5.4 QLab control for ASM and Viewer sync (Beta)

What this beta workflow does

This workflow keeps SurtitleLive as the script, translation, deployment, ASM, and Viewer system. QLab becomes the show-control surface for subtitle cues during the performance.

• QLab displays the imported subtitle Text cues locally, so the projection computer has a QLab-native subtitle backup.
• When armed, each SurtitleLive subtitle Group can also tell ASM to jump to the matching deployed cue.
• ASM then publishes the normal SurtitleLive cue state to Viewer links and audience phones.
• This is not a separate deployment path. It uses the existing deployed show, existing ASM link, and existing Viewer links.

Prepare SurtitleLive first

1. Finish script editing, translation, and subtitle review in the Editor.
2. Use Simulation to confirm cue order and languages.
3. Deploy the show through Go Live.
4. Open the deployed show in Deployment Cockpit.

Enable ASM control and download the pack

1. In Deployment Cockpit, find the QLab control panel after Front-of-House Materials.
2. Turn on Enable QLab control in ASM. This does not change the ASM link, QR code, Copy, or Open action.
3. Download the QLab Projection Pack for the deployed show.
4. Choose the caption language and caption position.
5. Choose whether to include character names and stage directions.
6. Download the pack on the Mac that will run QLab.

Import and arrange the QLab show

1. Unzip the pack on the QLab Mac.
2. Open your QLab 5 workspace.
3. Run import-into-qlab5.applescript and choose surtitlelive-qlab-cues.json.
4. Move whole SurtitleLive subtitle Groups into your main QLab show list where those subtitles should happen.
5. Add sound, light, video, standby, wait, pause, or other QLab cues before, after, or between SurtitleLive subtitle Groups.
6. Keep each SurtitleLive Group intact. Do not split the Text child cue from the Script child cue unless you intentionally want that subtitle to stop syncing ASM and Viewer.

Connect QLab to ASM

1. Open ASM from the normal ASM Console link in Deployment Cockpit and unlock it with the operator password.
2. Start the SurtitleLive local bridge on the QLab Mac.
3. In ASM, connect to the local bridge.
4. Confirm ASM shows Bridge helper connected and Viewer sync ready.
5. Arm QLab control, then run one QLab subtitle cue to verify QLab cue input reaches ASM.

Rehearse before showtime

• Run one early subtitle from QLab and confirm QLab projection, ASM current cue, and Viewer subtitles all match.
• Run one middle subtitle directly from QLab, not only the next cue.
• Jump to a wrong subtitle, then correct it from QLab, and confirm ASM and Viewer follow the corrected cue.
• Test blackout or pause behavior separately in QLab and ASM if the show uses it.
• If any check fails, disarm QLab control and use ASM manual controls or QLab projection-only as the fallback.

If subtitles change after export

• Make the subtitle change in SurtitleLive and save the Editor.
• Use Update Live Subtitles or redeploy, depending on your live workflow.
• Download a fresh QLab Projection Pack from the updated deployment.
• Re-import or replace the affected SurtitleLive Groups in QLab.
• Old QLab Projection Packs are intentionally rejected when their subtitle identity no longer matches the active ASM state.

Safety boundaries

• The QLab Projection Pack does not contain SurtitleLive passwords, runtime tokens, or admin credentials.
• QLab local projection can continue if the network drops, because the Text cues live in the QLab workspace.
• Mobile Viewer sync still needs ASM, the local bridge, and SurtitleLive runtime control to be connected.
• The local bridge only relays armed cue jumps from QLab to ASM on the show Mac.
• QLab connected status is not proof that audience phones are receiving subtitles. Always test a real Viewer link before performance.