Ideas for tally lights?

thatmattrogers

Hi everyone,
I'm looking for DIY solutions to setup tally lights.

I simply want to setup a system where a little light that I attach to a camera comes on once that particular camera is live.

I'm not using professional broadcast equipment that has this feature built in so I'm going to have to hack something together.

Since I'm using isadora to run the cameras it makes sense to control the tally lights as well.

Has anyone tried anything like this, and what method did you use.

My first instinct is at use a raspberry pi nano with an LED attached to it on each camera but I'm open to suggestions. I'm also not entirely sure which communication method will work best.
I'm assuming that MIDI or OSC calls from isadora will be involved somehow but I thought I'd see if anyone else has done this before I start reinventing the wheel.

Thanks in advance everyone.

deflost

@thatmattrogers

hello, we use tally arbiter, it is all inclusive.

r.h.

bonemap

@thatmattrogers

Hi,

I have put together a system that uses wifi microcontrollers like D1 mini. I have not used it for cameras, but for costumes. The microcontrollers get OSC data from Isadora to operate RGB Leds in the costume. The tally system works independently from the OSC through TCP and is accessible through Isadora or a web interface so I can turn on the tally LED of any costume with my phone. Currently I am using this system with the onboard led built into the microcontroller. When configuring the system with multiple costumes and microcontrollers I can turn on the led on any of the boards to know the status of it's connection or visually identify where it is.

Best wishes

Russell

Juriaan

So personally I would use an ESP8266 for this with ArtNet. Basically what you do is get some pixels / make an enclosure (3d printing is great for this, Tinkercad is a free online browser utility that allows you to create your own enclosures. Or just buy a nice one by your local DIY electronics shop / online and modify it.)

After we done that step we need to create the Tally light symbols. Do you just want red? Great! Just put some sanded acrylic in front of it or some LEE Diffuse filters. Do you need letters? Just make your own shapes by cutting it out with a laser / handsaw out of a piece of wood or again make your shape in Tinkercad and 3d print it. (Even if you dont have access to a 3d Printer, you can order the parts online by uploading your 3d model)

Some code that I got a few years ago / modified it.

https://github.com/JuriaanGreg...

mark_m

@thatmattrogers

Hi Matt,

There are several open source programs which use mobile phones as tally lights.

Here's one which we used recently, which we chose 'cause we use a Blackmagic ATEM, but other systems are available.
https://designshift.ca/apps/at...

If you do a web search for "mobile phone tally light" you'll find several options.

HTH

Mark (not 'im)

Juriaan

@mark_m

That is an amazing solution. Thank you for sharing!