Displaying Motion Graphics on TV Monitors?

[Bill Davis]

Sounds like what you need is a Video Detector Switch.

It passes one video signal, but when that signal disappears, it switches to a second signal.

An example:
https://www.markertek.com/SearchProduct.asp?item=VDS&off=0&sort=prod&skuonly=0&search=signal+loss&pagesize=20

You still need SOMETHING to generate the replacement signal, but that could be an old computer or a DVD running in loop mode or anything else that generates the video you want to display when the primary signal drops out.

Good luck.

[Walter Soyka]

Hi Jacob,

What do you intend the second feed to display? In the barflynetworks example you gave, you saw a digital signage system taking a video and adding in dynamic content, pulled from a server on the Internet or the signage network.

Are you looking to put two pieces of your own pre-rendered media onscreen at the same time, or one piece of pre-rendered media and dynamic content?

Walter Soyka, Principal
Keen Live, Inc.
Presentation, Motion Graphics & Widescreen Design
RenderBreak: A Blog on Innovation in Production

[Jacob Resendez]

hey guys,
thanks for the feedback. i intend to display a cable tv feed as the main focus with my own pre rendered media as the secondary feed. if the cable feed isnt possible, something like a dvd player would be suitable as well.

[Thomas Leong]

Per Bill Davis’ earlier post, Kramer Electronics has the VP-211DS Standby Switcher. It is for computer video rather than traditional ‘video signals’. Check that your client’s LCD monitor has an RGB input for VGA/XGA.

The only thing I’m not sure of is what they mean exactly by ‘…upon loss of primary input’ because from my viewpoint, as long as a signal is detected (even a signal with a blank/black image), it is a signal and the auto switching will probably not occur. I think there has to be a real loss of signal (as in ‘switched/powered off’ or ‘unit goes into rewind mode’…but then again as a digital unit, there is no rewind is there?) for the unit to activate the secondary input. A possible solution is to put a timer on one of the units to switch it on/off at pre-determined intervals…and autoplay when on. Might be too complicated on second thoughts.

Alternative is to look at a cheap digital signage solution such as that from Digital Recall. The low res version is free, but it seems quite cheap to upgrade to higher res and other add-ons. You can then schedule when your respective computer videos will play, and loop them as necessary.

Thomas Leong

[Walter Soyka]

Hi Jacob,

You might look into a security switcher if you just want to bounce back and forth among the two analog video feeds.

Another option is a device from Leightronix’s NET series. They feature programmable video/audio switching and DVD control. I am consulting on an installation where we’re upgrading from a Leightronix MINI-T-NET and stack of DVD players to a media server. The MINI-T-NET has been a workhorse for them, and they were very happy with its reliability and performance.

One of the advantages of the higher-end models is the ability to play a specific title and chapter off a DVD disc (from a supported player) which would allow you to play day-part specific content on schedule — maybe different versions of the logo animation for morning, afternoon, and evening.

Walter Soyka, Principal
Keen Live, Inc.
Presentation, Motion Graphics & Widescreen Design
RenderBreak: A Blog on Innovation in Production