Re: [Frameworks] Multi-channel video tech requirements
Do you want the same image on all the monitors, or do you want a piece of the image on each monitor to make all the monitors show one whole image? The 2 are different processes. If you want the same image on multiple monitors, what you need depends on the number of monitors. There is a device called a D.A. which means Distribution Amplifier. It is basically one input, and multiple outputs of the same image. You can plug a computer into this, and then come out to your monitors. You can get a D.A. in many flavors; DVI, VGA, HDMI. Also they come in different number of monitors they can support 1x2, 1x4, 1x6 etc. If you want one image to go to multiple monitors, to make all the monitors be a part of one big image, then you need a splitter. I've used a bunch of them, the only brand name I can remember off the top of my head is Matrox. Using both the DA and the Matrox, one computer will most definitely work. There is a lot more I could say, but it would help if I knew if you wanted the same on all the monitors, or different making one whole.. I do image splitting like this all the time in my corporate A/V job, if you have any more questions, feel free to ask.. :) Kristie Reinders, B.F.A. Director of Cinematography, Electric Visions Curator and Head Projectionist, Electric Mural Project The Mission, San Francisco, CA 'A first class technician should work best under pressure.' - - - Issac Asimov ___ FrameWorks mailing list FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
Re: [Frameworks] Multi-channel video tech requirements
Yeah I was thinking different images on each monitor. I guess I was thinking of it as x different video files playing simultaneously. Sounds like you are saying I should make one file and split it up across different monitors. On Saturday, July 11, 2015, k. a.r. a_r...@hotmail.com wrote: Zach that is a pretty complicated way of doing this, there are easier ways... -- To: frameworks@jonasmekasfilms.com javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','frameworks@jonasmekasfilms.com'); Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2015 13:34:43 -0400 From: z...@zachpoff.com javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','z...@zachpoff.com'); Subject: Re: [Frameworks] Multi-channel video tech requirements Zach here (responding to the digest so apologies if I missed some of the newer emails). My MultiScreener software hasn't been updated in awhile, but seems to work fine on the machines I've tested recently. I would recommend it for people who already have a bunch of computers. However it's much easier and more reliable to use a BrightSign HD222 or older HD220 player for each channel (About $300-$350 each). They play directly from SD cards using a simple text script for setup. No daily startup/shutdown rituals required and no risk of some stupid MacOS software update notice appearing in the middle of your show! Feel free to try MultiScreener. There is a guide on the site with full setup details. You can run multiple channels on one computer. It's clumsy but it has worked well in practice. I modern Mac Mini would probably keep 2x 1080p videos in sync, but test everything to find out. I listed lots of similar software on the Multiscreener page. Summary: If you have a budget I'd go for a fleet of BrightSigns. http://www.zachpoff.com/software/multiscreener/ (One note: There are some Applescripts in the MultiScreener download that were compiled in the Pre-Intel Mac days, so they need to be opened in Script Editor and re-saved.) http://www.zachpoff.com/software/brightsign-video-sync-scripts/ Feel free to get in touch via email if you have specific questions. -Zach ___ FrameWorks mailing list FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com'); https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks ___ FrameWorks mailing list FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com javascript:; https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks ___ FrameWorks mailing list FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
Re: [Frameworks] Multi-channel video tech requirements
Zach here (responding to the digest so apologies if I missed some of the newer emails). My MultiScreener software hasn't been updated in awhile, but seems to work fine on the machines I've tested recently. I would recommend it for people who already have a bunch of computers. However it's much easier and more reliable to use a BrightSign HD222 or older HD220 player for each channel (About $300-$350 each). They play directly from SD cards using a simple text script for setup. No daily startup/shutdown rituals required and no risk of some stupid MacOS software update notice appearing in the middle of your show! Feel free to try MultiScreener. There is a guide on the site with full setup details. You can run multiple channels on one computer. It's clumsy but it has worked well in practice. I modern Mac Mini would probably keep 2x 1080p videos in sync, but test everything to find out. I listed lots of similar software on the Multiscreener page. Summary: If you have a budget I'd go for a fleet of BrightSigns. http://www.zachpoff.com/software/multiscreener/ (One note: There are some Applescripts in the MultiScreener download that were compiled in the Pre-Intel Mac days, so they need to be opened in Script Editor and re-saved.) http://www.zachpoff.com/software/brightsign-video-sync-scripts/ [1] Feel free to get in touch via email if you have specific questions. -Zach Links: -- [1] http://www.zachpoff.com/software/brightsign-video-sync-scripts/ ___ FrameWorks mailing list FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
Re: [Frameworks] Multi-channel video tech requirements
Hi Chris, I'm sure you're thinking of Zach Poff's multi-screener. http://www.zachpoff.com/software/multiscreener/ Zach seems like a generous soul. He also wrote some scripts to run Bright Sign synchronizers on Macs a few years ago: http://www.zachpoff.com/software/brightsign-video-sync-scripts/ Depending on how synchronized you need to be, I've had pretty good results from using identical, cheap, media players and hitting play on one remote. It isn't frame-synced but it's not bad. But, I bet there's some other DYI/ homemade software and hardware out there that does it. good luck, Warren On Tue, Jul 7, 2015 at 6:16 PM, Chris Freeman christopherbriggsfree...@gmail.com wrote: What do people use these days to run multiple monitors for a video installation? In art school 5 years ago, we had a Mac Pro and we used a program that I can't remember the name of to sync up all the video on the different monitors. What are the minimum specs to show 1080 video on multiple monitors? Can cheaper computers than a Mac Pro support more than 2 monitors? What software is currently used to keep the videos in sync? What's the limit of monitors these things can support? ___ FrameWorks mailing list FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks ___ FrameWorks mailing list FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
