@konrad said:

how do I get your User Actors with the extension .iua4 installed in Isadora so that I can use them?

 This is for an older version of Isadora, but the process is basically identical: https://lucaswilsonspiro.wordpress.com/2017/08/28/isadora-set-global-user-actors-folder/

Hi Woland, how do I get your User Actors with the extension .iua4 installed in Isadora so that I can use them?

Hello all,

Someone asked in a ticket how to work with LTC timecode so I collected a bunch of timecode resources together, which I'm now posting here in case it's helpful to anyone else in future.

Using Incoming LTC/MTC

Isadora can only accept Midi Timecode (MTC) at the moment, but you could use the Pythoner actor and some online Python Libraries to create a system to convert incoming LTC to MTC, or use Pythoner and an online library to output LTC

Alternatively, you could use the free, Mac-only application Lockstep to convert incoming LTC to MTC so that Isadora can use it.

1. Download Lockstep: https://figure53.github.io/studio/
2. Start your LTC source
3. In Lockstep, select your LTC input and MTC Output
4. In Isadora, go to Communications > MIDI Setup then select "Lockstep" for one of the input ports
5. In Isadora, the MTC Reader actor should then be outputting timecode.

Downloads

• Here are the timecode User Actors I have on my main computer: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/otkgwe1ur6wqadak1zz0q/APpJvU-nPyiFg0_g199WbpQ?rlkey=cs1l8ym3pkea3a6dpi5nkfo4l&st=x2q3rblv&dl=0
• There are some timecode-related User Actors on the TroikaTronix Add-Ons Page which you may find helpful:
  • https://troikatronix.com/add-ons/dx-timecode-tools/
  • https://troikatronix.com/add-ons/percentage-to-timecode-user-actor-example-file/
  • https://troikatronix.com/add-ons/srt-subtitle-player/
  • https://troikatronix.com/add-ons/timertool/

Tips

• There's timecode info in the Isadora 3 Release Notes if you use Cmd/Ctrl+F to search for the heading "New Feature: MIDI Timecode Support". 
  • This includes handy tips like shortcuts for typing timecode values:
    • When entering MTC values commas (,) or semicolons (;) can be used as placeholders for "00" (just like AfterEffects!):
      
      • 30;0 = 00:00:30:00 
      • ,1,30, = 00:01:30:00 
      • 1,1,30,0 = 01:01:30:00 
      • 30;15 = 00:00:30:15 
      • 2,45,7 = 00:02:45:07 
      • 2,,0 = 00:02:00:00 
      • 2;;15 = 00:02:00:15
    • Add a forward slash to specify framerate: 
      • 30,0/3 = 00:00:30:00/30
      • 45,0/6 = 00:00:45:00/60
• This forum thread is useful: https://community.troikatronix.com/topic/6399/answered-using-a-list-of-timecodes-to-trigger-events-in-this-case-lights-through-midi
• You can put "MTC" or "Timecode" into the actor search at the top left of the program to see a list of the actors that have "MTC" or "Timecode" in their name.
  • 
• You can learn more about an MTC/timecode actor (or any actor) by right-clicking it and selecting the top option, "Show Actor Help in Browser", from the resulting menu.
  • 
• By default, Movie Player actors use percentages, but you can switch a Movie Player actor to timecode by right-clicking it and selecting "Use Timecode" from the resulting menu.
  • 
• The Control Panel has a Timecode control that can either be connected to inputs to set specific timecodes, or connected to outputs and used to monitor incoming timecode.
  • Gif: https://jmp.sh/WGNqTNsJ
  • 
• Isadora's timecode values can have either a specific timecode rate (e.g., 01:02:03:04/24 = 24 fps, 01:02:03:04/29.97 = 29.97 fps,) or can have a special timecode rate that means "use the default timecode rate for the current show." This special default rate will be displayed as DEF (e.g., 01:02:03:04/DEF) to clearly indicate the use of the default rate. This default rate can be set at the bottom right of the main application window. To the left of the popup menu where you can set the default timecode rate for your Isadora file, there's a timecode display that will show what Isadora is receiving in terms of MTC. 
  • Gif: https://jmp.sh/r9jC1JBF
  • 
• Word of advice, NEVER use a Timecode Comparator actor set to 'eq' (equals), always use "ge" (greater than or equal to) or 'le' (less than or equal to). 
  • For triggering something from timecode that is counting down, use 'le' (less than or equal to).  
  • 'ge' will trigger as soon as a value is equal to or greater than the timecode value you're looking for, and will therefore do what you want it to. 
  • Values generally move too fast or in such small increments that the exact match to trigger on 'eq' is not going to happen.
  • 

Best wishes,

Woland 

@dusx

OK, I will do so. 

Thanks

@dusx

In which version is this new? I can't find it. Same for the Add-Ons.

@trevor

You can setup a 'Previous Scene' Go Trigger in the Edit Go Triggers dialog (found under the scenes menu).

Select the direction as 'Previous Scene' and then setup your Keyboard/MIDI or HID control.

@thomas-parb said:

OSC Router is absolutely unstable, maybe someone knows a better alternative

 Have you tried the 'newer' OSC Address Listener? If that doesn't help (I am un sure if the under laying OSC system is identical to the rest of Isadora's implementation).

As an alternative, you could use Pythoner to receive your OSC values (if you have Isadora 4). Pythoner can use any pf the available python OSC modules, so likely one will work for you, and if Tangent Ripples OSC implementation really is non standard, a UDP interface what work directly with what Tangent is sending could be coded.

@elena

Please open a support ticket and share one of your captured videos with us so we can see what's happening.

This shouldn't be happening if your system is able to handle the Project and Capture at once, but depending on how it is running we may be able to optimize your configuration.

@reload2024 said:

Can anyone out there describe how they get a good fade?

 How equally oriented are your projectors? If you have one on more of an angle than the other, you will have less light available to you on the edge with a nearer surface, since you will be using less of the available pixels to match up to the other projectors edge/blend. So, for the smoothest possible blend its important to get the projectors as physically matched up as possible before getting into the digital blending.

@nic

I have replied to your support ticket, where I have asked some additional questions so that I can help you get things working asap.

However, I thought I would add here a quick option for getting output to display in a quad setup.

Using the Blend Maker, use the settings as shown. Creating a basic 2x2 layout with zero blend/overlap.

The above requires that Display 3 is a 4k (3840 x 2160) display, and will expect the video coming to this output to be in this format all ready.
So in your case we likely need to chop and matte your content into the correct format (please reply to support ticket).