Starstruck Video Playout Operator guide

06 / THE SHOW GUIDE

Connect the audience screen and sound

Picture and sound have separate choices in the app. Check both before the audience arrives, and again if you change a cable or adapter.

Choose the audience screen

  1. Connect the TV or screen to the Mac through your cable or adapter, and select the matching input on the TV.
  2. Open Settings → Video Output → Display Settings… to reach the Mac's display controls.
  3. Use the TV as an extended display: a separate desktop, rather than a mirror showing the same thing as the laptop.
  4. Back in Starstruck Video Playout, choose that screen under External display.
  5. Click Show test pattern and check the audience screen. Click Hide test pattern, or Done to leave Settings, when you have finished.

The test pattern is available whether Output is On, Black or Off, once a valid audience screen is selected. Leaving Settings always removes it. With Output Off, the screen returns to the Mac desktop.

The laptop is not an output destination. If the audience screen disconnects, Output turns Off and stays Off after reconnection until you deliberately choose On or Black.

Video Output settings. Connect your external screen, then choose it here. Click the picture to enlarge.

Send sound to the TV, not the laptop

  1. Set Output Off. Open Settings → Audio Output, then Sound Settings… to reach the Mac’s sound controls.
  2. In macOS, choose the Mac's own speakers as its sound output, then mute them.
  3. Return to Starstruck Video Playout and choose the TV or intended sound device under Audio destination. This is the app's separate sound choice.
  4. Set Program volume, make sure Mute program audio is unchecked, then click Play audio test.
  5. Listen at both places: the audience speakers should play the test and the laptop should stay silent. Check a real Insert too.

Loops are always silent. Inserts and stingers can have their own Mute audio setting, so check that if a particular clip is quiet. Both editing previews are silent.

If only the selected audio device disappears while the display stays connected, video carries on silently. When that same device comes back, sound rejoins at the current video position if an unmuted Insert is still playing with Output On. It does not replay missed sound or switch to laptop speakers.

Audio Output settings. Your TV or sound device appears once connected. Click the picture to enlarge.

Use the Mac window comfortably

Double-click the app name or empty part of the header to maximise the operator window; double-click again to restore its size.

In full screen, move the pointer to the very top of the screen to reveal the Mac's window controls. Use the green control to leave full screen, or press Control–Command–F.

The pointer hides over the audience picture in On or Black. Move it back to the laptop to use it normally. Off gives the audience screen back with the normal pointer.