A Two Button Project

[pfelberg]

Hello everyone.
I have this "two-button project" and I need to make it work on Arena.
Don´t ask me why, since I can´t tell much about it right now, but the FACT is that I MUST use ONLY a TWO BUTTON controller at this time. Yes, it is some sort of midi controller, so yes I can map it to whatever Arena keys I want.
I also MUST NOT be close to the computer so I can´t operate it in real time. I must use this two-button controller.
Consider it a challenge.

And what do I need to accomplish:
One simple deck, 5 short clips.
1 - The "On" clip. Telling everyone it is "on". Jumps to Clip A.
2 - The "Off" clip. Telling everyone it is "off". Keeps on Loop.
3 - Clip A. Keeps on Loop.
4 - Clip B. Keeps on Loop.
5 - Clip C. Keeps on Loop.

Functionality:
Button 01 should be the one to turn "ON" and "OFF", like a real switcher at any time. First hit is "on", next hit is obviously "off". And so on..
Button 02 should be used to jump to next clip at every hit (Clip A, Clip B and Clip C and back to Clip A)

Course button 02 will not be used if the project is "OFF".
Course button 01 should be used at any time to play the "Off" clip.

Sounds simple, but couldn´t make it work so far. Autopilot do not work if a clip is on looping and there´s no general "play next clip" command available to be mapped.

Any input is appreciated.

tks

[Zoltán]

so, do you have the hardware that you need to use?
what is your budget?
how far will you be from the computer?
also, do you need to implement all the functions inside arena or can you consider additional software?

[pfelberg]

Hi Ravensc.

Yes, I do have the hardware. Yes it works beautifully.
No budget.
I cannot be seen close to the computer. Period.
I wish I could do this all inside Arena, but I am all ears.

ps. all output is mapped.

[Zoltán]

a simple processing sketch could interpret the midi signal, then control arena via osc.
In the sketch you could then specify the clips and its addresses and a clip id counter, then on each button press increase that number, send osc command to launch clip. and if the clip id counter is larger than your clip count it should reset.
The other button could be either the composition bypass,
or disconnect all button in resolume - this would allow transitions - and on the second press it could launch the last played clip you have stored in your clip id variable. If you store the playhead position received from resolume you could even continue playback from where it was stopped.

If you know a bit of Java, then this would be a free solution.
you'd need the oscP5 and themidibus libraries, both should be available via the processing Library manager.
Both come with good example sketches.

I'm not sure this can be done entirely in arena.

[pfelberg]

I don´t know Java. Thank you!

[Zoltán]

in the free edition of QLab I could make a project almost what you describe via 2 keyboard keys - so should work also with midi.
5 OSC cues for clip launch with GO button, 6th cue is jump to cue 1, and there is a hotkey osc cue that clears all playing clips.

[Zoltán]

in the free edition of QLab I could make a project almost what you describe via 2 keyboard keys - so should work also with midi.

I just opened a saved workspace in Qlab it says I have to buy a license to activate my saved cue, so unless you rebuild your cues on each start this solution won't be free.

If you could use a presentation clicker for example to produce keystrokes,( or you can set the buttons midi note output), I have an app that can read the resolume composition and can be set up to use with custom key commands. Basically it does column launch and can send Composition Bypass and Composition DisconnectAll by a push of a key.
Also advances columns by push of Enter or a selected key.
I'ts not free but way cheaper and way faster to set up than Qlab.
Here are some example videos what it can do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzknK6w ... C2&index=3

[pfelberg]

Is it possible to map any key in Arena just to jump to the next clip? I need one key only to keep playing next clips.
There´s no such thing available in Arena so far I can tell.

[Oaktown]

Do you mean like the Left/Right arrow keys for all layers at once not just the active layer, so that all layers jump to the next clip and ignore blank slots?

[pfelberg]

Oh my Gosh!!!!!! That´s exaclty what I was looking for!!! LEFT and RIGHT ARROW KEYS
I guess I should get back to Resolume Basics and learn, memorize, what basic key functions already CAN DO for me.
Thanks Oaktown!!

Cheers!!!