Using Timecode to control Cuelists

You can use Linear Time Code (LTC) or Midi Time Code (MTC) to trigger cues. If you are going to be running Vista in conjunction with a device that generates LTC (aka SMTPE) or MIDI timecode, you can also simulate the timecode so you can get your show running without needing the actual timecode from the other device.

To set up Vista to receive timecode:

  1. Choose the Timecode option from the File menu. Vista displays the timecode properties window:
  2. SY_pref_tcode

  3. Set the Timecode source. The options are Linear Time Code (LTC), MIDI Time Code (MTC) or Vista’s Internal clock
  4. Set the Frame rate from the drop down menu.
  5. Set the Timecode Offset if required. The offset time is added to the incoming timecode. For example if the offset is 01:00:00:00 (1hr) and the incoming timecode is 00:00:10:00 (10 secs) Vista will treat it as though 01:00:10:00 (1hr 10secs) is received.
  6. The Playback Lag compensation field is used to compensate for slow data transmission. If your cues are not running at the expected time you may need to enter a value in this field. For example entering 0.5s will mean that all your cues run half a second earlier than programmed.
  7. The Freewheeling time field is used to cope with dropouts or errors in the timecode coming from an external device. This field sets the number of seconds Vista will allow to pass while it simulates timecode and until it relinquishes control.
  8. Hit the OK button to open the timecode window. If you are using an external timecode source this window will display the timecode being received. If you have set the source to ‘Internal’ the window will also show the internal timecode control buttons:
  9. SY_tcode_intSY_tcode_ext

    This button… does this…
    Arm all Cuelists Sets the Timecode ‘Armed’ preference on all cuelists to ‘On’.
    Settings Opens the Timecode Properties window (see the previous section).
    Controls the internal timecode playback. Rewind to start , Play, Pause and Skip to end buttons.
    Moves the timecode to the time shown on the button. To change the setting, right click on the button and enter a new time in the popup window.
    Opens the ‘Locate to Time’ window where you can enter a time in Hours Minutes, Seconds & Frames.
  10. To close the window, click the ‘X’ symbol in the top right corner.
  • To disable timecode for all cues, choose the Disable option from the Timecode source drop down. This can be useful is you want temporarily to stop timecode from triggering your cuelists.

Using Date and Time to control cuelists

You can set Vista to automatically play cuelists, trigger snapshots and more based on the date and time.

Managing date and time events

You can add, delete, edit duplicate or test date and time events. To do this select the ‘Date and Time events…’ option from the Tools menu. Vista opens the Date and Time Events window:
TL_date_time_1
This window displays a list of all your Date and Time events.

This option… does this…
New Opens the ‘New Date and Time Event’ window where you can set up an event to be triggered based on the date and time.
Delete Deletes the selected event.
Edit Opens the selected event so that you can modify it’s settings.
Duplicate Duplicated the selected event
Test Now Click this button to test the event, no matter what the current time is.
Global Enable You can disable all date and time events by un-checking this box..
Close Closes the window

Setting up a new date and time event

To set up events that will be triggered based on the date and time, choose the ‘Date and Time events …’ option from the Tools menu. Vista opens the Date and Time Events window

This option… does this…
New Opens the ‘New Event’ window where you can set up an event to be triggered based on the date and time.
+ Add Click the + icon to add a new effect type that is synchronised with the other features(s) in this effect.
Delete Deletes the selected event.
Modify Opens the selected event so that you can modify it’s settings.
Duplicate Duplicated the selected event
Checkbox If the checkbox, beside an event, is NOT ticked the event will not be activated.
Global Enable You can disable all date and time events by un-checking this box..

Disabling all date and time events

You can also disable all date and time events by choosing the Disable All Time/Date Events option from the Vista menu. This can be useful is you want temporarily to stop events being triggered.

Creating a New Event

Date / Time events can automatically control playback and other actions. To create a new event:

  1. Choose the New Event… option from the Date/Time Events window. Vista opens the New Event window:
  2. TL_date_time_2

  3. Select the command to insert from the Action column:
  4. This option… does this…
    Play, Back, Pause, Assert, Skip Fwd, Skip Back, Release, Acts on the Cuelist as if you had pressed the corresponding button on the playback controls for that clip. Select the Cuelist from the Target column
    Flash Equivalent to pressing the flash button on a Cuelist’s playback controls. You must also enter either ‘on’ ‘off’ or ‘toggle’ in the Flash enabled box to set the flash button action.
    Inhibit Inhibits (blinds) or un-inhibits the clip. You must also enter either ‘on’ ‘off’ or ‘toggle’ in the Inhibit enabled box to set the flash button action.
    Rate The Rate field is a percentage field and only allows valid input (e.g. numerical % value).
    Release All Releases All active Cuelists. No other options are available when this command is selected.
    Timecode reset Resets the timecode to 00:00:00:00.
    Timecode enable Sets a Cuelist to be activated by Timecode.
    Jump Allows you to Jump to a specific Cue within a Cuelist. You can select a cue from the popup menu in the Cue field.
    Snapshot Loads the snapshot selected in the Target box
  5. Select the Cuelist to be triggered from the target column.
  6. Enter an on or off command or rate setting or cue number, if applicable, in the option field.
  7. Type a label for the Event in Name box.
  8. Set the time of day, to trigger the event, in the Time box. The time is displayed as a 12 hour AM/PM clock.
  9. If you want an event to repeat periodically, check the Repeat box and specify the number of times to repeat and the Interval (in minutes), between repetitions.
  10. Select the days of the week you want the event to run on by ticking the check boxes.
  11. If you want an event to only be activated after a certain date. Tick the Start Date box and specify the date when the event should first be triggered.
  12. If you want an event to stop running after a certain date. Tick the End Date box and specify the date when the event should last be triggered
  13. Tick the Enabled checkbox to activate the event. If this box is not ticked the event will not run.
  14. Click the OK button to save the event.