USB to VGA

[edark]

I use a pc based lighting / show control softwear called Show Magic which has the ability to play video files out of a second vga ouptut. Thus, I need to add an extra VGA output to my PC and have found you can get a USB to VGA adaptor.

Has anyone ever used one?

 

Cheers

Ed

 

Moderation: Editted to prove a link to technical theatre, following PM conversation with Ed

[lukemh]

They work I have used one once but they are average in image quality. I would say if you have to then use one otherwise think about other ways like proximity desktop

[Tomo]

USB 1.1 doesn't have the bandwidth for any moving image

USB 2.0 has enough to cope with VGA quality video, but not much more - maybe 800x600 at the very most.

[Floydey]

Have you thought of using a video splitter? One VGA input from PC that gives 2, 4 or 8 VGA signals depending on the spec of the splitter

 

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/endecaSearch/pa...jsp?SKU=CS01022

 

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/endecaSearch/pa...jsp?SKU=CS01023

 

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/endecaSearch/pa...jsp?SKU=CS07984

[peternewman]

If you want another output with different content to the existing ones you could also look at Matrox's DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go.

[Adam Brinkworth]

I don't know of one, but could you use a fire wire to vga adapter?

 

Surely that would give enough bandwidth.

 

Good Luck

[Tomo]

Firewire 1 is roughly equivalent to USB 2.0 (although less overhead, so a bit more real data throughput)

 

Firewire 2 has double that, so theoretically possible, although I do not know of any.

 

I would be looking at extra or dual-output graphics cards, or the Matrox dual-and-triple splitter solutions, although those require a very good graphics card to operate.

[Adam Brinkworth]

edark, what is your budget?

 

To be honest, the easiest way would probably be to add another internal graphics card, or replace the existing graphics card with a new one.

 

I need to know what computer you have, and what graphics card you have, before I can make recemendations.

 

I have worked building PC's, and I believe that this would be the easiest way

[edark]

Thank you everyody for you replies.

 

I am using ShowMagic (a pc based show controller) which I use for all my lighting. It also does video.

I currently have a matrox dual head card. first output is obviously for the pc desktop. The second I use to output composite and display a 'power-point-like' display on a TV screen in the foyer.

 

My venue is looking at buying a projector and I want to be able to output dvd quality video to the projector as well as display the PPT messages on the tv in thr foyer.

 

I can't add another internall graphics card as not enough slots.

 

I was hoping to find a cheap way to add an extra vga outpu for the video projector, however by the sounds of it the bandwidth / quality isnt going to be great... :(

I guess the TV screen display would be best suited to a usb device as its not very demanding graphics, just simple text etc. I can then use the 2nd head of the Matrox graphics card to run video on the projector.

So....

Anyone know of a usb to composite output?

 

 

Thanx

[Adam Brinkworth]

Regarding you running out of PCI slots, it would be best to replace the internal video card. Many video cards will now give you two outputs, which can be sent to two sources, ie a pc monitor and the projector that you are talking about. I have given an example of one below.

 

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?SAP-1950P+

 

You may be able to find cheaper. and be able to match the specs you require for your pc.

[Tomo]

You CAN still get PCI graphics cards, and you will almost certainly have a PCI or 1x PCI Express slot free, unless it's a Dell.

 

One of those would be fine for the Powerpoint-style thing - it isn't going to be a good 3D accelerated card, but you don't need that.

 

If you genuinely don't have a spare slot, then the Matrox DualHead2Go is the solution, assuming you have a graphics card capable of extreme widescreen display.

 

USB to composite outputs are fairly common - most USB video capture solutions do this - but they are most definately NOT "DVD-quality".

You'll be sorely disappointed by PAL quality on a big projector screen, if only due to scaling errors.

[Andrew C]

I am using ShowMagic (a pc based show controller) which I use for all my lighting. It also does video.

I currently have a matrox dual head card. first output is obviously for the pc desktop. The second I use to output composite and display a 'power-point-like' display on a TV screen in the foyer.

If I were you,I would get the video OFF my lighting control system. Buy a cheap (even 2nd hand) box and use that to run the powerpoint. Probably cheaper than a fancy graphics card. H3ll, you can buy NEW PCs for £300ish.

[edark]

If I were you,I would get the video OFF my lighting control system. Buy a cheap (even 2nd hand) box and use that to run the powerpoint. Probably cheaper than a fancy graphics card. H3ll, you can buy NEW PCs for £300ish.

Yeah your right, just to run the powerpoint would be easier off a separate pc.

 

However my whole setup is built around full show control, Show Magic... It is a show control system, not just lighting.

My setup allows me to have full control over lighting, sound and AV in one place. Allowing me to build sequences of events containing all elements. For example I use the system to do the entire pre-show intro, including the Foyer announcements and tv display, FOH announcements with houselight dimming and a preshow light show, and I am now looking at including video projection on the safety curtain for the preshow and during interval.

 

So I am reluctant to remove the AV control from Showmagic and put on a seperate PC.

 

Thanx

 

Ed

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Tomo....

USB to composite outputs are fairly common - most USB video capture solutions do this - but they are most definately NOT "DVD-quality".

You'll be sorely disappointed by PAL quality on a big projector screen, if only due to scaling errors.

 

Thanks Tomo,

Just to clarify... a USB video capture card can provide composite OUTPUT?

Also, do you know if windows see these USB video capture cards as an additional monitor output?

(I.e in windows control panel / display)

 

cheers

Ed

[Tomo]

Just to clarify... a USB video capture card can provide composite OUTPUT?

Also, do you know if windows see these USB video capture cards as an additional monitor output?

Many do.

Some do not - check before purchase!

 

Windows generally sees the Composite/S-Vid output as an additional monitor output, but you'll need to be careful about overscanning and the resolution - PAL is 575 lines high (not all are shown by all displays), and it's analogue so doesn't actually have a horizontal resolution.

[Discodom]

Can you give any guides as to which models windows can see as a monitor output?