Tiffany Haney
QLab is a macOS application that allows users to control sound, video, and lighting. It offers precise control over timing, levels, and routing of audio cues. Audio panning is an essential feature in creating a realistic sound design, allowing users to pan audio cues from the left channel to the right, creating a doppler effect. This can be achieved by setting the levels for cue outputs and utilizing fade cues to pan an audio cue between different outputs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Audio cues | Allow playing sound files with precise control over timing, levels, and routing |
| Audio cue target | A sound file on your computer |
| Audio output patch | Connects QLab to a sound output destination, such as speakers, headphone jack, audio interface, or network-based output |
| File types | Supported by Core Audio (Apple's audio framework); recommended types include MP4, M4A, and AIFF, WAV, and CAF for best quality and performance |
| Play count | Number of times a sound file will play when the cue is run; default is 1, but can be changed to loop or infinite |
| Playback rate | Adjustable by typing a value or dragging the Rate text field up or down; checking "Preserve pitch" maintains pitch while adjusting rate |
| AudioUnit effects | Process sound dynamically in real-time with a Pro Audio or Pro Bundle license; must be 64-bit, defined as an effect, and report "tail time" |
| Audio file channels | Must match the number of channels supported by the AudioUnit; some AudioUnits won't pass audio with a mismatch in channel count |
| Volume adjustment | Use volume knobs or sliders, colored yellow (live) or gray (dead); dragging the mouse adjusts the volume |
| Buffer size | Can be increased for demanding cue sequences requiring significant disk access, but larger buffers take longer to load |
| Fading audio | Use Fade cues to pan audio among outputs; set levels for cue outputs and create a Fade cue to transition between outputs |
| Curve shape | Default is "S-Curve" for a natural sound and smooth video geometry; Custom Curve allows creating control points to change the curve shape |
| Audio Domain | Slider, Decibel, or Linear Domain options for fading audio levels; Slider Domain emulates physical sound consoles for a smooth, natural fade |
| Sound Cue looping | Default is one loop (playthrough); can select finite or infinite looping with specified parameters |
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What You'll Learn
Using Fade cues to pan audio
Audio cues in QLab allow you to play sound files with precise control over timing, levels, and routing. To use audio cues, you must have a file target, which is a sound file on your computer, and an audio output patch, which connects QLab to a sound output destination such as your computer's speakers or headphone jack.
Fade cues are a type of audio cue that can be used to adjust the overall volume of a sound file, as well as pan audio cues between different outputs. For example, if you have a mono audio file and want to pan it from one speaker to another, you can use a Fade cue to adjust the levels of the audio output.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use Fade cues to pan audio in QLab:
- In the Audio cue, set the level for the cue output routed to the first speaker to 0, and set the level for the cue output routed to the second speaker to -inf. QLab treats a blank field in this cue matrix mixer as -inf.
- Create a Fade cue that targets the Audio cue.
- Reverse the levels in the Fade cue: set the first output to -inf and the second output to 0.
- When you run the Audio cue, you will hear it through cue output 1.
- When you run the Fade cue, it will adjust the audio levels, fading down the volume in output 1 and fading up the volume in output 2 over the same duration.
- You can visualize the changes in the Levels tab of the target Audio cue, where you'll see the meters in the cue outputs change in real-time.
By following these steps, you can use Fade cues in QLab to pan audio between different outputs, creating a more dynamic and realistic sound experience.
It's worth noting that QLab offers various fade curve shapes, such as S-Curve, Custom Curve, 2D Path, Slider Domain, Decibel Domain, and Linear Domain, which can be selected from the pop-up menu to achieve the desired fading effect. Additionally, the curve shape can be customized by adding and manipulating control points along the fade curve.
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Panning audio from left to right
Audio cues in QLab allow you to play sound files with precise control over timing, levels, and routing. Audio panning is essential for creating a realistic sound design.
To pan an audio cue from left to right in QLab 3, you can follow the steps outlined in a video tutorial by Jeromy Hopgood. The tutorial demonstrates how to create a "doppler effect" of a police siren passing by. Unfortunately, I was unable to access the video. However, based on the information provided, panning an audio cue from left to right in QLab involves adjusting the output channels and levels.
In QLab 5, you can pan an audio cue by using a Fade cue. This method is useful when you want to pan a mono audio file from one speaker to another. First, set the level for the cue output routed to the first speaker to 0, and set the level for the second speaker to -inf. Then, create a Fade cue targeting the audio cue and reverse the levels: set the first output to -inf and the second output to 0. When you run the audio cue, it will play only through the first speaker. When you run the Fade cue, it will gradually decrease the volume in the first speaker while increasing the volume in the second speaker.
The Levels tab in the inspector of the Audio cue allows you to adjust the levels for each output channel. You can also use the Level Adjustments tab to tweak the "global" level of each output channel. Additionally, QLab provides various fade curve shapes, such as S-Curve, Custom Curve, 2D Path, Slider Domain, Decibel Domain, and Linear Domain, to control the fade dynamics and create smooth transitions.
It is important to note that the output patch determines the output device used by the Sound Cue, and it can be set in the Sound Cue preferences panel or by using the drag-and-drop method in the preferences panel. The output patch provides flexibility in designing audio setups, accommodating different output devices, and ensuring compatibility.
