QLab 3 Show Control by Hopgood Jeromy

Author:Hopgood, Jeromy
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-135-08302-1
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

9

Group Cues

Other than the Fade Cue, the Group Cue is likely the most commonly used cue type in any cue list. One reason for the prevalence of this cue is its versatility. As the Group Cue is such an essential component to dynamic cueing possibilities, the following chapter both details its use and offers up practical projects for learning how to best utilize the Group Cue in your own projects.

9.1 Understanding Group Cues

Group Cues are simple to understand, yet have the ability to be utilized to create subtle and complex effects. One key feature of the Group Cue is that grouping cues together does not change the way in which they function, it just enables the ability to control the cues by grouping them together. Though the only true function of the Group Cue is to contain other cues within it, there are many creative uses for creating a group rather than leaving cues independently organized.

1. Organization: One of the main reasons for using a Group Cue is the ability to “hide” some of your more complex cues. This method hides those numerous cues inside one folder on the desktop, saving the operator from having to look at a large number of cues cluttering the workspace.

2. Complex Cue Control: Group Cues allow for more complex cueing, enabling multiple sub-cues of differing cue types to be fired simultaneously or in sequence. For example, special effects cues are often composed of multiple different cue types with varying continue states, fades, and control cues combined to create one single effect in the show. A good example of this is a rainstorm. The stage manager might simply call one cue to trigger “go rainstorm,” but the programming for that cue might entail 10–12 different combinations of Audio Cues, Fade Cues, GoTo Cues, Start Cue, or more. One great use of the Group Cue is to simply drag all of the necessary rainstorm cues into the one group and label it “rainstorm.”

3. Consolidating Control: Fade Cues and many control cues can affect all “children” within a Group Cue (play, pause, stop). This means a simplified method of controlling one or multiple cues. Keep in mind, though, that some Group Cues will sound fake if faded out as a group.

4. Randomized Playback: Group Cues can be programmed to play back their internal cues in a random order. One of the most versatile functions of the Group Cue is the ability to program it to fire a random internal cue then proceed to the next cue in the workspace. By randomizing playback and adding a Play Cue to the group, an intelligent programmer can use this function to get around repetitious loop sounds for things like city street sounds or environmental sound effects.

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