In their very first episode, Bela Beier (Editor-in-Chief, Digital Production Magazine) and Christoph Zapletal (Compositing Artist & Instructor) talk about control surfaces for an artist’s workstation. They are joined by Angry Face founder Mazze Aderhold for an in-depth discussion of new and refurbished grading panels and the upgrades you can apply to a panel. They finish the show by discussing the latest news from IBC 2024.

For all the different ways to listen to this podcast, check out linktr.ee/letsfixitinpod – we have Spotify, Youtube, Libsyn, Apple Podcast and More!

Links mentioned in the show

https://www.angry-face.com/

https://3dconnexion.com/

https://contourdesign.com

https://loupedeck.com/

https://www.tangentwave.co.uk/

https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vantablack

https://electricsheep.tv/

https://www.maxon.net/en/zbrush-for-ipad

The post Let’s Fix it in Pod 01 Control Surfaces with Mazze Aderhold first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Christoph Zapletal.

The Loupedeck Live S is very similar to the Streamdeck from Elgato – fifteen small displays, four “menu” buttons and three rotary encoders are housed in a handy device. The box is about 15 x 11 centimetres in size, 3 centimetres high (with rotary encoders) and weighs about half a pound with the stand. The stand raises the device to an angle of 45 degrees so that it is easily accessible behind the keyboard. It’s available for Windows and Mac, although some plugins and presets only apply to one of the two systems – of course FCP presets don’t make sense under Windows. Oh yes, and if you want to place the device “upright” next to the keyboard, you can of course simply rotate everything by 90° – this should be standard, but it is not the case with all competitors.

Marketplace

There is a marketplace for the Loupedeck, where free and paid extensions for the software are available. On the one hand, there are “presets” that contain (of course always customisable) command sets for various software packages – at the time of going to press, one or more sets for the following tools were included (with their own layouts and presets for the LiveS – other tools from the Loupedeck forge have others): Ableton Live, Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, Audacity, Blender, Cinema 4D, Clip Studio Paint, Cubase, Darktable, DaVinci Resolve, DaVinci Resolve Colour Panel, Excel, Filmora, FreeCommander, Gimp, InDesign, Krita, Luminar, Media Composer, Notion, Nuke, Outlook, Photo Mechanic, Photoshop, PixInsight, Power Director, Powerpoint, Premiere Pro, PTZoptics, Reaper, Slack, StudioOne, Substance 3D Painter, Vegas Pro, ZBush. There are also “plugins” that add various functionalities, e.g. Control and interaction with BirdDogCamControl, ChromeCast, Elgato Control (Lights), GoXLR, IFTTT Webhooks, Libre Hardware Monitor, Microsoft Teams, Nanoleaf Control, OBS Studio, Philips Hue (Bridge), Pixera, Power Toys, Razer Key Light Chroma, Spotify, Streamlabs, Teamspeak3, Twitch, Twitch Studio, VLC media player, VMix, Volume Control, WeatherWidget, WinAudio, Windows Store Applications, WorldClock, Youtube Music Desktop. But: Here the installation is usually a bit more complex – presets are installed with one click. And the Marketplace requires an account..

Software

15 keys doesn’t sound like a lot – but with the software you can extend this as much as you like – because each key can be assigned in two dependencies – once in a “profile” and once in a “workspace”. Profiles are software-specific, workspaces are “complete collections”. And within each version, you can create practically any number of “subpages” – i.e. 15 (or 14 or 9, depending on how you want it) actions and commands each. But going any deeper here would be boring for everyone except those who want to, because every workflow and every key combination can be assigned to every “place” here. The better you know your workflow and the more “muscle memory” you have here, the easier it is to reduce annoying and boring click orgies to one e-button. But you don’t have to do without the previous auto actions – as all keys and all files can be called, you can also call Python / Autohotkey commands or write quick *.bat files for the various tasks. And since the export (click on the three dots and Export next to the application) also works perfectly, nothing stands in the way of a “simplified” team-wide pipeline. And yes, a “Supervisor looking over your shoulder” button or “Video meeting, mute and minimise everything” is trivially simple.

