Videobeamer Control
From English DMXCWiki
Contents |
Motivation
Today, most schools and theatres own videobeamers, or these devices can be rent for little money. They open a new world of working with lights, as their output is not limited to the usage of predefined gobos or a fixed number of colours. The corresponding idea is to provide DMXC with a possibility to control videobeamers (output at first).
Technical Deliberations
The workstation which contains DMXControl will be upgraded by a second graphics board (a card with dual monitoring is also possible). DMXC controls the output on additional monitors then.
Maybe it is also possible to send a DMX-signal from the workstation to clients; the systems could be networked (not actual at the moment).
Furthermore, I think about the possibility to control a XY-unit. Thereby a videobeamer could be used like a small scanner.
Version 1 (with supplements by Matthias -> see discussion)
- network-compatible, Server/Client-Architecture
- Playback of pictures (JPG, GIF, BMP), Standard-Videofiles (MPG, AVI), Flash-Animations (SWF), maybe PowerPoint (PPT), Video-Capturing (under reserve)
- Functions: File Select/Load, Play, Pause, Stop
- Integration into a Blackout-function
- Playlist, Preview (if any)
Version 2
- Shutter-Control (Shutter will break the light on black picture, if any) (no strobe-Effect)
- Driver to control a videobeamer with XY-unit (with focus, if any)
Version 3
- Plugin´s Network-ability (Client-control, with shared mediapool, if any)
Timetable
- by 15.10.2005: Collection of suggestions, wishes and experiences)
- by 01.01.2006: Enhancement´s implementation
- by 15.01.2006: Practical test
- by 30.01.2006: Debugging
- by 01.02.2006: Plugin´s finalization (and usage)
Actual Status
DMXC-Video-Client
- Client/Server/Port - Tests finished (01.10.2005) - Betaversion of output-client (Version 1) completed (08.10.2005) - Betaversion of output-client (Version 2) completed (after having problems with the graphics output´s double-buffering (16.11.2005) - Because of some detailed problems: Decision to develop a light-version first (single developing is so frustrating...) (04.05.2006)
- Up to 512 videobeamers and up to 512 motifs (JPG, GIF, SWF, BMP) -> finished - Integration into DMXC with driver and additional plugin (DMX2IP-Converter) -> finished - Configuration of INI-File -> finished - Functions: Load (also in the background), Play/Start, Stop/Blackout
Reference Person
- Andreas Gundelach (ballrock2)
(further developers are welcome)
