Jim Brown
Forum Replies Created
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Very impressive. One would have to synch the video with the robotic programs. Also assume the projector is being moved by a robot.
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Your option 1 can easily be done by the Black Magic ATEM 1ME. It is a little expensive for a one off like this, but it would readily handle the inputs from both live feed (HDMI or SDI) and a computer for looping video. There are probably cheaper alternatives, but this is the way I would approach it.
Take a look at blackmagicdesign.com.
Regards
Jim Brown
M&M ProductionsUSA -
We do this very often to feed projectors from an ATEM switcher. We run coax (quad shield from Home Depot) with good connectors (double bubble) using Black Magic converters. We have run as far as 350 ft from the switcher to the converter at the switcher. It either works or doesn’t. No degradation of signal. I mention the Home Depot cable because on some large shows we have needed additional cable and have had to go to Home Depot and terminate it on site.
This weekend I ran a 100 ft to first projector converter and then 250ft to a second projector convertor and then another 100 ft to 2 more convertors. The Black Magic (and I am sure the AJA gives you a loop thorough out which has been resynched. If I was ever in a situation where distance was a problem I would go half the distance, put in a converter and then continue.
We use this setup at least once a week and it works great. An added benefit is I no longer have to worry about hum bars and what phase of power the projector is on!
Works the same way on cameras. We use multiple Sony Z700 robotic cameras for football broadcasts and we convert from RGB at the camera to HDSDI using the Black Magic converters and run long runs of coax back to the broadcast trailer. The Black Magic converter is about a tenth the cost of the SDI option on these cameras!
Let us know how it goes.
Jim Brown
M & M Productions USA -
We use Macbook Pros (15 inch) that are at least 6 years old. Nothing special about them. I also use a new MB Pro with Retina display and solid state system drive. We also tried it on al old Mac Mini (6yrs old) and it worked just fine.
The only real issue we have faced is the spin up time on hard drives sometimes delays to start of play. Our answer is to play our videos from a USB thumb drive. I am not at the office just now to get real specs for you, but will be glad to do that later this week.
The current versions of ATEM software resolves the 60/59.94 issues. You can connect the video output (DVI with cable converter directly to the HDMI input of the ATEM or you can convert the HDMI to SDI and input that signal.
When I get into the office I will extract the display setups and post them for you.
Hope this helps
Jim Brown
M&M ProductionsUSA -
Take a look at Pro Presenter at https://www.renewedvision.com
It does this very nicely.
Regards
Jim Brown
M&M ProductionsUSA -
We have been through the same exercise and have settled on a solution using Black Magic products that works very reliably and very well. We use the ATEM ME1 and sometimes the ME2 as a switcher which provides HD-SDI out. We run coax to the projectors and use a BlackMagic converter for HD-SDI to analog component. The nice thing is this converter has a loop through which is reclocked meaning we can go another 350ft to the next projector or confidence monitor. At the confidence monitor we connect either an sdi to component or an sdi to hdmi converter. Most of the time we just convert it to analog, though. We run our switcher at 1080i and interface with both nonHD projectors and HD confidence monitors.
On the input side we connect Macs and PCs (outputs set to 1920×1080) out their HDMI or DVI ports. We can send PPT directly and movies via PlaybackPro. The switcher introduces 1 frame of latency if we do not genlock the sources. We run the projectors at 1920×1080.
The video quality increased dramatically even with SD projectors.
Hope this helps.
Jim Brown
M&M ProductionsUSA -
I think the Atmosphere from a company in Germany does what you are describing. It is done with a MAC with 4 video cards. (for a 4 monitor system). We have used this system and it is quite impressive. Works with rotated LED displays or projectors.
https://www.atmosphere4k.com/atmosphere.html
Hope this is what you are looking for.
Jim Brown
M&M ProductionsUSA -
We use PlaybackPro on a MacbookPro regularly with both our ATEM ME1 flypacks and our ME2 located in our broadcast trailer. We roll commercials from the trailer.
Video playback is very smooth using PPro. Our broadcast trailer has 2 Macbook Pros for intros, transitions, and commercials, numerous Panasonic and Sony cameras, Chyron for graphics support and Newtek for instant replay. All devices run 1080i and are genlocked except for the Macs.
So based on our experience you should not have a problem at all.
Regards
Jim Brown
M&M ProductionsUSA -
Simply save the file to a Mac running PlaybackPro. PlaybackPro is available online for about $400. Gives you control over geometry and video settings. We do this all the time to a BMD Atem switcher and on to HiDef projectors. Note: it will still look very good on other that true HD projectors. When we have that situation we send to the projector via HD/SDI and then convert with BMD converters to analog RGB. Results are stunning.
Playing off a dvd is not an acceptable alternative. Not only do you have a downconverted video (if not BlueRay the dvd is SD), but those pesky transport controls show up on the screen.
Another software package some use is ProPresenter. I think it is about the same price. Very popular with churches.
Regards
Jim Brown
M&M ProductionsUSA -
Very well done!