Thomas Leong
Forum Replies Created
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Re Wings Platinum 4, you could try rental since purchase budget is not there. As additional info, there is a programming method that I’ve just tried where I am getting 4 fullscreen outputs from a Single Output licence/single PC. Pix below shows 3 fullscreen outputs as I wanted to keep the timeline on the 4th. If I had the monitors and if my graphics card could, I think I can get up to 6 fullscreen discrete outputs from this one Single Output licence (the selection for mon 5 and mon 6 are there, but I do not have the correct monitors (DVI).
This is not documented and may be a loophole in the application. No hacking. Just configuring the multiple outputs in a different way from what is documented in the Help Files. Laptops, however, just would not have the graphics card capabilities.
Therefore, Walter’s suggestion to go the 2xPC way is the the more viable solution for you, especially since absolute frame sync between PCs is not a requirement.
In this respect, try Input Director or Synergy (I prefer the former) to control >1 PC from one keyboard. They are effectively software KVMs over a simple Ethernet link, and freeware.
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What’s the budget?
I think for about >USD3K for 4 outputs, AvStumpfl’s Wings Platinum 4 Multi-display version with max 4 outputs from the Master PC will handle your requirements. If you want more outputs which are duplicates of any of the initial 4, a distribution amp or splitter can be added to any of the outputs.
However, if you want more discrete outputs, then a second licence with a second PC will have to be networked to the Master. Licences are in Single Display output, Dual output, Triple, or Quad. These refer to the full-screen outputs from the graphics card when in Presentation Mode (F5 key), and excludes the application window itself.
Download Demo available. Differing resolutions of displays, vertical orientation, etc are available. Color Management is under Options > Global Options > Color Management, where you can select the color profile to output…but this is a Global setting, not a per output setting.
A possible alternative is Dataton’s Watchout 5 which can output to 6 discrete displays with one licence, provided the hardware is capable. Can handle different resolution displays, mix of horizontal and vertical displays, etc. But I have not seen the option to select color profiles. Demo download also available.
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Detailed explanation may be found here –
https://www.jmcgowan.com/avi.html -
Here’s a (free) idea. Use Wings Platinum 4 Basic, the free version of Wings to create/sync your stills + video + music AND send to the distribution amp for the 5 projectors/5 screens.
Although Wings Basic will only allow 1 Track each of Video, Picture and Audio, you can still fade out/fade in between timeline objects on the same track using the ramp band, or between picture track and video track. This way, you can make changes weekly as you wish.
For fullscreen Presentation, use a dual-head graphics card PC –
1. The Primary monitor will contain your Wings timeline;
2. Drag the Preview Screen Window to the second monitor, and double-click to make it ‘fill’ the monitor – depends on your screen format ration, etc.
2. F5 to present in fullscreen on that second monitor.
3. Connect that monitor’s output or the second output from the graphics card to your distribution amp to feed the 5 projectors.And it’s all for free. Register the Basic version with AvStumpfl in order to use more than 15 times.
Thomas
Edit: Forget it. I forgot the fact that the Basic version does not allow Timeline Marker tracks for you to loop the timeline. For this you will need the Starter (paid) version.
However, you can still use the free Basic version to create a video file (with music) for use in other non-timeline based applications.
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If your main problem is mixing stills/video with music, have a look at Muvee – https://www.muvee.com/en/products/reveal which costs less than US$80. This may free you from limiting yourself to timeline-based applications.
Thomas
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I can understand your concerns re budget limits. Perhaps you should present a new budget plan to your financial backers.
best of luck,
Thomas -
Now that we know the ‘why’, perhaps digital signage type software may be a suitable alternative to your needs. One freeware (with limitations) that I know of is ‘Digital Recall’ – https://www.digitalrecall.com.au/Digital/default.asp – which is capable of looping, add/delete files you do not require, then update the player.
If I can think of other, I’ll let you know.
Thomas
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Hello Nils,
Apologies, been away to China for a week working outdoors, and heavy drink sessions after followed by early mornings 🙂
Question to your stated requirements:
1. Why do you need a timeline-based software?
2. Are your files a mixture of still pix/graphics and video? Could this mix be finished in a video editing program, output to a single video file, then looped by a non-timeline-based software?Thomas
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Hello Nils,
As you probably would know, Wings has various version one of which should suit your needs and if networking with other display computers is not required – Starter, Advanced, Pro, etc. The Pro version can do 2 screens max and cannot network with other display computers to increase this number. The demo version can be switched over to each version to test out one’s requirements (via ? > About Wings > Wings Platinum Licence). These versions are far cheaper than the Multi-display version. Stumpfl’s website should have the contact numbers for the US distributor. If you still have a problem, let me know and I’ll put you in touch with the Singapore Asia-Pacific distributor.
Off-hand, I can’t recall similar alternatives at a better price. Maybe someone else can.
Thomas Leong
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Try loops done by VJs for VJs. They are generally low res though not quite as low as you are asking for. On the other hand because they are mainly graphics, missing a few here and there should not be cause for concern:
https://vjforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=11