scheduled pics/movies/visualizations (Kaleidolight ??)

[wide]

Hello,

http://www.xs4all.be/avl/kaleido.htm

Anybody know what happened to Kaleidolight (is that even their "real" page)? I like the idea of pics, movies, text overlays (ads??), and canned visualizations that are scheduled in an automated fashion for plasmas/projectors at small clubs or lounges. Are they out of business? If so -- anybody know why?

There are some other products worth mentioning in this realm...
http://www.mediashout.com/
http://www.scala.com/
http://www.clarityvisual.com/

But they are pricey (except mediashout) and they do NOT do canned visualizations (maybe nobody wants that feature very badly??).

Anyways, i was kind of enamored w/ the idea and wanted to get feedback. Here's a few relevant posts i've come across in my tireless use of the "search" page :)

http://www.vjforums.com/showthread.php?threadid=3794
http://www.vjforums.com/showthread.php?threadid=2265

Any info on Kaleidolight or other companies or why products like this suck or rock is welcomed!!! And thanks to everyone who posts on these boards -- so much info it is just amazing.

Cheers,
John

[Nema]

the only thing i heard about kaleidolight is that many of their customers got upset because they had to pay for EACH new picture/movie in the show. so, kaleidolight lost some customers who decided to use other (cheaper and more flexible...) systems.

[scancommander]

Sorry to dig this subject back up, but I feel I should warn people about the very bad experiances I have had using the Kaleidovision systems.

The first system I used of theres was the one shown on the hyperlink at the top of wide's post, Kaleidolight. These systems are based on a pc with a touch screen user interface, and a number of DVP's (a pc with a MPEG output card). The exact number of linked DVP's depends on the venue the system is being installed in but basically it required 1 DVP for each stream of video. The interface then allowed schedualing of clips and also controls video matrix to route video signals to output devices.
This system was all well and good until any of the DVP's crashed as this ment the WHOLE system required resetting and re syncronising. The other major downfall is that for just a 4 output system, you end up with a full server rack to cart about!!!!

The company I worked for then decided (against all my wishes!!!!! :grrr: ) to install another kaleidovision system in there other venue (the one in which I was to work after its refit). Kaleidolight had now been discontinued and replaced with an exteamly unusable product, KL2.

KL2 basically takes all control of the scheduling, media and routing away from the user. You cannot upload you own media to it, you can not set schedules and more to the point if you need any of these things, Kaleidovision will happily do it for you down a ADSL connection and send you an invoice a few days later. My main problem with KL2 was how SLOW it was. It made everything you tried to do look VERY unprofessional. Eventually, I disconnected KL2, installed 2 computers with Premiere 6 and used the kramer supplied software to control the matrix.

Since then I have heard many stories about venues (including many of Luminar Leisures 'Liquids') throwing there Kaleidovision systems back at them, and replacing them with the likes of arKaos and Hippotizer.

Personally I would never use Kaleidovision for anything ever again. The company are only interested in taking you money and not providing any support for their overpriced badly designed products.

[dpl]

We developed video graphics systems for nightclubs, bars etc called the Video DJ as well as video based effects (videos) in the 1990s and did many of the Luminar predecessors (Rank Leisure) sites as well as Allied Domeque etc... Its all changed now and Luminar clearly dominates as the biggest nightclub owner.

It's interesting to see what the other articles in this thread as to what happened with the Kaleidovision systems.

Our systems were very high energy light/ graphics shows and had more connection with a DJ's or an LJ's creativity as well (as including the option to advertise).

We worked on the idea that you could lift the atmosphere in a club, just like good music and a good light show... and the systems were packed with graphic effects.


The site is at http://www.bcsmm.fsnet.co.uk

[djstu2010]

If anyone is interested in systems like this, we manufacture and support the "BeeBox" system which features template-based video graphics.

This has the advantage of offering broadcast quality motion graphics with editable text fields so that the specifics of a particular promotion can be edited on-site.

For example:
- A house wine promotion where the brand can be changed on a weekly basis
- A DJ slide, where the DJs name can be changed.
- A desserts menu where the prices can be changed.

We also offer templates which are fed from an RSS feed or XML file, for example:
- A "live music" promotion which automatically shows the next four bands
- A football fixtures promotion which automatically shows the next three fixtures.

We design templates to customers needs.

The system also offers background music, and is a platform for other forms of pub/club entertainment.

Full details at our website at www.beeboxsystems.co.uk

[rEmiXeN]

the only thing i heard about kaleidolight is that many of their customers got upset because they had to pay for EACH new picture/movie in the show. so, kaleidolight lost some customers who decided to use other (cheaper and more flexible...) systems.
I think also.... :trashcomp

[nutcracker]

App Store has a £2.99 app for ipad called Digital Signage Controller, scheduled videos, pictures, websites and ticker tape layer

http://appshopper.com/business/digital-signage-controller?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter