[Thomas Leong]

For a pro solution, have a look at the pixelwix software or system (read: with hardware). The interface, etc is quite similar to a tv studio style op, and it can handle live inputs and drag-n-drop playlists.

Cheaper is VideoMill from https://breakthrusoftware.com/html/products/videomill/index.html – at shareware price, but I’m not sure if it will accept live inputs.

[Thomas Leong]

Haven’t done it myself, but perhaps you need to this tutorial –
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/larsen_carl/cube_world1.php

At end, you would render out 4 files each with the camera shifted 90 degrees on the x-axis.
Time permitting, you may also want to render out one more file at a substantially reduced resolution of the Master Comp for the Watchout programmer to use as a representation of the whole in his Watchout Production PC. Not an absolute necessity, but it allows the programmer to see the show in one flat window pane.

[Thomas Leong]

Hi Todd,

8 discrete outputs do tax the hardware on playback at high resolutions. Suggest you opt for less in order to get more, and duplicate the other outputs with a suitable distribution amp. In a VJ type situation when drinks have been flowing, and the music is thumping, a couple of scattered duplicates should not matter 🙂

Thomas

[Thomas Leong]

Hello Todd,

You may get a better answer at https://vjforums.com/ where there are lots of Module8 and Mac users.

Off the cuff, I’d say it depends also on Module8 – whether it will recognise/see the 3 graphics cards and work with all their outputs. In the Windows world, for one software I have, the manufacturer has stated it works only with one gfx card, but others I have will work with multiple gfx cards provided the OS can ‘see’ them.

Thomas

[Thomas Leong]

There are a few, from freeware, shareware to licenced USB-dongle:

Freeware
Multiscreener from https://www.zachpoff.com/software/multiscreener/
– basically Mac. Windows version available but…
– uses Quicktime player

Shareware
Video Mill from https://breakthrusoftware.com/html/products/videomill/index.html
SyncMaker Pro from https://www.syncmaker.com/

Licenced USB-dongled
Dataton Watchout 5 – minimum 2 licences required, 1 for Production Pc, 1 for Display PC which can output to max 6 outputs, hardware permitting
AvStumpfl Wings Platinum 4 – minimum 1 x 3-output licence required (actually comprising 1×2-output and 1×1-output licence, or 2×2 output licences; Application window/monitor is not part of the Output licence, eg. App monitor + 1xfullscreen Output is the 1-output licence, etc. (PM me privately for more details of how this works.)

Above are for Windows PCs. There are solutions for Mac too which others may be able to point you to.

Recommended hardware-based solution is the Ethernet capable Brightsign units (HD210 – now HD220?) from https://www.brighsign.biz using their free BrightAuthor software to author the SD cards with your 3 different video files (must be same file-length) to playback together.

Thomas Leong

[Thomas Leong]

To playback without a computer, you could check out the Brightsign HD220 networked digital playback units – https://www.brightsign.biz/products/

With a simple router, you can network 2 of these units, author the playback with their free BrightAuthor software to loop your 2 media files all day. Being of different content, for the sync to work reliably in a loop, they would have to be of identical lengths. Reliable and idiot-proof operation thereafter with mere power on and power off everyday.

[Thomas Leong]

Found a way: FileTypesManager from –
https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/file_types_manager.html

Works on Win 7. You should be able to add/edit the actions (open and or play) to any file extension you need.

[Thomas Leong]

Addendum
Think rename may not work from the root directory.
Then negotiate to the directory where your .mts file are from the Command prompt, and type the command there.
An alternative is to create the Rename command as a batch file (eg. rename.bat) wherein it points to the directory of .mts files) and you can then run the batch file from the root directory or from Windows Desktop.

In Win9x and XP, there was a way to create a new file-type and associate it with a program to open with. In Win7, this easy ability seems to have been lost, and one can only associate a file-type from a set menu/procedure. Am still looking…and if I find a way, I’ll let you know.
Meanwhile, try Control Panel > Programs > Default Programs > Set Associations > scroll down to .mts and see if you can associate it with, say, Windows Media Player or some other program; or right-click on an .mts file from Windows Explorer > Open With > Default Program > choose and enable ‘Always use selected program to open this type of file’.

[Thomas Leong]

Try this –
1. Try a mpg file that you know has played well before. Does this still work with your programs?
2. If no, then likely your mpeg1/2 codec is broken somewhere and needs a re-install/repair.
3. if yes, make a copy of one .mts file to .mpg and try it. If this works, rename all mts files to mpg. You can do a global rename with a DOS-type command such as in the Command prompt window c: and type rename *.mts *.mpg
4. If (3) does not work, then see (2).

[Thomas Leong]

Welcome to “Codec Hell”!!

From one layman to another, here’s my best explanation –

Vlc uses the Libav source code published under the GNU Lesser General Public License – i.e. open source and generally free.

Not sure what WMP uses.

AE on the other hand is not a media player like the others. But its acceptance/non-acceptance of a file is no different from a media player: the codec must be “registered” with AE first. And in most cases, this means installed in the pc that AE is installed in, or rather installed in the places that AE looks into when a file is being ingested into AE. AFAIK, Quicktime and Mainconcept are 2 such codecs.