Author Topic: Android Cue App  (Read 4502 times)

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Michelle R. Wood

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Android Cue App
« on: Oct 15, 2017, 10:20 pm »
Does anyone have any suggestions for an Android app for cues (aka a non-Apple Qlab)? Reddit recommended something called LIVE Cues (http://www.livecues.net/live-cues-android-tablet/) but I have no experience with it. I personally use MultiPlay a lot on my Windows machine to run shows, but the theatre is considering purchase of a tablet to aid in running sound. Anyone have thoughts/suggestions/horror stories to share?
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KMC

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Re: Android Cue App
« Reply #1 on: Oct 16, 2017, 08:19 am »
What types of devices are you needing the show controller to trigger and what functions are you intending the alternative system to perform (e.g. audio playback, timecode distribution, etc...)? 

I had a quick read over the live cues site and their documentation is vague to non-existent.  My biggest question that is not clear from the admittedly small amount of research I did is what is the remote app driving (or is it not a remote app, and the phone/tablet app is a stand-alone product)?  The QLAB app is not really doing much other than connecting back to your QLAB rig and acting as a really fancy remote control.

Have you tried contacting them through the form on their website?

Typically you get what you pay for,  and at $20 I wouldn't expect much.  That said, it's not a terrible loss if you buy it and it's a dud.  A full QLAB license I think is running close to $1,000 retail these days, so looking towards a $20 solution to act as a replacement is not going to deliver the same quality product.

If you can give me a bit more information I'll be happy to think on it a bit further and recommend something.
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Michelle R. Wood

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Re: Android Cue App
« Reply #2 on: Oct 16, 2017, 09:52 am »
Thanks for the quick reply KMC. In the past my understanding is that this group (a ninprofit children's theatre, so small budget) has used a board member's tablet or phone, plugged it into the sound board, and played music files through the music player. Said member is leaving so they want to purchase a tablet owned by the group. I would like to prod them out to music players and into cues management but the only thing we're really able to control that way is the sound board (no intelligent lights, moveable stages, etc). I'll have to go check what type of board it is.
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KMC

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Re: Android Cue App
« Reply #3 on: Oct 16, 2017, 11:10 am »
Thanks for the quick reply KMC. In the past my understanding is that this group (a ninprofit children's theatre, so small budget) has used a board member's tablet or phone, plugged it into the sound board, and played music files through the music player. Said member is leaving so they want to purchase a tablet owned by the group. I would like to prod them out to music players and into cues management but the only thing we're really able to control that way is the sound board (no intelligent lights, moveable stages, etc). I'll have to go check what type of board it is.

My assumption, based on the little documentation that is available, is that this Android app is strictly audio or video file playback and does not have control elements associated with it.  For the stated purpose in your post, my assumption is that it will work (should be verified prior to purchase, if the $ is a concern).

If the theatre is planning to buy a tablet anyway, I would suggest that they take a slightly different path.  If the performance demands are not immense (e.g. large video file playback with complex mapping) then a mac mini can support QLAB for most show uses (and we have successfully designed and integrated small show control systems with this structure).  A mac mini is not going to be materially more expensive than a good tablet, so that cost is a wash.  The QLAB license will be a hit up front if you do an outright purchase.  If the funds aren't available to purchase a license outright up front, I think Figure 53 has a rent or rent-to-own option.  Long term, this will give the group far more functionality and a major upgrade over the entry level solution now being considered.
Get action. Do things; be sane; don’t fritter away your time; create, act, take a place wherever you are and be somebody; get action. -T. Roosevelt

Michelle R. Wood

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Re: Android Cue App
« Reply #4 on: Oct 16, 2017, 09:49 pm »
Thanks for the recommendations KCS: good information for me to consider.
"Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration." -- Thomas Edison (Harper's Magazine, 1932)