Tutorial 7: All about Actions

About This Tutorial

This tutorial will provide you with information on actions – what they are, what they do and
how to go about inserting and using them. Actions, as with cues – are an important feature set
of LiveProfessor and as this task of learning about actions can be a bit daunting, I have decided
to create a separate tutorial on this aspect of LiveProfessor usage. As you peruse this tutorial,
you will find that this is really not a tutorial at all – but more of a lesson on actions and your use
of them. The previous tutorial was similar in structure – as it was all about cues. Regardless of
this point, we will continue…
Lesson 1: The Cue list toolbar
In this lesson you will review the common elements of the Cue List window. Selecting the Add
new cue list button in the Cue list panel will display the Cue List window – along with the Cue
list toolbar.

As you can see from the above diagram, the Cue list toolbar contains either tools or buttons.
The tools determine what the cue will do when a tool is inserted in a cue – and the buttons –
how the Cue list window will be displayed and just how it will be used and organized. For this
section of the tutorial, all that you are interested in is the tools – especially the left-most tool.
Lesson 2: Events as Actions
In this lesson you will learn all about actions. In the previous tutorial, you came across the word
event and its relationship to cues. The Tools elements that are contained within the Cue list
toolbar are called actions. An action in LiveProfessor is an event that is part of a cue and which
contains a list of instructions for LiveProfessor to perform. Therefore, such an event is called an
action. An event is what occurs when an action is completed. The Cue list tool bar contains
fourteen tools – therefore there are a total of fourteen different actions that can be performed
using LiveProfessor.

Examples of actions are recalling a plugin snapshot, changing the audio patch, sending midi
messages, etc. At the same time, however, you must understand that using actions you can:
 Tutorial 7: All about Actions
§ use as many actions as you want,
§ repeat an action as often as you want, and,
§ position an action in any location that you want.
This should give you some idea of the versatility of the actions that are available to you for use
within LiveProfessor.
Remember: The events that are part of a cue are called actions.
Lesson 3: Cues and Actions
It is very important that you understand that a cue – in and of itself does nothing if it does not
contain any actions. Using actions – you create a list of instructions for LiveProfessor to perform
when a cue is started. As you have learned previously, cues can contain a single action or it can
contain multiple actions.
Lesson 4: Actions and plugins
In this lesson you will review the principles of understanding effective snapshot management.
Snapshots are an integral part of how cues are used in LiveProfessor – especially in a live
performance environment. And since snapshots are associated with plugins, your
understanding of just what a particular plugin can do – is also very important indeed.
The principles of understanding effective snapshot management consist of three things:
§ first, understanding just what a particular plugin can do – or is capable of doing,
§ second, knowing this, just what is it that you want that particular plugin to do, and
§ third, create a snapshot to perform that particular task.
With these three points in mind, “What can the plugin do?”, “What do I want the plugin to
do?”, and “What snapshot will I create to perform that particular task” – you will be reviewing
these three points as you continue in this tutorial.
Lesson 5: The Cue list window workspace
In the previous tutorial, you learned about the important aspects of the Cue list window
workspace – especially regarding the terminology that is used to describe the various
operations that you will be performing. You will review some of these terms – specifically as
they pertain to actions.
Drag ‘n Drop
This term will be used to explain the process used when inserting an action into the Cue list
window workspace. If you drag a tool to a workspace that already contains a cue – then either a
new cue or a new action will be inserted – dependent on where the mouse pointed is located
and the colour of the line that is displayed at that time.
Tip: Any time you drag a tool from the Cue list window toolbar to an existing cue – this
operation will be referred to inserting an action into that cue. If the line is black, then a new
action will be inserted into that cue.
Remember: For future reference, whenever you are asked to insert a new action – you will drag
a toolbar tool so that a black line is displayed. This will be the method used from this point on.
The Line Colour
As noted, the colour of the line that is displayed when a tool is dragged to the Cue list window
workspace will determine if either a new cue or a new action will be inserted into the
workspace.
Page 2
 Tutorial 7: All about Actions
Two colours of lines can be displayed during a drag 'n drop operation – either green or black.
For this tutorial you will be only interested in the black line. The green line was covered in detail
in the previous tutorial.
The Action Line
The action line is the name given to the black line. This line indicates where an action will be
placed once the left mouse button is released.

