Scene controlling lighting

[Peter Fay]

We have recently purchased an NDI PTZ for our church services.
It is now great to be able to control camera position (using browser and CGI) on selecting OBS scene.

Got me thinking ...

It would be great to have lighting similarly selected
eg
Selecting "Lecturn scene" would turn on Lecturn spotlight (while also selecting PTZ camera position and microphone for lecturn. The lighting control would likely be on the LAN network

Sure someone else will have thought of this and have a solution but haven't found anything yet ...

Any pointers appreciated ...

TIA

 

[Peter Fay]

OK think I've discovered a way of doing this - at least in theory.
DMX - USB interface (or DMX-ethernet) connection to PC
Daisy chained DMX "PAR LED cans"
QLC+ software on PC

QLC has a web interface such that DMX device can be set by JavaScript.

Within OBS add browser source with appropriate JavaScript.

All in theory currently ...
Has anyone tried such a setup?

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

Just curious which camera? Using browser is one way, and sometimes only way with low-end devices for camera control. However, many cameras have their own camera control app, or there is an OBS PTZ plug-in on this site (couple of them actually, PTZOptics own, and some others, like https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/ptz-controls.143676/.. Does your camera supports VISCA over IP. You may want to look into that as that will be lower resources demands (especially RAM) vs using a browser. And save screen space for more important things during a service
The nice part of a plugin vs browser would be potential better automation of scene change, camera preset movement, and lighting all in one

And your research points in the right direction. What you are looking for is Tally light sort of controls
If you have scenes for the different locations, then you could use a number of different plugins that execute a command-line (batch file/script). You don't need a browser source (though that is one way you could do it, but I wouldn't as lower resource options with plugins for executing various script types)
- You could create a Source group that acts to toggle the light(s) and put that group in all relevant scenes (via a plugin to have script execution upon selection). You could have Pulpit, Lectern, Altar front, Alter-back -On, then -Off. The challenge in ours (and I suspect many Sanctuary's) is getting Ethernet wiring to a good lighting location.
So things to consider
- Ceiling are usually easier to get to, but won't look as good (eye shadows, etc)
- lower mounting tends to be better, being careful of eye glass reflection angles, but then you may be looking at the pews and getting wiring there gets trickier. So maybe a WiFi connected/controlled light? Now that I think about it, you could go the smart bulb routine?
- you could also use something like StreamDeck or similar to be a control interface for remotely controllable lighting?

Our pews have some low lumens exit aisle type row lighting, which may be 12V vs 120V AC... not sure. Fortunately, our NDI camera has fairly decent low-light capture such that even Christmas Eve service, Silent Night with most lights off still looked fine on camera... however, a little spot lighting would be nice. Further, our Pulpit and Lecterns actually have lights built into them (I think powered by sound system?? but not sure about that but not electrical cords in the stands, so not sure how they'd be AC powered???) but readers/cantors don't remember to turn the lights on nor off. So, yes to remote control if practical. I'm inclined, when I have the spare time (chuckle), to get some real small LED spot lights that I can tap into row lighting in the pews (and simply leave them on the whole service.. no need to turn off typically, and have a switch to manually turn off at light if required... but that's just our environment)
anyway - food for thought

 

[Peter Fay]

Thanks.
Didn' make it clear that camera positioning by scene is already sorted using PTZOptics NDI camera and OBS NDI plugin.
All working great (apart from OBS crashing on exit with NDI plugin)

It was this that got me thinking about the lights too.
Communion table and lecturn are currently not well lit as far as video is concerned. We also use overhead projector for hymn words etc.
It would be good to have better lighting for readings, prayers, sermon etc while being able to dim front lights for hymns.
Other requirement is for one-man V operation so light control via OBS scene would be ideal.
I think that web JavaScript control of PC DMZ controller (QLC+) could do this.

(We don't have any DMX gear yet - lighting currently controlled by standard old wall switches)

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

I have the Panasonic NDI PTZ camera. I like using their VirtualUSB driver and not having to deal with NDI in OBS [driver takes NDI input and coverts it to look like locally attached USB device). Yes, things get a little messier when dealing with NewTek's NDI s/w, a camera vendor (PTZOptics in this case), a 3rd party or ?? plugin of OBS... But PTZOptics support should be able to help out with which drivers, firmware, etc to work cleanly. Crashing upon exit shouldn't' happen, and not something I'd let be

Are you using the PTZOptics OBS plugin?

As for lighting, if the camera's optics are decent (low light capture capability), then it shouldn't take much extra light.
In our parish, suggesting a projector would likely result in pitchforks and a party out to tar and feather someone. ;^) ... anyway

during music, do you have a cantor? or what/where will camera be focused?
For testing lighting, you might want to have someone stand at the various points (communion table, lectern, etc) and with variable light sources see how much light you need. Maybe just a little CRI95+ LED spot light? or do you need lots of lumens?
I mention CRI as I recently (2 years ago) learned all about cheap LED light sources and color accuracy
If projecting onto back wall, would it be possible to have some small spot lights, pointed at an angle to the sides so illuminating desired location but not back wall?

