side by side video proj using Matrox t3 2 go

[Dave m]

hi,

 

first post.

 

We're trying to do a show with 2 x projections side by side that must run in synch.

 

We have macs and the video has been edited on FCP.

The assumption was that we could run a piece of video direct from the timeline through a matrox triple head that we had created by making a single video double wide, and it looks as expected when paused.

 

But when running the timeline, we find that the video shrinks down and although split over the 2 screens, it fails to fill the 2 x 16:9 screens.

 

I am assuming that it's an FCP thing so I'm after suggestions of how to run the video?

 

Either 2 x separate video or 1 x double wide

 

What do people use to run videos and keep them in sych. I know about timecode etc but we don't have any machines anymore and wish to run off a computer

 

cheers

[jason5d]

I'm doing something similar on a 30x10m screen next week

We are making one double wide 16:9 prorez movie to be played on

a macpro connected to both 10k hd Panasonic projectors

soft edged together.

 

If your videos are separate u can play them back in

sync using good video software. We use Millumin with

a multi layer time line on a fast mac with a fast

hard disk system.

 

The software we use has lots of masking and adjustment tools

to help make the presentation perfect.

[AHYoung]

there are many ways to skin this particular cat, but in essence, if you want to make it simple, you make one file that's double width, play it back and cut it in half after the output. I wouldn't play it back from the timeline in fcp, but id make the films and play them back using something simple like a cuelist in vlc, or if you want more control id use qlab- . however the first thing id do is get your machine setup and working with the matrox unit as this can be a frustrating challenge and get a resolution that actually works that's 2 times 16/9 - you will probably have to install matrox power desk and reboot a few times... once you have a resolution that works, use that as your project settings and render everything to that size. But yourself a ssd drive as well as there is no need to be messing about with disk arrays these days - our ssd equipped mac pro will play back 7 or 8 hd files at the same time without dropping frames, so even an aging mac will be hot-rodded by fitting a ssd.

 

Personally unless you are using red or hirez footage, id probably just make a 1920/1080 file with the content in the top half only and use a datapath x4 to cut out the right parts, scale them as required and send them to the 2 projectors.- this approach keeps everything really simple, its 1080p video and if you need to you can play it off a bluray or similar.

 

 

going beyond that you can make insanely large files and then render them out in chunks. Im about to install a 10 projector system where there is a timeline with a project nearly 20,000 pixels wide. this gets rendered out in Ae to separate 1920/1080 files and played back on a networked system of Brightsign media players. It sounds daunting, but its simple stuff, its just the fact that it takes {someone else thankfully} weeks to prepare the files its not a great choice where you may want to make changes, but well suited for a gallery install. You can use dataton watchout to play back files in a more accessible way on multiple pcs, and pretty much any media server will be capable of syncing multiple units, all great, but not for the beginner or lo budget production.

 

 

On a separate note, Jason, im curious to the fact that you have a budget for a 300m2 screen, but you are only using 2 10ks. I hope its pretty dark....

[jason5d]

I hope its pretty dark....it is

 

I initially quoted 4 20k pannys but budget.....it's a club night, we have full control of lighting

[Dave m]

cheers guys, keep 'em coming.

 

We're on a VERY fixed budget - ie sod all.

 

But we have a stonking macpro that we can use - rather use an imac for practicality.

 

We already have the Matrox and it does work, but FCP seems to be the problem in that it shrinks the image down by around 25% on PB .

 

I think Q base is free to play with? will try it on Monday/Tuesday

[AHYoung]

qlabs not free, but you can rent it by the day, so for one offs is pretty cheap, and if it proves usefull , you can buy it. either mac should work fine, but you can test it now independent of whatever software you use. FCP can be setup with the external display an exact full screen of the timeline, as ive done it for editing site specific videos, but I remember it not being completely straightforward.

[Dave m]

I have no problem normally with using the second monitor to run FCP full screen, but for some reason when using the T3Head it doesn't play ball.