OFF TOPIC: VIDEO/presentation software?

[moonthink]

Hey everyone,
I'm doing a show on a tight budget that involves multiple video projections.

SOOOO, I'm looking for an affordable control software that allows CUE-BASED playback of images and video. Basically I'm looking for the image/video equivalent of SCS. And I DON'T MEAN POWERPOINT.

I've been looking around, but there doesn't seem to be any affordable theatrical intentioned software solutions out there.

Can anyone offer any advice?

[Mark Johnson]

Hi, the next major release will support video cues but I believe it is a few months away. As far as I am aware it currently only supports one output but I believe that this is something Mike is looking in to.

There is some more discussion on this topic http://www.soundcuesystem.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=710.

Thanks.

[Adair]

I have been looking for a better PowerPoint as well.
So far Iv'e looked at Screen Monkey
http://www.screenmonkey.co.uk/DNN/default.aspx

And Proshow Producer by Photodex
http://www.photodex.com/

You should also look at Roscro's Keystroke. It runs off of DMX
http://rosco.com/canada/software/keystroke.asp

Hope that helps your search.
Adair

[moonthink]

I am currently using Photodex ProShow, but it is really not set up for theatrical-based productions, and in some ways powerpoint is actually better.

Maybe I should just find some college computer geeks, pay them in beer, and develop one myself.

[rob_keeling]

Screen monkey is worth a look, integrates well with SCS via midi cues. Doesn`t do fancy video cross fades, but does allow
flash,jpg,ppt,avi etc to be triggered on cue.

I have now used it for a couple of shows, and find it works well.

RobK

[Mike Daniell]

Hey everyone,
I'm doing a show on a tight budget that involves multiple video projections.

SOOOO, I'm looking for an affordable control software that allows CUE-BASED playback of images and video. Basically I'm looking for the image/video equivalent of SCS. And I DON'T MEAN POWERPOINT.

I've been looking around, but there doesn't seem to be any affordable theatrical intentioned software solutions out there.

Can anyone offer any advice?

As Mark mentioned, video support is coming in SCS 10, and this will be ready for beta testing very soon.

Just two questions regarding your requirements:

1. How many simultaneous video files and video outputs do you need?
2. What functionality are you looking for regarding the image displays? For example, I presume you want to nominate the length of time an image is to be displayed, but how do you want to handle the transition to the next image? Are there any other requirements regarding image display?

[moonthink]

Currently - I need 3 outputs for 3 screens, but even if a control program only had one output, but had the option of network control (1 computer for each output - controlled by one master computer), that would be ideal.

Having the ability to display, and manipulate images would be key. Resizing, layers, key frames, and motion paths would be ideal.

Transitions between images are important. Various fades, wipes, dissolves, etc.

Being able to insert video, trim, and loop continuously, as well as transitions would make this a very valuable tool.

Right now I am working with Photodex ProShow on 3 computers, and I had a friend write some scripts that allow me to send keystroke commands over a network. So I hit the spacebar on the main computer, and the action is repeated on the others as well.

[SimnaWeb]

So what is it you want? Presentation software or an editing platform? Basic functions such as image placement, movement(of NON-video), transitions is something I can see doing with presentation software. Image manipulation, video editing(trimming), and motion paths seem like you are expecting a do all end all package, from beginning edit to the end. I for one would think you would edit your videos before a show to do exactly what you want before putting them into SCS. The manipulation SCS does with audio is one thing, but the processing requirements of video are just too high.

Having done some projection heavy shows, what you describe needs a full video presentation system with video mixer, and separate playback sources to be mixed together. Even in a lite video show, I would never trust the entire show to just one computer connected directly to any projector. There will, and should, always be a way to blackout the video and disconnect the video sources.

[moonthink]

I'm going to have to disagree with you here.

Photodex ProShow Presenter does most of the things I'm looking for, it's just the the GUI isn't really set-up with theatrical productions in mind.

Even powerpoint does a lot of these same things, I just hate that interface.

Most theatres other than large scale can't afford a full video console and mixer set-up, but I firmly believe that computer technology, speed, and software have progressed to the point that this is possible for the small to medium-scale theatre market.

And the people who develop an affordable and user-friendly system first are going to make a killing.

