LTC SMPTE: grandMA3 and RTP-MIDI output

[vanvught]

This is a follow-up for the issues reported in #291 #294 #296

Successfully tested:

• source=ltc
• source=artnet
• source=midi
• source=tcnet
• source=internal
• source=systime
• source=etc

@joakyhsf69 @rbarreiros @hippyau @dirkdamerau @kyleawayan

#296 (comment)

I tried out the latest firmware in the above message but actually cannot get MA3 to understand the timecode at all with an Art-Net input.

#296 (comment)

Also one more thing I noticed with using source=internal with MA3 via rtpMIDI...

In the firmware above in this thread, stopping the internal timecode does not stop it in MA3. Compared to the production firmware, stopping the internal timecode also stops it in MA3 (the clock goes from green to grey).

[vanvught]

Testing source=artnet FPS25

Windows 10 Pro Art-Net -> Orange Pi Zero RTP-MIDI -> macOS grandMA3 onPC

Schermopname.2025-01-05.om.12.43.04.mov

@joakyhsf69 @rbarreiros @hippyau @dirkdamerau @kyleawayan

[vanvught]

Testing source=internal FPS25

LTC Generator Orange Pi Zero RTP-MIDI -> macOS grandMA3 onPC

Note: When stopped, there is no output anymore.

Schermopname.2025-01-05.om.12.52.37.mov

Test UI for checking error's in Art-Net Timecode (will be open source) ->
ArtNetTimeCode.jar.zip

@joakyhsf69 @rbarreiros @hippyau @dirkdamerau @kyleawayan

[vanvught]

Testing `source=tcnet' FPS25 is not working. FPS30 is fine.

TCNet Time Packet
Functionality Type Size Behavior Constant stream of timing data of layers
Broadcast and Unicast to local host node’s
Port UDP(60001)
162 (May change in future FLAMES)
Broadcast and Unicast every 1ms - 40ms or at time critical event.

The every 1ms - 40ms is not reliable for sending RTP-MIDI. I need to work with internal synchronisation.

macOS TCNet -> Orange Pi Zero RTP-MIDI -> macOS grandMA3 onPC

Schermopname.2025-01-05.om.13.17.02.mov

@joakyhsf69 @rbarreiros @hippyau @dirkdamerau @kyleawayan

[vanvught]

Testing source=etc FPS25

source=systime GD32F407 ETC output -> Orange Pi Zero RTP-MIDI -> macOS grandMA3 onPC

ETC UDP Tester -> https://github.com/ETCLabs/UDPMidiTest/tree/master with issue ETCLabs/UDPMidiTest#1

Schermopname.2025-01-05.om.21.02.46.mov

@joakyhsf69 @rbarreiros @hippyau @dirkdamerau @kyleawayan

[vanvught]

Dear all, please find attached the firmware which I have successfully tested -> #297 (comment)

version:[V5.0] Orange Pi Zero Compiled on Jan 5 2025 at 21:00:27
orangepi_zero.uImage.gz

@joakyhsf69 @rbarreiros @hippyau @dirkdamerau @kyleawayan

[kyleawayan]

Hi Arjan,

Thank you for investigating. I just installed the new firmware. Running with source=internal at 24fps, it looks like everything is working smoothly. In MA3, using rtpMIDI, I haven't got any timecode jump logs running the past 4 minutes so far. Also, the timecode start/stop is reflected correctly. I am also testing with Resolume, which takes a SMPTE audio input, and it looks like that is still good too.

However now going back to my other setup with source=artnet (I should've noted Depence and grandMA3 are running on the same computer, if that makes any difference)

Depence R3 -> (30fps Art-Net Timecode) -> Orange Pi -> (rtp-MIDI) -> grandMA3 onPC on Windows

grandMA3 doesn't respond to the timecode at all. I see the MIDI messages flowing in though on the Protokol app though.

However, I think this is a fault on Depence, as I'm actually able to test Art-Net timecode output with another software. With source=artnet using the Timecode Expert to output Art-Net timecode (using a separate computer though), everything works fine. Even the starting and stopping in MA3.

So looks like we are good on source=artnet--will just have to find another alternative for sending timecode out from Depence.

Thank you!

[kyleawayan]

Okay was just experimenting around, and

Depence R3 -> (30fps Art-Net Timecode) -> grandMA3 onPC on separate MacBook

works fine. Although Depence doesn't reflect the start/stop to MA3, the clock just stays green the whole time. Maybe this could be part of the problem?

Not sure if the Art-Net timecode spec has start/stop commands. If I were to guess, Depence isn't sending a start/stop packet, making the rtpMIDI timecode never count up--because there was no start command.

Would it be possible to have an option in ltc.txt or something, to ignore these start/stop commands for softwares that don't support it, like Depence?

Note I do want to make clear that my Orange Pi is understanding the timecode from Depence, it's just grandMA3 or Timecode Expert can't read the MIDI messages from it for some reason.

[hippyau]

There is no start/stop. Sou ds like Depence be sending the same frame over and over. Try the Mute on Idle option in Depence.

…

On Mon, 6 Jan 2025, 08:35 Kyle Awayan, ***@***.***> wrote: Okay was just experimenting around, and Depence R3 -> (30fps Art-Net Timecode) -> grandMA3 onPC on separate MacBook works fine. Although Depence doesn't reflect the start/stop to MA3, the clock just stays green the whole time. Maybe this could be part of the problem? Not sure if the Art-Net timecode spec has start/stop commands. If I were to guess, Depence isn't sending a start/stop packet, making the rtpMIDI timecode never count up--because there was no start command. Would it be possible to have an option in ltc.txt or something, to ignore these start/stop commands for softwares that don't support it, like Depence? Note I do want to make clear that my Orange Pi is understanding the timecode from Depence, it's just grandMA3 or Timecode Expert can't read the MIDI messages from it for some reason. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#297 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AIWBBRPQRGXXIABKBYB6NKD2JGXUZAVCNFSM6AAAAABUUAIDP6VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZDKNZRG43TGNJVHE> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[kyleawayan]

Okay one more thing to add before I log off for now, I do notice the quarter messages coming in using source=artnet and Art-Net timecode from Depence, look a little strange:

Screen.Recording.2025-01-05.at.2.41.21.PM.mp4

Compared to source=internal where the MIDI timecode works correctly:

Screen.Recording.2025-01-05.at.2.42.32.PM.mp4

Hopefully we will find a way to get all these softwares working together.

[kyleawayan]

There is no start/stop. Sou ds like Depence be sending the same frame over and over. Try the Mute on Idle option in Depence.

Hi,

I tried that option but no difference. I even restarted Depence and my Orange Pi, and MIDI quarter frames are still being sent even when the Depence sequence is paused.

[vanvught]

Testing source=artnet FPS30

macOS ShowKontrol Art-Net -> Orange Pi Zero RTP-MIDI -> macOS grandMA3 onPC
                                                 LTC -> Audio USB -> macOS TimeCode Monitor

Skipping in Art-Net TimeCode is now also working.

Showkontrol-grandMA3.mov

@joakyhsf69 @rbarreiros @hippyau @dirkdamerau @kyleawayan

[vanvught]

Hi Kyle, Hip,

Thank you for the detailed feedback.

will just have to find another alternative for sending timecode out from Depence.

I have added some more functionality. It should not break other's. I have done a quick test here -> #297 (comment) The output from Showkontrol is not perfect. But it gives an idea that it works with grandMA3. As I have a license for Showkontrol, I will have a chat with the developers.

Thanks, Arjan

orangepi_zero.uImage.gz

@joakyhsf69 @rbarreiros @hippyau @dirkdamerau @kyleawayan