[Thomas Leong]

Additionally, for control of the prompter, I’ve been using the Shuttle Jog Controller but its size is a bit cumbersome compared to this –
Griffin Powermate : https://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powermate

Since it is programmable (like the Shuttle), should work fine. I just ordered two units for myself!!

[Thomas Leong]

I’ve been using DRS-Digitrax Teleprompter Telescr5.x too. Good software. Reliable, but free upgrade seems to apply to versions with the same prime number, eg. v5 upgrade to v6 is not free. Same as most other software, I suppose. But the software is a few hundred $.

You could try the freeware mirrorscript from –
https://www.telepromptermirrors.com/software.htm

Needs Framework 1.1 (even if you have a later version installed).

[Thomas Leong]

Hi John,

I’m afraid I can’t answer your question re the Matrox TripleHead2Got as I have not tested one before. My only qualm is that the Matrox unit merely splits a high resolution file to 3 outputs. It still depends on the PC system’s GPU to process any high res video file SMOOTHLY, else you will get jerky video.

As for the DVI or D-Sub (RGB/XGA/VGA) question, being on the road and renting, the D-Sub (RGB/XGA/VGA) route is safest as I’m pretty sure most if not all rental projectors, plasmas and the like have that as an available input. However, if you intend to do seamless multi-screen panoramics at all, it is said that DVI reduces, if not eliminates, the banding at the overlap areas (the result of adding the light output from 2 projectors in these areas).

Wings 4 is supposed to cater for 4 screens/outputs from one PC. I have Wings 3 which caters to 2 outputs from one PC and have not upgraded. But you are also correct that to be able to process 4 outputs, it should be a very beefy PC or laptop. Perhaps Alienware, Clevo or Asus might have one.

As for your intended configuration and usage, I don’t see one laptop fulfilling your requirements. All in, I reckon you need 5 outputs: one for Master Timeline/Control, 1 to the Plasma TVs, and 3 more for the 3-screen show. If the TripleHead2Go does the 3-screen split from one big output, that would have used up the laptop’s secondary output, and leaves nothing for the Plasma TVs. I know of no laptop that has 2 external outputs.

An option is to travel with 2 laptops and 1 TripleHead2Go unit. Having a Master and Slave configuration allows you to distribute the processing a bit. The Master can have the Wings Timeline/Control on the laptop’s LCD monitor (designated as Primary) whilst its D-Sub (Secondary) output goes to the VGA-distribution-amp-to-multiple-plasma-TVs. Then via an Ethernet Gigabit hub, the Slave takes its instructions and files from the Master, and outputs the 3-screen show to the TripleHead2Go as one big high res video which the TripleHead2Go will split into 3 outputs. This Slave laptop will probably need to be the beefier of the 2 – probably equipped with RAID 0 and a high end graphics card since the GPU does most of the processing of the high res video. This would mean the cost of 2 laptops, and 2 Wings 4 licences/dongles.

As for the pricing of Wings, you won’t find it on the Net. This is because different distributors/dealers in different countries will have various costs to cover, and discounts to offer. You can ask for a quote from the US distributor for the Multi-Display version of Wings 4. You may or may not need the extra features provided by the Show Control Module which is extra cost. You only one Show Control Module for the Master as the Slave will take the same code from the Master (check the Versions Comparison table in the Wings Help file for features).

hope that helps,
Thomas Leong

[Thomas Leong]

Haven’t tried this myself but you may want to have a look at –
PFC PRO for Powerpoint

[Thomas Leong]

Check out Multiscreener for Windows.

It is freeware. The original was for Mac, but it seems an unsupported version for Windows has been released since I last visited :

“MultiScreener (updated June 29, 2009)
Free Multi-Screen Playback

MultiScreener is a set of freeware applications that synchronize the playback of Quicktime movies on multiple computers, using a local network to tie them all together. (It can also sync multiple movies on the same computer using multiple monitors.)…”

Thomas Leong

[Thomas Leong]

I have doubts that AE can be ‘user modified’ as a presentation software. That was not its intended target application…as everything is geared towards rendering for output.

Since you are Windows-based like I, check out –
1. AvStumpfl’s Wings Platinum – probably one of the simpler versions rather than the top end Multidisplay version. Differences and features are listed in a table in the Demo’s Help Files under ‘Versions’. Note that it is USB-dongled software and can make use of dual-screens if your graphics card has dual outputs (eg. Controls on one monitor, full-screen presentation to projector/large monitor on the other output). It’s at version 3.70 presently with v4.0 about to be released.

or,
2. Presentation Manager. Though designed as worship presentation software, there seems to be quite a number of features one could use for business presentations. Demo is available.

Thomas Leong

[Thomas Leong]

Pardon me, but I strongly recommend that you concentrate on producing the event, and leave the technicalities to a specialist familiar with multi-screen production and projection. I recommend Walter Soyka. You can then sleep soundly at night.

Thomas Leong

[Thomas Leong]

Hi Jim,

Suggest that you re-ask your question at Show-Control Group
where the manufacturers, designers and boffins of Show Control and some lighting people are gathered. One or more of them may have something for you off the shelf and not expensive, or they can whip up something to your requirements.

Thomas Leong

[Thomas Leong]

Hi Walter,

No I have not used the Brightsigns before. Was eyeing it long time back though, when they only had the 600 model, then the 2000. But they did not have a fail-safe sync solution between multiple units then, so I did not buy. Was also following their user forums for a while, and I must say their support/response to user problems/questions was very good and prompt, sometimes sending a script via email to solve a problem for those not good at scripting. They used to offer a developer price for a single unit if you apply…not sure if they still do.

cheers,
Thomas

[Thomas Leong]

Sam,

Forget everything else. I googled for “Worship software” and found Presentation Manager, Windows-based, 2- or 3-monitor support, other language support, etc., etc., which IMO seems ideal for you. Costs from $375 up, and being one unit rather than the multiples of Watchout, Wings, Renewed Vision, etc…should be easier to use and maintain.

best of luck,
Thomas