan
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Joined: 4/25/07
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Posts: 0

Posted: 5/31/07 at 1:27am

i used windows media player to run sound for a production a while back, i adapted the output to 1/4" then used it as an input to the board. then i sent it through 3 speakers, 1 wired for L, 1 fr R, and 1 as an aux, and could make cars pulling up come from one side, or the other, and an explosion noise come from the third behind the audience.

it really doesnt matter what program you use. its whatever your more comfortable with. i prefer using our cd playback, but since this show required a crossfade from one track to the next at different times, i used a laptop and playback.

kinda complex, i know.

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tblan
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Joined: 8/10/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 36

Posted: 6/09/07 at 6:29pm

What many professional and touring productions use a program called SFX by Stage Research. It works very well, but it is pricey. You can find it at http://www.stageresearch.com/products/index.aspx

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skyguy
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Joined: 1/26/08
Location: United States
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Posted: 1/26/08 at 7:41pm

If you're running Mac, you can get "Macs Cue". I found it to be quite comprehensive little program for about $20. Of course, there is alphabet soup as well, but I wasn't nearly as impressed by it.

Can I have some more talent in the monitors please?

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

Topic: Laptops running sound( Topic Closed)
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Author	Message
sap11 Walk-On Joined: 5/22/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Laptops running sound Posted: 5/22/06 at 8:29am
	My community theater is curious about finding a computer program to run the sound cues. Does anyone know of any? For MAC and/or PC Thanks for the help!

	IP Logged

Playwright Celebrity Joined: 4/01/06 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 126	Posted: 5/22/06 at 10:10am
	One of the CT's I work with uses a mini-disc for sound. No computer to run it but the player makes it incredibly easy to do sound.
	IP Logged

dougb Celebrity Joined: 3/30/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 148	Posted: 5/22/06 at 10:56am
	I have been using a program on my PC laptop called Sound Cue System for two or three years. It is absolutely great. www.soundcuesystem.com. They have recently come out with a new version but I am still on release 8. It can do just about anything I need it to do and we do a lot of complex shows. I looked at their description for release 9 and I would NOT get the lite version. I am using release 8 professional level and would suggest you at least start with the standard level. The only problem I have had with it is starting more than one cue at a time - if a cue starts off at a low level, the operator thinks it didn't start and hits the start key again ending up with two cues running at once (ugly). What I particularly like is the control over the sound cues. Start and stop times can be set to the individual frame, they can be manually started or automatically started by another cue. Other than being a satisfied customer, I have no relationship with them at all.
	IP Logged

acmeactor Player Joined: 2/25/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 28	Posted: 5/22/06 at 10:58am
	We have been using Sound Cue System for a couple of years now and it has been PERFECT. I do alot of sound work and this program works for all of my needs. Sound Cue System for theatre sound effects and music cues
	IP Logged

organ grinder Walk-On Joined: 10/18/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/22/06 at 1:08pm
	I can't say enough about the SCS program....I have both versions, 8 & 9, (which does handle multiple start cues quite nicely. A nice feature is password protection that allows 'locking in' the program once it's set. AND the entire program including music and the sfx can move from computer to computer on a media card or the like. I have also used it to build backup cds and mini disks - which I have never needed. But I do like the piece of mind. The laptop is a $300 (ebay) Dell and is much more than actually needed.
	"Fly specks, I've been living my life among fly specks" Dr. Chumley
	IP Logged

hessian Walk-On Joined: 8/07/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 8/07/06 at 6:38pm
	We have found iTunes to be a remakably easy way to run both sound effects and music. Just bring your audio files to the theatre no a memory stick or CD and import them directly into iTunes. (You can't use an iPod unless you re-synch your iPod to the audio computer, which promptly erases your iPod.) You can even make a separate playlist for each show. You can stack both the music and sound effects inthe order you need them, and just click to play. It's also quite helpful for choreography rehearsals - much easier to cue to a specific spot than a CD.
	Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
	IP Logged

avcastner Star Joined: 12/21/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 85	Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:25am
	Believe it or not, I used Windows Media Player to run sound a couple of plays ago. The only thing I found frustrating is that I needed to put the cue on "pause" before pressing "play" or it would take forever to load--much like a CD player.
	IP Logged

brendan Walk-On Joined: 4/25/07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/31/07 at 1:27am
	i used windows media player to run sound for a production a while back, i adapted the output to 1/4" then used it as an input to the board. then i sent it through 3 speakers, 1 wired for L, 1 fr R, and 1 as an aux, and could make cars pulling up come from one side, or the other, and an explosion noise come from the third behind the audience. it really doesnt matter what program you use. its whatever your more comfortable with. i prefer using our cd playback, but since this show required a crossfade from one track to the next at different times, i used a laptop and playback. kinda complex, i know.
	IP Logged

tblan Lead Joined: 8/10/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 36	Posted: 6/09/07 at 6:29pm
	What many professional and touring productions use a program called SFX by Stage Research. It works very well, but it is pricey. You can find it at http://www.stageresearch.com/products/index.aspx
	IP Logged

skyguy Walk-On Joined: 1/26/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 1/26/08 at 7:41pm
	If you're running Mac, you can get "Macs Cue". I found it to be quite comprehensive little program for about $20. Of course, there is alphabet soup as well, but I wasn't nearly as impressed by it.
	Can I have some more talent in the monitors please?
	IP Logged