Thomas Leong
Forum Replies Created
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AFAIK, Watchout cannot do that – i.e. use multi-head gfx cards and output discrete content from each head. It can, however, use multi-head cards to output a clone of the Primary head so one can direct one head to the beamer/projector/monitor, and the other to a monitoring monitor at the operator’s desk.
I’m not sure how WO would work with the Matrox’x TripleHead2GO though as the latter presents to the PC a huge high resolution screen, and then does the splits within itself before outputting. It’s like a 1-in, 3-out thingy but without cloning between the 3-outs.
Wings Platinum, however, will output discrete screens via multi-head gfx cards. The feature is originally meant for stereo outputs from one PC to do 3D shows, but can be used to output 2 or more discrete videos to separate monitors, or split a larger image to 2 or more monitors from the one Display PC…other things being equal, i.e. the Display PC has enough beef to process the video simultaneously. It is just a couple of switches to enable within the software to get there, and is a licence saver.
Thomas Leong
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hi Armand,
Apologies for the late reply. Haven’t visited here in a while…and this might come a bit late. In any case, late January is not a good time for talents as the Chinese New Year week long holidays starts from the 26th, with most leaving for their home town on 22-25.
Then there is type (read: race) of talent you would want to represent a Malaysian. As we are a multi-racial society, generally any one of the 3 main races (Malays, Chinese and Indians) will do, though to be frank, the last would be a challenge to light properly. The govt (and maybe you) would prefer a Malay. They have some Polynesian features, and can be fair to mid-dark-skinned. Talent agencies here mostly have neutral-looking types…sort of from mixed parentage. An agency that recently contacted me is https://www.outloudtalents.com Contact name is Ivy Tan ivy at outloud dot com dot my.
As for spoken English for communication purposes, generally this should not be a problem. But finding a talent who sounds good speaking into a mic and a major problem. There are only two persons here I know who speak excellent Queen’s English. Both are voice talents who do voice recording for adverts, etc.
One is now an actor also (one role he played was as a judge in the remake of ‘The King and I’ starring Chow Yeng Fatt from Hong Kong and Jodie Foster, years ago). But do not shoot him walking. He has a limp from polio in his younger days. Good friend of mine. Racial features are Chinese; age about mine at 60, but we always look younger than we are! Excellent rich voice quality for recording.
The other is an Eurasian (meaning European-Asian)…maybe Portuguese background…not sure. Also an oft-used voice talent for English recordings here, like the other.
Your client here (if it is Shell) would know both by name: Patrick Teoh and Geoffrey Nicolson. Patrick would in all likelyhood be celebrating Chinese New Year during that period, and apart from being expensive, perhaps Geoff is the better choice as he probably will not be celebrating CNY except for visits to friends houses, etc. He is not a Malay, but should be ok for corporate work. Age is about 50+. Rich voice. Anyway, both the guys own their own recording studio or have a share with others, and you can spice up any recordings and/or video work there.
Let me know soon via email: tleong49 at streamyx dot com.
FYI, I shall be travelling from Feb 2-8 and won’t be able to help during those days.
cheers,
Thomas Leong -
Hi,
Advice is to try your idea out with a short piece well before you go into final production for the real thing.
One of the common and proven reliable methods in the last few years has been to use Dataton’s Watchout software, or AvStumpfl’s Wings Platinum. Both work on a Master PC/node controlling Slave PCs/nodes (in your case, Master + 3 Slaves). Each PC must have a licensed dongle in order for the software to output to an external device/monitor/projector (read: 4 dongles in your case). The software is free to download and use, but as afore-mentioned, in order to output one must have the licensed dongle attached.
An option is to produce the graphics yourself, and leave the outputting to a professional rental house that has the configured PCs, dongles, and plasmas to stage it for you. You can then work with the rental house on the delivery requirements (resolutions, type of files, etc) for your graphics…and concentrate on what you do best.
best of luck,
Thomas Leong -
Hi,
Tough job. What you probably require is a Matrix Switcher which can route any input to any output. Probably a 6×6 or 8×8 will be more than sufficient.