Line Location
There are two possibilities for the location of the black line when inserting a new action. First, if
the black line is located at the top of an existing action – the new action will be placed above
the existing action. Second, if the black line is located at the bottom of an existing action, the
new action will be placed below the existing action. With these points in mind, let us continue…
Lesson 6: Creating versus Inserting
In this lesson, I want to define what the terms create versus insert mean – especially as they
pertain to LiveProfessor usage. This will help you in clearing any potential ambiguities when
using these terms for creating cues versus inserting cues or actions when using LiveProfessor.
Create or Creating
These terms will refer to the dragging of a tool to an empty workspace – as doing so will always
create a new cue. So, the dragging of a tool from the Cue list window toolbar to an empty Cue
list window workspace will be referred to as creating a new cue.
Insert or Inserting
These terms will refer to the dragging of a tool to a non-empty workspace. So, the dragging of a
tool from the Cue list window toolbar to the Cue list window workspace with an existing cue
will be referred to as inserting a new cue. The dragging of a tool from the Cue list window
toolbar to an existing cue will be referred to as inserting a new action.
Lesson 7 Editing Actions
As mentioned in Tutorial 6, though some editing aspects of cues can be edited – name, number
etc – it is preferable to keep the editing of cues distinct from the editing the actions in a cue.
Cue actions, as you will see – can definitely be edited.
Lesson 8: Timing
Timing, as you will see, is very important for you to understand when it comes to editing
actions. Timing is simply the process of regulating actions in relation to others to produce the
best effect – as in music or theatre. So, timing is a relational thing – as it is dependent on other
factors to work properly. Understanding what timing is will have a profound effect on just how
you use the Action edit buttons.
Lesson 9: Action Elements
In this lesson you will learn all about the elements of an action. There are three:

Page 3
 Tutorial 7: All about Actions
§ Action name
§ Action edit buttons
§ Timing display

Each of these elements will now be explained in turn.

The Action name
This element of the action displays the name of the action – which includes the action, the
name of the snapshot, the plugin that is used, as well as the name of the Action tool.

Action edit buttons

This element of the action displays the three Action edit buttons, namely, the Edit Action
button, the Wait times button and the Fade time button. Learning what each of these Action
edit buttons do and how to go about using them properly – is one of the most important
aspects of LiveProfessor usage that you will come across. A considerable amount of time then
will be spent ensuring that you understand just what each of these Action edit buttons do. You
will learn all about these functions in a separate lesson.

Timing display
This element of the action outputs the results the "timings" that were previously entered – if
any – using the Wait times button and the Fade time button. The three output displays are, Pre
wait, Duration and Post wait. As can be seen, when no timings have been entered, the Pre wait,
Duration and Post wait text are grayed-out.

The following diagram shows the results of entering a timing of 3.0s – 3 seconds – for the Wait
times and the Fade time.
Page 4
 Tutorial 7: All about Actions

Observation: Notice also that the Pre wait, Duration and Post wait text is now black – indicating
that timings have been entered.
Lesson 10: Edit action button
The Edit action button is where you can – as the name suggests – edit various elements of the
selected action.

Selecting this button displays the Select Snapshot window.

Observation: The Select Snapshot window should be familiar to you – as you have used it in
previous tutorials.

These edit operations include various settings – most important being the selection of either
the plugin and/or the snapshots that will be used for that particular action.
Lesson 11: The Wait times button
This button sets the timings for the Pre wait and Post wait times.

Page 5
 Tutorial 7: All about Actions
Selecting the Wait times button displays a dialog with two text boxes where you can enter
either a Pre wait time, a Post wait time or both.

Pre wait
As you will see, the Pre-wait time adds a delay before the action is performed. This delay is
measured in seconds and milliseconds.
Keyboard: Use the Tab key to toggle between the Pre-wait and Post-wait text fields. Pressing
the Enter key closes the dialog box.

Post wait
The Post wait time adds a delay after the action has been performed. This delay is measured in
seconds and milliseconds.
Keyboard: Use the Tab key to toggle between the Pre-wait and Post-wait text fields. Pressing
the Enter key closes the dialog box.

Lesson 12: Fade time button (Duration)

This button lets you edit the fade time – or the duration – of the action.

Selecting the Fade time button displays a dialog with a text box where you can enter fade time.
This fade time is measured in seconds and milliseconds. Pressing the Enter key closes the dialog
box.

Page 6
 Tutorial 7: All about Actions
As you will see, the fade time adds a delay during the performance of the action. This delay is
measured in seconds and milliseconds.

Have a brief summary that will help you in reviewing the above points.
§ The Pre-wait time adds a delay before the action is performed. Pre-wait = Before
§ The Post wait time adds a delay after the action has been performed. Post-wait = After
§ The Fade time adds a delay during the performance of the action. Fade = During

Parameters
Fade time is used to fade a parameter over time. A parameter is simply a set of properties
whose values determine the behavior of something. The parameter is a part of the plugin that
was inserted into the action and as such can be anything whose behavior can be determined by
that parameter. It is important to understand by this that not all actions will, can or should have
fade times – simply because the behaviour cannot be faded. Such behaviours include, but are
not limited to, patch changes and on and off buttons.
Lesson 13: The Cue list cue
In this lesson you will review the two main components of a Cue list, namely the Cue and the
Action. As you can see from the diagram below, the Cue will display both the name of the cue –
Cue 1, as well as the number of the cue – Q1.0. The Cue also holds the action – or actions, that
are an integral component of the Cue.

Lesson 14: Deleting Actions (Observational Only)

An action can be deleted by right-clicking in the action to display the context menu. From the
context menu, select Delete selected actions and the selected action will be deleted.

