Thomas Leong
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It looks like you need a MIDI-compatible multi-display software. Check out Wings Platinum 3 at https://www.avstumpfl.com. I’m not familiar with MIDI especially since I’m not a musician. So download and install the full version of the software. Without a licence, it will run in Demo mode, good enough for initial evaluation. In the Help files, search for ‘MIDI’, and see if those features are of use for your purposes. I’m confident it will start all your 4 videos on cue all the time, everytime. But I’m not sure if any software can maintain the videos in perfect sync with the live music while it is being played as this would imply that the speed/framerates of the videos be variable!
BTW, for MIDI support, Wings will require the Show Control Module added to the Multidisplay version. This pushes up the cost of the licence a bit, but the Show Control Module is only required for the Master. The Slaves will auto inherit what the Master has.
A possible advantage of Wings Platinum is that it has a feature which the competitors do not have, and that is allow you to make use of the dual-head graphics cards in each slave pc to output two discrete videos. This saves one piece of hardware (PC unit), and one licence. (For your 4 videos, and if the Master is also used as a Slave in playback presentation mode, this means only 2 licences and 2 PCs to run 4 videos versus 5 PCs and 5 licences in the standard configuration (1 Master + 4 Slaves). However, it also depends on the videos you intend to run. If each is fixed in duration, and compresssed into an MPEG-2 file, then today’s PC with their Core2Duo CPU and mid-end graphics cards with dual-head outputs will run 2 videos without hiccups. More complicated videos that require multiple mixed tracks with Picture-in-picture processing, etc…are best kept to one pc, one licence per video, with the Master being the fifth PC with its own licence.
An alternative is https://www.vvvv.org which is a ‘toolkit for realtime video synthesis. It seems to have MIDI support as well.
There are Mac solutions too but I’m not familiar with them and am not sure if they support MIDI.For multi-projection, the above 2 and Dataton’s Watchout software work on the principle of Master Server PC controlling client PCs (also called Slaves/Display PCs, or plain nodes). Communication between all is via simple TCP/IP static addressing and a cheap switching hub. Except for the Master, each slave outputs to a projector via the graphics card. Note that in most cases, the coding of these software uses Microsoft’s Direct X technology and as such requires any graphics card installed to work overtime, all the time, rendering output in realtime. What this means is that onboard graphics chips may not function well and you would generally need a mid- to high-end graphics card installed on each slave pc. That said, if your videos are not complicated with 3D textures, etc…i.e. basically just plain MPEG-2 or WMV videos, some users have used on-board graphics purely for playback with little problems (eg. those with GMA 900 and later graphics). 1 GB RAM for playback (slaves) is sufficient. The Master will probably do with 2GB and more.
As for hardware, others may be able to suggest hardy projectors and screens for travel.
PC-wise, you may want to consider reasonably equipped laptops, especially those with 3rd party graphics cards included, such as those from ASUS, HP, ACER and the more expensive Toshibas. Not the high-end gaming ones, the mid- ones will do…especially if they have the Intel Core2Duo CPU and ATI or nVidia graphics. One big advantage of a laptop for travel is that the LCD monitor, keyboard and mouse is included, saving packing and unpacking time….plus cabling. Laptops, however, will not allow dual-head output to the projectors. Cloned output yes, but not 2 discrete outputs. It is a cost versus convenient balancing act.Thomas Leong
https://www.multidisplays.freeforums.org -
IMO, there are 3 types of solutions categorized into: hardware- and software-based, and hybrids.
Hardware-based are –
Montage, Spyder, Hippotiser, etc. Expensive if purchased. Rental is cheaper depending on duration of usage.Software-base are –
Dataton Watchout, AvStumpfl Wings Platinum (both Windows-base), and some Mac-based solutions – ProPresenter from renewedvision.com and Multisreener (freeware) from zachpoff.com
All are basically based on a Master PC with a master timeline controlling the various nodes (slave/display PCs). Licences come in the form of USB dongles, one for each node including the Master. So generally, for a 3-screen presentation, you would need 4 licences and 4 PCs/Macs.Hybrids –
Basically involves a compact-flash controller controlling other compact-flash or hard-disk players. However, this generally means the controller program must first have been programmed on a software such as those earlier mentioned, and tested before downloading to the players. In other cases, the first player in the chain can be the controller of the others down the chain, therefore not requirng a separate Master controller. Some work akin to digital signage solutions with a playlist.However, framesync between players is questionable if this feature is required. The hardware- and software-based solutions earlier mentioned all do framesync between the output displays/slaves.
Thomas Leong
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Your best bet is to ask the owner/programmer of Multiscreener.
That said, generally, the requirement is one client per source/per monitor mainly because each is a fullscreen display. Then there is the additional requirement of a Master controlling and keeping all the display clients in sync.
Your desire of putting 3 per 30″ monitor implies windowing or Picture-in-picture from one client, which most software can do, other things being equal (i.e. the hardware is capable of playing 3 layers of full res videos simultaneously without hiccups).
