suggestion for relatively simple set-up

[Walter Soyka]

A couple years ago, people were doing kiosks like these with industrial DVD players, custom-authored DVDs, and RS-232 serial control. Today, you’d also have the option of flash-based solid state players.

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

[Matthew Mcnulty]

using flash how would one be sure to send the appropriate video clip to the appropriate projector(s)… ?

[Walter Soyka]

Sorry, I had meant a flash memory-based video player, not Adobe Flash—although you could certainly hire a Flash developer to write something like this for you.

Can you describe your project in a little more detail?

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

[Matthew Mcnulty]

what we have is a small theater/lecture room… guest comes in interfaces with a kiosk where they can select a 5-10 minute lecture… the lecture person has been record against a green screen… he was chroma keyed to be against black or empty background… now that’s one projector the other projector will project support material for the presenter… all video is canned and edited for proper timing… two projectors getting separate though related content right now nothing is live

[Walter Soyka]

I’d look at getting two solid-state video players, one for each output. Each player will be loaded with its own media, but identical playlists.

Your kiosk (with push-buttons? a touch screen?) would interface with the players; when your guest interacts with the kiosk and requests a particular piece of media, both players respond, each with their own media, and you’ve got your two channels.

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

[Thomas Leong]

Instead of 2 units, you could check out avstumpfl’s SC Video dual Player which has 2 built-in compact flash players that can be synced to each other internally. Control can be via their SC Master units, probably the Lite version with a numbered keypad attached, or a touch panel controller (more $$$). I’m not familiar with the latter so you’d have to ask AvStumpfl re the ‘how to’.

An alternative is Brightsign’s HD410 which seems to have interactive and sync features as well according to their blurb. There may be others.

Sometimes having 2 players in sync may be better than one dual player, just in case one fails, replacememnt for one is probably cheaper. But the major good point with compact flash players for 24/7 usage is that there are NO MOVING PARTS, so they are supposed to last, and last. And updating media is as simple as popping in new compact flash cards.

Thomas Leong

[Matthew Mcnulty]

Awesome info!

thanks we may have a winner

[Walter Soyka]

Hi Thomas,

I’ve been looking at the Brightsign units — the feature list seems great. Have you used them? What did you think?

Thanks,

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

[Thomas Leong]

Hi Walter,

No I have not used the Brightsigns before. Was eyeing it long time back though, when they only had the 600 model, then the 2000. But they did not have a fail-safe sync solution between multiple units then, so I did not buy. Was also following their user forums for a while, and I must say their support/response to user problems/questions was very good and prompt, sometimes sending a script via email to solve a problem for those not good at scripting. They used to offer a developer price for a single unit if you apply…not sure if they still do.

cheers,
Thomas

[Will Fletcher]

I used the Bright Signs for about a year and found it really compatible. the two shots inter-meshed are just amazing.