Cat in the Hat audio manual
Version 2/11/2018

Setting up QLab

For QLab v3/v4

QLab v3 has some cosmetic changes to what you see below, but otherwise these instructions hold true.

Once QLab has opened

• Open the Workspace Settings. You can do this by clicking on Window (in the top row of menu’s) and select Workspace Settings.

• Then click on the Audio tab on the left hand side. You will see a window with Output patch assignment for Audio cues: appear, and below it “Audio Patch 1” to “Audio Patch 8”. There is a dropdown menu next to Patch 1 where you can select your sound card, of select “Built-in Output” if you are using the 2 speaker version.

• Now click Done in the bottom right of the window.

For QLab v2

Once QLab has opened

• Open the Workspace Preferences.

• Then click on the Audio tab on the left hand side. You will see a box with the title Audio Device Assignment appear, and below it “Patch 1” to “Patch 8” on the left of a series of holes, and the available sound outputs of your computer. In QLab v3 there is a dropdown menu next to Patch 1 where you can select your sound card instead of the following method.

If you are using the 8 speaker version:

• Click on the hole to the right of Patch 1 and drag to the right to draw a yellow line to the name of your sound card, for example, “Motu 828”.

• If your sound-card name is not visible here, check that it is connected and that you have installed the right software drivers for it, then restart your Mac, then open QLab.

• Now click Done in the bottom right of the window.

If you are using the 2 speaker version:

• Click on the hole to the right of Patch 1 and drag to the right to draw a yellow line to the sound output called “Built-In Output”, “Line output” or “Headphone output” as appropriate for your computer.

• Now click Done in the bottom right of the window.

If you have red crosses down the left side of the cue list then check the Troubleshooting page here for help diagnosing the issue.

Setting up your computer

You can now select cues and click the Go button (or press Space) and you should hear sounds. You can press the Escape key on your keyboard to stop all sounds. A lot of these keyboard shortcuts are customisable - have a look at Workspace Preferences > Key Map to see what they are.

For further information on using QLab, you can click on Help in the menus at the top of your screen. There are some excellent video tutorials that will guide you through the basic use of QLab.

If you have not used your Mac to run sound for a show before:

• Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Sound.

• Click on the “Sound Effects” tab and turn the Alert Volume to Off

• Turn “user interface sound effects”, “feedback when volume is changed” Off

• Click on Show All to see all System Preferences

• Click on the Energy Saver icon

• Set Computer Sleep to never

(This stops the computer from going to sleep when it’s not used, for example, during the pre-show music!)

• Turn “Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible” off

(This stops the hard disk from spinning down between cues which can cause lags when you press the Go button)

• Click on Show All to see all System Preferences

• Click on the Network icon

• Click WiFi

• Turn “Ask to join new networks” off

(This stops the computer from asking you if you would like to join the “Free-Public-Wi-Fi” network that suddenly appears mid show!)

• Click on the Bluetooth icon

• Turn Bluetooth off

(This means people can’t try and send you files over Bluetooth during the show!)

• Click on Date and Time and make sure the Time is set correctly

• Click on the Software Update icon, and turn “check for updates” off

• Click on the Time Machine icon, and turn Time Machine off

• Only run QLab on it during the show. Other programs will slow down QLab and will cause audio glitches and slow QLab’s reaction to the Go button being pressed.

• Make sure it is disconnected from all computer networks during the show.

Setting up your sound system for the 8 speaker version

All the sound effects and music cues have been set at appropriate volumes for the show already. You should only need to adjust the volumes of your different speakers, either using the volume controls on the amplifiers, the speakers themselves if they are self-powered, or on your mixing desk. You want the music in the balancing section to be quiet enough so that the Cat can be heard over it without shouting! There are loud and quiet sections to the music, and the quiet sections are where the Cat talks. You can also use the Motorbike sound effect sequence to set the volume of your flown speakers: Run the sequence and turn the flown speakers up or down so that the sound doesn’t get noticeably louder or quieter as it pans from the onstage speakers to the flown speakers.

Setting up your sound system for the 2 speaker version

All the sound effects and music cues have been set at appropriate volumes for the show already. You should only need to adjust the volumes of your speakers. You want the music in the balancing section to be quiet enough so that the Cat can be heard over it without shouting! There are loud and quiet sections to the music, and the quiet sections are where the Cat talks. 

Make sure the volume of your Mac is set consistently for each show. I normally turn it up to full using the keyboard volume buttons, then turn it down 3 button presses.

Dr. Seuss text, characters and images TM and © 2009 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P

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