The Master Control Module is an add-on module to ProPresenter that allows you to push the capabilities of a standard installation of the program. This module allows you to control your ProPresenter installations across multiple machines from a single computer and by a single operator. This module has been available since ProPresenter5 on both Mac and Windows. You must have the same version of ProPresenter across your machines (Pro5 or Pro6), but the module does control cross-platform as long as you are on the same version.
Necessary Items
- Master Control Module activated on Master machine
- Two or more machines running a registered copy of ProPresenter on the same version
- Network connection between the machine (though not required, a dedicated network connection is recommended)
The first step in setting the Master Control Module up, is making sure all computers are hardwired (ethernet line) into your network, and that all computers can see each other on the network, This step is key (Note: Our Support team cannot assist with troubleshooting this step). We recommend a dedicated network (that isn't connected to your main network infrastructure) for the ProPresenter machines to use this Module optimally. The next step is to make sure all machines are licensed. After this, we can begin setting this connection up within ProPresenter.
Start by heading to the Slave ProPresenter machine(s), and go into the Network Tab of ProPresenter Preferences. Enable the Network, and the Port should autofill with an open port on the network. After the Network has been enabled within ProPresenter, the Network Options in ProPresenter will show as available. You can enable Master Control and then select "Slave". (Note: this shows up as not connected, and that's intended. You will set up the Slave machine(s) first, and then establish the connection from the Master.)
On the "Master" ProPresenter computer, our first step is activating the Master Control Module. Start by heading in the Modules tab of ProPresenter Preferences, and then select "Activate" under Master Control. If you don’t have an option to activate the Module, please make sure you have purchased the Module and that you are on the current ProPresenter update. If you are still don’t see this option, please contact our Support team. If you have enabled the Module, head into the Network Settings tab of Preferences. Enable the Network the same way as the Slave machine(s), and the Port should autofill with an open port on the network. You can enable Master Control and then select "Master".
Now that the Master and slaves are set up to see each other, you can connect the Master to the Slave machine(s). You can also select "reconnect" if you want the Slave machine(s) to reconnect after relaunching the ProPresenter. Once the machines are connected, you can now start controlling items from one machine to another.
Types of Control
When Using the Master Control Module, you can control items in your Library, Library Playlists, Video/Image Bin, and Video/Image Bin Playlists.
When controlling from the Library, ProPresenter will search the current Library of all Slave computers that have documents of the same name. So for example, if you have identical libraries on multiple machines, you can easily navigate to any document and control slides within those documents.
Controlling from the Library Playlist, Video/Image Bin, Video/Image Bin Playlists works a little bit differently. This is done by the index of the Playlist, index of the Playlist item, index of the Video/Image Bin, and index of the Video/Image Bin Playlists. (Note: Playlist Groups are treated as a single Playlist index when navigating in Library Playlists and Video/Image Bin Playlists).
In the image below we show how the indexing is made from the Playlist in the first position, to the Playlist item in the first position, to the slide in the third position. In other words, Triggering slide three of the first song in the first playlist on the Master machine will trigger slide three of the first song in the first playlist on the Slave machine. The same concept is also for the Video/Image Bin. For example, selecting the first video/image cue in the first Playlist (Backgrounds) on the Master machine will trigger the first video/image cue in the first Playlist (Backgrounds) on the slave machine.
NOTE: ProPresenter has the ability to do cross-platform Master Control (i.e. You can control a Mac from a PC or vice versa)
NOTE: Master/Slave connections function in same version (i.e. You cannot make a connection from ProPresenter5 to ProPresenter6 or vice versa)