Projection Method Help Please

[plainman007]

Hi,

I currently project videos involved with my work using a small HD Media player which houses its own hard disk drive. I load movies onto it and playout to my DLP projector. Now the problem is the media player has its own interface and hence the audience get to see the file names and what menu we are choosing etc. This makes it look very unprofessional during a presentation. I would like the projector to show nothing but black and only to show the videos being played. Like a cinema theatre and large events where we dont see their desktop or other details. Can anyone chime in and help here please. I dont mind even buying some other HD playout option as long as it can do this. Like one option is a media PC with dual out and then use some softwares which enable me to only route the video to output 2 while keeping the interface etc only on output 1. Any other non PC options to this ?

[Anhar Miah]

What interface are you using?, whats the connection set up?

As far I can understand from your brief description, your connecting your PC to your HD projector right?

If its just Componet Video interface, then you could probably use a video mixer with a black video signal generator

[plainman007]

Hi Anhar,

Hows your 3dmax work going ?

Actually at the moment im using a HD Media Player. One of those little fellas with a internal HDD. I load the Mpeg HD files in via a network cable and then the player behaves just like an ipod etc. The video signal is sent via DVI - HDMI since my projector has HDMI and the HD Player has only DVI. The problem is during every presentation the audience gets to see the HD player interface which shows the folders on the harddisk. Root folders etc. I dont want the audience to see this. I want them to only see black and ofcourse just the videos when they are being played out.

[Anhar Miah]

Hey, man my 3ds on hold because I'm doing my Masters, saying that I'm gonna post something in the cafe a little later..

As for yor problem all you need is a HDMI switcher box and one DVD stanalone player with HDMI ouput port (they do exist, they just upscale normal DVDs)

Now record either a blank DVD with a black screen OR, if you wanna get funky, just record a loop video of say your company logo or something

Then just plug your DVD into the switcher along with your other HDMI and then the swither box to your HD projecter,

Then at the flick of a switch you can go between your video feed, and your "Black/logo" feed.
voila! enjoy.

http://www.avreview.co.uk/news/article/mps/UAN/875/v/1/sp/

Anhar

[plainman007]

OK time to hunt for HDMI switchers in my coutry. UK, USA etc you get most of these hi tech things easily. Thats one advantage.

[Anhar Miah]

keep us posted on your search.

[DivotDan]

If you have a laptop, you might also be able to set the windows extended desktop as the play screen for your video on your projector...and have your background as black.

[plainman007]

Anhar > Couldnt locate HDMI switchers. Not even on internet. All shops are USA or UK. Will probably have to order from them.

DivotDan > How does one configure an extended desktop. Is it like a laptop with a second monitor. Which menu in windows ?? This might be one viable option but id ont seem to find the menu on my windows resolution configuration panel etc. Running WIN XP PRO.

[Anhar Miah]

*spluzzz* --*spills coffee at PC screen* couldn't find it on the internet! :)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HDMI-Tri-Link-Switcher-PS3/dp/B000NJZRSI

about $60

[Anhar Miah]

oops forgot to mention there is tons more, just google "HDMI switchers"

[plainman007]

Hey Thanks Anhar, Will look at that as an option. But i think amazon Uk doesnt ship overseas etc. They have quite some rules. An using this gadget i dont think i can do the black screen thing. as that would require cross switching. If you get what i mean. Any idea on this extended desktop thing which the other member posted ??

[plainman007]

Found a HDMI crossswitcher

http://www.octavainc.com/HDMI%20switch%203x2%20port.html

Need just another suggestion. How can a DVX or HDV camera be connected to the projector too. I use the switcher with a black generator so that i see the files i select etc on the lcd once the file starts we use the switcher and now the black is on the lcd and the video is playing on the projector fine. In addition to this i need to show some small live footage. Camera in audience and they are on the projection. Now how do i get the cam signal into the switcher ? ie. If it doesnt have a HDMI out. Say like the DVX ?

[DivotDan]

Hey plainman,

To answer your last question to me, how to config could depend on your graphics cards software. Windows will only let you do that if it sees two monitors connected, and it would be exactly like having a monitor connected to your laptop and displaying the picture on both the monitor and laptop screen. But both would need to be connected in order to config this way. And windows will remember when you disconnect and reconnect that device back up to keep it configed this way.

Normally, in XP you will right click on your desktop, go to properties, and settings. When you have 2 monitors connected the graphic should see the other monitor, since 1 will be your laptop monitor. Click on the 2 monitor on the graphic and you should see the option at the bottom to "extend my windows desktop to this monitor". Once you click that and set your resolution you are set. Just take off any background pictures on your monitor and change the back ground color to black. If your video card is using proprietary software, then you might have to tweak it's settings, as I know my NVidia on card on my desktop computer has a whole bunch of setting that I had to change to get the background pic on one screen and to have the windows bar on one screen, but it is doable if ya just tinker with it. Might even have to break out the manual! :0

A ton of different software will allow you to present media on one screen while you control it from the other, so you would just present on the projector and control from your laptop.

Hopefully a $0 solution. Let

[Anhar Miah]

well I think some HDV cameras do have HDMI out, not sure which ones, check out there specs online. wild guess Canon HV20?

maybe someone can chime in..

[MiniMan13]

Just Set windows to Extend you desktop, Hide all your icons, and set the desktop as black - Then use VLC to output to second monitor only.

[plainman007]

Anhar > I will be getting a sony Z1 for most of our work.

Miniman > Pardon my ignorance but whats VLC please ? Is it a software Media Player. Ala Power DVD ?

[MiniMan13]

Yes VLC is a open source media player, that will play anything you throw at it!
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

[plainman007]

Miniman> Does VLC have a specific way to configure so that it always runs full screen mode video only locked to one monitor ? See i cant turn off the projector between video projections. Takes time to boot and will show the signal searching screen etc. So its always got to be on, but outputting only black unless some video is playing thru. While it should offer all controls locked to the LCD monitor only.

[MiniMan13]

Well VLC does this, but it turns out is a bit complicated
Cloning

To display output in more than one window, video cloning can be used. To use this, specify
--vout-filter=clone
on the command line (http://wiki.videolan.org/Command_prompt): this tells vlc to use cloning. You also need to tell vlc what output modules you want with, for example,
--clone-vout-filter=caca,glx
--clone-count=2

Some Nvidia Cards have an option to use WMP, or VLC and put the output on a the second monitor, but it looks like the newer Nvidia drivers have dropped this feature.

Here is another thread about dual monitors with VLC, i have done this before with the older nvidia drivers, and i know it works.
http://new-forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&p=127381

[plainman007]

Hi Miniman.

Tried VLC Player.
System immediately became unstable. Windows media player stuttered while playing other files. VLC itself would freeze, lock up etc. But at least we tried. But this is for a live event and i wouldnt want to risk using something unstable.

Are there any hardware options that do this kind of thing ?? I mean without a manual switcher. I know the switcher idea is good but it turns out bad stage hands will sometimes forget the switcher element and be wondering why only the sound is playing. :)

Even a HD box media player will do. As long as it has its own LCD display and would show nothing nut black and let us choose the playlists etc from the built in display.

[MiniMan13]

What specs are the machine your trying to do playout on?

[plainman007]

3.4 ghz INTEL Pentium D (Dual Core). 2 GB Ram. Nvidia GT. 1 Terrabyte (Four Spindles of 250 GB). Do i need something higher end to play VLC ?