Thomas Leong
Forum Replies Created
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DVD is one way. But IMHO most of such solutions are called Digital Signage. Google for it and you will get a $ range of solutions and methods. Most are based on a playlist and dedicated hardware with ethernet as the link from server to the nodes.
For a basic freeware Digital Signage software (uses your own pc), look up https://www.digitalrecall.com.au/Digital/default.asp limited to 800×600 resolution. Add $50 for option to up the res.
Another option is a no-moving-parts-lasts-a-lifetime compact flash player with scripting to control the player and the playlist. Have a look at https://www.rokulabs.com for their BrightSign Looper Solid-State Media Player (available 2008) or their Brightsign HD600 and HD2000.
Thomas Leong
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Todd,
I have since succeeded in getting Wings Platinum v2.x and v3.x to display Powerpoint and videos in the secondary output of my laptop while my timeline remains on the laptop’s primary monitor. It is merely a setting in the Object Properties popup for the Powerpoint marker in Wings’ timeline – the X position for the Powerpoint should be set to, say, 1024 pixels if you are using a 1024×768 monitor, as this then shifts the Powerpoint presentation by 1024 pixels to the right…effectively moving it out of the laptop’s primary monitor (see my post at the Tips & Tricks section of https://multidisplays.freeforums.org).
With this solved, Wings will be the ideal solution for what you require: a software with switcher features to play Powerpoint and videos from your laptop to projector. The only other software you would require is the freeware Powerpoint Viewer.
As aforesaid, you do not need the Multidisplay version of Wings if you only intend single screen presentations. The Pro version will do, and this costs far less than the Multidisplays version…about 40% savings I should think….but then the US$ has depreciated quite a bit recently.
Thomas Leong
https://multidisplays.freeforums.org -
Never been in a flame war, and don’t intend to start here.
Original question, and reflected by the subject matter, was for a software solution to be run from a laptop. Doubt if any Hippotizer or Pandora’s Box caters for that. Neither would Watchout since it needs two laptops as a minimum when the question referred to one. Archaos and Matrox’ multi-head adaptor possibly oculd, but since I do not have experience with them, I personally could not recommend them in case they cannot do the job. My confidence lies with what I know to fulfill the objective required. And if that is limited relative to other’s experience, then so be it. But at least I tried to help morgancreative in a timely manner.
Thomas Leong
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The playback software, and maybe even the graphics card’s driver, will have a major say in whether video can be played on both outputs simultaneously.
I say this because my Asus, despite its relatively powerful 512MB GeForceGo 7700 will not do it – simultaneously. For DVD movie watching, using VLC or WMP, I have to drag the player window over to the second display for the video to display there. Partially dragged over, with the playback window partly in one and partly in the secondary monitor, one is black, and the other displays the video. Dragged over sufficiently, the displayed video starts showing on the secondary monitor, and the primary displays black.
However, with my dongled multi-display software, Wings Platinum 3, I can enable a special feature it calls ‘multihead mode’ for the graphics card, and videos (the same or discrete separate videos) can be played/displayed on both outputs simultaneously, even with my laptop. Without enabling this special mode, only one output can display the video(s).
ThomasLeong
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I fear that with a laptop’s graphics card, even one with a 3rd party card, the option is not available (to swap primary to secondary and vice versa). This is the case with my ASUS laptop with an nVidia GeForceGo 7700…and I fear it is the same with all laptops. A desktop does not have the option to swap greyed out.
ThomasLeong
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Such incidents are normal…IMO, when the laptop’s graphics card is of the older variety and onboard as well, i.e. it can’t process video on dual outputs (the laptop’s LCD mon and the external out).
Generally, I think when the laptop has a 3rd party graphics card rather than an onboard graphics, the video will play on the external output. Just my theory…don’t have enough laptops to test 🙂
Thomas Leong
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Although it may look like a good find, the specs do not state that it is a seamless switcher, meaning, on switching from one input to the other, this unit probably blanks the output momentarily. Speaking of switching, I do not see a manual switch on the unit, so I’m not sure how you can control the switching.
Nevertheless, Kramer has a good reputation. I notice that B&H says the unit is Out of Stock. Try Markertek.com.
Personally, I would still recommend that you get a seamless switcher. Probably a bit more expensive, but if there is a chance to re-use at other events, it would be worth it.
As for the dry contact closure remote, I’m no electronics engineer, but I think it is a simple switch (as in a light switch such as those for table lamps, or a slide projector remote). However, I’m not sure of the type of connector, or it could be open-ended wires looking at the picture at B&H. Generally these are what the industry calls GPIO (General Purpose Input Output, I think). You could ask Kramer to supply or try Radio Shack or just google for ‘dry contact closure switches’ and see what options there are.
Thomas Leong
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Yes. Sub-contract the running of presentations/videos, etc to a professional rental company that has seamless switchers with multi-generic inputs such as a Folsom, Extron or Analog Way. Such a company will also have the source equipment to feed the seamless switcher. You may provide the laptops (at least 2 units) to run the Powerpoints.
Digitize your conference-themed still image into the seamless switcher (if it has such a feature). Else put this still image on a 3rd laptop. Feed all laptops to the seamless switcher. Likewise with all other sources (DVD player, tape player, another PC running videos, etc…perhaps even live video cameras depending on your configuration). Such a switcher will have a Preview key, and an Output Key. The Preview Key basically cues up the next output.
Such a company will also provide the technical expertise and operator of the equipment, and all you have to do is sit next to him/her with a cue-sheet and cue the operator when and what to prepare well before the switch-over (to the next presenter, conference image, whatever).
REHEARSE…REHEARSE…REHEARSE. With a seamless switcher, it will be…well…seamless (no blanking of projector). Don’t do it all yourself. Get a pro.
Thomas Leong
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Forgot to mention that with Wings, and if you wish to see your timeline at the same time as the Powerpoint presentation, it would be diffcult with a laptop – all because a laptop’s Primary mon is usually the laptop’s LCD itself, and Wings can only display Powerpoint presentations on the same Master/Primary mon. In clone mode this is not a problem, but you won’t be able to see your timeline in clone mode during a presentation.
Using, say a Shuttle PC, with a dual display 3rd party graphics card, and a 1-in, 2-out vga splitter for the Primary mon (splitting one to mon, other to projector), and monitoring your timeline on the secondary mon solves the problem.
With that in mind, I wonder if the Matrox’s DualHeadtoGo or TripleHeadtoGo will help. However, Wings Platinum 3 Pro is only a single screen version. Perhaps the Wings Platinum 3 Multidisplay version is required with Matrox’s. As I have not tried the Matrox stuff, I can’t say for sure one way or the other.
Thomas Leong
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Forgot to mention that with Wings, and if you wish to see your timeline at the same time as the Powerpoint presentation, it would be diffcult with a laptop – all because a laptop’s Primary mon is usually the laptop’s LCD itself, and Wings can only display Powerpoint presentations on the same Master/Primary mon. In clone mode this is not a problem, but you won’t be able to see your timeline in clone mode during a presentation.
Using, say a Shuttle PC, with a dual display 3rd party graphics card, and a 1-in, 2-out vga splitter for the Primary mon (splitting one to mon, other to projector), and monitoring your timeline on the secondary mon solves the problem.
Thomas Leong