CMU School of Drama


Sunday, October 18, 2009

What Cue Server and Client

iSquint | Entertainment Lighting News & Review: "Doing some internet research last night, we stumbled upon a new iPhone app called What Cue Client from Hard Edge Software. What Cue Client is an iPhone app that connects with a lighting network and console to relay the current cue, cue description and timing information from the desk to your iPhone."

9 comments:

Brian R. Sekinger said...

As an avid iPhone user, the recent influx of theatre related apps is exciting. Being able to track cues this way seems of great benefits, and I suspect that if the iPhone can retrieve this data, it won't be long before a designer can make changes using the iPhone as a remote device. One can also assume that sound systems could be integrated in the same way. I'm picturing an entire design team sitting in a house during preview with their iPhones out making changes to the show as it's going on, a backstage crew following SFX cues on their phones, and a SM in the booth calling the show off a digital script on their phone.

Calvin said...

I think this is a really great idea. Its a bit of a bummer that it takes so much setup, and you have to buy the software, but if its important to you then it might be worth it. Or if you will be using the software full time, then it can be useful. But it seems like a lot to go through just to know what cue they are in, when you could easily ask the board op or SM what cue you are currently in. It seems like a lot of work to cut out a little conversation.

Robert said...

as a i phone owner i find this app some what cool it would defiantly help when you are trying to tec some thing and you don't have a console right informant of you the only thing is that i wonder if i working with all system i have a strand feeling that it dose not and that means that it has a very limited market in my opinion. i would have loved to have this some times when i have teated things, i would like to see this in action and practice.

Sonia said...

I find this article somewhat amusing. It goes right to that smart ass remark of 'oh, theres an app for the that'. Even though I do no have an iphone, I think that this would be one of the more practical apps, especially for lighting designers. And even though I am not an LD when I do get my iphone I might get this app just for fun

dmxwidget said...

This sounds like a great idea...but now with the new networked based consoles, you can already do this with your laptop...and have a great deal more information at your disposal. This setup seems like a good idea, but the added setup can just be a hassle. The information displayed in the screenshot is very basic. It would be an amazing app if it could get info on which lights are up and at what percentages.

this could be a cheap alternative for use with a legacy ETC product...but thats all I can think of.

MBerger said...

I think this is a fantastic IDEA. The concept behind it is great, but the practicality is not there yet. The additional hardware and setup time involved I am not sure is worth it yet. While all other solutions to the problem do involve some sort of hardware, this one in particular has the most need for new materials. I think that almost every theatre that would be in the position to use this already owns a RVI or monitor that can do the job. While this is not as sleak of a solution, it is definitely going to accomplish the goal.

C. Ammerman said...

While I find the iPhone to be a fun piece of technology, I'm slowly getting tired of how it's becoming almost a standard industry tool. The ability for a phone to function as almost any other minor electronic device is a fun idea, but the fact that people have almost come to expect to be able to do things like look at cue information from their phone is just a little ridiculous. This seems like just another way of pushing a product, that given how most boards seem to be going these days, will rapidly become unnecessary.

Sarah Benedict said...

Although I am not a lighting designer person this sound kind of epic. It seems that in a few years you might not need all that extra set up time if this app travels the usual "apple" increase in productivity curve. Although it does seem excessive only as far as everyone has been getting by without it, all new tools help in the creative process. I hope this improves in the future so that it is less to set up.

Devrie Guerrero said...

I think this is another great app for the iPhone. It can be really usefull. I love that I can find an app for everything. It makes my life so much easier to find everything I need in one area.