Saturday, November 9, 2019

VANISH MAGAZINE ARTICLE









Check out my Article in VANISH MAGAZINE
 "Take Control of Your Show"
Click here to get access to the full story.
https://joom.ag/qh7e/p24

www.QlabTutorial.com

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that’s because Qlab Show Control was firing all the lighting, sound and video cues as well as triggering curtain cues and even calling all spot light cues automatically into the wireless comms. This not only allowed us to produce
a bigger production with less expenses but it enabled spot light operators and stage crew to be swapped out during the 51 show run without any rehearsals! Qlab took care of everything.
The most popular comment I get from other acts is “that wouldn’t work for me because my show runs live and needs to have cues handled manually”.
Well then, that is where the worlds most amazing remote system comes in... Media Monkey! It’s the remote designed for Qlab by Audio Ape.
Many of you have been using the Audio Ape Remote for your iPhone or iPad for years, controlling only your audio cues. Media Monkey is slightly different, first it’s more advanced then Version 1.0 which many of
you might have used, and more importantly it is USB, designed to run many apps in your computer, specifically designed to fire Qlab Cues! And this is what allows the performer on stage to now have full control over Lighting, Video, Live Cameras and of course Sound cues and overall Volume.
So many times I’m doing a show and the sound tech decides the volume is too loud and lowers it. With media monkey remote you can immediately tap your pocket and the volume is restored! What if I told you not only can you have your show run live, but actually skip full routines, add new ones, and even
do impromptu close up magic with a specific lighting, live cameras and music that was never part of the original running order!
You can!
On the remote are 5 simple buttons, Volume Up, Volume Down, Go, Move Up, and Move Down, pretty simple, however, there are 3 additional buttons which can be fired by holding down one of three buttons for 3
seconds. If you hold the Go button for 3 seconds all cues will gently fade out and stop, allowing you to do any number of things, like restart, skip the trick, etc. Holding down the Move Up or Move Down buttons fires one
of two possible Hotkey cues, which could
be assigned to anything you wish in Media Monkey. In my case I assigned the key to a live camera routine where I can immediately stop all cues, fade in a live camera, play background music and go to a specific lighting cue, all by pressing 1 button! The programing possibilities are nearly endless, it’s just deciding what you want to use it for.

I am often asked about the signals range? I can safely say Its amazing!
For example, at the end of my shows, I go to the lobby to do a Meet & Greet but I have a cue that must fire after the Cruise Director finishes his talk, on his last word I can activate that cue from the lobby using the remote. The most impressive Media Monkey example, for me, happens while performing on Disney Cruise lines. As I begin my show in what’s called the Mod Lift, basically like the elevator pit on other ships, except it’s 20 times faster

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and has a ceiling that opens mere seconds before you appear. This means I fire my first cue to start the show 15’ under the stage beneath an 8” thick floor! And Media Monkey has never failed.
Not only do I use the remote in my large production shows, but I find it even more beneficial for my smaller one man comedy magic shows, which again, puts me in complete control.
Another included add-on to this remote system is the free app called “Lab Monkey,” a remote viewer for iPhone, iPod or iPad, which displays your Qlab; cue list, next cue, time before the cue is completed and many other features in giant bold letters that can be seen from across the stage. In my case I bought a large iPad Pro which sits right in front of the monitor, giving me a huge 10” screen allowing me to see my show cues, running order, and a clock, great for certain acts who tend to run overtime, (which never happens to me “cough cough” ha ha!)
You can add notes, for instance, you want to thank the host or sponsor of your event and don’t want to forget their names, you type that on the cue list reminding you live on stage. I often use it to help advertise my next event, I just add the information to the notes of the cue, and with a simple glance at my iPad I don’t miss a beat. You can even have your assistant type something backstage and see it live on stage... hmmm, which opens a few fun possibilities!
I keep the tiny remote (about the size of a Key Fob) in my right pocket, using double sided tape to keep it from sliding around so it’s exactly where I want, the exact distance my index finger ends up when hooking my thumb into my pocket, in this position I can simply press buttons through the outside of my pants, easily feeling the correct button due to the layout. A little trick I use is gluing a bead to the center button creating a protruding bump which can easily be felt through your pants, even jeans.
The possibilities are endless, if you’ve never used Qlab before you might feel a bit lost, well this is where I come in. Okay, fine, there is a catch! lol
I’ve created a website called Qlab Tutorial where I teach everything you need to know about using Qlab for your shows, along with the hardware needed. There are over 2hrs of FREE (that’s right Free) online tutorial videos. You can learn every step necessary to program your own shows; from basic play, loop and fade out cues, advanced programming ming and using Qlab to automatically call all your own spot light cues using a cheap battery bluetooth speaker!
And, I’m adding new videos and series every month! Numerous great tips and tricks, so check out the site to start learning today.
If you are stuck or don’t want the hassle of programming then I offer One-on-One consults and can even program your entire show for you and teach you how to run it.
Links to both a free download of QLab software and Audio Ape can be found
on my website at: www.QlabTutorial.com
It’s time to take control of your show! With Qlab Show control and Audio Ape Remotes the possibilities are endless!
-Justino Zoppe www.QlabTutorial.com
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Thursday, November 7, 2019

