ImagineerTom Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 In a couple of shows we need to play back 2 video feeds (16:9 / 1280*800 each) synchronized, no one video sequence is more than 8mins long. At present we use some sort of computer running Qlab (or similar software) with multiple outs and that all works just fine, however there's quite a lot of kit (and plenty to go wrong!) which seems like a terrible waste. Can anyone suggest a simple, self-contained "two channel" video playback box that we can pre-load with the video back in our offices and sent out to site so that it can be "just" plugged in to two screens and be triggered to go in the simplest way possible (be it a simple "go" button to some sort of control protocal we can hack to interface with something of our choice) the videos do need to be played back in sync so having 2 self-contained playback units and trying to manually press the "play" button at the same time on both of them isn't viable for example however they don't need to be time-code locked to each-other either. We're not averse to having to do some extra work in the office to prepare the video before uploading (interlacing maybe?) but once it's out on site it does need to be a simple plug-n-play "thing" that is reasonably stable. source video can be converted to just about any format.The current computer/software combo does work but seems wasteful, however the total cost of this (computer, software, configuration, extra hardware, cases etc) comes in <£900 so anything to replace this needs to be cheaper or the same cost as spending £3000 on a gadget would actually wipe out the time and hassle savings. Can anyone suggest anything? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave m Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 We did a show where we did the rehearsals with 2xdvd players kicked off using one remote but later ran a MacBook with a super wide image using a matrox 2 head 2go or whatever it is called?Could you make the "two" videos into one super wide ? Then run some sort of HDD media player through a VGA splitter? Maybe that works out at too large a price? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Lee Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Not an all in one solution but normally a datapath x4 would be a good start. http://www.datapath.co.uk/products/multi-display-products/datapath-x4 Edit the two vids into one ultra wide video and crop the outputs via the datapath. The data path x4 is much more user friendly and flexible compared to the matrox 2 head card. Looking at it on google, the box comes in at around your £900 mark so may be over budget. But if you already have the mac for q lab and video editing software then it is a robust solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmxdesign1 Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 A quick idea you could use 2 raspberry pi's and run omxplayer on them wire up 2 I/o pins to trigger them about £80 and off you goChris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter F Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Hi Tom, What inputs do your screens have on them? Specifically, do they have HDMI or SDI available? Cheers, Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImagineerTom Posted August 23, 2015 Author Share Posted August 23, 2015 screens are hired in for each job so can be any make/model/spec we need Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter F Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 screens are hired in for each job so can be any make/model/spec we need Raspberry Pi with a HDMI splitter?Pretty sure you could cobble together something to trigger video playback from a switch. Posher, more expensive solution could use the basic Hyperdeck Studio. That gives you 2 SDI outputs so you wouldn't need a separate splitter. Cheaper/easier to run bnc cables than HDMI as well. They have RS-422 control on them so you could use something external to control them or just use the front panel, it's a reasonably straightforward interface. How many videos do you need to play? Do they have sound on them? I reckon the Raspberry Pi or similar route is the one to go for. Although the Hyperdeck would do the job, it's not really designed for this purpose. Cheers, Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Lee Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Just to be clear. Are they two separate videos needing to be synced? If so, no simple splitter will do this, you need the dual head or datapath to split one ultrawide video or stick to the qlab route you are using. If you go the two rasberry pi route check to see if the can stay in sync with each other as the will not be gen locked. This may not be an issue but if you have looped video then they may well be drift far apart over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImagineerTom Posted August 23, 2015 Author Share Posted August 23, 2015 yes, two separate videos (otherwise they wouldn't need to be synchronised, I'd just use a passive spliter) played once then reset about once per hour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Lee Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 I had guessed that but the suggestion of a raspberry pi and splitter made me doubt that. A simple splitter cannot, as far as I know, carve up a video signal hence the data path or dual head to split an ultra wide video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave m Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 I know nothing about 3d but did wonder if the same technology could be borrowed to make "stereo/two track" videos ?I have never looked to see if common DVD authoring systems can make 3d compliant and also look at players to see if there was a way of splitting the L/R images out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImagineerTom Posted August 23, 2015 Author Share Posted August 23, 2015 There is a 3D protocol which basically enables "stereo" video to be pushed through HDMI systems then separated via a demultiplexer.... but this requires a high spec video storage device outputting to a mid-to-high spec passive splitter that feeds to 2 demultiplexer's (because for some reason everyone who makes them makes single-channel versions) which then outputs to the screens. This is all off-the-shelf stuff but means I would have 4 boxes, 5 cables and all the potential pitfalls of HDMI security/copy protection protocols activating to replace one laptop with 2 screens attached to it so it's definitely not making things easier and actually costs about the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiskers Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Frontniche graft genlock into Pioneer and JVC blue ray players if this gives enough image detail Genlock 2 players master / slave or slave them both to anything else video on the project, frontNich also supply control for multiple machines software, you should get two disks to frame accurate for as long as the disks play for. Or even 2 players with one IR remote will stay in sync http://www.frontnich...d-recorders.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbuckley Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 Can anyone suggest anything?How deep are your pockets? A couple of digital video recorders with a timecode cable between them will do it, if you've got several thousand of your pound notes burning a hole in your pocket... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryson Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 I was about to suggest an Alcorn McBride Digital Binloop, but then I looked up the price..... :blink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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