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Multi-screen
What would you recommend for a small church who wants to start using multi-screen projection? Currently, we are just using a PC running PowerPoint and a single projector for song lyrics.
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20 Replies
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Hi Sam,
How would you envision using the multiple screens? In other words, what sort of content would you like to see on each screen?
Walter Soyka, Principal
Keen Live, Inc.
Presentation, Motion Graphics & Widescreen Design
RenderBreak: A Blog on Innovation in Production -
1. Background and song lyrics spread across 2 screens.
2. One background spread across 2 (or 3) screens with English lyrics on one screen, and Chinese lyrics on another screen.
Maybe:
3. Do the above with a movie background.
4. Sometimes, just show a movie.
5. Lyrics on one screen, live movie shots on another screen
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this really would be a good use for watchout as it would allow for the spanning across the screens and also for discrete screens on cues depending on the cue. Plus you would be able to stay PC based as you are currently running.
However, with some prethought you could pretty much setup a powerpoint presentation with the required elements and deliver out of a single pc using one of the matrox triple head 2 go cards. this would be a cheaper way but would require preplanning each look where as the watchout production would be easier to create random looks quickly.
of course if you had multiple sources and the correct switcher, you could easily switch the proper source to each screen on as needed basis.
guess it comes down to how much you want to spend and how creative you want to be.
MBP 2.4 4GB Ram/FCS2
Power Mac Dual 1.8 G5/5.5GB Ram/Radeon 9600/FCS2
Aja io hd for MBP/ Aja io LA&LD for G5 -
I’m not very familiar with either one of these packages myself, but I believe the leaders in this category are Renewed Vision’s ProPresenter on the Mac—which will meet your needs with the Advanced add-on— and MediaShout on the PC.
You could stick with PPT on the PC if you got either a Matrox DualHead2Go. Alternately, you could replace your graphics card with a dual-headed graphics card and use PowerShow to control multiple PPT shows over the two monitors.
Watchout is great, but it doesn’t have a built-in titler and I think this would create a huge amount of pre-production for you in this case.
I’d also think you’d want a separate switcher downstream from the graphics computers if you want to feed live video.
Walter Soyka, Principal
Keen Live, Inc.
Presentation, Motion Graphics & Widescreen Design
RenderBreak: A Blog on Innovation in Production -
Thank you for the very good advice you have given.
ProPresenter seems to be good for multi-screen presentations. They also advertise ProVideoPlayer to be for multi-screen. I wonder if I need to have both or just one of them. But these are only for the Mac. We don’t have a Mac yet.
Media Shout does not seem to advertise capabilities for multi-screen presentations. But maybe it can be used for it. I’ll need to look into it.
Have you used PowerShow, seen or know anyone who used it before? I tried to look for reviews, demos or user experience descriptions, but couldn’t find any.
Could you please explain your comment about the separate switcher downstream of the graphics computer if I want to feed live video please? Does this refer to any specific configuration (ProPresenter, Watchout, Media Shout, PowerShow) or does it apply generally to all?
Could you also comment on whether we should consider switching to the Mac? We are just starting to think about multi-screen. In terms of future availability and cost of the technology, software, hardware; market share, etc. does it make sense for us to change or stay?
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Walter,
as usual you are right on this. didn’t even think of the titler issues. I guess I am so used to having the correct software, I don’t really think of the lack of software. Nice catch.
MBP 2.4 4GB Ram/FCS2
Power Mac Dual 1.8 G5/5.5GB Ram/Radeon 9600/FCS2
Aja io hd for MBP/ Aja io LA&LD for G5 -
A multi-screen software Windows system with built-in text functions is AvStumpfl’s Wings Platinum 3.
The Pro version has dual display capabilities from one single PC (but you lose being able to view your Control screen). The top end Multidisplay version operates similar to Watchout and ProPresenter, i.e. Master controlling Slave PCs – and gives you the full multidisplay works. For your purposes of 2- or 3-screens displays, you would only need 2 licences/dongles and 2 PC – with PC#1 as Master/Control Screen on the primary monitor output, and Display 1 from the secondary monitor output of this Master PC, and PC#2 assigned the Displays 2 and 3 outputs. Version 4, due out in Sept, is capable of 4 display outputs from one PC. A Demo download is available.
Thomas Leong
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Additionally, I forgot to mention –
1. Wings has live video capabilities across multi-screens but you need a video capture card for each PC and a video distribution amp if using more than one PC;2 Powerpoint file import, but only as a single screen application and only to the Master PC’s display output. The computer keyboard is turned over to control the Powerpoint presentation while Powerpoint is active. At end of Powerpoint, the keyboard switches back to Wings’ control;
3. Though timeline-based, Wings can be pre-programmed to show a ‘Control Panel’ of virtual buttons and switches which you can use to control your presentation, i.e. the timeline runs invisible in the background, perhaps an infinite loop of a motion background. So Wings can be a ‘software switcher’, but one needs to pre-program/pre-plan all the necessary virtual buttons before showtime. Or use external hardware controllers, eg. DMX controllers, to control Wings.
Thomas Leong
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Sam:
At this stage, I think it would be wise to enlist the services of a consultant who can advise you of the various advantages/disadvantages, including weekly time commitments needed to create content for this setup as well of the substantial monetary investment it will take to implement any of these solutions correctly.
Sometimes attempting to “do it all yourself” is the most expensive way.
My 2c worth,
Julian Williamson
https://www.blueslandfilms.com -
Julian’s suggestion to hire a consultant is excellent—these systems get complicated fast, and having someone with you who’s been through it before would be invaluable.
[Sam Chan] “Have you used PowerShow, seen or know anyone who used it before? I tried to look for reviews, demos or user experience descriptions, but couldn’t find any.”
There’s a 10-day demo for PowerShow available for download from their web site.
[Sam Chan] “Could you please explain your comment about the separate switcher downstream of the graphics computer if I want to feed live video please? Does this refer to any specific configuration (ProPresenter, Watchout, Media Shout, PowerShow) or does it apply generally to all?
“You can mix live video with software-based systems like Watchout and Wings, but I almost always prefer to do it with a dedicated switcher. Both platforms are very stable now, but they both still crash occasionally, and you don’t want a computer crash to ruin your event or service. If the computer is the last element before the screens, your audience will be treated to your startup screen while it reboots. If you’ve got a switcher after the computers and before the screens, you can take cut away to something else.
[Sam Chan] “Could you also comment on whether we should consider switching to the Mac? We are just starting to think about multi-screen. In terms of future availability and cost of the technology, software, hardware; market share, etc. does it make sense for us to change or stay?”
For me, the platform is a non-issue. I use both Macs and PCs in my studio; I think it’s a matter of having the right tool for the job at hand. Apple is doing very well financially, so I’m not worried about future availability or market share. You’ll have to answer any cost questions for yourself, but you’ll want a high-powered computer on either platform for this use, and I don’t really see a cost difference on the high-end machines. I’d just pick the software that does what you need and has a workflow you like, and then get the box it runs on.
Walter Soyka, Principal
Keen Live, Inc.
Presentation, Motion Graphics & Widescreen Design
RenderBreak: A Blog on Innovation in Production
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