In the centre is the graphically presented Loupedeck, on the right the commands and at the top of the list the selection of the device (yes, you can combine this, if a Live S is not enough for you, you can easily add a Loupedeck CT and control it from a software. “Main profile” refers to the selected area – for example the operating system, the general summary or the various configured software packages. For example, you do not start C4D to change shortcuts there. Instead, there are “workspaces” with which you can create and manage different “overall configurations” – for example, one for modelling, one for animation, one for streaming and so on. Once configured, everything is controlled directly via LiveS – if everything fits, you no longer need to touch the software.

Practice

So much for the possibilities – here is the result of two months of testing and “playing around”: I quickly put together the “default” controls as central tools – the handful of programmes that you need all the time (not just at work), as well as the controls for the music player and the various audio inputs and outputs (microphone and loudspeaker/headphone tests are running in parallel). I used the rotary controls in the system for the volume and in the various software packages for finer inputs – for example in InDesign to move images on the x or y axis by one pixel at a time. For most of the toolsets I use in everyday life, I have loaded available presets and then simply customised them.

This works well for the most part, even if there is a small learning curve at the beginning. And after the test period, it’s just a “workspace” with many sub-profiles – operating system and sub-applications, I haven’t configured the complete suites, at some point there are too many options and you lose the overview. Apropos; a recommendation from me would be to add the commands one by one – otherwise you configure yourself stupidly and forget exactly what it does the next day and don’t use it. I have defined the three coloured buttons (colours can of course be customised in the software) as “areas” – the main profile has the tools, the CG tools at the top right, the various scripts for everyday use in the middle and the “soundboard” at the bottom right for meetings and messing around. Speaking of getting started: setting up is completely painless – simply connect via USB (no power cable required), install the software and off you go. Icon packs and software presets are quickly installed and then you can let off steam.

After an orgy of gifs and icons, everything looks terribly confusing, flashes and flickers and you reset everything and start again from the beginning. After talking to other users, this seems to be the standard – the first attempt at a good layout goes down the drain until you get used to the device.

Pro

Now that we’ve revealed our setup, what’s the cool thing about the Loupedeck? Once you get used to it, you realise how many repetitive tasks you do day after day – and how poorly available many default settings are on our computer and in our tools. These brakes of menus, clicks, commands and inputs are completely eliminated – and even if you like to make everything worse in play child mode at the beginning (never spend 3 seconds on a task if you can automate it in 3 hours!), the time saving is clearly noticeable after the learning phase. The presets from the Marketplace help, especially with non-exotic software packages such as Blender, Premiere, Nuke and Resolve, to have all commands at hand, and if you (like me) are always looking for this one window with this one button because you’re not in a toolset all day, you’ll quickly learn to love the shortcut. Once you have the “basic configuration” up and running, which is very individual for everyone, you will quickly move on to further automation steps – in combination with Autohotkey it is unbeatable. Rotary controls are very practical – in everyday use, e.g. for moving elements, solidly built and unrivalled in “everyday use” for audio control of the system – in the software you can also use the same command several times – e.g. have the music control on each subpage (tip for all those who like to listen to music while working: Just have a few buttons in the Everyone profile to control the player / Spotify / Youtube Music).

Cons

No light without shadow – some features in the software (especially Scopes / Meters) would be very practical in different packages and should actually be relatively easy to retrofit – we hope for the future, because the software has certainly developed further – even during the test period. It is also to be hoped that the calls in different parts of the operating system / a programming environment will be easier to realise. The way via AutoHotkey works, but … it could be more convenient. Mouse movements via the macro editor are not really possible yet, and detailed actions with several dozen steps and commands are quickly very time-consuming and tend to become a bit cluttered in the normally convenient software. But hopefully something will be done about this in the future. AND programmes with system-wide overlays – or predefined global shortcuts – often ignore the Loupedeck commands – which is probably not Loupedeck’s fault. But we just wanted to say it.

The device itself is solidly built, and the screens are bright and clear to see – but due to the design, various human residues accumulate quickly, and either you accept this darkening of the corners (can be cool – otherwise more artists would keep their workplaces clean), or you fumble around with compressed air and cleaning agents.

