[Thomas Leong]

Tall order!

Option 01: Split screen video playback
Firstly, how does two 4:3 or 16:9 videos fit into one 4:3 or 16:9 monitor side by side? To fill the monitor, there will be distortion of both inputs. To not fill the monitor, there will be a lot of black ‘border’ top and bottom. Which solution is acceptable to client?

Secondly, the software that I know of that can do this is about Euro 2,000. And this excludes the capture card and a reasonable PC with enough muscle to handle live video capture and playback of another source simultaneously.

Try googling for ‘multiview’.
My conclusion: Probably not viable/cost effective.

Option 02: Automatically switch the video streams
There is one software – VidBlaster, Studio or Broadcast editions – which has an auto switch, but the max duration for the autoswitch seems be 30s for each source input. Maybe you could write to them and ask if this duration can be extended.
I tried (with their demo version) to multiply one source by 6 to give a duration of 5 mins…but it seems to affect the capture rate resulting in dropped frames and jerky output (think: 6 captures of 25fps simultaneously!!). Then again, my pc is old hat. The newer Intel Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge, Haswell, etc are far better and should give a better result. My desktop precedes these 🙁

Option 3 seems your best bet as you say. More control over each playback system. Downtime with one does not affect the other. Overall, more manageable.

If not for your live video requirement, I would have suggested one of the Brightsign units for booth playback – plug and play, idiot proof to those managing the booth.

Sorry couldn’t be of more help.
best of luck,
Thomas Leong

[Thomas Leong]

These references may provide some answers –
https://forums.adobe.com/thread/707230

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264#Levels

or google for ‘h264 limits’.

Think 2160×5760 is beyond the limits of h264 (particularly the vertical resolution). Your best bet may be to provide pre-split files, and use a media player that can play them back in sync. This would also ease the decoding of the videos by the Dell (if i’m not worng, initial decoding is handled by the cpu before passing over to the gpu).

Another alternative may be to scale down the rendered resolution, and let the player scale the file up to fit the 2×3.

good luck,
Thomas Leong

[Thomas Leong]

IMO, 4-in/4-out with option to select 1-in/1-out won’t come cheap.
It will be a combination of hardware (for the inputs) and software (to select/define the output(s)).

Google for multiview. There are some hardware solutions there. If convertion to HDMI is needed, think Blackmagic Design has a range.

Alternative is to not have the option to go fullscreen with any one input, and just use 4 separate monitors, or one of Datavideo or Blackmagic Design multiple-mini monitors.

Thomas Leong

[Thomas Leong]

You seem to require 2 types of inputs to the switcher – SDI and HDMI. It would be easier to find a suitable switcher, and less expensive, if you can standardise the inputs, eg. all SDI, or all HDMI.

Check out the Kramer switchers. More expensive are those from Analogway and Extron.

Additionally, be aware that seamless switchers (which switch without a glitch/momentary black-out) are ideal for live work but more expensive.

Also, I would be more cautious with the Blackmagic Design Mini Recorder which has both SDI and HDMI inputs. According to the guys at Dataton (https://forum.dataton.com/topic/1043-blackmagic-decklink-mini-recorder-caution/) –
“While on the surface it looks like a perfect replacement for a Blackmagic Intensity Pro, with one HDMI input and one 1.5G HDSDI input (not to be used simultaneously), it brings some caveats.
The HDMI input ONLY accepts an YUV-signal, NOT a RGB-signal, as Intensity Pro can, meaning most computer sources are not possible to use with this card.”

Though they tested the PCI-e version of the mini recorder, the specs seem the same as the standalone version. So the caveat should not be ignored for both versions.

Additionally, BMD equipment are mostly intended for the production or studio environment, not live presentation market. They are attractively priced though, but check/double-check before you commit.

Thomas Leong

[Thomas Leong]

I’m no expert in these either, but from experience, recording off a screen from a projector rarely gives good quality results versus the recorded file from a camera.

Having said that, you may want to have look at VidBlaster, maybe the Studio version which has switcher and preview features. There is a demo download available. Price seem reasonable.

Thoams Leong

[Thomas Leong]

my bad:…kbps, not mbps.

[Thomas Leong]

On second thoughts, suggest you provide at least 2 options suitable for playback on a pc (rather than a mac) –
1 x high bit-rate MPRG-2 (10-20mbps; or maybe 2, one at 10mbps, one at 20mbps);
1 x H264

Thomas

[Thomas Leong]

It does not really matter these days.

Broadcast standard in China is PAL 25fps. But if played at a presentation, any format will do – their equipment is multi-format compatible (or chances are the rental company there will transfer to a laptop and play it off that).

Just supply the best quality that satisfies you and your client.

[Thomas Leong]

vlc from vlc.org. Free!!

Need to delve into the Tools > Preference > Interface or Video menu to set it to always start in fullscreen mode on the ‘second monitor’ (determined by X pixels away from the first monitor, essentially 1st monitor horizontal resolution + 1 pixel), as well as playlist and controls always in view, etc. and learn the essential shortcut keys for your purpose.

Thomas Leong

[Thomas Leong]

Some have built-in flash memory, and/or stores to SD card. Don’t see any that can record direct to an external flash though –

https://www.wingfieldaudio.com/compare-portable-recorders.html

There are 2 pages there, and some should have released new models by now, eg. Olympus LS-11 over the LS-10.