Studio “recording” light setup?

[hillerheilman]

Hey forum, I have a somewhat odd question.

I’m thinking about getting a light for outside the room where I record all my music to indicate to my roommates that I am in fact recording. I use an audio interface and an iPad for pretty much everything, and I’m wondering if there’s a way that I could somehow sync the light to turn on and off with the recording button in my iPad daw.
Does anyone know how I could do something like that?

[Dok]

Not sure if this will work since you're on an iPad and not a computer, but...

https://www.punchlight.com/recording_lamp_usb

[marqueemoon]

A little clunky, but you could use an audio controlled relay (RDL ST-ACR1) connected to a spare analog output on your interface and use that for contact closure to trigger something like a Lowell RPC-15-S that your “recording” light is plugged into.

So, your backing track/ click starts up, the audio controlled relay senses it and triggers the power control device to apply power to whatever is plugged into the receptacle. Once the relay stops sensing audio contact closure is released to the power control, and the sign goes off.

That Punchlight looks way simpler though.

[Larry Mal]

Can't you just get an "On Air" sign of some kind?

Does it really need to be sync'ed to the record button, or can't you just hit it when you know you will be recording and leave it on for the duration?

[hillerheilman]

Can't you just get an "On Air" sign of some kind?

Does it really need to be sync'ed to the record button, or can't you just hit it when you know you will be recording and leave it on for the duration?

Fair point, Larry.
I just wondered if it could be done for convenience/coolness.
Have I mentioned that I sometimes over complicate things needlessly?

[Larry Mal]

Have I mentioned that I sometimes over complicate things needlessly?

We all do. There wouldn't be a forum without it.

[jorri]

Can't you just get an "On Air" sign of some kind?

Does it really need to be sync'ed to the record button, or can't you just hit it when you know you will be recording and leave it on for the duration?

Fair point, Larry.
I just wondered if it could be done for convenience/coolness.
Have I mentioned that I sometimes over complicate things needlessly?

Smart WiFi lightswitch, I'm sure tons of things like that. One i've seen is just controlled to a phone app.
But with the record button? I do not know- i bet someone could come up with a Reaper command, they usually do. (but you're not using that!)
How are you at writing code?

[hillerheilman]

Can't you just get an "On Air" sign of some kind?

Does it really need to be sync'ed to the record button, or can't you just hit it when you know you will be recording and leave it on for the duration?

Fair point, Larry.
I just wondered if it could be done for convenience/coolness.
Have I mentioned that I sometimes over complicate things needlessly?

Smart WiFi lightswitch, I'm sure tons of things like that. One i've seen is just controlled to a phone app.
But with the record button? I do not know- i bet someone could come up with a Reaper command, they usually do. (but you're not using that!)
How are you at writing code?

Not a code literate guy myself, but the WiFi based switch could be a solution...

[øøøøøøø]

I've never tried anything like this, but you could probably set something up via MIDI.

If you had, say, a set of MIDI transport controls, you could probably set that up so it fires off an extra set of MIDI messages when you hit "record" or "stop." Then it's just a matter of figuring out how to get this MIDI message to control the light.

A bit outside my wheelhouse, but I'm sure it's possible.

[MazzyJaster]

Can't you leave a note on the door saying Do Not Disturb?

[hillerheilman]

Can't you leave a note on the door saying Do Not Disturb?

Yeah, I could. As I said above, I over complicate things sometimes. I just wanted to see if it could be done for the coolness factor and convenience.

[MazzyJaster]

Can't you leave a note on the door saying Do Not Disturb?

Yeah, I could. As I said above, I over complicate things sometimes. I just wanted to see if it could be done for the coolness factor and convenience.

Sorry, it was just a joke I've got Philips Hue in my recording space and it works via WiFi. I could never go Back to normal lighting, and I have a different setup for every kind of mood. I don't have a light outside the door yet, but it's easily doable!

[øøøøøøø]

I've never tried anything like this, but you could probably set something up via MIDI.

If you had, say, a set of MIDI transport controls, you could probably set that up so it fires off an extra set of MIDI messages when you hit "record" or "stop." Then it's just a matter of figuring out how to get this MIDI message to control the light.

A bit outside my wheelhouse, but I'm sure it's possible.

A quick google reveals that someone has already figured the MIDI angle out.

Bob's yr uncle:

https://www.punchlight.com/recording_strip_usb

[Dok]

A quick google reveals that someone has already figured the MIDI angle out.

Bob's yr uncle:

https://www.punchlight.com/recording_strip_usb

A quick read of THIS THREAD would reveal that too

Not sure if this will work since you're on an iPad and not a computer, but...

https://www.punchlight.com/recording_lamp_usb

Seriously, though, I wish I could get one of these for every room in my house so NOBODY MOVES when I'm recording...

[fever606]

Assuming the REC button on your DAW sends a MIDI CC when pressed (it probably does), you could get a MIDI-capable DMX controller (or put together something like this) and go from there...

https://youtu.be/TlQPGW-gHGE?t=110