Soundboard

The Loupedeck definitely doesn’t deny its “streamer origins” – and using it as a soundboard with various clips and overlays is almost foolproof (that wasn’t a challenge) for everyday use. If you always say the same thing in a meeting, you can record it here and/or blast Vader, a Dalek or a Mass Effect sound at 100% volume. Depending on the situation, this can liven up a meeting.

Conclusion

Is the Loupedeck Live S worth it at a purchase price of 170 to 200 euros? If you jump through the various menus a lot and have repetitive tasks, you should definitely take a look at it – especially if you’re not constantly travelling in exotic software, but concentrate on two or three packages – Adobe Suite, for example. Then it can really save a lot of time, especially as even complex actions and processes (e.g. ingest / pipeline / backups) can be simplified with relatively little effort. Or, as three of our readers told us, in a studio with “dedicated workstations” for certain tasks, and labelled buttons are easier after all. However, anyone who works a lot with “exotic” software and constantly makes precise inputs will only benefit from this to a limited extent, apart from the media control mentioned above. But it does look cool when all the gifs and images flash! But if you want to use the tool as an animator, forget all that and read Can’s article on the big Loupedeck! Here as a free download: bit.ly/can_loupedeck

The post Loupedeck Live S first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Loupedeck enters the preview phase with its new user interface. Loupedeck is the manufacturer of the creative consoles Loupedeck , Loupedeck CT and Loupedeck Live.

Highlights of the new software are Simplified profile for users of Loupedeck Lives, an integration with Philips Hue, as well as the long-awaited German language version.

In addition to German, French, Korean and Japanese are now supported. All actions, menus and entries within the new Loupedeck knowledge database have been translated. The update also addresses known problems with international keyboard layouts. But above all, the update offers: a new user interface, which should make it easier to set up the device for the first time and is also tailored to the needs of streamers (direct access to Twitch, Spotify Premium, OBS, Streamlabs and Philips Hue). And the native integration of the Hue Bridge for Loupedeck CT and Loupedeck Live should please owners of Philips devices in particular. This is because the new Control Centre function allows users to access all Hue lamps at the same time. Loupedeck plans to expand the functionality of Philips Hue in the coming months.

At the request of many users, the simplified profile is no longer tied to a specific application, but transforms Loupedeck Live into a static interface. For experienced Loupedeck users, the original interface with advanced functions and full support for all plugins remains accessible – even in the latest update.

A full version of the user interface will be released later this year. You can find out everything else on Loupedeck’s website.

The post Loupedeck | Update first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

There is no doubt that the trackball consoles and the Editor Keyboard from Blackmagic Design are solid devices and ideally suited for DaVinci Resolve. The prices are fair, and for specialised workstations in the film and TV industry they are even extremely affordable. But what about lone wolves who are just starting out in the new world of work, or hobby filmmakers who have already had to spend a lot of money on a sufficiently powerful computer? Are there alternatives to pushing a mouse?

Blackmagic Design does not make it easy for third-party providers, because protocols for controlling Resolve are not published. This is part of the business model, as the development of the complex and powerful programme is co-financed by the sale of hardware. This is why, for example, the popular Loupedeck is not yet compatible with Resolve. But a developer from Amsterdam has taken up the challenge and programmed around the handicap. It took Glenn Venghaus three years to persuade Akai’s APC40 controller, a favourite in the music world, to work with Resolve and The APC40 requires fewer switching operations and provides even more feedback, making the functions of large control consoles accessible as far as possible. This device is durable, equipped with very precise controls and, with its numerous operating elements, requires fewer switching operations(tinyurl.com/ssm9wh6).

Addendum for the online version of this article: In the video below, Glenn Venghaus shows an update that allows the HUD to always be enabled via devices with a web browser.

But it’s even cheaper: even with a version for the small Arturia Beatstep, most of the functions can now be controlled(tinyurl.com/sm2f7y3). The small controller/sequencer from France is popular in the music world and can be found for well under 100 euros. You also need the inexpensive ControllerMate software from OrderedBytes (approx. 30 US dollars) and the Beatstep Resolve Edition. This is available in several versions, and this has to do with the type of control. The software benefits from the fact that Resolve’s graphical user interface can hardly be customised, as it has to be able to determine the exact position of the controls.

