Ion Time code

do you know this document? : http://www.etcconnect.com/docs/docs_downloads/manuals/Net3_ShowControl_Gateway_SetupGuide_revD.pdf

to configure it you can also use the software GCE, which is probably installed on your Ion (exit to the Shell and then Maintenance (i think) ).

basically it needs to be connected through networking to your Ion and it needs to get an IP-address that is in the same range (but not identical!) as the console.

does this help as a starting point?

If you are only triggering lights you can use the internal SMPTE clock to run your show and use MIDI to trigger the music. We have not yet used an external SMPTE clock in our applications but know it can be down with relative ease.

http://community.etcconnect.com/forums/p/11137/43877.aspx 

http://community.etcconnect.com/forums/t/4937.aspx

These posts might help you down the right path.  We have found it to be quite simple.  Remember when editing triggers in SMPTE on sec is not 1 it is 30 frames.

Here is a link to the Show Control Guide for the eos family. 

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CEgQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.etcconnect.com%2Fdocs%2Fdocs_downloads%2Fmanuals%2FEos_Family_Show_Control_User_Guide_RevA.pdf&ei=ELNuUuu1B8nOigLq7YDIDg&usg=AFQjCNFUbXFD4vYdhfBKbl5os05V7NmggQ&bvm=bv.55123115,d.cGE

ETC tech services can also help you with a solution and the steps you need to take.  I would call them if you get stuck.

Yes I have seen it before.

When I open the GCE it gives me an error saying "make sure the correct network interface is connected".

All I need to run is lights to the music, i don't have any other devices and my light board is 10ft from the sound source, do I still need to use the gateway?

Thanks a million

i'm not sure about the specs of midi, how long a cable run can be... but show control wise: the only thing that the gateway can do that the Ion can't, is SMPTE. if you want to run either Midi Time Code (MTC) or Midi Show Control (MSC), you wouldn't need the gateway, provided that there is no cabling length issue.

I just got off the phone with etc.  They have some conflicting info from what I have been reading around the net.  The manual says midi is good for 50ft, which i will be well under, but tech support told me I cant hook up directly from my audio device to the Ion though midi.   They also told me I cant hook up the gateway to the ion directly through the ethernet port, but would have to go through an ethernet switcher to network the gateway with the ion.

After research I have a better idea of what needs to happen.

I will be using MTC being that I have a couple hundred cues that will fire during a light show that is only 4 minutes long.  How do i generate that MTC that will talk to the ion telling it when the cues go in the music?

If there is a way to directly hook up the ion through midi it seems like that is the answer, but i'm not sure.

All help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks

without commenting on midi cable length: hook up midi from your audio device (you might need an audio interface that provides midi out) to the midi in of your Ion. go to the shell > I/O and check the numbers for Midi RX and Midi TX (and make sure they are not both the same). start the application, Setup > Show > Show control, make sure that the numbers for ACN MIDI TX and RX are the ones that you saw in the Shell. switch MSC receiving on (MSC Receive Enable). now whenever you fire a cue in the audio device, the Ion will fire the cue with the same number, provided such a cue exists.
but to me this doesn't sound like what you are looking for, because the audio guys only need one cue to do that, which means the Ion would only fire one cue, and then you would have to follow/hang the rest of your cues, which you wanted to avoid.

i think you're looking for Midi Time Code MTC.
switch it on in the same setup page (Midi Time Code Rx Enable). because you need to tell at what moment your cues should fire (rather than just have them syncronized like you do with MSC), you need an additional display. this is called Show Control and can be reached by pressing [Displays]{ShowControl}.

from there i would like you to refer to the Eos Family Show Control User Guide: http://www.etcconnect.com/docs/docs_downloads/manuals/Eos_Family_Show_Control_User_Guide_RevA.pdf

i suggest reading it all, but at least start on page 9 to set it up and then on pages 14-16 the three ways to teach the desk to associate which time with which cue.

Ok Thanks!

I will try configuring everything in this way for MTC.

As far as an audio device for midi out would a laptop running protools work?

short answer: i have no idea.
long answer: i'm a lampy, i have no idea ;)

it's not only a software but also a hardware question.
soft: i have used QLab to output MTC and sound.
hard: i guess whatever has a midi socket. i have (or rather the sound guy has) used a Motu firewire interface.

Uli is correct,  a midi input/output is necessary on your audio playback device, depending on how you configure your show control network.

For simple dance concerts we use the internal SMPTE clock in the Eos and use MSC to trigger QLab.  But you can also use a show control program, like QLab to trigger the Eos either with time code or simple MSC. 

I am not aware of Pro Tools being able to run time code....You can rent QLad pretty cheaply for a day, week or longer.  It is robust, and user friendly but is only available on....Sigh....MAC.  THere are many other show control programs out there i know SFX is PC based for sure.