Elevate Your Timecode Programming with CuePoints

In the evolving landscape of design and programming, the precision of timecoded sequences plays a pivotal role in creating synchronized, dynamic production that captivates and engages. Enter CuePoints, a groundbreaking program designed to streamline the way designers and programmers utilize timecode, facilitating the programming of meticulously timed events and actions across a variety of control programs.

CuePoints not only simplifies the integration of complex sequences but also opens up new avenues for creativity and efficiency in the development process. From the basics of programming with timecode to real-world applications and benefits, check out the functionality, advantages, and transformative impact CuePoints has on design and programming workflows. 

What Is CuePoints?

So, what is CuePoints? CuePoints is a software engineered to empower designers and programmers to create and manage timecoded sequences. The primary purpose of CuePoints is to streamline the complex process of aligning production elements with timecodes, ensuring synchronized playback.

The genesis of CuePoints is rooted in recognizing a common challenge: the need for a robust, intuitive tool that simplifies the intricacies of timecoding. Developed by a team of seasoned designers and programmers, CuePoints emerged from a collaborative effort to address this gap in the creative toolkit. This resulted in a versatile tool accessible to professionals and novices. By incorporating insights from a diverse community of users, the platform has matured into a comprehensive solution that meets and exceeds the demands of modern production design. 

What Is Programming with Timecode?

Imagine programming with a timecode as the careful planning behind a grand fireworks display. Somehow, each firework must launch at precisely the right moment to create a cohesive and awe-inspiring spectacle. Timecode serves as the digital clockwork that ensures each burst of color explodes exactly when and where it's intended, in harmony with the music and other elements of the show. 

In the context of lighting design, timecode refers to a playback tool that stipulates the exact timing for lighting cues and effects within a performance, event, or installation. It serves as a synchronized clock shared between lighting control systems and other multimedia elements, such as audio, video, automation, and more, ensuring that playback occurs at precisely predetermined moments. This allows designers and programmers to choreograph complex lighting sequences in harmony with other aspects of the production and guarantee consistent playback. 

How CuePoints Works

At its core, CuePoints is a sophisticated marker system. Within CuePoints, users can easily navigate through a project's timeline, dropping markers at key points where specific cues are needed—be it for lighting, sound, or other elements. These markers can be individually labeled, making organizing and identifying each cue straightforward and, given a fade time (should you be building a lighting cue list). You can have different types of color-coded markers to differentiate between various production elements, such as audio, video, or even notes in choreography or blocking. 

Once you've completed marking, you can export all or selected types of CuePoints. Once exported, these detailed cue lists, complete with labels, fade times, and exact timecode positions, can be imported directly into lighting consoles or control systems. This process transforms the CuePoints markers into actionable cues ready for automatic playback precisely when their corresponding timecode values are reached.

CuePoints Advantages For Programming Timecode

CuePoints offers a suite of benefits that significantly enhance designers' and programmers' workflow and creative output. One of the paramount advantages of CuePoints is its unparalleled precision and accuracy in managing timecoded sequences. By allowing for exact placement and labeling of cues on a timeline, CuePoints ensures that every multimedia element is synchronized down to the frame. You can zoom in and see very nuanced waveforms and align your marker placement. This level of detail is crucial for productions that rely on the tight integration of sound, visuals, and effects to create immersive experiences. 

This streamlined process allows designers and programmers to focus more on the creative aspects of their projects, rather than getting bogged down by technicalities. By freeing up time and reducing the technical hurdles of synchronization, CuePoints encourages creativity and innovation. Designers and programmers can experiment with more complex and ambitious sequences, knowing that CuePoints provides the tools and flexibility needed to realize their vision. 

CuePoints distinguishes itself with several unique features not commonly found in other tools and platforms:

• Video & Audio Tracks: Import and align video and audio together. Perfect for programming side-by-side with video content or referencing rehearsal videos for blocking & choreography. 

• Flexible Export Options: The ability to export each color-coded marker track as its own cue list or select specific tracks for export offers unmatched customization, catering to the specific needs of a production

• Color-Coded Marker System: This system not only aids in organization but also visually guides the user through the complexity of multimedia elements, enhancing efficiency and clarity.

• Integration Ease: The seamless integration of CuePoints with a wide array of lighting consoles and control systems without the need for additional plugins or applications streamlines the transition from design to execution.

• Control Options: Advanced programmers can configure playback via a streamdeck or MA3 over OSC, allowing you to control playback without your hands leaving the console.

From Us

Having recently completed a project utilizing CuePoints for the first time, we've gathered some firsthand insights into the software's capabilities, advantages, and areas for improvement.

From the get-go, CuePoints impressed with its streamlined workflow. The interface is intuitively designed, making the process of dropping in markers, assigning cues, and syncing them with multimedia elements remarkably straightforward. The inclusion of fade times and cue labels in CuePoints is a standout feature. Even if the labels and fade times aren't used in the final programming, thinking through timing a bit when dropping markers allowed us to plan for auto-follows, point-cues, and other timing intricacies. 

One of the few drawbacks encountered during the project was CuePoints' lack of a Windows version. This limitation posed a challenge, as it restricted the software's accessibility and compatibility with a broader range of devices and setups. For a tool that offers such powerful features and capabilities, extending support to include Windows users would significantly enhance its appeal and utility across the production community. Those who are working from a single computer station and running MAonPC come to mind. However, CuePoints has repeatedly assured us they are developing a Windows version, and are taking their time to do it proper.

It's also worth noting a new version of CuePoints was just released. New features include a pop-out window for displaying media, visibilities of cue types per track, and colour coding of tracks. Refinements across the board to import / export, LTC routing/generating, and media location with absolute and relative paths.

Conclusion

To sum it up, would recommend to a friend. 

We encourage designers, programmers, and production professionals to explore CuePoints and discover how its features can elevate their projects. At the very least, CuePoints can optimize your workflow when you're analyzing the music, noting choreography or blocking, or following camera cuts. 

You can check out more about CuePoints and download the latest version here.