Newbie VJ media server/projector questions

[scoutnetworker]

Hi there,

I'm new to this site and fairly new to VJing (i'm a lighting tech normally).

I have been asked by my Student union ents dept to spec up a VJ/projector setup. we are a pretty big live events venue with a serious amount of tour-quality lights and pa - 16 var-lite 2500 profiles, 6 atomic strobes, 4 washes, 7 (crappy) futurelite mh660 and an l'acoustic arc pa. my stage manager isn't a big fan of video (i hope to change that!!!)
i have between £5500-£7000 to spend (budget depends on how much the new CDJ1000 mk4 cost, i get the left over!)

anyway.. i was hoping to get 3 projector to install permanently on a front truss, big one in the center to front project on to the back of the stage (will be 13(ish) meters away), and 2 smaller projector for either side of the stage projecting on to 2 12foot 4:3 projector screens (all ready mounted about 6meters from the truss).

QUESTION 1
my initial thoughts are for the center one is a sanyo plc-xt21 (£1813),
i was hoping to spend about £800-£1000 on each of the other two - they need to be 2000lumens minimum. any recommendations?

QUESTION 2
i need to build a media server, the image below is a list of component i was thinking of specing it with, what do people think?

QUESTION 3
I need a 4x4 matrix switch so i can select how the screens will be used, normal conf will be center projector is live mixed visionals and outside two adverts/movies. but will also need to span the 3 screens too.

QUESTION 4
The distance upto the projectors will be between 30 and 37 meters from where the server will be controlled from, is this too far for VGA / S-video to run (think it is), if so would VGA over ethernet be worth trying and if so any recommendations?

QUESTION 5
I am considering getting GrandVJ as it seems pretty easy to do basic stuff but powerful enough to do some really good stuff. some of the people using this system will be the general crew wanting to have a break from light op-ing, how easy is it to get up and running?
Also we have an Avolites Pearl Expert lighting desk and was wondering what VJ software can be controlled with it over DMX, i know arkaos VJdmx will, is this like GrandVJ?

QUESTION 6
I was thinking of getting a touchscreen overlay for the monitor as a interface, thoughts? also any good suggestions for a midi controller?

Thanks in advance for any help and sorry for the long message!! :-)

cheers
Alan

[scoutnetworker]

hi all,

anybody able to offer any help on any of the above? thank you :-)

[sleepytom]

you need more money to have any hope of this looking good.

5k won't get you 3 decent projectors and screens let alone anything else.

[SteveG]

I'd speak to Arkaos directly as I'm not sure whether GVJ is suitable for DMX, look at Arkaos DMX. If you're just desperate to get visuals in there you can find projectors for just over the £1000.00 mark that will do the job, but be prepared to move your fixture point. If you're hoping to project in wide then make sure you have 3 matching screens and projectors. I'd lower your expectations & not slightly, considerably as Tom has said above. You'll also have to consider a decent matrix will cost you in the region of 700 I would think, personally I'd use Composite with a DA, cables, matrox triple head to go, 3 scan convertors....and lots of insurance for whoever puts it up there.....lastly but most importantly....who's making your content....lol

PS: Buying Pioneers new toys your Unions DJ's must be good Who says it's a CDJ 1000Mk4 then? the International DJ's aren't using this thing yet and yet your Union is spec'ing it.....silly.

[sleepytom]

not that silly UEA is on the Academy circuit so you get quite a lot of medium / high profile acts playing there. (i'm trying to remember which one of these gigs it is - its the little boxy room with a quite high ceiling and a square dance floor which is a bit lower than the rest of the room? I think i lost my goretex coat in there last year)

But spending so little on video is not going to get a system which will work in the venue. TBH I'd expect at least double that budget for a venue install of that size.

[SteveG]

That's where we'll disagree then Tom. Most DJ's even now when spec'ing CDJ 1000Mk3's will accept the gig if you tell them, sorry only Mk2's available. From a punters point of view it will make little or no odds what player the DJ is using and they wont even see it in the booth. DJ's, the majority, will continue to accept Mk2's and 3's at least a year after this new player has been launched. Why not spend the current budget on what and where it is really needed...this install. For the one or 2 DJ's that may not wish to accept the booking you can always hire them in. The new players can come into next years budget in April ...they're only DJ's How many DJ's are insisting on SVM's. I can guess at the price of them too Sounds like the UNi needs a Financial Controller.

[sleepytom]

I just spent an amusing day at a festival listening to people trying to track down a MK3 for Tom Middleton who apparently was refusing to play on a MK2. I'd expect the MK4 to be on quite a lot of tech specs pretty soon.

If we want to moan about relative investments then why is the total video budget equivalent to just one moving light? if you want the projection to be visible with the lighting rig then you need considerably more investment in the projection...

[SteveG]

It's amazing how many people are calling it the Mk4 The CDJ 2000 vids are now starting to appear....looks impressive and I'm sure with an impressive price tag too Full training vids online from the 23rd Oct.....sounds like it's going to be as complicated to use as the SVM if you want to get the max out of it.

http://www.djsounds.com/

[sleepytom]

Um the SVM is not the most complex thing in the world though really is it?

its a fecking DJ mixer not a time machine after all.

[SteveG]

My point being most DJ's cant just walk into a club and use the SVM, not only to it's potential but they'd be in serious danger of screwing their set up visuallly or with their audio. If Pioneer are puting up training videos there's a point to it and they feel there is need.....done any "fecking" sets on the SVM then Tom