SLMC

Toby Lancaster · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 105 Location: UK

Inspired by an idea from Montian Gilruth, Bree Birke and I have designed and built MusiCom; a message display and stream management device for venue hosts and performers.

When a live music concert is put on in SL, there is a familar sequence of events where the performer seeks confirmation from the audience that they can be heard. If the audience is very talkative or using chat gestures in open chat, or if several IMs are coming in at once, messages may get missed. This is where the MusiCom comes in. Its primary function is to communicate with the musician, and provide necessary information in an easy-to-see and prominent manner.

There are three components to the MusiCom:

The main communications unit is intended to sit on the stage like a stage monitor. It has a pair of textured surfaces that face the musician. It is accompanied by a RELAY unit which is required for stream setting functions. Copies of the RELAY can be used in the case of multi-sim/parcel venues. There is also an optional musician HUD.

The MusiCom menu provides options to set streams or radio stations (stored on notecards). Appropriate messages are displayed on the MusiCom indicating to the performer whether the stream is "Off", "Stand By" (telling the performer to start streaming) or "On Air" informing the performer that they can be heard. There is also an option to display additional important messages to the performer, e.g. "Too Quiet", "Too Loud", "Some Distortion", "No Sound", "Check IM" etc.

The MusiCom can be purchased for 998L$ at our new shop TBC, near The Comfort Zone: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Euclidia/249/177/91/.

Toby
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Norris Shepherd · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:52 pm Post subject:

Way cool.

How are the messages ("Too Quiet", "Too Loud", "Some Distortion", "No Sound", "Check IM" etc.) generated? Are they sent by a support person and/or venue host?

Toby Lancaster · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 105 Location: UK

There are two panels on the MusiCom that display images (pictures). These are controlled by the person using the MusiCom, usually the host. They are also displayed in a HUD that musicians can wear if they prefer. We hope to put a picture here shortly that should make it clearer.

The MusiCom has been used successfully at Nitida Ridge for several weeks now, and seems popular with performers. We're hoping that more people will want to use it, particulary to get shows off to a good start (without the "Can You Hear Me?" routine), and also (when using the HUD) provide clear messages to musicians, who may be some distance from the screen.

It's also a handy way to store details of musician and radio station streams.

Toby
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RayW · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 953 Location: Twin Cities, MN

I saw this a few weeks ago on the Ridge. Very cool then. Should be even better now! Very Happy

Great idea, Toby!
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Toby Lancaster · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 105 Location: UK

Thanks Ray!

However, it was Monti's original idea, and Bree designed it. I scripted it, and even as we speak am posing for a picture that hopefully will make it clearer.

Toby
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RayW · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 953 Location: Twin Cities, MN

Sorry Monti and Bree ... I knew that. In fact, Bree had told me and you (Toby) mentioned it above.

But, it's a great idea! I was thinking of buying one just to play with it ... I love gadgets! Laughing

Don' t have anyone to run it. But, what the heck!
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ticious · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 2600 Location: Chicago

Hey Ray! We have a beta copy at Cascadia Harmonics, so you'll get a chance to try it out at your show tomorrow night!
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DjaiSkjellerup · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 471

I have been hanging around occasionally during its development and seen it in use.

It's a really cool system and I recommend it to venues for sure.
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Bree Birke · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 31 Location: Kingston, Ontario

Here you see a partial SL window, with the main unit at Toby's feet. The HUD is the square higher up on the screen. The nice thing about a HUD is that it can be moved around by the musician to wherever s/he feels it most comfortable.

Norris, messages are changed by the operator of the MusiCom simply by selecting from a menu that pops up when s/he clicks it. Where it makes sense, some of the stream status messages happen automagically ("stand by - stream is set" when one sets a live musician stream; "radio" when one chooses from the stations list, etc.); otherwise it must be an operator choice.

The operator does not need to be the owner of the unit, however the owner must authorize operators in advance, by adding names to a notecard in the main unit. It will not respond to clicks from anyone other than the owner or those whose names are on that notecard.

Hehe, Toby mentioned a new store - that is *so* new that there's no sign outside it Wink

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Toby Lancaster · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 105 Location: UK

Check out Bree's blog http://breebirke.blogspot.com/ for more pictures.

The MusiCom is now available for purchase on XStreet.

Also, Ticious has kindly allowed us to place a vendor at Cascadia Harmonics

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cascadia/235/27/29

(Thanks Tic!).

Toby
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