The Presentation Computer has always been a 'If it goes down we don't have a backup' computer. Coming out S-Video to the Video Editor I understand because that and video are all it will take. Randy and I tried to find an available computer to make work but it wouldn't take the video card. I don't like being backed up against a wall with no way out.
The only solution was a Down Scaler. AV Tools makes one that will take us from VGA/DVI-D to S-Video, Component and Video. Not happy about going backwards in the chain of things, but that's what we have.
I have setup my personal work computer with Media Shout 4 and have tested it. I can get to the server to save everything, pull in backgrounds, songs, whatever. Now, if on a Sunday morning something happens we have a way to correct it!
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Roger this sounds like a great move to gain some immediate redundancy. It's got me thinking about the S-video limitation, which is really a composite feed to the projectors limitation.
ReplyDeleteDo you know what the native resolution of the projectors are? The reason I ask is if it's XGA (1024x768) that's much better than the 720x480 signal over S-video or composite. What if we got away from the 1x10 s-video/composite DA upstairs and implemented something like the Kramer TP-104HD? Then run cat6 twisted pair to receivers at each projector. This would allow the use of 15pin RGBHV video cable common on any computer. We'd be taking advantage of the higher resolution and the analog signal is degraded less due the encoder/decoder. As a bonus, this puts us more in line with the capabilities of the upstairs switcher which has 15pin RGB inputs/outputs in either SD or HD. Also, when the time comes to get new projectors, you could simply increase the resolution at the PC (since the Kramer supports up to UXGA (1600x1200) or implement HDMI encoder/decoder over the existing twisted pair.
In fact... big picture here... what if The switcher downstairs were upgraded to RGB inputs? Maybe move the 440HD downstairs and get an HD-SDI switcher which is less cabling to our cameras and digital rather than analog. Then the projectionist could draw from a feed from the network of cameras for something like a baby dedication or baptism. A switcher with a built in keyer could also allow the projectionist flexibility to put his mediashout graphics as an overlay on live video mix from three cameras like we did for VBS.
...just some thoughts.
Craig,
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly my thoughts for down the road. I don't like down scaling and if we go to even 1024x768 it would be better. Run CAT5 so we can decide what the encode/decode will be. That's my hope. I'd even like to see DVD-D or HDMI with 1080p in the future!!
The only switcher I'm having a hard time with is at the presentation computer. That would need to change as well so we can feed in something different than Video or S-video. Help me out here. I know what I want and I would like to put together a proposal so we can increase our visual ministry!!
Roger, I see what you mean. The presentation switcher is the sticky point because it gets very expensive to cross dissolve VGA. The mixer upstairs can do it, but that was what, $11K? Plus it doesn't have a scaled output. I was pleasantly surprised by the low cost of the Kramer TP-104HD which made me think gee, for a few hundred bucks, maybe this is worth eliminating s-video sooner rather than later. Would it be worth it for $1500? After researching a little bit, here's what I've come up with for presentation switcher replacement... Economy, Deluxe and Mid-range:
ReplyDelete1. Economy
A simple A/B hard switch
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/431525-REG/Kramer_PT_201VGA_PT_201VGA_XGA_2x1_Switcher.html
Not being able to cross fade between sources could be quite jolting, but cheap! Not sure how a 480i-SD or 1080i HD signal would be treated without a scalar. Also, allowing a third source for the DVD player is a worthy criteria.
2. Deluxe
Extron ISS-506 Presentation switcher with seamless cross dissolve, tons of resolutions, keying capability (baby's name over live shot), built-in scaler plus options for remote T-bar and DVI-D output. Approx cost = $5,500. Probably overkill.
http://www.extron.com/product/product.aspx?id=iss506&subtype=220&s=3
3. Mid Range
Kramer VP-728 Approx. $1,100
http://www.kramerelectronics.com/products/model.asp?name=VP-728
This is an interesting compromise. It won't cross dissolve, but handles the sync issue by dipping to black. This seems reasonable in our environment. Most importantly, it takes anything from composite, s-video, component, both SD & 1080i and scales it to a host a resolutions from 640x480 up to 1920x1200. It will take a 1080p signal from a BlueRay player via HDMI. The VP729 adds an ethernet port and even has an iphone app for remote use.
The more I learn about the Kramer VP-728, the more it seems like a no brainer to me.
Interesting article in Church Production
http://www.churchproduction.com/go.php/article/316
Yes Craig,
ReplyDeleteI have read the article. The only point that I would change is when they say 'a projector's native 'habitat' is high resolution. That is not always the case and what is meant by high resolution. 640x480 to me is NOT high res! Many projectors have that as their native resolution. Yes, they can be put to 1024x768 but you get noise in the image because that is not what they are called to do. I would rather put the money into a projector that has resident 1920x1200 than try to 'boost' the res factor. To say that all projectors are native high res was a bad choice of words on their part, I feel.
I did call Kramer and asked them about the audio latency issues I've had. Their comment was, it depends on the length of the run.We aren't using audio I know, that just bothers me.
ReplyDeleteThe Extron IN1508 is also and middle price range that has cut/fade to black as well and selectable resolution. My middle choice.