[Mike Daniell]

Some useful suggestions here, but I do want to keep the functionality simple but useful. The first release of SCS 10 will support playback to one video device, but I hope I will soon be able to support more than one device. Support for images (eg JPG's) will not be included in that first release but I have had other requests for this feature. I'm considering a new cue type like a playlist for images, so in a single cue you can list the images you want, with display times, transition info, etc. I do not promise to provide all the transition types you can get with PowerPoint, but many of those are very gimicky anyway.

[moonthink]

To be clear - I was never asking for all of that functionality from SCS 10. While I do think it's great that SCS will have limited video playback features, and that will work fine for most people, what I was asking for was advice on what other people were using to do was I was already doing, but better/easier.

With the cost vs. power of computers/software nowadays, I certainly believe it is possible to have a software solution for video that is similar to but SEPARATE from SCS. Cue-based, image and video playback and transitions/special effects with support for multiple screens (with additional computers).

[Boswell]

My take on this is that SCS is a "Sound Cue System" which it does reasonably well, If Mike branches out into Video, then SCS will become overcomplicated, bloated and less reliable. There are a lot of sound based improvements already suggested for SCS which, in my opinion, implementing these would be a better use of programming resources than diverging off to Video, where does it stop? next request will be for a full multimedia editing suite in SCS.
I think SCS should concentrate on what it was intended for and not try to be 'All things to all men'
In a show, I want a rock solid, stable SCS for sound cue control. If I want video or mixing/recording desk capabilities then I use other equipment/software.
'Horses for courses' is the phrase. Do not undermine SCS by making it bloatware aka 'MS windows/office' where 99% of users only require 10% of facilities but suffer reliability issues as a result. Cater for the majority of the target users.
Sorry, this has developed into a bit of a rant, but I don't want to see SCS spoilt!

[kallek]

For video presentation (multiple outputs)= Arkaos VJ
You can do live fades etc effects, can control with DMX and also handles video input (for example camera thru firewire) and also multiple layers at same time.
Not true cue software but because can control with dmx you can join videos to for example light cues. Also midi and keyboard trigger. So it's true mediaserver which can be used on regular pc or mac.
Multiple outputs are handled with large stretched desktop. For example you can use 2048x768 resolution and place one 1024x768 video to left side of screen and another to right. Also using 2 screens 1 video can be divided to both to have 1 large screen.
Check http://www.arkaos.net, worth it...

Kalle

still waiting dmx control to SCS

[Ian Beeby]

Isn't this starting to go the way of 'Windows'? ie getting so complicated and fussy that the whole system grinds to a halt!
Surely the key-selling-point of SCS is that it does 'what-it-says-on-the-tin' with great reliability and an easy to learn interface.
I feel that there may be a danger of SCS becoming TOO complex by trying to please everyone and we may all sacrifice stability on this particular altar as inevitably once the 'Video' version is launched the developement of earlier releases stops!
I would suggest that video control might be something that could be developed as an optional plug-in or better still as a completely separate package, after all it would be a brave man who trusted the sound AND visuals to one computer, ESPECIALLY one running Windows as the O/S!

Been using SCS for nearly two years now, 10 productions a year on two separate stages and 7 to 10 performances for each production, some of them quite simple like the last show of this season which opens tonight, and some using 6 or more outputs to different speakers in different positions while also controlling stage monitor microphones, 'bar' music and safety announcements. Frankly, SCS has been FANTASTIC!!!
Very, very few problems and even 'un-technical' operators find it easy to master. Next season we will (hopefully) be purchasing another full sound system for our other stage and with it another SCS license.
Thanks Mike!

Regards
Ian Beeby
Senior sound-engineer/Bolton Little Theatre
http://www.blt.org.uk/

[moonthink]

Yeah, if you read the original post - I was requesting info on a SEPARATE video playback/control suite.

I too, would prefer to keep these systems separate. A lot of lighting systems are also trying to intergrate basic sound and video playback, but I think that is a bad idea.

First of all, bigger shows typically have different designers for sound/lights/video/etc. So intergrating them into one system means 1 operator trying to please several designers at once - in short, CHAOS!

Plus, the potential problem of losing several systems at once if the computer crashes is also a distinct possibility.

It's like those all-in-one printer/scanner/fax machines. They seem like a cool idea until they break, then you can do ANY of those things!

Anyway, I agree that these separate systems should have separate control programs. Keep it simple and stable. Besides, you could charge extra for a separate piece of software, rather than an upgrade.