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Control-linked behaviours

Behaviours determine how each object should be allocated to devices (see the Handling audio objects page). In addition to the fixed behaviours, which define the device roles and number of devices that should be used for an object, you can also add control-linked behaviours and custom behaviours for more detailed control.

Control-linked behaviours, as the name suggests, are directly related to controls that you've set up. They allow you to quickly and easily enable those controls to influence object allocation in simple ways.

With control-linked behaviours, you can specify the control values for which devices will be allowed or prohibited for an object. For more information on exactly what that means, see the allocation algorithm description. Or, keep reading to find out how to use control-linked behaviours.

Tip

Custom behaviours can also be linked to controls if you need more flexibility than is offered by control-linked behaviours.

To add a control-linked behaviour, click the "Add behaviour" button in the audio object table. If you have set up any controls, the control-linked behaviours will appear at the top of the dropdown list with orange dots, labelled User control: [Control name]. You can only add one instance of each control-linked behaviour to each object.

Once you've selected a control-linked behaviour, the Initial settings dialogue box will appear. Make the settings you'd like (as described below for the different control types), then click "Add to object".

Tip

It should be noted that if you add control-linked behaviours and custom behaviours to an object, these might affect each other. For example, a device that is prohibited by a control-linked behaviour will not be able to be used to play back that object regardless of any custom behaviours that you've set.

Radio buttons control and checkboxes control

You can use the control-linked behaviour to determine whether or not an object can be allocated to a device depending on the control value.

The radio buttons control and checkboxes control have the same interface for control-linked behaviour settings.

Under the Control values heading, you'll see a list of potential options. For each of these, you can select Allowed or Prohibited.

  • The object to which you've added the behaviour will be allowed on any devices where the listener has selected control values that are set to Allowed.
  • The object to which you've added the behaviour will be prohibited from any devices where the listener has selected control values that are set to Prohibited.

If the control-linked behaviour references a control that doesn't have any options, a warning will be shown.

Range control and button control

You can use the control-linked behaviour to set a range of values for which the object is allowed to be allocated to a device.

The range control and button control have the same interface for control-linked behaviour settings.

Under the Control values heading, you'll see two boxes labelled Min and Max.

  • The object to which you've added the behaviour will be allowed on any devices where the listener has set a control value that falls within the range of values that you set in the Min and Max boxes.

  • The object to which you've added the behaviour will be prohibited on any devices where the listener has set a control value that falls outside of the range of values that you set in the Min and Max boxes.

Tip

The range that you set in the Min and Max boxes includes those numbers and all numbers in between.

Examples

Example 1

Set device location

  • A radio buttons control named Where's your device? was set up, with four options: Left side, Right side, Front, and Rear.

  • The producer wants the Narrator audio object to only be allowed to play from devices set to Front.

  • A control-linked behaviour is added to the Narrator audio object by clicking "Add behaviour" then "User control: Where's your device?".

  • The Front option is set to Allowed, and all other options are left as Prohibited.

  • The "Add to object" button is used to add the behaviour.

Example 2

Select from extra content

  • A checkboxes control named Select content was set up, with three options: Director's commentary, Audio description, and Extra crowd ambience.

  • The producer wants the extra content audio objects to only play on aux devices, and only when they're selected. They should play on all of the devices it's selected on.

  • The fixed behaviours for the Director's commentary, Audio description, and Extra crowd ambience audio object are set to Aux devices only and All applicable devices.

  • A control-linked behaviour is added to the Director's commentary audio object by clicking "Add behaviour" then "User control: Select content".

    • The Director's commentary option is set to Allowed.
    • The "Add to object" button is used to add the behaviour.

  • A control-linked behaviour is added to the Audio description audio object by clicking "Add behaviour" then "User control: Select content".

    • The Audio description option is set to Allowed.
    • The "Add to object" button is used to add the behaviour.

  • A control-linked behaviour is added to the Extra crowd ambience audio object by clicking "Add behaviour" then "User control: Select content".

    • The Extra crowd ambience option is set to Allowed.
    • The "Add to object" button is used to add the behaviour.

Example 3

Fear factor control

  • A range control named Fear factor was set up with a range from 0 to 100, a default value of 50, and a step size of 1.

  • The producer wants the Monster sounds audio object to only play on devices where the listener sets a Fear factor greater than 75.

  • A control-linked behaviour is added to the Monster sounds audio object by clicking "Add behaviour" then "User control: Fear factor".

  • The Min and Max control values are set to 76 and 100 respectively.

  • The "Add to object" button is used to add the behaviour.