Plasma screens

[Amukidi]

I've just landed a gig VJing for Pete Lawrence (Big Chill) at a BBC party next week. I've just been told that the rig is 11 (yes 11!!) Large Sony Plasma screens and the associated broadcast quality scan converters!! Has anyone got any experience with these things and can warn me about any possible issues that I may stumble upon? Its a great (and very well paid) gig to do, but I'm a tad edgy about strolling in there with absolutely no working knowledge of the kit, I am assured that there will be ful technical support, but thought I'd test the water here!!

[Amukidi]

Cheers for that mate! I guess I will be well supported on the tech front and should treat it as a learning opportunity - I've spoken to the Production manager and Director and they both seem incredibly helpful. Thanx also for reminding me about the comensation issue! I hope that this will be ok by lowering the Alpha on my layers, but I also have acces to total colour control in "Flashmixer" so I'll be ready for it! I've also been swatting up on the MX50 manual - and will be playing around with that a lot more.
I'll let you know how it all went (Gulp)!

[dedhedgehog]

also you may find that some plasmas have difficulty displaying thin lines.

[Brainfade]

That will look Friggin Awesome

[holly]

So, Jaffa, were there any issues with the plasmas? How was the ratio compensated? Was there squash&stretch or letter boxing or anything? I'm about to have the same issue (the space is offering an s-video in to their system so I'm not anticipating technical issues, but I've never seen my stuff on plasma screens before).

[krezrock]

we had 12 on farmclub tv. panasonics. don't leave color bars on too long. that will burn them quickly. if they turn black and white, they have been burned. they will take awhile to reset themselves.

if they ever went b&w on us, i'd let the ld know and he'd wash a color over the problematic monitor to get at least a monochrome color to the monitor that was failing mid show.

[Amukidi]

Holly, they were awesome! The ratio wasn't a big issue for me as I "build" abstract Flash animations on the fly as it were, so I just worked around it. The image resolution and saturation were so hot, I actually had to slide the T-Bar of the MX50 to calm them down a bit! Has to be said that the Sony 1024 scanny had a lot to do with the output!! Remember these were top of the range Sonys and I had 2 (yes 2) Tech assistants on line all evening to keep things sweet! (and I won't start on the BBC's hospitality- suffice it to say it was a memorable evening!) I certainly look forward to using these babies again one day, despite the negative rumblings I had heard about them (and only $20,000 each)

[VirtualVisuals]

I have used broadcast equipment many times before, the way I tend to be setup has the output of my scan converter (composite) going into an avitel (or similar) VDA, then split out to the various endpoints (video walls, projectors, monitors etc.) The thing with a VDA like this is that if there are any problems with signal going into it, they come out just the same, only amped.

While you'll probably find that you can stick almost any signal, no matter how degraded (within reason), into a the back of a modern plasma screen, you should always test your kit beforehand, in fact most companies who supply display systems, that I have worked with, insist upon this.

If they are supplying the scan converter though, you should be fine.

[holly]

Ha! This is such an 'upscale' topic. It's very exciting! I can't wait!

I guess I'm just going from my mixer into their s-vid cable. I'll try to get over there and see how it looks beforehand. Thanks!

[vjrei]

Plasma screens are different from video beams.

Plasma screens have the advantage of brighter colors but the best visuals are the one with big letters or big graphics, just because the screen is small and people won't be able to understand complex objects from a large distance.

I use black and white visuals, text, icons and things like that most of the time when working with plasma screens.

The importance of this is because you want the client to tell something is really going on with your work with the screens, that is how you create a name.

Good luck.

Ps. use lots of red colors and yellows and blues, just like cartoons. The plasma screens are very bright. They treat the color very different than proyectors.

[Amukidi]

I can also tell you that, as we speak, some clever bastards are developing new technology that will result in plasma type screens that you can roll up and stick in a tube!!! Get your head around that!!

[michaelheap]

ive seen and played with a very early prototype!

v. nice

[Amukidi]

You spawny GET!! Tell me more M.

[michaelheap]

test version resolution & brightness were shit, but im told theese will improve,

imaging a firmish silk, bendable but stiffish, (like card i suppose) with a polymer matrix imbedded,

i cant for reasons of law & NDA's tell you how i saw it, but i can tell u more face 2 face.

m

[Amukidi]

I shall quiz you when next we meet. God, technology gets me moist!