SchwiftyBox WRC wireless MIDI controller for QLab

SchwiftyBox WRC (Wireless Remote Control) for QLab is a bespoke and handmade product. Made only from the best components! This product is made for use with QLab but will work with other software that can be controlled using MIDI messages.

SchwiftyBox WRC has 5 button and 4 rotary encoders with push buttons packed in a brushed aluminum box. Each button on the box sends a MIDI Note on when pushed and a MIDI Note off when released. The rotary encoders send a MIDI note "X" + velocity 127 on for each detent turned counterclockwise. And another MIDI Note on "X" + velocity 127 when turned clockwise.

Handheld Remote Control (extra)

When you add a Wireless Handheld Remote, you get 8 extra buttons that you can control at distances up to 1000 meters (Line of sight). The communication between the handheld remote and SchwiftyBox is 128-bit AES encrypted.

You can connect up to 254! handheld remotes.

868MHz in Europe version

900MHz US version

Rotary encoders on standard MIDI controllers…

The Rotary Encoders on The SchwiftyBox WRC work differently from most rotary encoders on MIDI controllers do! On a standard MIDI controller, the encoders/pots send a MIDI note "X" + velocity (0-127) dependent on the position of the encoder. That works well if the use of the encoder is tied up to control the same thing all the time… Imagine that you would like to use one encoder to control the volume of a mic input queue in QLab… We now set the volume to 127 = max volume (because the performer talks very, very low). In the next queue in the show, the same performer shouts into the mic at full volume! The first time you turn the encoder counterclockwise, the next message the encoder will send is a MIDI note "X" + velocity 126, and QLab adjusts the queue volume instantly to almost full volume until you reach the desired volume… That is bad!

Rotary encoders on SchwiftyBox WRC...

The rotary encoders on the SchwiftyBox WRC don't do it that way. For each detent the encoder is turned, it sends the same message. In QLab, we use the MIDI message to trigger an OSC message that tells QLab to add or subtract a defined dB value from the current volume setting in the queue. You can also use the encoders to control the playhead position, to dim or fade lights, control any volume on a mixer (if the mixer supports it). The buttons can be used for GO buttons, sound effects, pause/resume (on the same button), and of course, "PANIC".

Here are some examples of OSC messages that can be used with it: 

/cue/active/level/0/0/+ 0.5

/cue/active/level/0/0/- 0.5

/pause

/resume

/main/m/mix/fader/+ 0.5 adjusts the main fader on a Midas M32 by +0.5dB

SchwiftyBox is a bespoke product and not mass produced, it is made with high quality components by leading manufactures, coded and put together by people at SchwiftyThing in Denmark. We use original Bourns encoders and the powerfull microprocessor in the SchwiftyBox are original RP2040 on a Adafruit KB2040 board. 

Links.

QLab´s OSC Dictionary By QLab

Behringer X32 / Midas M32 OSC Dictionary Thanks to Patrick-Gilles Maillot!

Yamaha CL/QL/TF doesn´t support OSC but Python Scripts instead.

X-AiR / M-AIR By Behringer / Midas

Behringer World OSC dictionary for X-AIR (Behringer) and M-AIR (Midas)