Thomas
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I think Bob is better qualified to answer this, but while we wait…I’ll give it my 2 cents –
Q1) Using Osprey Card in Shuttle Box, what quality can be expected for Image Magnification? Any delay?
A1) Best quality is from S-video input. Delay? Yes…from what I hear about 1-2 frames so lipsync in IMAG will probably be a problem. I have the Osprey 210 in my Shuttles and with cable TV as the source, there is no frame delay. But with a DV camera as source, there is. Your mileage may vary…and I strongly suggest that you test, and test again with your camera/switching system through Ospreys well before you on-site.
Q2) Should we run the PowerPoint through a Datapath card. Can we also use this for the Image Magnification?
A1) You can use the Datapath for IMAG in addition to Powerpoint. Needs source switching in Watchout.
Running Powerpoint through the Datapath is one alternative. Another is to use VNC, either UltraVNC or TightVNC. But either way results in Powerpoint being dependent on the card to get things on screen. A third alternative is to place a black mask for the Powerpoint onto Watchout’s timeline, and feed the Powerpoint via a third beamer inot this black hole. Advantage here is that you are less dependent on the Watchout Display PC and Datapath card. There is a cost increase if you have to hire an extra beamer for the Powerpoint and switcher…but this is offset with having to purchase/hire Datapath cards to do a seamless overlay.
Again, you must test and test again well before getting on-site.Q3) Is there a cheaper, easier better solution for this instance?
A3) Easier and better, but not cheaper unless you hire. Use a hardware-based solution like Spyder, Hippo, Folsom, etc… with multiple inputs and output capabilities and beamers with soft-edge features to do seamless. These allow for switching of sources, etc…and IMO is far better in a live situation where you have to cater for the unexpected, little rehearsals, etc. Timeline-based software solutions like Watchout and other do not allow for such flexibility in a live situation.
Additionally, using client-supplied Videos, you are likely to have to play these over a background. Such video are not made to fit a 60×20 format (3:1). They are either 16:9 or 4:3. And they are likely to come in a DVD disk or something…and with Watchout, you would have to import and place these in the timeline and probably use place/name markers to ‘jump to’ when required during the presentation. These are actions which you have to do BEFORE the event begins. Hardware-based solutions allow you to insert/play an external source at the last minute if the unexpected turns up.
Thomas Leong
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No. I’m on PC myself and use paid-ware, but thought others might be interested in a Mac-based freeware. You could try writing to the programmer/owner of multi-screener.
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Uh..uh…per his post, Alex already has Wings+Windows licence. No point incurring extra costs for production software and hardware plus learning curve jumping to another platform, eh? Besides his planned delivery system to client needs to play off compact flash, both controller and players. I don’t think Renewed Vision’s stuff does that. Horses for courses.
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Here is the US outlet for the Edje. It is made by Adtec Digital, a US company – https://www.adtecinc.com/products/signEdje
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Hi Alex,
Yes Stumpfl is a bit late to market with a HD compact flash player…then again, maybe not since there are not many around. Most are made for digital signage more than anything else. Market is there I suppose. Here are a few more for your research –
Edje units seem intereting but it does not seem to work with a Wings SCMaster. The guff says it takes its initial instructions (playlist) from a PC instead. You could contact them to clarify. Should have a US outlet though the site below is UK – https://www.pixels.uk.com/products/Soloist4111/FrameAccurateSynch.htm
CodexNovus is another product. Seems expensive though –
https://www.codexnovus.com/products.aspx?catId=763&prodId=1373Electrosonics HD FrEND – https://www.electrosonic.com/hd_frend.shtm
Best of luck, and do let us know if you find a suitable solution.
Thomas
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Hi Alex,
Cheapest one I know of is rokulabs Brightsign HD2000 which has HDMI, VGA and component out but no DVI. You could use a HDMI-to-DVI adaptor. Up to 1080i media which plays via compact flash. Has RS-232 which Wings can set commands to, but if I read their forum right, you might not need Wings showcontrol at all. I can’t vouch for Brightsign’s reliability nor sync capabilities.
There was an enquiry to sync 3 units together at their forum, and reply was that the units need a special cable –
https://forums.rokulabs.com/viewtopic.php?t=14588
The support seems pretty good.Maybe you could apply for an evaluation unit ($299) for tests.
Thomas Leong
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A re-shoot with a set for the Pepper’s Ghost effect could probably achieve what you want without any post-pro required. An explanation of the principles behind Pepper’s Ghost can be found at https://www.phantasmechanics.com/pepper.html
and at https://www.doombuggies.com/home.php for Disney’s Haunted Mansion effect.The guy is in the room with the furniture, etc. The girl in the other. Needs some really critical lighting of the background in the room where the guy is, in order to get the girl looking opaque in areas where you want her to be solid. Getting her looking transparent is simple – she will look transparent wherever the background (of the guy’s room) is brightly lit.
To get the girl to walk through the guy, use the principle of angle of reflection = angle of inflection (the distance of girl to mirror in one room = the distance of guy to mirror in the other room), and you will get the illusion of the girl walking through the guy.
Thomas Leong