QLab and Sound Design Basics with Meg Stephens

Participants will learn how to use a non-licensed, free version of QLab to its full potential and create their own sound design under the guidance of professional Theatre Technician, Meg Stephens.

QLab is a program that allows the design of sound, video and lighting cues for shows. When you’re done designing, run the whole show just by pressing the “GO” button. QLab runs shows of all sizes, all over the world, from intimate storefront theaters to televised events reaching billions of people across the globe.

Meg will lead the group in the creation of a full QLab show by going through the basic features of QLab step by step including

• How to record your own sounds or find sounds from open-source websites

• Technical elements of QLab such as routing and ideal audio file type/quality

• How to use vision on QLab

• Discuss the pro’s and con’s of including lighting cues in QLab

• Overview of how to include video cues

• How to set up a QLab workspace so it is simple for another operator to use.

Meg will also provide resources on how to find open-source sound effects, as well as reliable sources on where to do additional learning and get troubleshooting advice.

This workshop is ideal for

independent artists, theatre technicians, and stage managers who present at fringe festivals or independent theatres, or those who want to increase their knowledge of QLab and are looking to be able to program QLab files to an acceptable professional standard. Limited or no experience is fine!

What to bring

• If possible participants should bring their Apple laptop with QLab 4 downloaded and installed (unlicensed, free version is completely fine). If participants don’t have access to an Apple computer, Meg will project her computer workspace up so all can participate.

• Your own utensils/food (we have a fridge and microwave)

About the artist

Meg Stephens is a freelance stage manager and technician who has toured and worked at festivals and events across Australia and the world. She studied Technical Production at the Queensland University of Technology. She has previously worked for the Commonwealth Games, Adelaide Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, Woodford Folk Festival, Sydney Festival and currently works as the Technical Manager for the national tour of the 91-Storey Treehouse with CDP Theatre Producers.