NameSlave — vMix Master

NameSlave makes a vMix follow another one, the master, by input name instead of by input number. When the master puts an input called X on program, this vMix takes its own input called X to program. Use it when the systems have the same inputs under different numbers.

If the numbers match, Slave is the better choice, because it also keeps playback in time. NameSlave only follows program and preview.

Requirements

An input that should be followed has exactly the same title on both systems, including capitals and spaces.
The slave machine can reach the master's Web Controller, for example http://192.168.1.20:8088/api.
The transition set in TRANSITION is available on this vMix. The default is Stinger1.

Set up

Add the script to the follower vMix, see adding a script.
Set masterAPI at the top to the master's API address:
```
Dim masterAPI As String = "http://192.168.1.20:8088/api"
```
While it still has the placeholder http://192.168.x.x:8088/api, the script prints Please update the masterAPI ... Exiting... and stops.
Change the settings below if you need to, and start the script.

Settings

Setting	Default	Meaning
`LOOP_TIME`	`300`	How often, in milliseconds, the script asks the master for its status
`TRANSITION`	`"Stinger1"`	The vMix transition used when the program changes. Use `"Cut"` or `"Fade"` for a plain transition
`TRANSITION_BUFFER`	`3000`	How long to wait, in milliseconds, after a transition before syncing again
`DEFAULT_INPUT`	`"1"`	The input number to use when this vMix has no input with the master's title

How it works

Every LOOP_TIME the script reads the master's status and its own, and then looks up the titles of the master's program and preview inputs.

It searches this vMix for an input with the same title as the master's program input. If it finds one, that input is the target, otherwise the target is DEFAULT_INPUT. When the target is not already on program, it runs TRANSITION with it and waits TRANSITION_BUFFER.
It does the same for the master's preview input, and sends PreviewInput when the target is not already in preview.

Good to know

Names must match exactly. 05 Opening Video - EN.mp4 and 05 Opening Video - HI.mp4 are different titles, so they are not matched. When each system names its inputs differently, number them alike and use Slave.
Titles with an apostrophe do not work. The lookup uses the master's title, so if the master's program or preview input is called something like Q's slide, the lookup fails and the script prints an error on every pass until that input is no longer on program or in preview.
If two inputs on this vMix have the same title, the first one in the list is used.
Unmatched inputs fall back to DEFAULT_INPUT, so set it to something safe, such as a black or a slide, and not to an input that must never go on air.
There is no playback sync. A video starts and plays here independently of the master.

Log messages

NameSlave | New active: 5 (05 Opening Video.mp4): this vMix took input 5, which has the master's title, to program.
NameSlave | New preview: 9 (09 Q&A Slide.png): this vMix put input 9 in preview.
NameSlave | Unexpected error: ...: a request or a lookup failed, and the script retries.

Troubleshooting

It always goes to the default input. No title matches. Compare the titles on both systems character by character, including trailing spaces.
Nothing happens. Check that the script is started, that masterAPI is correct, and that you can open the master's API address in a browser on this machine.