OFF TOPIC: VIDEO/presentation software?

[Ian Beeby]

Hi Moonthink,
I take your point that you where asking about separate software, but the thread was definatly heading in the "can it be put into SCS?" direction!
I think (just MY opinion) that SCS is probably as well developed as it needs to be and that Mike has done an amazing job with it and can be justifiably proud! It is reaching the point now where too much tinkering MIGHT just spoil it by reducing stability and increasing the processor overhead requirements. Only thing I would like to see would be a really well engineered version for Linux, which is faster and more stable (MUCH more stable) than Windows!
Linux developers- any takers?
Best regards
Ian

[Mike Daniell]

Video support is coming in SCS 10 and this is mainly due to user demand. I believe it is essential to continue enhancing SCS as technology changes, and the expectations of both users and audiences gets higher and higher - and, of course, computers get faster and cheaper. The idea of using a separate program for video production has merit, but the destination of the audio is of concern to some users. Using the Windows default sound device is not ideal as this has the potential for other sounds to turn up in your PA system. I'll admit that the first release of SCS 10 will probably have video sound only playable thru the Windows default sound device, but I am also evaluating an alternative video engine that will allow me to direct the audio to ANY sound device you have nominated in your SCS cue file production properties. That alternative video engine (or package) is still under development and I am liasing directly with the developer regarding issues I have found. So I doubt that this will be ready in time for the first release of SCS 10. But the first release will, at least, be able to play videos with the audio going to the Windows default sound device.

A Linux port is on the radar, as is a Mac port, but I cannot yet provide an estimate of when these will be available.

[calfredson]

There is a good program called Isadora (http://www.troikatronix.com/isadora.html) that runs video quite well. I personally have not used it, but I have many colleagues who swear by it.

Perhaps the best way to do it is to develop a separate program (Video Cue System?) that is stand alone, but meshes seamlessly with SCS, similar to how Propellerheads Rewire works. That way people who do not want to use video do not have to waste processor power and can run only the audio portion. With this configuration you could also run them off of separate computers and link them via MIDI or RS232.