Syncing scene changes to MIDI timecode (MTC)

[Terry Payman]

I've got a scarily big gig in August where I plan to be using Magic on three PCs in parallel. That's what the client wanted, independent systems.

Each system has an input from a camera, pointing at one of three musicians, generating outline, effects and trails using Magic.

The three outputs will be composited on top of background images by a VJ, and displayed on the LED screens behind and around the stage. There will be a different "look" for each song.

I have two current challenges, both outside my knowledge.

1) Controlling the machines in parallel.
If I have a single MIDI control surface with USB output how do I send the signal to the three PC's USB inputs?

2) Syncing Magic scene changes to MIDI timecode (MTC) from the stage, so that the "look" changes automatically to suit the performers' song choice.

Any ideas/comments?
I could specify an additional PC . At the moment they're saying "just tell us exactly what you would like".

[Magic]

1) Controlling the machines in parallel.

A possible hardware solution would be something like this: http://www.glab.com.pl/index.php/en/pro ... litter-m3s. But then you would also need a few USB-to-MIDI dongles, something like: https://www.amazon.com/SANOXY-Cable-Con ... B0017H4EBG

There might also be a software solution (perhaps using OSC), but if your budget allows it, the hardware is probably more reliable.

2) Syncing Magic scene changes to MIDI timecode (MTC)

Since you can't do this directly in Magic, you might be able to use a DAW (such as Ableton) where you can setup a timeline with a MIDI track. The current time could be synched to the incoming timecode, and the MIDI track could send out MIDI events at various points on the timeline to trigger the Magic scene changes.

[Terry Payman]

Many thanks Eric.
Think I've seen it somewhere on the forum, but how do I get the MIDI out of the DAW into Magic if they're on the same Windows PC ?

[Magic]

Do you mean http://www.nerds.de/en/loopbe1.html?

[Terry Payman]

YES!
Very many thanks Eric.