Multiple Screen / Output Instalation

[stark]

hi, i wanted to experiment with a multiple screen instalation, for this i need multiple outputs. curently resolume offers no multiple output support... but i want a solution and i cant wait for the next ver of resolume


well, what i had in mind was the following.. since i have been using my resolume along with a dvd and vcd player and a video mixer i thought that if i get another dvd or vcd player and buy a couple of more mixers i could achieve a 4 screen instalation with a mixer for each and content for each, and the ability to put all of the screens with the same output....

the idea is as follows, i have at least 4 content sources (laptops, dvd, vcd). then use a four mixers with four input and one output... those outputs to my screens.

the questions are:
how do i make an output turn to four identical outputs without loosing quality. (from laptop to 4 mixers)

is there a simpler and cheaper way to get the results i want? is there a mixer that can do all this? like four input and four independent outputs


please help......!!!

st?rk

[hamageddon]

there's a four port AV Switch (composite/s-vhs) distributed in germany by - guess who :D - hama for about 30 Euro, which can be used in both directions: 1 to 4 or 4 to 1.

guess it's an american brand, relabeled by hama, as they usally do, but i can't recall the original name. gotta ask da web.

kramer electronics has surely similar stuff like that, but not that cheap.

[infopocalypse]

Radio Shack makes a distributed amplifier. (the name of hamageddons' device).

I don't know of anybody that makes multi-out video mixers... but you could jerry rig a four ouput with a mixer chain and an image processor.

Four mixers would almost definatelu be cheaper though.

Just as a curiosity for the forum... would a program that does multiple output be useful? This is asking, FYI, for not the upcoming software release but maybe the next version.

James

[stark]

hi,
well a program with multiple outputs would be usefull, but it depends on the kind of program and if there are hardware tools to support the software. something like a usb board to control it better(not only with mouse and keyboard)

because i think that multiple out would be kind of dificult to control. i have never done it, but for what i have in mind it seems a little complex..

-------

i wanted to know where could i find a cheap and good quality mixer.... well, that would be any vjs dream, cuz i think there are none...jajaja. but anyway...

i have seen a SIMA brand mixer (used, on eBay) for about $300. since i need 4 of them i need to find the cheapest... cuz i only need it to select an output and make simple transitions between them....

i guess the sima mixer doesnt have 4 inputs, only 2, so that would be a problem..... what else do you suggest...what other mixer


last night i was thinking.... i would be a lot cheaper to not use transitions (for now... while i'm still a begginer) between the outputs and limit myself to transitons made by my laptop with software like resolume..... what kind of thing do i need for this...

[sleepytom]

a video matrix switch is what you need do a search on google and you should find a load of them

[hamageddon]

Originally posted by stark
hi,
well a program with multiple outputs would be usefull, but it depends on the kind of program and if there are hardware tools to support the software. something like a usb board to control it better(not only with mouse and keyboard)

u considered a quattro out grafx card (f.e. appian) already?

[nirom]

I may have a solution but it may now be appropriate for all circumstances.

It is a software called Watchout made by dataton (www.dataton.com), the compagny that make the trax control software. It is a system which uses one master computer for the programming and sequencing and display computers for each screen or projectors you want to use. It can be used to do videowalls, converge projector side by side... I have used it on a couple of gigs (some corpos and the Queen's visit to Toronto). It works very well with a good video card (64+ Megs). The major drawback is that you much send a senquence and associated media files like quicktimes, stills, sounds to the displays BEFORE running the show.

Still that one of the only system that can do 16:9 resolutions easily, provided the video card supports something like 1280*720 resolutions. Ideal for plasmas.1

It costs about 1500$ per display and master, does not crash.

Louis-Pierre Morin
lpmorin@peakstudios.net

[natarius]

dataton is very unflexible for vj needs as you have to render each show befor playing it!! i have used it for some corporate presentation shows (4-8 screens) and it was ok for my needs (a bit overpriced i think)...but its useless for realtime situations!

my favorite solution now is WMC, it imports footage in realtime (NO RENDERING)! it feeds an umlimited count of screens at resolutions up to 1080i hdtv (or even more if you need) each screen!

it has a touchscreen as remote but can also be controlled over midi or dmx512

i would say wmc is just made for realtime multiscreen installations, while dataton is an old fashioned presenation app!

just my 2cents

merry christmas

natarius