Stream Deck Controller

Ask a generic question about the usage of QLC+, not related to a particular operating system
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DJSAudio
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Feb 18, 2020 10:11 am
Real Name: Dan Skinner

Hi All,

I had a thought recently about purchasing a Elgato Stream Deck to control QLC as it has customisable buttons that you could write the function on. I currently use an Akai APC40 MKII but I have a few projects that lay the buttons out in different formats and checking that the button you are going to press is correct each time takes up a few valuable seconds! I did a quick search but couldnt find anything relating to it on the forum so I wondered if it is possible to implement with QLC maybe using the generic MIDI profile?

Has anyone had success in using it?

Thanks,
Dan
etchonmind
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Jan 18, 2020 12:12 am
Real Name: Oliver Keller

You can map Streamdeck buttons to keystrokes, so for example

ttttt

has just been written using an Elgato Stream Deck and attaching the "System/Hotkey" Action with parameter Hotkey "t" to it.
Then you can map that key ("t") to a button in QLC+ and for example toggle scenes or collections with it.

If you go Elgato, go Stream Deck XL. You will always want more buttons :mrgreen:
Sony
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2020 12:48 am
Real Name: Sony A

The problem with that is.. You have to have the QLC Plus active, I know there is OSC controller we can use.. but not sure how to setup with Companion
Sn00zerman
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Nov 22, 2018 10:08 pm
Real Name: Kris Wauters

I just managed to create a proof-of-concept, to let the Elgato Stream Deck "talk" with QLC+ !!!

There is no need for the official Elgato stream deck software to be installed, this "thing" can even run on a RaspBerry Pi.
The whole thing is running in Python, and communicates over a websocket with QLC+.
You can install it on the same machine as QLC+ runs on (even the samen RaspBerry Pi, if needed),
or install it on a separate machine, doesn't matter.

Whenever a device can run Python and does support LibUSB HIDAPI, this little thingy should run.
Tested in on a windows, mac, linux and Raspberry pi (wel, that's also Linux)

Currently, the script puts DMX channel 1 to 32 high, whenever you press one of the 32 buttons on the Stream Deck XL,
and brings that channel back to 0, when you let go of the button.
This could be easily changed to whatever the Web Api supports :-)
Icons are user definable, even text can be added to a button, and the image for the "button down" and "button up" may be different.
Maybe I even add the possibility to put animated gifs on the buttons :-)
(this thing works on the Stream Deck mini, regular Stream Deck and Stream Deck XL)

Next week I start with the building of my music recording studio. I have lots of DMX fixtures that I'm going to use as my "default lighting" for the studio.
I will use the stream deck to switch between various lighting scenes.

I'm planning on releasing this Python project somewhere this week (as freeware of course), keep an eye op https://www.digitalplayground.be in the Music and electronics section.
(Today I have a day of, but tomorrow I have to go back to work, doing my latest cloud migration (I work in IT), and then I have 3 weeks of vacation, to start building the studio ...)



Best regards,
Kris
Sn00zerman
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Nov 22, 2018 10:08 pm
Real Name: Kris Wauters

This is quicker then I expected :-)
I have made the changes to my piece of software, it now also supports animated gifs.
The test was done with 32 randomly downloaded animated gifs, in all sorts of resolutions and all sorts of lengths.
Aspect ration is maintained, and framerate is stable at 30 FPS :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2B-84FjTgg

I will put the download up tommorow evening.
(my time is CET)

Enjoy !
best regards,
Kris
Sn00zerman
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Nov 22, 2018 10:08 pm
Real Name: Kris Wauters

Instructions, information and download is available on:
https://www.digitalplayground.be/?p=5040

Enjoy :-)
Sony
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2020 12:48 am
Real Name: Sony A

Do you have instructions or Video how to do that. I try to follow the page.. Its kinda geek to me. :(
I like to trigger the shortcut key from streamdeck to enable the functions.
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GGGss
Posts: 3052
Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2016 7:15 pm
Location: Belgium
Real Name: Fredje Gallon

After installing all the required components, you simply let the main.py run...
You will have to tweak the main.py code here and there to get the interaction between QLC+ and the Streamdeck...
As I can read in the code - every streamdeck button has an ID and this ID is used to feed QLC+ channel. In default mode it sets the QLC+ channel to a value of 200.
All electric machines work on smoke... when the smoke escapes... they don't work anymore
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