ruudboon / tally-blaster

WiFi based Tally using cheap hardware (NodeMCU, NeoPixel Mini PCB). Currently supporting vMix, planning to support more systems like Blackmagic etc.

Tally Blaster

WiFi based Tally using NodeMCU and 2 NeoPixel Mini PCB. Currently supporting vMix, planning to support more systems like Blackmagic, Roland etc.

Case by Elvin Media

Features

• Camera tally LED & Host tally LED
• Brightness control
• Locate function
• Save settings permanent (App not needed during production)
• Autodiscover tally nodes using Zerconf/Bonjour
• Configure app to control and monitor all nodes
• vMix support

How It Works

• When your ESP starts up, it sets it up in Station mode and tries to connect to a previously saved Access Point
• if this is unsuccessful (or no previous network saved) it moves the ESP into Access Point mode and spins up a DNS and WebServer (default ip 192.168.4.1)
• using any wifi enabled device with a browser (computer, phone, tablet) connect to the newly created Access Point (ESP*)
• because of the Captive Portal and the DNS server you will either get a 'Join to network' type of popup or get any domain you try to access redirected to the configuration portal
• choose the access points that connects your vMix (must have DHCP), enter password, click save
• start Configuration App and scan for Tally Nodes
• configure your nodes with the vMix IP and tally number.

Needed Hardware

• NodeMCU v3
• 2 NeoPixels Mini PCB
• Usb cable
• USB powersupply or Powerbank
• WiFi connection to your vMix computer

Flashing NodeMCU (V3)

• Download latest release
• Unpack zip
• Open vmix-tally.ino with arduino IDE
• Install the extra libraries (WiFiManager by tzapu 2.0.3-alpha, Adafruit NeoPixel by Adafruit 1.5.0, WebSockets by Markus Sattler 2.2.0)
• Flash NodeMCU

NodeMCU pin layout

• Connect 1 NeoPixel input to 1 NeoPixel output (+,signal,-)
• Connect + of first NeoPixel to pin VU
• Connect - of first NeoPixel to ground
• Connect signal of first NeoPixel to D2
• Power using USB

Current plans

• Add 3d printer case design
• Stabilize, optimise and improve software
• Improve documentation
• Configure using webinterface
• Ask vMix for ZeroConf broadcast to allow auto connect
• Create demonstration video

Led colors

• CONNECTED: LEDS off
• PREVIEW: Green
• PROGRAM: Red
• LOCATE: White Blinking
• CONNECTING WIFI: Purple Blinkning
• CONNECTING VMIX: Orange Blinkning

Sponsor

This project will grow faster with your help. Donations and sponsorships allow me to spend more time on this project and help me paying for licenses and hardware to test, coffee, debugging pizza and release beers. Want your logo on this page? Please contact me.

Github Sponsor. One-time donations are welcome through PayPal.

Tally Blaster Control app

Inspired by

• Arduino-vMix-tally
• WiFiManager
• Automatic Update Server

tally-blaster's Issues

Icons missing on windows release

Looks like Control isn't able to find the font file for the icons on windows (path?)

No serial port detected on deployed app

The builded app isn't correctly detecting the serial port.
Under windows this could be driver related. On Mac (and maybe Windows as well) permissions.

Works fine in dev

Windows defender blocks Tally Blaster Control App

Currently our windows builds aren't code signed and causing Windows defender to kick-in when opening the app.
This can be resolved buying a code signing certificate. The cheapest I found is $85.00/yr (https://comodosslstore.com/codesigning.aspx)

Already paying for the Apple Developer account (€ 99.00/yr) if some funds come in I will sign this for windows as well.

The app can still be used on Windows without code singing by clicking "More info"

Serialport not correctly linked in package

The new serial package is not correctly compiled into the binary.
Current MacOS package is failing. Could be same case for Windows & Linux

The ABI for Electron 9.0.0 is not yet released by serialport.

Add NodeMCU binary on release

When releasing we create a draft release automatically. When this issue svenstaro/upload-release-action#19 is fixed we can automatically add the Arduino binary as well

AP Station never shutsdown

Even when connected to the local wifi the AP Station is still broadcasting and is allowing new connections.
Could be a feature, but on a production site your probably want less SSID broadcasting.

Sent version on connect

Sent version on websocket connect

Allow to change wifi when not connected to vMix and always on trusted network.

Inspiration:

tzapu/WiFiManager#1036

Unresponsive when vMix is unreachable

Websocket connection is almost unreachable when device is trying to connect to vMix.

Upgrade to Electron 9.x

We downgraded electron to support the serial port. When serialport/node-serialport#2105 is solved we can upgrade to Electron 9

Support Blackmagic

The Blackmagic SDK offers some similar tally functionality as vMix.
Need to borrow or buy a Blackmagic Atem to develop this

OTA Support

Add firmware downloader to Tally Control app and implement OTA on airduino's.
https://api.github.com/repos/ruudboon/tally/releases
https://www.instructables.com/id/Set-Up-an-ESP8266-Automatic-Update-Server/

Linux Support

• Manual test electron linux build
• Add bonjour check
• Add linux to Github Actions

Not reconnecting on lost wifi

The tally nodes aren't reconnecting to the wifi when the connection is lost. They keep hanging in lost vMix modus. Wifi should take priority.

Windows Support

• Manual test electron windows build
• Add bonjour check
• Add windows to Github Actions

Images REPO

A CLOSED ISSUE FOR HOLDING IMAGES

Github actions

• Investigate why Github Actions are failing
• Sign release (mac)

Locate keeps flashing

When settings are changed when locate is active the locate doesn't switch off and keep blinking (in red or green on preview)