Looking for a video artist with technology skills

[jzzdan]

Hello there,
We are looking for a video artist/technology geek (ideally in LA area) who can help us with the project we're working on.
Here is a short description of what we're trying to do and you can also visit "Q about controlling multi video streams" thread on the Software forum.

What we basically need is a way to play 3 or 4 DV streams to 3 or 4 projectors all controlled and programmed from one computer. I think the best way I can describe it is if we could have our video clips on the timeline in something like Final Cut Pro and assign 4 video tracks to 4 video outputs. That would allow us to program in the linear fashion what plays on which projector and it will all play in sync with audio. It would have to be a system that is portable and we would have to run it and install it in clubs and big venues.

We're talking to HP, Nvidia, and others. We were told that VJamm might be a solution for us.

We would like to get in touch with someone who is either using VJamm with multi video streams or is willing to experiment and come up with the solution with us.
We have to start putting this together so when the show comes (and money) we're not stuck with researching technology.
I'm sure there are people out there who can help us.
SPEAK UP.

Best,
Daniel

[WordVirus23]

sounds like you're in need of one of the new Hippotizers... or maybe a KaosBox...

www.greenhippo.com (I think)
www.arkaos.com

3 or 4 DV streams out of one computer is gonna be rough... you might have to go with a client/server style setup if you're going to be using desktops... I'm not in the LA area, but I've done a fat festival down there before, so if you need a hand, lemme know, any excuse to travel :) the fest was WorldFest 02 (vegan PETA thingy... those ppl are a lil extreme for me)

..james...

[sleepytom]

if you've got the budget for ether of those then fly me over and i'll sort it out properly for you ;)

[cat]

5 modest pc's 4 running *insert vj program here* 1 running logic (or insert midi sequencer here) a midi interface or 2 and some leads. For extra cash make them shuttles, or laptops even, for easy transpotation and set up, and bingo.
Ditto with the air fare

[many2]

like James said Hippotizer technology might be the ideal solution. The Hippotizer is a media server and real-time effects console, it is distributed and supported worldwide, and it can be customized to fit your needs exactly. For more information check this link (the one James gave is not the good one) :

http://www.green-hippo.com/hippotizer/

[vjfader]

Sounds like I might be able to help. I live in LA (Pasadena) so no need to Fly me out, and I have Max/Jitter programming skills, plus VJ experience.

I?m already working on a version of my software Neuromixer, that will output multiple screens from a single computer.
But sounds like you need high resolution output, one computer won?t be able to handle that. I?m certain I can think of a few options for you guys, so feel free to drop me a line.

[vjfader@yahoo.com]

[sleepytom]

it is possible on one computer

[vjrei]

It is possible with one computer but I would use one computer per video feed.

I just made a diagram, I skipped a few details but that is basically it, the cost is less than $5000 in total and you can add a new computer per video source and trigger each video in real time. It is nuts what you can achieve with it and is long way cheaper, reliable and more effective than the Arkaos box, specially because you can have 640x480 resolution per computer.

For more information write me at vjrei@yahoo.com

[vjrei]

Here is the diagram.

[neoteo]

5 laptops , midi controler , sounds like a dream set up , but i see it as a no backup setup , if one computer crashes , there it goes ...

for a backup setup you would need more 4 video mixers and 4 camaras or dvd players ...

" 4 projectors from 1 midi controler " the feel of power

[sleepytom]

:zzz:
anyone can draw a diagram - it is very easy to think you have the answer when you have not tried to do something.

the multiple machines from one midi trigger has some advantages but it is not the cheapest way nor the most reliable nor the best method.

if you use multiple machines it is also crutial which software you use - the assumtion that any midi triggered software will work is again incorrect and is the kind of theoretical advice handed out by inexperianced people who have never tried to implerment their ideas.

[alangeering]

My solution would depend on how long the show was (total video play time not including repeats and loops). How long is it?

[WordVirus23]

I'll never trust software.
(thanks windoZe!)

PS. could put a single mixer DA'd to all the beamers as backup

or sync'd DVD's instead of DV...

..j...

<wonders what becomes of all these grand schemes>

[jdat]

hummm for stability you may have to go with one hard drive per stream all on raid cards

In regards to the output you may consider one 4 port firewire card and
then output all the streams on individual firewire ports and then do a DV / Analog conversion with an external box ?
or you could get a high end video card with 4 bnc outputs ( I may be confusing I/O capabilities of such cards ) and that'd be about 1K for such a card.

I dunno I may be totally off but I think that's somewhat of a solution

In regards to the software I unfortunately don't have a clue...
If you aren't going to be switching any of the content then Fcp sounds like a good idea.

[alangeering]

My question about length of show was due to the restrictions of the following solution.

5 x professional synced DVD players
4x4 matrix

Each DVD is identical to the others (i.e. each DVD contains whole show for all 4 projectors.)

Should one DVD player fail the 5th DVD player can immediatly switched in. There should be no more than a 3 second break in the failed feed.

Oh, and good DVD players don't fail nearly as much as computers.

As an engineer I always build in some redundancy.

Alan

[jdat]

Originally posted by alangeering
My question about length of show was due to the restrictions of the following solution.

5 x professional synced DVD players
4x4 matrix


You talking about high end Pioneer's ?

I guess they could do but with time limitations obviously ( which you mentionned )

Also would need an external syncher so everything would be coordinated like clock work