Video Playback Software

[JCC1996]

Hi,

 

I'm running sound and projection for our school show in June. I have a couple of sound effects, but a lot of video clips that have to be played during the show. I have QLab which I have used for a while for audio, but I only just found out that you need the licence to use it for video playback (not before I'd spent hours putting every cue in!!)

 

I'm wondering what other software options I have for running the video playback, preferably along with the sound, but I don't mind too much if I have to run separate programs. I'm running a MacBook Pro, so it would preferably be OSX compatible, but thats not essential as I have a Windows laptop that I can drag into service if required. However, as it's for a school production it is essential that it is free.

 

If there's no software available, then does anyone have any ideas on how to do this? set it up as a slideshow with each video clip as one slide, or are there an better ways of doing this?

 

Any advice or ideas are appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Joe

[mar]

You can hire Qlab licences by the day I think - if you have already set up the cue list then this would be a very quick solution.

[rossmck]

Depends how many cues you have but I've used a few things for video - usually QLab (there is a 'rental' license available which is very affordable and most schools wold stretch to)

 

Another (completely different) option may be http://katrin.logvinov.org/ - a full Art-Net capable media server that's completely free, but does take a bit of effort to set up - the advantage being you can then fire the cues from the lighting desk potentially.

 

I've seen some people use VLC - you can configure it to play out on a second monitor in fullscreen mode, and switch off the auto-advance on your playlist which may be enough for your needs ?

 

Last but not least (I'm not a fan of this option, but it works) use Keynote (preferably not powerpoint, keynote does seem to handle video better) and create a slide per video clip (with static / blank slides in between as required) as you described - it does work, but is obviously not ideal.

 

 

[JCC1996]

Thanks everyone, I think I'll try to barter with the school for a rental license as this seems the most sensible option that will get the best results- which at the end of the day is what we want!!

[rossmck]

Just out of curiosity - what's the show ?

[JCC1996]

Little Shop of Horrors!

[kitlane]

If you are willing to use a PC you could try Screenmonkey or AVD Multiplay https://www.audiovisualdevices.com.au/software/multiplay/index.php

[DeepSpacePenguin]

Little Shop of Horrors!

 

What are you using the video for??

[JCC1996]

[quote name='DeepSpacePenguin' timestamp='1337170933' post='440336'

 

What are you using the video for??

 

 

Several things:

 

Showing lightning during the storm parts

Having animation for 'Da-Doo' and for 'Somewhere Thats Green'

Showing a 'green screened' film of Orin on a motorbike

 

As well as displaying various other bits and pieces throughout the performance.

 

 

[PH_Zone]

I worth second having a look at screen monkey

I have used it to do both the sounds and video files

 

www.screenmonkey.co.uk/

[AHYoung]

you are running the sound from qlab, that you understand and have the video cues loaded in... use qlab - its about 2 quid a day to rent. it will do everything you want, is as close to an industry standard as there is so its a good skill to polish and its dirt cheap for what it is.

as to the default blue room position of recomending screen monkey for absolutely any video playback task...any discussion as to whether or not its any use is fairly pointless as it wont run on the OPs mac, and as the Op going to run the audio from Qlab it seems insane not to also run the video unless you want 2 machines for every cue...

[JCC1996]

Thanks to everyone for the replies, but before I go to the school to ask if they would reimburse me for the license I wanted to have exhausted all the free options.

 

I absolutely hate using keynote for stuff like this, I find it a bit unpredictable and unstable. And I'm sure the teachers will understand this.

 

As for screen monkey, I've dragged out my old Windows laptop and had a play around with it, but I have a problem: my video clips rely on the last frame of one clip remaining on screen until the next clip is triggered. The first second or so of the next clip is the same as the last clip, before changing to whatever animation/effect I need to happen. I hope that makes sense, if not just say and I'll try to explain it better!! The problem is that the screen flickers to black between each clip, so instead of a seamless transition it is a clumsy change. Is this a setting I can change or is this how ScreenMonkey is supposed to work?

 

Thanks

 

Joe

[Olie]

As for screen monkey, I've dragged out my old Windows laptop and had a play around with it, but I have a problem: my video clips rely on the last frame of one clip remaining on screen until the next clip is triggered. The first second or so of the next clip is the same as the last clip, before changing to whatever animation/effect I need to happen. I hope that makes sense, if not just say and I'll try to explain it better!! The problem is that the screen flickers to black between each clip, so instead of a seamless transition it is a clumsy change. Is this a setting I can change or is this how ScreenMonkey is supposed to work?

 

Are you using XP or Windows 7? In Windows 7 or Vista you can add a smooth fade transition which should sort this for you.