Q Light Controller+

Hello Everybody,

the QLC+ on a Pi (4) has established very well within our band. Let me explain our setup first:

We run full light shows from it live, meaning i programmed them by scripts, as i can time the effects by milliseconds. As our drummer plays per click, it's giving a show that is fully synced....almost.

Our keyboarder is "Setlist Master". He sets it up on his mini laptop, shifts songs etc. and switches the songs. once he does it, all devices within the band get midi commands to switch presets. The drummer counts in, and with one footswitch press, the DMX show starts, works like a charm, IF I'm on the perfect timing together with the drummer, and IF our keyboarder manages to start the backing track in sync. Otherwise it's a mess. Syncing everything up via MIDI is not working, as the drummer uses an external click device that he starts on his own. It's becoming tricky when we have a song with changing tempo, then we have to play without click, are therefore not able to run a programmed show. In addition we intend to run a video backdrop in near future.

To sort this mess I tried the obvious:
Hook the Raspi's Audio to our Mixer and run backing track, cuetrack and clicktrack (and video) from qlc+, together with the lightshow. I did some extended testings, and it works surprisingly well with some hickups:
It's not possible to mix more tracks over one HW device in a reliable and synced way. Therefore I render cuetrack and clicktrack, panned hard left and hard right as one track, that's fine. Nevertheless i need two discrete audio outputs, to run the two tracks. For first tests i ordered a cheap USB to TS soundcard/cable/adapter thing. Backing track goes over 3,5mm headphone jack, click and cue over the usb thing split in L and R. Everything is in sync, runs great BUT...is very noisy. In a cable and device crowded rack, i'd prefer balanced outputs anyways.

one option would be, using USB DIs like those: https://www.musik-produktiv.at/radial-usb-pro.html
but they are expensive like hell, and I'd need two of those.

Another thing that caught my attention is that thing:
https://www.hifiberry.com/shop/boards/h ... 2-pro-xlr/

It would be a combination of some sort. Maybe click and Cue over 3,5mm out, as it's not THAT noisy and can be gated, backingtrack over DI or DAC2 pro XLR.

Has anyone experience in such setups or the usage of USB DIs or even the hifiberry stuff ?

Greetings

Pete

Petehagoras wrote: ↑Thu Jun 13, 2024 7:21 am tricky when we have a song with changing tempo, then we have to play without click, are therefore not able to run a programmed show. In addition we intend to run a video backdrop in near future.

Ow Lord, when the drummer loses his rhythm, does the band go wild? You cannot program that into a showfile; the drummer has to click-tap his new tempo.

IF that is the case, forget the video backdrop - it will n o t work at all (in a pre-programmed show that is!)

Petehagoras wrote: ↑Thu Jun 13, 2024 7:21 am one option would be, using USB DIs like those: https://www.musik-produktiv.at/radial-usb-pro.html
but they are expensive like hell, and I'd need two of those.

Another thing that caught my attention is that thing:
https://www.hifiberry.com/shop/boards/h ... 2-pro-xlr/

It would be a combination of some sort. Maybe click and Cue over 3,5mm out, as it's not THAT noisy and can be gated, backingtrack over DI or DAC2 pro XLR.

Has anyone experience in such setups or the usage of USB DIs or even the hifiberry stuff ?

Ehhm ... this is a QLC+ forum = lighting desk
You are researching possibilities to have an audio (clicktrack / IEM) solution? -> there are FB groups you can ask

Ow Lord, when the drummer loses his rhythm, does the band go wild? You cannot program that into a showfile; the drummer has to click-tap his new tempo.

IF that is the case, forget the video backdrop - it will n o t work at all (in a pre-programmed show that is!)

No thats not an issue. We are able to perform without all that stuff, just prefer to use it. backing track is for flavouring, and not vital. IF something weird happens, the drummer has a panic button. synced tracks turn off, light show transitions to a audio to light routine in the color scheme of the scripted show. i have the same button, if one misses it or is occupied and not able to press it. we used it with just the lights for now, and it works great with qlc+ scripts. would do the same with video, but video is in the very back of my head, it's just an idea.

Ehhm ... this is a QLC+ forum = lighting desk
You are researching possibilities to have an audio (clicktrack / IEM) solution? -> there are FB groups you can ask

maybe my questions were not pointed out clear enough, it would have been, if someone has experience how well qlc+ on a pi is handling usb DIs or Hifiberry, therefore qlc+/tech/raspberry forum seemed a fitting platform, but I could be wrong.

QLC+ does for me, more than just lights. having such a lightweight and reliable system, is quite valuable to us, and so easy to build redundancy... just a second pi with a cloned qlc sd, swapped and booted in under one minute.

To the progress:
I gave the Hifiberry a shot, and it works flawlessly. yesterday we tried click and cue over headphone out, backing track over Hifiberry. was awesome, although the headphone out is a bit noisy, but we could gate that. Everything was in sync, including lights. I might be a bit hyped, but a one device, one button press synced solution for all of that is priceless.