Graphics

Can an audio value be used to control a "noise meter" parameter such as rotation of the needle?

You could use the COM API or Datalinq to feed XPression the dB level and have Visual Logic move the needle. How you calculate the dB level would depend on what hardware you use.
#XPression

thanks itech, I will start the research. Our audio board might have an output for a digital display of the audio.

#XPression

I've heard of other clients using a standalone sound meter that can output data over an RS232 connection to the datalinq server.. @lesoreilly might remember the model number of the sound meter..
#XPression

I think it was this model that was used http://www.bkprecision.com/products/environmental-testers/735-datalogging-digital-sound-level-meter-with-rs-232-software-and-cable.html

Les
#XPression

Hello,

I would like to do the same thing for when we have phone presenters. Here is an approach I am thinking and I am curious if anyone has done something similar. This would be to show the audio level of a person who is on the phone and we are showing our full screen phone graphic.

For these phone calls, we have people dial in on Skype on a PC. I can make a simple windows app that calculates the audio level of the mic coming in to the PC. It will then update that value to a SQL table every second or half second.

In Xpression, I would datalinq the database row to that text field. Set that datalinq to update every second. Then onSetText or using Visual Logic, update the audio level of the graphic.

Seems this method might have a couple seconds of latency, which might be ok for what we do. Anyone know a way to update the text field faster than datalinq to DB field every second? Are there any performance issues with updating DL this often? Our other fields update every 5 or 10 seconds.
Any other ideas for achieving this look with audio bar and phone graphic?

Mike
#XPression

I would recommend you not use a database for this, but rather use one of the other datalinqs which have much less overhead. If you are going to write a custom windows app for this; I would suggest the ASCII datalinq. You can stream the audio level value over TCP directly into the ASCII datalinq. This can be updated very quickly. It is often used for things like scoreboards that need to show tenths of seconds so updating it a few times a second should not be a problem.
#XPression

Very helpful! That sounds like an ideal scenario that will provide best result. One issue I might face is getting the port opened on these machines. That will likely have to get approved by our network security people.

Any other options that might also work? Either using another datalinq or otherwise?

Mike
#XPression

Second best choice would be to just write it to a text file; however the text file should be local to the machine running the datalinq server, and not accessed via a network drive.
#XPression

@mike, how did your project go? It would be great if you could share how you solved the noise meter integration.
#XPression

Hi there

I had a few things pop up since I started this project so I havent fully flushed it out. So far here is what I have. I built a small application in visual studio application using the NAudio SDK. I made this so it measures the audio going out of the PC that has Skype on it. Then a couple times each second, it sends that value (0-100) to datalinq using TCP. From there I have a hidden text object in a scene that gets this value.

Thats kind of where it ends. I havent been able to use the value in a way that looks cool in a scene. It is not as fluid as I would have liked. After I got this far, a few other projects came up that took priority and I havent picked this back up. But I am able to send the volume level, just havent got an idea for a way to show the value.

Would love to hear any suggestions for how others have used these values.
Thanks for following up!
#XPression

Once the value is being fed to a text object in the scene, you can use visual logic to take the value in the text object and assign it to the height of a quad, or the Z rotation of a needle object. You can apply whatever math formula you need in the visual logic to adjust for the scale of the incoming value.


#XPression

We are working with a local sound company and perhaps have a solution on this one. More details to follow pending a salute once we run this one up the flagpole. Stay tuned.
#XPression

@CamGoudreau. Business politics are getting in the way right now. A local audio company wants to give us the gear for a logo on the Ribbon VU. But, we are on hold. At least the new Xpression is in and cruising so now we can begin dreaming. I will keep you up on any news.
#XPression

Oh, you mean that massive dB meter they put on the jumbotron? Yeah, those things are sick!

It's not just a random prop, man. They've got a legit, super-accurate sound level meter (the real pro gear, not a cheap phone app) set up somewhere strategic, usually near the mic mixer (FOH booth) or sometimes a dedicated spot up in the stands.

That meter is constantly feeding the actual decibel reading-like, real-time SPL data-over a network connection right to the scoreboard's graphics system. They literally wire the dB value to make the needle or the bar graphic move. It's all about getting that visual to fire up the crowd. No faking it, the Chiefs literally broke a world record with a system like that! Pretty cool tech for something that just looks like a giant volume knob.

Alternatively, you can use this tool at no cost. https://noisemeter.co/

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Seize Gill
Pvt.Manager
Enclave Enterprises
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-19-2018 15:08
From: Malcolm Thorpe
Subject: Real time noise meter tied to arena sound.

@CamGoudreau. Business politics are getting in the way right now. A local audio company wants to give us the gear for a logo on the Ribbon VU. But, we are on hold. At least the new Xpression is in and cruising so now we can begin dreaming. I will keep you up on any news.
#XPression