Control System to trigger timeline

[Sonic88]

Does anyone have a recommendation on the best way to trigger a Watchout timeline using a control system like Crestron? Can Watchout receive RS-232 or IP commands?

 

My initial thoughts are a MIDI to USB interface for the Watchout producer. I can send a MIDI command from the control system to trigger an auxillary timeline in Watchout through the task window. Has anyone had experience with this configuration? From a hardware standpoint doing this directly through IP would seem to make sense but configuring IP addresses, ports, firewalls etc. seem like it might be more work than using a MIDI trigger.

 

Any other thoughts out there? <<< posts combined by moderator >>>

Edited August 4, 2011 by jfk

[jfk]

Does anyone have a recommendation on the best way to trigger a Watchout timeline using a control system like Crestron?

Can Watchout receive RS-232 or IP commands?

Yes.

This is documented in the WATCHOUT 5 User Guide

There are two methods for controlling WATCHOUT playback.

 

- Control of Production is IP only. reference Appendix D

Off by default, must be enabled in Production Preferences.

 

- Control of a Display Cluster is IP or Serial. reference Appendix E,

Cluster control via IP is straigtforward, as it is always available.

Cluster control via serial is off by default and must be turned on a by a script, etc,

also covered in Appendix E.

 

Either method supports SMPTE chase input, DMX output and IP output.

 

Production is only needed when you must rely on WATCHOUT

to support and process user / live [em]input[/em] (MIDI, DMX, MSC, live tweens).

 

Cluster operation and its control language

is the more robust and versatile control method.

When you have a full blown control system like

Crestron, AMX, Medialon, Mediamation, etc.

it makes more sense to process user input in the control package

and eliminate the production computer / license .

 

My initial thoughts are a MIDI to USB interface for the Watchout producer.

I can send a MIDI command from the control system to trigger an auxillary timeline in Watchout through the task window.

You can do that more directly with cluster control,

as direct triggering of auxiliary timelines is available without using the Task window.

Let your control system do the input decision making.

 

If you are going to go the production / MIDI input route, use MIDI notes for triggers.

 

Has anyone had experience with this configuration?

Of course, we demonstrate aux timelines triggered via MIDI notes in the WATCHOUT training system.

We are teaching production, so we have to have the production computer there anyway.

When we cover playback control, we turn production off.

 

From a hardware standpoint doing this directly through IP would seem to make sense but configuring IP addresses, ports, firewalls etc. seem like it might be more work than using a MIDI trigger. ...

Not really, that all has to be done on the WATCHOUT side anyway.

Setting up the single IP connection in the control system can't be any harder than setting up a MIDI connection.

Also one less loose part (MIDI interface) to deal with as no extra interface is needed for IP.

 

[Sonic88]

Excellent response, I will review those sections of the Watchout 5 manual now.

 

Thank you!