GrandMA Version 1 Command Line Interface implemented in Java

Due to … massive … request I took the chance and did a major overhaul of my post about the GrandMA remote command line from a few years ago. Back in the days I pulled together a quick ‘n dirty version which somehow worked and caught some interest but never really became more than a proof of concept.

 

tl;dr: This program provides a remote command line to a GrandMA Version 1 lighting desk (console or onPC). Since it’s implemented in Java you can basically run it from every computer that you have at hand ( yes: even a Raspberry PI ). Having a command line proved to be quite handy especially when you are setting up a show from scratch. It is simply faster to issue the command “fader 1.1 thru 5.10 at 0” than to manually set 90 faders to zero (or -god forbid- use a mouse to do this on the onPC-version without a touchscreen).

 

 

I’m a little late on that topic: Meanwhile ( meaning: a few years ago ) the GrandMA Version 2 has been released and it incorporates a native Telnet interface. This somehow makes my version obsolete but … people asked for it and I owe it to myself, I think.

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TCPSyphon

<TL; DR> I’ve built a TCPSyphon Server myself in Java and tried to circumvent some of the flaws of the original Version </TL; DR>

 

Maybe you heard about Syphon. “Syphon is an open source Mac OS X technology that allows applications to share frames – full frame rate video or stills – with one another in realtime” (Link). It was originally intended to only work locally and not be shared between different Hosts on a Network. Fortunately someone took care of this and built a set of applications to share “Syphon data” between multiple Computers. Actually it doesn’t: It renders local Syphon data into single images (jpeg, for example), applies a compression and sends them over the network. Anyways, this is one of the applications you don’t get around as a VJ. You just HAVE to have it: TCPSyphon.

The person behind the TCPSyphon-apps also built a client for the Raspberry Pi. The TCPSClient. Now things become really interesting.

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Syphon to RTMP

This idea caught me a while back and it took quite some effort to rebuild it from the leftovers a few days ago. Kids don’t forget: The only difference between noodling around and being a true specialiologist (they don’t call me “Doktor Andy” for nothing) lies in a reusable form of documentation. Fortunately I got this website. What would I do without it.

<TL; DR> video from Mac to Raspberry via network</TL; DR>

The approach uses Syphon, Open Broadcaster Software (obs), nginx and Omxplayer. I guess this ain’t too revolutionary. Using RTMP is quite a common task to distribute video. But it’s a good idea to have it all written down at least once. Furthermore I couldn’t find any kind of writeup like this covering this topic so … it’s okay.

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Unboxing Raspberry PI

[24.7.2012]

It’s finally there….My Raspberry PI model B. I tried to get on the orderlist as soon as lines were opened. Payed for it ~6 weeks ago and now … there it is. In all its glory.

Unboxing like a boss.

Purest expression of joy upon holding it in my hands.

Outrageous joy….

Truely outrageous joy…

OK…enough with that…stop it…

It’s me…Doktor-Andy .. so I’ve got to examine it thoroughly.

I have about 2 tons of USB cables lying around. Dozens of every flavour. But the fr*gg*ng “micro USB” ain’t one of them….

Bam!….