[Thomas Leong]

Instead of 2 units, you could check out avstumpfl’s SC Video dual Player which has 2 built-in compact flash players that can be synced to each other internally. Control can be via their SC Master units, probably the Lite version with a numbered keypad attached, or a touch panel controller (more $$$). I’m not familiar with the latter so you’d have to ask AvStumpfl re the ‘how to’.

An alternative is Brightsign’s HD410 which seems to have interactive and sync features as well according to their blurb. There may be others.

Sometimes having 2 players in sync may be better than one dual player, just in case one fails, replacememnt for one is probably cheaper. But the major good point with compact flash players for 24/7 usage is that there are NO MOVING PARTS, so they are supposed to last, and last. And updating media is as simple as popping in new compact flash cards.

Thomas Leong

[Thomas Leong]

Maybe something like this? –
https://gardengnomesoftware.com/wiki/Pano2VR_-_Video

[Thomas Leong]

Additionally, I forgot to mention –
1. Wings has live video capabilities across multi-screens but you need a video capture card for each PC and a video distribution amp if using more than one PC;

2 Powerpoint file import, but only as a single screen application and only to the Master PC’s display output. The computer keyboard is turned over to control the Powerpoint presentation while Powerpoint is active. At end of Powerpoint, the keyboard switches back to Wings’ control;

3. Though timeline-based, Wings can be pre-programmed to show a ‘Control Panel’ of virtual buttons and switches which you can use to control your presentation, i.e. the timeline runs invisible in the background, perhaps an infinite loop of a motion background. So Wings can be a ‘software switcher’, but one needs to pre-program/pre-plan all the necessary virtual buttons before showtime. Or use external hardware controllers, eg. DMX controllers, to control Wings.

Thomas Leong

[Thomas Leong]

A multi-screen software Windows system with built-in text functions is AvStumpfl’s Wings Platinum 3.

The Pro version has dual display capabilities from one single PC (but you lose being able to view your Control screen). The top end Multidisplay version operates similar to Watchout and ProPresenter, i.e. Master controlling Slave PCs – and gives you the full multidisplay works. For your purposes of 2- or 3-screens displays, you would only need 2 licences/dongles and 2 PC – with PC#1 as Master/Control Screen on the primary monitor output, and Display 1 from the secondary monitor output of this Master PC, and PC#2 assigned the Displays 2 and 3 outputs. Version 4, due out in Sept, is capable of 4 display outputs from one PC. A Demo download is available.

Thomas Leong

[Thomas Leong]

Ah…basic cooling. i have found that blowing air into the case & components is not good enough. One needs either extraction and/or an outlet for the in-coming air to exit in order to get a cooler temp inside the case.

When one has a fan blowing air into the case from one side of the case, the main problem encountered is that the mobo blocks the other side of the case. That’s why removing the cover is the next best thing.

So try installing a 5″ fan on one side, and cut more holes at the back of the case to improve the through-flow, or install fan(s) at the back of the case in such way that they extract rather than the opposite (just a matter of reversing the fan 180 degrees – test with a ribbon or smoke).

my two cents,
Thomas Leong
Malaysia

PS: I have been operating my desktops without using air-conditioning in this hot tropical climate, for at least 10 years now and have never had an over-heating problem. Just good free-flowing ventilation should solve it.

[Thomas Leong]

One possibility is to use digital still images of reasonably high res and do a pan and scan in, say, After Effects. You can get these images under a Creative Commons Licence from flickr.com under Advanced Search. I did such a search there and came up with thousands of images. Just a matter of going through and selecting ‘all sizes’ for each chosen image to see what resolution the image is.

[Thomas Leong]

if you do not want to use a proven professional product, then use the freeware vlc from vlc.org. It does not auto default to the sec monitor. You have to drag it there.

[Thomas Leong]

Since you have Macs, you may want to look at Max5 previously called Max/Msp/Jitter

For Windows, vvvv is an alternative.

Sorry, don’t have experience with either – too deep for this old brain.

Then too, if you have reliability problems using Watchout due likely to hardware issues rather than Watchout as you said, you’ll probably have similar issues regardless of which software you switch to. Best to sort out your hardware issues first ‘cos WO is pretty reliable from many other users’ opinions. In fact from what I’ve heard, reliability was and still is Dataton’s first priority in any released versions of WO.

[Thomas Leong]

Two I know of, one Window, one Mac.

Windows
Avstumpfl’s Wings platinum 3 Pro version (only the Pro and Mutidisplay versions have secondry monitor output in Presentation mode). Demo available.

Mac
PlaybackPro. I don’t have a Mac so have not used this software myself.

In both cases, suggest you create a Black bitmap and use it as your desktop so that when the OS extends to the secondary monitor, it will be black.

[Thomas Leong]

Hi,

There are various possible solutions, one of which is the Image AnyPlace video/graphics scaler with geometry correction, specifically their e-warp feature. You could try asking them where you could rent one from.
https://www.flexiblepicturesystems.com/products/imageanyplace.html

Another possibility is AvStumpfl’s Wings Platinum 3 software (the Multidisplay version) which has a screen warp feature on output via the PC’s graphics card.

Dataton’s Watchout software has a similar feature, but with Watchout, you need 2 dongled licences (read; 2 PCs, one Master, one Slave), whereas Wings 3 needs only one (read: Master also as Slave), in order to output to the screen.

Both Watchout and Wings have free downloadable demos, and the Display Warp/Geometric Correction feature should work in the demos. Output to projector is obviously not possible without the dongled licence.

Rental is possible with both systems – look up for the nearest dealer at their websites.

good luck,
Thomas Leong