This is why there are separate versions for different resolutions and for operation with one or two screens. The Base Kit with just one version is available for 100 euros, two versions for 125 euros and the Extreme version for 175 euros includes all resolutions for one or two screens. Upgrades are also available. We tested in the standard resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 for 27-inch monitors. It is important that Resolve runs in the fullscreen window and that only the icons are displayed at the bottom of the pages without labelling so that everything has its correct place. As MIDI unfortunately does not work identically on all localised versions of the Mac OS, the author offers adapted versions of his kit. Otherwise a German system will not find the connections to Fairlight.

Installation

The first installation is time-consuming, because not only the Resolve Edition has to be installed. First comes ControllerMate and its registration. Here, especially with Catalina, you must ensure that you have the necessary rights to control the computer. These permissions must be correct, as the programme itself cannot provide any warnings. This is followed by the one-off installation of a suitably prepared open source toolkit, which is automatically downloaded from the manufacturer’s website. Now the Beatstep Resolve Edition, which is personalised for each user and, if necessary, updated for further downloads in the event of updates. Finally, you need the free MIDI Control Centre from Arturia to load the templates into the controller and configure MIDI in the Mac OS and in Resolve if you also want to control the essential functions in Fairlight. The installation program creates a RAM disc on the desktop, which you should definitely stay away from.

This complex procedure should not deter interested parties, as a detailed video by the developer explains each step in detail and even describes the remedy for operating system or Resolve errors. In addition, each start procedure checks whether everything is working correctly and issues a warning if necessary. Most of these steps are only required once anyway, as long as there are no fundamental changes to the computer or Resolve. We must also emphasise the excellent support from the developer, who responds very quickly and provides individual assistance. This is an advantage of dealing with small companies, where you are not put through endless FAQs and waiting loops only to be left helpless again at the end. Incidentally, his company is called Tachyon Post (tachyon-consulting.com) – tachyons are hypothetical particles that are faster than light.

Hardware

For the price, the small Beatstep controller makes a surprisingly solid impression. It should also be able to withstand a lot in practice, as musicians are usually not exactly gentle with their equipment, depending on their style. The first thing you should do is print out self-adhesive labels for the keys; the template is supplied as a modifiable Illustrator file and as a PDF, otherwise you would be quite overwhelmed. The software uses the key illumination for user guidance, and the respective assignment of the keys or the rotary control is also displayed when the HUD key is held down. You should largely keep your hands off the mouse and only use it for functions that are not yet controlled by the controller – and there aren’t many of those. The computer keyboard, on the other hand, can be assigned to your own preferences, only JKL and the numeric keys for printer lights should remain unchanged.

Operation

Of course, this includes the entire grading, the parameters in the inspector, most of the cut and trim functions and the controls in Fairlight (MIDI also comes into play here). But Glenn has even recently made the custom curves controllable, as well as the parameters of numerous OFX effects and even the new Cut Page in version 16 is supported (switching from Edit via A/B). Even 5 custom OFX assignments can be created with the controller and its visual feedback, but only for parameters that can also be controlled in Resolve with the centre mouse wheel. Of course, the large rotary knob at the top left serves as a jog wheel and proves to be very useful. MIDI must also be configured for Fairlight. precise when cutting and trimming. It goes without saying that the complex possibilities cannot be learnt in a day, even if the assignments reveal a clear, logical structure. The concept makes it clear that the author is not a programmer with little practical experience, but works in post-production himself. His video (vimeo. com/264606144) is helpful and should be watched as a supplement to this report if you are interested. You may want to download it and watch it step by step, as Glenn Venghaus proudly demonstrates how quickly you can work with the device. But in the end, training is essential, similar to learning to write blind.

Comment

Beatstep or its bigger brother, the APC40, are the perfect solution if you’ve upgraded your computer and don’t have enough money for the Blackmagic consoles, but still want to work smoothly without ruining your wrist with the mouse. The smaller controller is even useful for a laptop on the move. There is really only one catch: the whole thing is only available for Mac OS. There are said to be people who have a Hackintosh machine configured for this reason alone ..

The post It can also be cheap: Beatstep Resolve Edition first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by David Feuerstein.