Quick Key idea for hybrid atmos mixing

[ryandcole]

Long time listener, first time caller,
We are mixing in Atmos in a hybrid (Neve Console/Icon) mode and running into a bit of an issue that comes from the Dolby RMU and that we are running the FX rig in Satelite. Because of this every time that the FX session comes offline the RMU blows away the Atmos panning automation on the recorder. I have a theoretical solution but have no idea if it is possible.

Is there a way to use quick keys, Automator, apple script, etc. to get aux tracks on a recorder machine (which is the admin in Satelite mode) to switch from 'touch' to 'read' mode every time the FX machine is taken offline, and then switch it back when it is put back online?

Another theoretical solution would be for a mode Pro Tools to only record automation when tracks are being punched on the recorder. This is a feature on the Neve and Harrison consoles but not in pro tools as far as I know.

Anyway, I'm sure these are all hoop dreams but if anyone sees a possible solution I'd love to hear it!

[Oliver M]

Is there a way to use quick keys, Automator, apple script, etc. to get aux tracks on a recorder machine (which is the admin in Satelite mode) to switch from 'touch' to 'read' mode every time the FX machine is taken offline, and then switch it back when it is put back online?

Only if your track names stay the same, in every session which is unlikely?!
I have not even checked but accessing tracks via AppleScript is hard enough, without knowing their names its impossible as track IDs change with the number of tracks you have in a session.
If you always work with the same session template and do not change the track names it may be possible with AppleScript. I do not see any chances with QuicKeys and Automator is only powerful via AppleScript but slower.

[ryandcole]

The tracks are auxes and only carrying the atmos plugin and do in fact have the exact same name for every session so that wouldn't be an issue there. But you're saying there might be a way to switch their mode when a Satelite machine is taken offline? Any help is great appreciated. Thanks!

[Oliver M]

But you're saying there might be a way to switch their mode when a Satelite machine is taken offline? Any help is great appreciated. Thanks!

It depends. Is there any indication in order to tell that the Satelite machine has been taken offline? A greyed out menu or the like? I am not using Satellite.
But I can give you another example, when there is no track selected in PT, the menu item "Export Selected Tracks as New Session" (File/Export/Selected Tracks as New Session...) is greyed out.
What if the Sat machine is offline?

[ryandcole]

There is an indication that it's taken itself offline. You can see the box go from green to black.

3029

3030

But there isn't anything in the menu that is greyed out.

[Shan]

Is there a way to use quick keys, Automator, apple script, etc. to get aux tracks on a recorder machine (which is the admin in Satelite mode) to switch from 'touch' to 'read' mode every time the FX machine is taken offline, and then switch it back when it is put back online?

I know this can be done on the PC platform, unfortunately I'm not familiar with any of the Mac scripting languages. Since their foundations are all the same, you'll have to use a conditional statement(if, else) in your script.

Shane

[ryandcole]

Ok, cool. Any tips on scripting for Pro Tools? I'm a complete novice at this. Thanks!

[Oliver M]

I know this can be done on the PC platform, unfortunately I'm not familiar with any of the Mac scripting languages. Since their foundations are all the same, you'll have to use a conditional statement(if, else) in your script.

Shane

If/else/ would work if AppleScript would know about the current state of the "box" entry. Turning it on and off is no problem but AppleScript needs to know when its on and when its off.
Take the "Count Off" option in the MIDI Control box as an example, I can turn it on and off via AppleScript but the problem is the same, its current state is unknown. I suspect the Satellite option to work the same.
I'll have to dig deeper into this but can't make any promises.

[Shan]

If/else/ would work if AppleScript would know about the current state of the "box" entry. Turning it on and off is no problem but AppleScript needs to know when its on and when its off.
Take the "Count Off" option in the MIDI Control box as an example, I can turn it on and off via AppleScript but the problem is the same, its current state is unknown. I suspect the Satellite option to work the same.
I'll have to dig deeper into this but can't make any promises.

There are a few potential different approaches that could be used for a solution then. The easiest and quickest would probably be to have the PT Operator determine the state instead of the script, which would span this into two shortcut keys or menu commands etc. A quick whiteboard solution in text form:


If the FX button is green/enabled, the PT Operator can hit key X which will disable the FX button and switch the aux tracks to read.
If the FX button is black/disabled, the PT Operator can hit key Y which will enable the FX button and switch the aux tracks to touch.


