NextPreviousHomePause Markers Request

kugo | 6 years ago | 2 comments | 1,146 views

Is it possible to add a feature so users can place a PAUSE marker/s anywhere on timeline?
Not necessarily a key frame but ability to add "control marker/s" at any place on the timeline - as part of the the show file to allow show file to play to a desire point/s on timeline and wait "hold" for command to play again.

E.g. A lower third graphic animates on screen and all objects rests still at 2 seconds. Marker on timeline is placed on that point on timeline as well defined by user - while any procedural animations continue (particles, glares, textures etc.) then when operator is ready to fly the graphic off they hit a keyboard shortcut (preferably the Space Bar - as it is common with video players and NLE's) and the timeline continues to play from this point as the graphic continue through the timeline and flys off screen.

By the way, what is the keyboard shortcut for toggling PLAY/PAUSE at the moment? I see Control + P toggles the procedural animations but not the actual timeline. Where F4 plays the show from beginning though I don't see it possible to toggle play/pause for the timeline. ESC stops but no shortcut to resume where it was stopped.

Please add Space Bar shortcut for PLAY/PAUSE toggle function as well as /P switch command for external control. I think these are important control features to have for live production and the marker point/s as mentioned above would be absolutely wonderful to have for lower thirds, virtual studio pre-defined camera moves, full screen graphic transitions etc. giving more control for live situations where not everything is timed perfectly to the exact second.

Thanks!!




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Thank you for your request!

For realtime performances I play the show full screen on a 2nd monitor and use the tool window on the 1st. With the PLAY button I can start, hold and continue the show.

To render the show full screen, choose SETTINGS > BROWSER MODE to remove the browser buttons and SETTINGS > MOVE MENU to remove the menu items.

The spacebar is problematic when a textbox has the input focus. F4 does the same as the PLAY button. It only restarts the show from the beginning if it's finished or almost finished.

michiel, 6 years ago


Thank you for the suggestions Michiel, this is how I also operate it at the moment. It would still be great to have a PLAY/PAUSE toggle shortcut because it's not always easy to grab the mouse (if it got bumped away) and move it to the play button when things are hectic, it's a one man operation and everything is about timing to make a professional result. I realize it's possible to accomplish this with a mouse but keyboard shortcut PLAY/PAUSE toggle would make a huge difference and the control a step better.

The Space Bar would be best for PLAY/PAUSE and would only pose a problem if you click in the tool window and the text field in which case you are not focused on the tool window for playing shows. The tool window is only for editing/creating shows and there the Space Bar would be used for text field. Space Bar can have dual purpose, so many programs work this way. Actually, when you launch a show to begin playing it doesn't highlight a text field by default unless you click there first. Anyway you are the developer :) if I lost that argument can you make the ESC key do this toggle control instead? Or maybe an unused Function key?

A shell command would also take it a little further to allow external control possibly with JustMacros and Xkeys or by other means.

The other idea (which this post was titled) was to have predefined PAUSE MARKER which would allow for more control without having to control with the mouse. It would simply allow timeline to play to a predefined marker/s, PAUSE and wait for PLAY command. Again I understand this can be done manually but when you have multiple things going on in a live production environment, you need as much "automation" you can get. This would help keep mistakes from happening especially not having a PAUSE shortcut or command and having to fiddle with mouse under pressure of live production.

Sometimes it's the small improvements that make a huge difference especially with basic PLAY/PAUSE controls.
So those are my suggestions and requests I hope they are worthy enough if/when you have the time to implement.

kugo, 6 years ago

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