Live Camera's in Qlab

HOW TO USE LIVE CAMERAS IN QLAB


I have been getting asked a lot about using IMAG in Qlab. (IMAG = Image Magnification)
Live Cameras are a very large part of my shows for many years now, and that wouldn't have been possible without Qlab. Each show will have different needs and require different hardware to accomplish the effect they require.

For instance, when I perform close up magic I use am HD Sony Camcorder,  https://amzn.to/2NsZDy7

as I require control over exposure, white balance, and optical zoom, in addition to the fact I face the audience with the video walls behind me so I cant actually see what's on the screen without looking behind me, so having a camcorder with a flip screen allows me to always monitor any possible glare from the lights, if im centered in the screen or if I need to zoom in out out etc..

However, when I am performing certain routines without a table, I currently use a GoPro 5 camera
https://amzn.to/2WRxtzR


I use this link because it's commerce packaging and only $169.00
The GoPro works fantastic for face on Live Camera shots where you do not require a Zoom Feature.
the Go pro also does not have a Screen facing forward so I always perform facing stage right which allows me to glance at the LED wall, with the corner of my eye, however, due to GoPro wide angle it's nearly impossible to not be in the shot! I will give some advice however when using GoPro, you will get a fisheye distortion on the sides, really noticeable in one of my routines where im performing with 2 vertical columns which looks like bananas on the screen if I don't change the settings in the GoPro from Wide or Narrow to LINER. Liner immediately zooms in a bit and also straightens the entire image and prevents that fisheye look, which you may or may not want.

as far as lighting goes, yes I always use stage lighting, but I also always have my own camera lights attached directly on top of the cameras to prevent any issues live in the show,
I also love the fact that these lights are battery and have both brightness and color adjustments.
https://amzn.to/2PXmUtE


Since I have to fly to 90% of my venues, I cannot afford to bring camera stands for the 4 live cameras   I would have 40lbs in excess baggage just for the stands, so I found this great hack by using these simple clamps, and then all I do is ask for 4 mic stands which every venue has mic stands, and tada instant camera stands that fit in your carry-on luggage! 

https://amzn.to/2qtQMTN combined with these extension arms https://amzn.to/2CkLKLS
Once your cameras are mounted and lights adjusted I then use a 25' or Longer 
HDMI cable to run the feed to the Mac backstage.


(remember if you need a really long run you will require a BOOSTED HDMI as you cannot just extend HDMI too long of a run and you will lose connection. I have run over 150' before for many shows and I use these boosted HDMI's which NOTE: also are directional so when plugging them in, make sure you have the arrows facing the correct direction for the run. 


Once you get the HDMI cable from the camera to the Mac, you will need a HDMI Capture Card, and although yes I think Black Magic is a Top quality product and the industry standard, my new favorite capture card is the USB thats right I said USB! Magwell USB to HDMI HDMI Capture 

Special Thanks to Charles Peachock from Audio Ape Remotes for bringing this great capture device to my attention. I have been using this in my shows for over a year now and Knock on Wood, I've never had a single issue with it! The only this I feel you should be aware of, is the device does get pretty hot, so make sure you give it some ventilation. 

Once you have all of this plugged in.. thats it! there is nothing to download no drivers to install just open Qlab and you will see under the video settings, CAMERA PATCHES, just change it from Facetime Camera to USB MAGEWELL (or whatever is shows?) 
and now you can start programming live video in your shows, and then when you want to take it to another level start messing around with Effects, Geometry, Custom Masks and more!
I do teach all of this on my Qlab Tutorial website 
just click, "Advanced Video Series" (shameless plug 😂)
www.QlabTutorial.com 

If you have any questions feel free to visit my Qlab Facebook Group at 





List of Tech needed for a QLab Show Control

So I'm assembling a list of Tech that I have tested and used in my shows, that work for the Macbook Pro with USB-C: VIDEO ADAPTER...