There is fancy automated controls. Or in the KISS approach, simply wire all the desired lights to a light switch/control panel where you run OBS. If ok to have more lighting, except during Hymns, then a single power line powering lights, and a single light switch/dimmer may suffice? I mean, sure, if you have time, money and physical layout that automating and individually controlling spot and other lighting sounds great.... but ask yourself this... is that fancy stuff what community asking for? or simply being able to see person on camera a little better. I'm just asking as it is easy to chase the tech, when it really isn't required. just food for thought, as I don't know your situation/congregation

Oh, and rather than DMX, etc. you could look into adding remote controllability to existing light switches themselves

 

[Peter Fay]

Yeah OBS crashing on exit is not a desirable situation and is certainly related to OBS NDI plugin (uninstall plugin and OBS no longer crashes). I have posted about this here. Don't really know how to interpret crash logs and no guidance on how to resolve this.
Fortunately OBS seems to function normally in every respect.

Yes the camera is fairly good in low light but minister is backed by a treasured 5 panel stained glass window and church is a signed up "eco church" so not the brightest of lighting.

Ours is a Presbyterian church but not opposed to using videos during service.
Covid19 has forced our hand into using an overhead projector for hymn s rather than hymnbooks.
No cantor but good choir. For streaming we use. Window capture of PowerPoint hymn words during hymns. These are the same PowerPoint slides as we project onto the wall. (Initially we started by pointing camera at the projected words)

Actually easier bureaucracally to plug a couple of PAR CANS in standard sockets and control by DMX controller on PC (as any rewiring eg fitting remote dimmers) would require a qualified electrician. Our simple requirements are to light the stage for speakers and to dim same lights during hymns although same DMXPar Cans could do a lot more.

The church has been used for other events (eg concerts during local festivals)

Church is actually wired for heavy 15A conventional theatre lights with high voltage cables going to multiple high level sockets. Although installed only 20y ago during major refurbishment, this lighting facility has not been used for last 5 or more years. It will imminently become illegal under UK law inherited from EU due to energy inefficient lamps.

 

[Peter Fay]

Another relevant point is that there are only 4 people involved in AV team with limited availability.
Managing camera for streaming, managing audio output for PA, induction loop, streaming and telephone delivered service and now adding some limited lighting control are all responsibility of AV desk operator.
Aim is to automate as much as feasible so all AV can be operated by one person not necessarily with high technical expertise.

Incidentally two of the more challenging tasks have been
1. Processing audio so that is not totally screwed up by the limitations of a conventional telephone line not designed for music. The service by telephone is accessed by a small but dependent group of elderly members of the church.
2. Narrowing down source of annoying overhead projector flickering to audio induction loop. Eventually solved by using a wireless HDMI extender rather than the ethernet HDMI extender (to cross to RHS of church.

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

Are you aware of these:

TallyOBS: Push scene changes to WiFi-enabled tally lights

DeckerEgo submitted a new resource: TallyPi: Push scene changes to WiFi-enabled tally lights - A tally light platform that doesn't require remote connections into your OBS instance A network controlled tally light for cameras, intended for control directly from OBS. Rather than having the...

obsproject.com

OBS-Websocket Tally Light α [Deleted]

HewelDesign submitted a new resource: OBS-Websocket Tally Light - OBS-Websocket Tally Light OBS-Websocket-Tally-Light-Alpha-1.1 Features OBS-Websockt plugin Script funtion Digital clock Online offline tally Livestream Viewer (in progress) Download You can Download the various versions...

obsproject.com

 

[Peter Fay]

Now acied: DMX PAR lights fading in or out to set level by OBS by previously stated method using wb page control of QLC+.
I needed to configure the JavaScript (connect and send DMX action ) to fire with body onload event but all seems good now.
Selecting an OBS scene with JavaScript'd webpage in browser input will now fade the lights to the preselected value.
Happy Bunny!

 

[cyclemat]

one idea is from me download
freestyler http://www.freestylerdmx.be/

buy an stream deck

Stream Deck MK.2

Stream Deck gives you 15 fully customizable LCD keys to control your apps and tools. Trigger actions, launch social posts, adjust audio, play sound effects, activate lights, and more. Download plugins, icon packs, thousands of royalty-free tracks plus eff

www.elgato.com

create on the streamdeck an action that change the scene and send via midi plugin on the stream deck the commands to freestyler to change the scene ! you can make the same with the streamdeck app on a mobilphone !