External control

External control lets you connect a hardware keyboard or button controller so an operator can fire slots and drive shows without touching the mouse. Once you assign keys to actions, pressing a button on the controller is identical to pressing the matching control on screen.

Not sure how slots and shows fit together? Read Core concepts first.

Supported controllers

ArenaDirector recognises two controller families:

Controller	Notes
Preh KeyTec	Programmable key panels. Import a .mwf layout file to display the physical key labels in the assignment view.
Launchpad	Grid pad controller. Keys light up in each assigned slot's colour automatically; non-slot actions let you pick a custom LED colour.

Connect a controller

1. Plug in the controller before opening ArenaDirector, or connect it now.
2. Open the Configuration window by selecting the gear icon in the left sidebar.
3. Select External Control from the left navigation (under the General group).
4. Select Add Controller… at the bottom of the Controllers list. ArenaDirector scans for supported devices and lists any it finds.
5. If no devices appear, select Rescan after checking the USB connection.
6. Select Add next to the device you want to use. The controller appears in the Controllers list and its layout opens in the right panel.

To remove a controller, select the trash icon next to its name in the list.

Import a layout file (Preh KeyTec only)

A .mwf file maps physical key positions and legends for a Preh KeyTec panel. Without it, the assignment view shows generic key identifiers.

1. Select the Preh KeyTec controller in the Controllers list.
2. Select Import .mwf… and open the layout file supplied with your device. The assignment view updates to show the panel's physical layout.

Enable or disable a controller

Each controller has a Name field and an Enabled toggle in the detail panel. Deselecting Enabled stops the controller from firing actions during a show without removing its key assignments.

Assign keys to slots and actions

The right panel shows the selected controller's layout. Assigned keys are highlighted; unassigned keys are dimmed.

1. Select the controller in the Controllers list.
2. Click a key in the layout view. The Assign key dialog opens.
3. Choose an action from the action list at the top of the dialog.
4. Set any parameters the action needs (see Action reference below).
5. Select Save. The key highlights in the layout view.

To remove an assignment, click the key and select Clear binding.

tip

On a Launchpad, a key bound to TriggerSlot lights up automatically in that slot's colour. For any other action, the LED colour row lets you pick a custom colour with Pick… or remove it with Clear.

Action reference

Actions are grouped by what they control.

Slot

Action	What it does
TriggerSlot	Fires the chosen slot, identical to pressing it on the slot grid. Enter the slot number in the Slot ID field.

Layer

Action	What it does
SwitchLayer	Switches to a specific layer. Enter the layer number in the Layer field.
NextLayer	Moves to the next layer.
PreviousLayer	Moves to the previous layer.

View

Action	What it does
ToggleView	Switches between the slot grid and the other main view.
GoToView	Navigates to a specific view by number.

Show (named)

These actions target one named show. Add a separate binding for each show you want to control from hardware. Select the show in the Show picker that appears after you choose the action.

Action	What it does
ShowStart	Starts the chosen show from the beginning.
ShowStop	Stops the chosen show.
ShowGo	Advances the chosen show to the next cue.
ShowPause	Pauses the chosen show.
ShowPrevious	Steps the chosen show back to the previous cue.
SelectShow	Moves the selection in the Shows view to the chosen show.

Show (selected)

These actions act on whichever show is currently selected in the Shows view, so one key can drive any show without rebinding.

Action	What it does
SelectNextShow	Moves the selection to the next show in the list.
SelectPrevShow	Moves the selection to the previous show.
PlaySelectedShow	Starts the currently selected show.
StopSelectedShow	Stops the currently selected show.
GoSelectedShow	Advances the currently selected show to the next cue.

Global

Action	What it does
FadeOutAll	Fades every active source to silence and black.
PauseAll	Pauses every running show.
StopAll	Stops every running show and all active slots.
BlackoutAll	Cuts every canvas to black immediately.

Bindings are saved automatically

Assignments save as soon as you select Save in the assignment dialog and persist across restarts. You can reassign or clear them at any time without affecting the rest of your configuration.

See also

• Triggering with a controller
• Controller and keyboard reference