I am a laptop down for an event on Wednesday. I usually run sound from one laptop and lighting from the second. One laptop has been dropped and broken a hinge! I have installed ShowXpress on the same laptop as the sound (a mixture of Mixxx and SCS), and have an Akai APC midi controller configured for the lighting. The sound runs out via USB into a Yamaha MG20XU mixer. I am going to struggle to get everything together to test it before Wednesday, so wonder if the Midi controller will continue to work normally if ShowXpress is not the active window in Win 10? Will it pull ShowXpresss into the foreground?
I have an alternative of taking my full size ETC lighting desk, but would prefer to keep it simple and light if possible.
Thanks in anticipation.
Does ShowXpress need to be in the foreground? [done]
Re: Does ShowXpress need to be in the foreground?
Yes, our software can handle the midi messages and run the lighting scenes by staying minimized in the OS task bar.
The Lighting Controller
Re: Does ShowXpress need to be in the foreground? [done]
Good news.... Thankyou. Will report back after Wednesday if I have any difficulties.
Re: Does ShowXpress need to be in the foreground? [done]
As promised an update: All worked well for about an hour and then the Akai stopped responding or controlling the software. At short while later the USB connected Hercules controller (also running MIDI) stopped functioning. I was running ShowExpress on the laptop screen and had extended the desktop to a second screen on which I was running Mixxx. I finished the event using a mouse but it's a little annoying as I had to put all the tracks in AutoDJ on Mixxx as unable to load things to the decks and run them using the Hercules.
I suspect the two MIDI controllers were causing the issue, but can't be sure. Before shutting it all down I rebooted the laptop and restated both applications and both devices came on-line.
When it was working, neither application became inactive when running across the dual screens.
So for the next event on Christmas Day afternoon I either have to get the other laptop repaired or take in the lighting desk. I will drag it out over the next day or so and set it up for the lighting configuration I will take in. I think I last used it with a full in-house rig and some specials in a large theatre.
I suspect the two MIDI controllers were causing the issue, but can't be sure. Before shutting it all down I rebooted the laptop and restated both applications and both devices came on-line.
When it was working, neither application became inactive when running across the dual screens.
So for the next event on Christmas Day afternoon I either have to get the other laptop repaired or take in the lighting desk. I will drag it out over the next day or so and set it up for the lighting configuration I will take in. I think I last used it with a full in-house rig and some specials in a large theatre.
Re: Does ShowXpress need to be in the foreground? [done]
Thank you for the report, and sorry for this problem.
We also think that the USB load on your computer may be too high.
You can check how your USB devices are connected in the "Device Manager" to make sure they are properly distributed across the USB controllers.
We also think that the USB load on your computer may be too high.
You can check how your USB devices are connected in the "Device Manager" to make sure they are properly distributed across the USB controllers.
The Lighting Controller
Re: Does ShowXpress need to be in the foreground? [done]
I will set it up again here and look at the USB issue but not sure if it's solvable. Unfortunately the laptop has a single USB-A that the mixer has to be attached to as the Yamaha Steinberg USB Driver demands a unique port. There are two USB C ports but one of those is the charge port and the laptop will not run for the duration on battery. Both the Akai and the Hercules come with USB-A to USB-B leads (B at the device end) so I was using a USB-C to 4 x USB-A passive hub to connect everything other than the Yamaha. It may be that I need to buy a connector allowing me to use the USB charge port for comms even when charging.