Page 7
 Tutorial 7: All about Actions
Lesson 15: Toggling
You have come across the word "toggle" – which simply means "to switch, or alternate,
between two options" – this operation being initiated through the use of the Tab key. Toggling
is a very common operation for use with text boxes.
Keyboard: To switch between the two text boxes – use the Tab key
Section A: Create a new project
In this section of the tutorial, you will create a new project and save it as Tutorial 7.
Observation: As you are creating a new project you will have to review some of the earlier
operations – such as, adding a new plugin, configuring outputs, and other operations. So, this
tutorial will give you the opportunity of reviewing some previous material that you have
learned.
1. Launch LiveProfessor.
2. Go to Project and select New project.
Observation: Notice that the Project: Untitled Project is displayed in the upper right-hand
corner of the screen area.
3. Save the project.
§ New filename: Tutorial 7.
4. Section A is now completed.
Observation: Notice that the Project: Untitled Project has been changed to Project: Tutorial 7.
Section B: Adding a plugin
In this section of the tutorial, you will add the SWFP plugin, configure the audio outputs, add a
wave file and finally create two snapshots for this plugin.
1. Go to Add unit and select SWFP.
2. Expand the Audio routing panel.
3. In the Outputs section of this panel, select 01 - Not connected.
4. Select Output 1 - 1 SoundMax HD Audio 0 1.
5. Repeat Step 4 for the 02 - Not connected audio output.
6. Collapse the Audio routing panel.
7. Select the Load Wave file button.
8. Navigate to the Backing Tracks folder and select the acoustic_grt1.wav file.
9. Expand the Snapshots panel.
10. Select Create, rename the snapshot to Off – and select OK.
11. Select the Play/Stop button.
12. Select Create, rename the snapshot to On – and select OK.
13. Disable the Play/Stop button.
14. Collapse the Snapshots panel.
15. Save the project.
16. Section B is now completed.
Section C: Creating a new Cue list and insert a new action
In this section of the tutorial you will create a new cue list and then insert a new action into the
Cue list. Remember however, that if you drag a tool to an empty workspace – a new cue is
created – along with an action – which will then be added to the Cue list window workspace.
1. In the Cue list panel, select the Add new cue list button.
Page 8
 Tutorial 7: All about Actions
2. Drag the Recall a plugin Snapshot tool to the Cue List window's workspace.
Observation: However, if possible, do not release the left button – yet. If the green line is
located at the top of an empty Cue list window workspace – a new cue will be created.
3. Release the left mouse button and the Select snapshot window will be displayed.
4. Select the On snapshot and select the OK.
5. Save the project.
6. Section C is now completed.
Section D: Inserting a second action to Cue 1.
In this section of the tutorial, you will be given the opportunity of inserting a new action –
which will be added to an existing cue.
Observation: The action that is located in the first Cue is called Recall On on SWFP. For
simplicity – you will refer to this action as Action 1.
1. Drag the Recall a plugin Snapshot tool so that the mouse pointer is just over Action 1.
Observation: However, if possible, do not release the left button – yet. If the mouse pointer is
located near the top of Action 1, the black line will be positioned at the top of Action 1 –
meaning that the new action will be placed above Action 1. If the mouse pointer is located
below Action 1, the black line will be positioned at the bottom of Action 1 – meaning that the
new action will be placed below Action 1.

2. Ensure that the mouse pointer is within Action 1 – and with the black line positioned on top
of Action 1 – then release the left mouse button.
3. Select the Off snapshot and select OK.
Observation: Notice that the new action has been placed just above Action 1.

4. Save the project.

5. Section D is now completed.
Section E: Adding a third action to Cue 1.
In this section of the tutorial, you will add a third action to Cue 1 – just below Action 1.
1. Drag the Recall a plugin Snapshot tool so that the mouse pointer is just over Action 1.
2. Ensure that the mouse pointer is within Action 1 – with the black line on the bottom of
Action 1 – then release the left mouse button.
Remember: Action 1 is the Recall On on SWFP.
Page 9
 Tutorial 7: All about Actions
3. Select the Off snapshot and select OK.
Observation: Notice that the new action has been placed just below Action 1.

4. Save the project.

5. Exit LiveProfessor.
6. Section E is now completed.
Summary
Well, you have covered a lot of ground here and you should review some of the more
important points of this tutorial.
§ The elements of the Cue list toolbar.
§ About actions – what they are and what it they are used for.
§ About Drag 'n Drop and how to perform this function.
§ About lines and their colours and what this means.
§ About how to correctly insert actions.
§ About the Recall a plugin Snapshot tool.
§ A major review of previous material, such as adding a plugin, configuring the audio outputs,
adding a wave file and finally create two snapshots.
Important Note
From this point on, whenever you are asked to insert a new action – you will drag a toolbar tool
to an existing Cue – never to the workspace itself. In effect, you will always be inserting an
action to an existing cue. You will then determine where in the cue the action is to be located.
Remember that a green line pertains to cues and that a black line pertains to actions.
Therefore, in subsequent tutorials, whenever you see the phrase, "to insert an action" – this
will refer to the use of the black line. No further instructions will be provided – so make sure
you understand what it is that you are being asked to do. You are to determine the location of
the action within the cue or action.
The common phrases will be:
§ Insert a cue – will refer to the adding of a cue, as a cue already exists.
§ Insert an action – will refer to adding an action to an existing cue.

Page 10