Thomas Leong
Forum Replies Created
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For our information here, the original poster has also posted the same question at another forum, and seems to have been working on a solution since –
https://vjforums.com/showthread.php?t=36883 -
I’m thinking AvStumpfl’s Wings Platinum 4 Mutlidisplay version with the ISEO controller program for accessing web urls on the fly plus 2 units of Viewcast’s Osprey 440 capture cards may provide the solution for multiple live video inputs and live access to the web, pre-determined variable positioning, sizing and configuration of input combinations to various output looks, almost unlimited number of programmable virtual triggers/buttons to call each configuration, and virtual Control Panel pages to ‘house’ the buttons for easy playback control, with perhaps a simple diagram illustrating what each config looks like beside each trigger/button.
The demo downloads for Wings and ISEO should be able to illustrate most of the above.
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Plenty. For starters, in terms of cost:
– vvvv
– Video Projection Tool
– WarpMap
(above 3 are freeware)
– Text Machine 3D (evaluate for stability)
– Resolume with the IR Mapio plug-in
– Dataton Watchout version 5 (with its max 6-output capabilities per Display machine and warping available for each output)
– AvStumpfl Wings Platinum 4 (with max 4 outputs per machine and warp available for each output) -
Interesting. You seem to have 3 major requirements –
1. Capture and stream 1-8 live video streams + play canned files + access an URL like You-tube.
2. Output that to one ouput (projector) in various user-defined configurations/sizes, and
3. Be able to switch to any configuration.Is the above correct? Let me think about it, and try on my Dataton 5 and AvStumpfl Wings 4 systems. However, I only have a video capture card that has 1 input, not even 2 let alone 8, but I know I can do multiples of that single input and output those to various user-defined configurations, and switch configurations via a virtual switcher.
However, it is the number of switching buttons required to cater to various configurations that are over-whelming me. Who’s good at maths to work out the number of possible combinations? Is it 8! (factorial 8)?
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There are some freeware Timers on the Net. Just google for ‘timer’ or ‘presentation timer’. I’ve got a at least 2 in my hd if you can’t find any. Small .exe files and one is a Flash based where one can type a single line note to the monitor while the timer is running. Just use a netbook and send the timer to a small 7″ secondary monitor placed at the lecturn for the presenter. There may even be one where you can key over the large confidence monitor holding the Powerpoint.
As for the Confidence monitor (hope I’ve got it right), in my part of the world, a large 40″+ plasma is placed on the floor/stage front of the lecturn, fed from a distribution amp or seamless switcher which is also the source to the projector. Merely means running long VGA cables for the feed to stage.
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Stab in the dark –
If you have 3rd party fonts and brushes installed, uninstall them; or at least delete/cut-and-paste them away to another folder, renamed, such that AE cannot find them automatically.
Then try a re-load of AE. If no improvement in loading speed, put them back into their original folders, or install them back in.If there is an improvement, and you still need some of those fonts and brushes, be selective and reduce the number drastically.
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Not sure if this is too late for your event, but Wings Platinum Pro version (which is single-screen only; one licenced USB key; works in Windows 7) will work well in this situation using its :
– Asynchronous mode to loop any audio or video media even when timeline is in Pause mode;
– Show Control Panel with pre-determined buttons for the venue’s technicians (i.e. they do not see the timeline and other functions; they see only the Control Panel and buttons in full-screen mode when the program is loaded.
– Multiple timelines and Jump to a Timeline feature wherein one timeline is created for each Award, and at end of each Award, a ‘Trigger’ on the Marker track is created to jump to another Timeline which holds the material for the next Award.
– Alternative to Multiple Timelines and Jump Triggers is to use one Timeline with Pause markers, where the material at this Pause points will loop using the Asynchronous Loop feature. Next ‘spacebar’ or programmed Play button on the Control Panel continues to the next Award, etc.
Download demo is available from AvStumpfl.com, and I can provide further help or even a sample timeline demonstrating the above features if you wish. The Pro version is not that expensive…maybe around the US$1K mark.
Alternatively, Dataton’s Watchout 5 has just been released and it appears to have some great interactive and remote control features, but I’m not sure of the new price.
Lastly, Venue Magic also allows pre-programmed control via assignable buttons and/or a Playlist with WAIT (for manual trigger) feature. For video output, you would need the DMX+AV version with MSRP of US$999 for the USB-keyed version but there may be offers for less at some sites. (I’ve applied and been approved as a dealer for Venue Magic, but I’m not set up for internet sales, so getting it from someone else more local to you would be advisable)
Thomas Leong
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Freeware for Mac. Works only with Quicktime files –
https://www.zachpoff.com/software/multiscreener/
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My 2 cents is I think the flicker is caused by using a high shutter rate at the video camera end that does not quite ‘match’ the progressive scan rate of the projectors. Slowing down the shutter rate usually solves the problem but it is very much a trial and error thing, i.e. you need to visually check the video cam’s output to see the result as you change the shutter rate-and-aperture (or gain) to find a balanced result.
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Maybe Andrew Kramer’s Twitch can be twitched to get similar effects –
https://www.videocopilot.net/products/twitch/