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Recommended file types for audio cues
Audio cues in QLab allow users to play sound files with precise control over timing, levels, and routing. While audio cues may target any file type supported by Core Audio, Apple's audio framework, certain file types are recommended over others.
MP4, or MPEG-4 Part 14 container format, is a recommended file type for audio cues in QLab. This format is typically an AAC audio file. Similarly, M4A, or MPEG-4 Audio container format, is also a recommended file type, as it is also an AAC file.
AIFF, WAV, and CAF files are highly recommended as they provide the best audio quality and least technical issues. These files will give you the least amount of trouble when working with QLab.
While QLab also supports MP3 files, they are not recommended due to their variable and unpredictable delay when decoding and starting playback. This makes exact timing impossible when using MP3 files. Additionally, MP3 files do not usually sound very good, so it is advised to avoid using them unless their limitations are not relevant to your specific use case.
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Adjusting the playback rate
QLab allows you to adjust the playback rate of audio cues by typing a value in the Rate text field to the right of the waveform or by clicking in that field and dragging up or down. The rate value can be set to anywhere between 0.03 and 33.
By default, adjusting the rate will also adjust the pitch, similar to changing the playback speed of analogue tape. For instance, a rate of 1 (100%) corresponds to normal speed with no pitch shift, a rate of 0.5 (50%) corresponds to half speed and the pitch being lowered by one octave, and a rate of 2 (200%) corresponds to double speed and the pitch being raised by one octave.
If you want to adjust the rate without changing the pitch, you can check the "Preserve pitch" box. However, this requires slightly more processor power than leaving the box unchecked.
It is important to note that QLab supports a wide range of audio file formats, including MP3, MP4, M4A, AIFF, WAV, and CAF files. However, MP3 files are not recommended due to their unpredictable delay during decoding and playback, which makes exact timing impossible. Instead, AIFF, WAV, and CAF files are recommended for the best audio quality and least technical issues.
Additionally, QLab can target multichannel audio files and supports audio file targets with sample rates ranging from 8 kHz to 192 kHz and bit depths from 8-bit to 32-bit.
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Using audio effects
QLab allows you to add audio effects to your cues, enabling you to process them dynamically in real-time. To apply an effect to an audio cue, select it from the drop-down menu labelled "Add Effect". When you select an effect, an AudioUnit editor window will open automatically. You can close and reopen the window by clicking "Edit" next to the effect's name.
The editor window looks different for each AudioUnit, as each effect requires different controls. QLab uses the built-in interface created by the designer of the AudioUnit, so the look and feel of AudioUnits can vary widely. Note that meters in AudioUnits do not render at this time.
You can enable or disable effects by checking or unchecking the box to the left of the effect. If the AudioUnit editor window is open, you can also enable or disable an effect by checking or unchecking "Enabled". To delete an effect, click the X on the right side.
Effects will be applied to the cue in the order they appear in the effects list. To change the order, click and drag an effect up or down within the list.
Fade cues can be used to adjust the volume levels and audio effect parameters of a targeted audio cue. They require a target and a duration and must adjust at least one level or parameter. The curve shape determines how the parameter or parameters are adjusted over the course of the fade. The curve on the left is for levels that are increasing, and the curve on the right is for levels that are decreasing.
You can choose a fade curve shape from the pop-up menu in the top left corner of the tab. QLab's default curve shape is an "S-Curve", which follows an "ease-in, ease-out" envelope designed to sound natural with audio levels. The "Custom Curve" option allows you to create control points that can be dragged to change the shape of the curve.
The "2D Path" option is not yet available for Fade cues that target audio or mic cues. The "Audio Domain" pop-up menu lets you choose the scale that QLab uses to fade audio levels. This is only relevant to fading audio levels and has no effect on other parameters. There are three options for the audio domain: "Slider domain", "Decibel domain", and "Linear domain".
The "Slider domain" emulates the design of physical sound consoles, maximizing the useful range of audible levels and making a straight fade sound as smooth and natural as possible. The "Decibel domain" uses a logarithmic scale, while the "Linear domain" uses a linear scale.
To create an equal power fade, use a parametric curve with audio in the linear domain. To create an equal gain fade, use a linear curve with audio in the linear domain. The Audio Levels tab allows you to specify which audio levels you wish to fade and what their final volume will be.
The "Absolute Fade" drop-down menu lets you choose between an absolute fade, which is QLab's default, and a relative fade. A Fade cue can also be used to pan an audio cue among any pair or group of outputs.
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Frequently asked questions
Audio cues allow you to play sound files with precise control over timing, levels, and routing. Audio cues must have a file target, which is a sound file on your computer, and an audio output patch, which connects QLab to a sound output destination.
You can set the start and end times by typing values into the start time and end time text fields. Alternatively, you can click on the waveform view, preview the cue, pause it, and then use the keyboard shortcut ⇧I to set the start time or ⇧O to set the end time.
To create a realistic sound design, such as a "doppler effect" of a police siren passing by, you can use audio panning to move an audio cue from the left channel to the right within QLab 3.
You can adjust the volume of an audio cue by adjusting the volume knob or slider. Click on the knob or slider and drag your mouse up or down to increase or decrease the volume. The knobs and sliders are colour-coded, with yellow indicating "live" and grey indicating "dead".
By default, a Sound Cue loops once. To loop the sound a finite number of times, select the "Loop #" button and enter the desired number. To loop the sound indefinitely, select the "Infinite Loop" button.