The above is just quickly generalized, but you get the idea. The script would have to be custom to their specific layout if x/y coordinates are being used as a solution of course. There are other solutions, but they would be a bit more involved. Hopefully that stirs up a few more creative ideas/solutions. :-)

Shane

[ryandcole]

Yeah, that makes sense. I'm more than happy to set the initial state but after that we want it to be automated, if at all possible, so that it triggers the events when the fx come on and offline. This would take the human error out of it. Right nows we have a button that the mixer presses when he goes offline that changes the state of the automation mode, but if for some reason he forgets then it wipes out all of his automation. This isn't so much a Pro Tools issue as it is an Atmos issue and just one we need to be careful about. We're just trying to idiot proof it as much as possible but I can't seem to be able to figure out how to have applescript talk to pro tools. Thanks again for everyone's help!

[Oliver M]

I can't seem to be able to figure out how to have applescript talk to pro tools.

You need to use GUI scripting. Pro Tools is not really scriptable but via GUI scripting only.

Some info from macosxautomation.com (http://www.macosxautomation.com/applescript/uiscripting/)

[Oliver M]

Take the "Count Off" option in the MIDI Control box as an example, I can turn it on and off via AppleScript but the problem is the same, its current state is unknown.

I stand corrected, checking current state is possible, at least for the example "Count Off" button in the MIDI Control box.

[Oliver M]

I stand corrected, checking current state is possible, at least for the example "Count Off" button in the MIDI Control box.

The original idea was to let the script decide and check if the Satellite system is on- or offline, right? In order to gather this info for a script you would need to trigger the script every few seconds, minutes, whatever time frame, just to check whether Satellite is on- or offline. That will not make much sense nor will it do good for the CPU. ;-)

Like Shane suggested, it is much better to have the PT operator (the Pro Tools user) determine the state. The script will -once fired up by the operator- do the right things depending on the current state of the FX button.

Thats the current state of where I am.

Comments?

[Shan]

The original idea was to let the script decide and check if the Satellite system is on- or offline, right? In order to gather this info for a script you would need to trigger the script every few seconds, minutes, whatever time frame, just to check whether Satellite is on- or offline. That will not make much sense nor will it do good for the CPU. ;-)

If you're able to check the current state, like the Count Off button you mentioned earlier, then you should be able to use the If and If Else conditional statements in AppleScript. I don't know the AppleScript syntax, but they're all C based and pretty much the same. In plain english pseudo code, it would be something like this:

set var to not var (*Assigns your variable to its opposite to create a toggle*)

if var
--Enable FX button
--Switch desired Aux tracks to read
else
--Disable FX button
--Switch desired Aux tracks to touch
end

The above would then be assigned to a shortcut key, UI widget, or menu command and behave like a toggle.

Like Shane suggested, it is much better to have the PT operator (the Pro Tools user) determine the state. The script will -once fired up by the operator- do the right things depending on the current state of the FX button.

Thats the current state of where I am.

Comments?

Having the PT user determine the state would certainly make it easier to create a script and in less time to do so. It would still achieve the same thing, just in a different way. :-)

Shane

[Oliver M]

ryandcole,

you need to determine the exact name of the FX button and its group in the Pro Tools user interface in order to access it via AppleScript.
Best way to find out is UI Browser (http://pfiddlesoft.com/uibrowser/).

Example, the “Count off” button in the MIDI Control Window of the Edit Window is called button "Count in toggle" and belongs to group "MIDI Control Cluster”.

[joachim]

Best way to find out is UI Browser (http://pfiddlesoft.com/uibrowser/).


Do you know of a similar program for windows ?

Edit :
Maybe "Accessible Event Watcher" , http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dd317979%28v=vs.85%29.aspx ?

[Oliver M]

Do you know of a similar program for windows ?



Nope, sorry but I am sure Shane does.

[Shan]

Do you know of a similar program for windows ?

AutoHotkey, which you already use. :-) Use the included utility or any of it's various WinGet commands.

Shane

[joachim]

I cannot reproduce Olivers example, "Count off", with AHK (ControlGetText, MouseGetPos, ...) , too complicated (and too un-explained for me in the Help).
Just get : 0x10ceo , DigiMDIWindClass1. That is not the individual control/button name, the same appears for every control/button in the edit window top row.

[Shan]

I cannot reproduce Olivers example, "Count off", with AHK (ControlGetText, MouseGetPos, ...) , too complicated (and too un-explained for me in the Help).
Just get : 0x10ceo , DigiMDIWindClass1. That is not the individual control/button name, the same appears for every control/button in the edit window top row.

Correct. OS X is different under the hood than Windows when it comes to strings(text, labels, etc). Unfortunately, control labels got killed off in PT 11. You'll have to use other methods and approaches.

Shane

[Oliver M]

set var to not var (*Assigns your variable to its opposite to create a toggle*)

if var
--Enable FX button
--Switch desired Aux tracks to read
else
--Disable FX button
--Switch desired Aux tracks to touch
end



The syntax on Mac for AppleScript would look a little different but its almost like that. You gotta add a few tell commands before the "if" statement etc.