solutions for being hardware independant

[Anyone]

hi guys,

ok so most of us know its been possible for a few years now already,
with Edirol's PR80 for example,

to actually just bring a harddrive to a gig,
so no need for carrying any bulky hardware around,
just a detailed rider

however, the PR80 is quite a hi-end solution
and most promoters wont have this equipment to hand
especially if you're on tour with several dates in several countries
and are expecting a consistent delivery of your performance.

Can anybody recommend alternatives to this, that are easier on promoters?

if not, and this is the crux of the matter,
what would we need to recommend to manufacturers
to make this happen in the near future?

[deepvisual]

kaptivator with an external HD would have done the trick..
shame Korg didn't follow through.

Pr 80 is great for installs but not easy to walk in and play.
as I am sure you and vello found out.

but as most hardware servers are just computers in a box anyway, wouldnt it make sense for someone like Modul8/garagecube to build an install version?
or maybe some VJ boffin can start a line of custom VJ performance machines based on macbook pro?

[sleepytom]

that's a better way of asking the question!

The current problems are that hardware media servers such as the Hippotizer and PR80 are very expensive to buy and it is very hard (impossible) to practice and create a good show without having access to the hardware.

Potentially the solution to this is for a manufacturer to offer a software only version of their media server to allow for at home setup (similar in concept to wysiwyg lighting control systems).

I still feel that there is little to be gained from this approach for normal VJs (eg the hippotizer is very powerful and complex - thus to get the most out of it requires some complex configuration as well as dealing with the interfacing into a control system - this can be alleviated with desk profiles / sysex dumps etc but it is still a days work to assemble the different elements into a working system)

This type of system can be well used within a touring setup though as tweaks to the show could be performed back at the studio with updates being sent out to the on the road operator. However i don't see the advantages of this approach ever really being affordable by individual club VJs.

the existing systems were not designed for one day hires in foreign lands but more so that spares could be easily swapped out in the middle of a tour without having to reprogram the mediaservers. this does potentially allow for easy travel with just a harddrive but personally i would be very hesitant about doing this (it only takes one unit with different or corrupted software and the show will be f@#ked - also the potential time waste of reconfiguring the hardware makes the cost rise up again)

[Anyone]

Originally Posted by deepvisual

Pr 80 is great for installs but not easy to walk in and play.
as I am sure you and vello found out.

we didnt have any probs whatsoever...

ok sleepy, having a home version so we can setup in the studio
then update the hardware in the venue with new configs... not bad

so not just having media on playback but also way to interface with it, cool

[deepvisual]

haven't catalyst and hippo been working on software only versions??

[sleepytom]

another problem with this concept is the media encoding requirements - hardware based video decoding is common in many media severs (both traditional tape replacement units like the doraime and in newer solutions such as the hippotizer) The solution would be to integrate media encoding into the home use software only solution, however there would be possible errors which you wouldn't see until you were at the gig. (eg i've seen footage which plays back fine on hippotizer v2 but appears to have reversed fields or something on v3) I suspect it would be fairly hard to make a completely reliable solution that allowed for decent compatibility testing without having access to the actual playback hardware.

even with these issues the concept of a cheap (free?) software to build shows for playback from expensive hardware media servers would be a very good idea. if done correctly this would allow not only allow wider use of media servers but also would encourage much more creative show design as preparation time would not have to tie up the actual servers themselves.

it gets really exciting if the concept is taken a little further.. if the design software included the ability to create a virtual stage with the ability to position virtual screens in a space you could design and program very complex multiscreen shows in the studio with a real concept of how they would look in production. When it comes to show day you could just plug you laptop into multiple mediaservers and control the multiscreen show that you'd prepared at home.

[Anyone]

yay we are agreeing !!!

ok so there would be technical setbacks from time to time of course...

but having a soft available for a specific hardware
would be something I'd like to see too
any others?

.

[Scratchpole]

Well I suppose if it's free and it does audio and lighting as well. I'll give it a go!
It almost sounds viable.

[zygo]

A new hardware system(computer) built from the ground up to handle two pieces of software (available seperately for a reasonable price) which run side by side(multiple displays 2/3):

1. Audio, video and dmx sequencer similar to Ableton Live does with audio/midi. With unlimited routing capacities(based on size of lighting/screens/surround sound).

2. Virtual production building software with a fully customisable virtual space where you can build/save preset venue set-ups, test them virtually, and route signals in an intuitive way.

The spec of the hardware I'm open to suggestions. But I believe the best option is an easily expandable system so someone could buy a basic unit with: midi in/out/through, stereo sound card 2in/2out, dmx in/out, ethernet(both networking and optional VGA-ethernet type outs), dual display graphics card, easy slot in hard drive bay(shell to house a standard drive available seperately), usb/FW400/FW800....

but then a massive venue-theatre, stadium, big nightclubs, festivals-could buy a top spec (custom built ????) machine with ??? graphics cards, ??? audio ins/outs, ??? processor's, networking options etc.

The software should be able to run on any reasonably spec'd PC/MAC.

I can dream anyway...

Edit: add video inputs to hardware.

[zygo]

With future improvements to internet speeds (I don't know if it would work currently... maybe??) the software could expand to have an online networking service where people can create and share preset venues, to interact creatively online around the world.

Ideal for aspiring artists to network and practice with content while they aren't being paid to do it live.

Or think about BIG shows where they maybe want x number of VJs/bands doing a collaborative work, with no practice time... oh and they all live in different countries.

Would also open up options for new venues/club nights/exhibition spaces where the event could be open and completely controlled remotely by certain categories of users: specific list, certain experience-graded system (somehow), age groups etc.