Check out Kramer’s VP-66ETH offering at Markertek.com. With the variety of sources that you have (each with its different cabling requirements), probably a RGBHV-type unit would be the most versatile, with BNC-terminated snake cable to match. And you would also need something like a Kramer VP-100A Computer-RGBHV converter for the computer source.
Extron also has its offerings. Excellent reliable stuff, with price to match.
For preview, before switching to the output, you should be able to use one or more of the unused/excess outputs connected to your monitor(s), before you switch to the required output. Alternatively, use additional 2-in,1-out push-button switcher(s) that will allow you to preview/cue before switching to the matrix unit.
Best advice is to hire a professional rental outfit who will provide all the necessary equipment, cabling, AND personnel to install, test, and operate it all for you leaving you free to do what you do best – producing and solving other problems that are sure to pop up.
best fo luck,
Thomas Leong -
Sounds promising. Since the system came pre-built, ask the system builder to provide another graphics card to test. You may have a one-in-a-thousand defective card.
But, having said that, recently i had one of my desktops blue-screening either on boot up or when doing something/anything. Initially, I suspected the graphics card, driver and/or power supply and tried disconnecting periphereals, changed cards, drivers, etc…eventually, after a week of try-outs, traced it to a faulty SATA cable from the mobo to my OS drive! Wierd. the cable has been good for the last 2 years+ and I had not fiddled with the interior for quite a while, and it just went bonkers like after shutting down for the weekend. Must be Gremlins!!
Thomas Leong
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Here are some shots in the dark –
1. Try without OpenGL enabled.
2. Try another driver or two for the 9600GT. The latest driver is not necessarily the greatest.
3. Get a bigger power supply for the PC especially if the graphics card has a molex (power socket) and requires extra power from the power supply. (Symptom: PC re-starts without warning).best of luck,
Thomas Leong -
Hi Alex,
Last I asked here, Damien M. replied, and later gave me a quote for equipment, etc. unfortunately, I eventually did not get the job in Dubai…or rather did not take on the job as the client here proved to be a poor paymaster and I wasn’t going to take the risk of incurring heavy costs in my name without upfront $.
Do a search for ‘Dubai’ and you can drop Damien an email. not cheap from what I recall…for me anyways as it was all in British Pounds then…but the exchange rate has changed drastically lately.
Thomas Leong
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Hi Maxim,
Guess I overlooked that the PIGI uses rolls, not frames.
In any case, here is another answer from Shanghai who used to be based in Hong Kong –
“I really dont know PVC film for inkjet printing certified to stand 200F…
…The PIGI guys in HK use Kodak Duraclear Print Film. The same material used for big lightboxes. But that is not an inkjet process.”Not much help, I’m afraid.
best of luck,
Thomas -
Hi,
I enquired with a good ole friend in London who in turn enquired with a friend of his ‘who holds the biggest stock of large format slide projectors in the UK viz. 7kW Hardware projectors, not PIGI or Pani.’
Apparently, he “uses normal HP transparency film (bubble-jet printer type). It’s smooth on one side and rough on the other, usually putting 2 duplicate sheets sandwiched together in the slide mount (with peg-registration mounts) to get enough density in the colour print otherwise it looks very washed out. As with all projection jobs of this type, you need multiple backup copies of the slides to compensate for colour fading.”
“Incidentally, if the slide burns it is usually because the lamp is incorrectly aligned. It must be adjusted for even slide illumination, not a hot-spot in the middle.”
“The light output from the 7kW Hardware projectors is certainly more than a Pani 4kW so one would expect the HP film would work fine. Loads of projection jobs using the HP film has been done, so one could say it’s a proven method. Still not as good as proper permanent photographic film like Cibachrome, but it is ‘instant’.”
Hope that helps.
Thomas Leong -
If you are using Windows, sometimes it could be that you have set a monitor resolution higher than what the monitor itself can handle but which your installed graphics card has no problem with. In such cases, drag the mouse to the top and/or bottom of the monitor (left/right sides too) and you will be able to ‘scroll’ the application.
To solve, right-click on the Windows desktop > Properties > Settings and set a lower resolution such that any fully open app will fill the monitor nicely.
best of luck,
Thomas Leong