Sac news

[Bill Park]

I've been asking Bob for show player capability since about 1996 or so. If that is what you need, look at SFX, which seems to be the default tool for theatrical work.

"The Rat Pack" (a Vegas-based show) just came through town, and they used SAWStudio as their playback, but it was straight ahead stuff, no real theatrical needs. When I asked what they might use to do a more complex show the sound guy replied as Bob does..Loopazoid.

Bill

[Bob L]

We've done some extremely complex shows here in Vegas with SAWPro and SAWStudio and other plugin playback tools.

In many cases we run multiple copies of SAWStudio on the same machine handling different parts of the show... with complete automation... also feeding Midi and or SMPTE control to lighting boards and stage equipment like fog machines and projection screens... while also handling all the video playback at the same time...

Hard to imagine much more complexity than all that... the power is there... just jump in and learn it.

By the way... in some cases SAWStudio has also been the FOH PA console replacement... now... SAC fills that need.

Bob L

[bcorkery]

Thanks Bob. All very exciting stuff.
My needs are a heck of a lot more elementary.

I'd love to see a show like this pushing all the limits!

[sebastiandybing]

Hi Bill

I use both SFX and SAW...it all depends on the show.
and in some few cases I have been using watchout for audio also.

The good thing about SAC is that it combines the different elements of
a show into one package.
I just hope SAC will get playback functions similar to SFX, in all other
departments SAC will outperform other show programs.

I think Bob is doing shows where music and so on is prerecorded or a band
are playing to a click track/prerecording, and in such cases its just a matter of hit start and all performers much follow the timeline.

In my case I may have a few cues with click track for a conductor and sending smpte to the light department, but in most cases I have to follow
a score, this mean the condocter is in charge of the tempo and I have to
follow him, so I have make sure that sound efx are aloud to play ontop of
each other if the tempo is faster than the day before.

It may be possible to use loopazoid if SAC´s scene window can send midi notes to a VSTi instument, but I would rather use a device made by Bob.

Sebastian

[Bob L]

Most every Vegas show has acts between production numbers that are definitely never timed the same each performance... I use Loopazoid with a midi keyboard to trigger sound effects that must hit at specific moments manually... works like a charm... you can layer 48 sound effects over each other and if you need more, simply patch in a second Loopazoid... all works pretty darn good. Its very easy to label the midi keyboard keys with large name tags for each effect or cue.

Basically, you have a freeform virtual sampler within SAWStudio or SAC.

But, unlike most hardware samplers, any cue button can hold any length song playback as well as short sound effects cues.

And, these random effects can be triggered while the SS timeline is playing back an underlying cue of music and video, complete with midi lighting and stage cues being sent out at the same time...

Pretty fun stuff really.

Bob L

[sebastiandybing]

I know I can put up a sampler, but somehow I feel it is much easyer to
hit one go/next button to activate a cue, ofcause a action scene with
lot of efx. would work well with a keybord.
But I often need to keep my eyes in the score and constanly
checking the conductor and then there is no room in my brain to make sure that I am hitting the right key on a keybord.

Would it be possible to let a scene generate midi notes, if so then I could
trigger a sampler from within the scene window and still use one key to run the show.

Sebastian

[Bob L]

Well... of course SAC will do all this and more as the code evolves... you will love where its going... hang in there.

Bob L

[Bill Park]

In many cases we run multiple copies of SAWStudio on the same machine handling different parts of the show... with complete automation... also feeding Midi and or SMPTE control to lighting boards and stage equipment like fog machines and projection screens... while also handling all the video playback at the same time...


Bob L

I don't doubt this at all. But I cannot sell it to any theatrical company, or any sound guy. And when you throw in the issue of various board operators may have to step in and do the show, it is a non-starter. There is just no confidence in a system running this way. SFX gives them what they want to see, in a way that they understand it.


Bill

[Bill Park]

...I may have a few cues with click track for a conductor and sending smpte to the light department, ...I have to follow a score, ...I have make sure that sound efx are aloud to play ontop of each other...

Yeah, I know: standard theatrical stuff. I do it, too. Big book on top of the XL4 on a rolling stand filled with the dialog and scene changes, plus the mic bible.. who is on stage with what mic NOW, following the dialog, watching the conductor on a monitor, watching the computer, the meters, yatata, yadada ...

The Midas XL4 snapshot scene automation cue button setup is what we use for multiple operations, including sending control codes to SFX. I work in several theaters, with the XL4 in a couple of them, a couple of different Heritage models in a couple of them, some old Soundcrafts, and (thank goodness) the symphony hall just upgraded from their old Yamy 4k to an M7CL. This opens a lot of options there for other shows. (The symphony doesn't really use much, I could do them with almost any console.)

No, my only point to my post was that what you want has been asked for before, and Bob either sees no value in it, or just isn't interested in trying to capture that market. I show SAWStudio and people like what they see. But it can't do what they want in the way that they want to see it done. I can't fight that. Since I am just the visiting engineer, I have no pull or power.

Bill

[Bob L]

Well its ok... people get stuck in their ways and its hard for people to try new ideas... I obviously understand that... I have dealt with it for over 16 years now.

I do things differently... and with much less gear and with much more efficiency, in my opinion... and its fun.

People are free to make their own choices.

SAC and SAWStudio offer some amazing powers that can replace multiple peices of equipment and software all at the same time... those with an open mind to change enjoy the benefits... those who like to stick with the standards, will do so... to me, its not a competition... I am simply offering an alternative approach... one that I find much more exciting.

Bob L

[sebastiandybing]

Hi Bill

I think Bob undestand us ... I will now relax in the sofa with a good film
and wait

Sebastian

[Bob L]

I am on it... hopefully the final release will be sometime before the end of this month.

I want it finished more than you guys.

Bob L

[Iain Westland]

Soory, Bob, but i dont think your any where near finishing yet!!! look at SAW, just gets better and better.

ooozze the man?

yooouze the man!!!

Iain

[Bob L]

Well... of course it will continue to eveolve after the release... but I am hopeful to get most all the main features up and running by the release.

Bob L