Setting Up Display Foldback & Connecting Displays

[cincyfan722]

I am trying to figure out the best way to hook up the display foldback feature of EasyWorship 2009 at my church and I have looked all over but have not found any information that is an answer to my problem. We are a small church (>100 people) but are growing, and I am trying to figure out the best, but also the most cost effective way of setting this up. Our current video system set up is 2 Optoma TX615 projectors at the FOH, and a 50" plasma on the back wall. We also have 2 Acer 19" monitors in the booth for the operator to see the main screen and the FOH display. The two projectors are connected with a split s-video cable running into a little 1:4 s-video distribution amplifier that is hooked to the PC. The back wall plasma is also hooked into the same distribution amplifier with s-video. I am trying to figure out what would be the best way to connect everything.

My Desired Setup:

Acer 19" Monitor 1 - Main Screen/ Operator Screen
Acer 19" Monitor 2 - FOH/ Live Display
2 Optoma Projectors - FOH/ Live Display
50" Plasma - Display Foldback

I am just trying to get advice on the best solution. I have looked at different distribution amplifiers, video matrix, rapidrun cables, video card, USB to display adapters, etc and am not sure what is the best way. I am open to connecting new cables to projectors such as rapidrun digital DVI or HDMI, etc but again I am not sure of what to do. Again the most cost effective option would be good, but I am just looking for all possibilities, cheap and expensive. Any advice would be helpful and much appreciated.

Also: is there any way with this setup to black the front two screens and run powerpoint on just the back plasma, or would this have to be done with a video matrix?

[shortcircuitcg]

Our church runs a similar setup and we chose to use VGA cables and a vga matrix 4x4 to "direct traffic". Cost was very low and the picture looks great. The only con is when switching between sources there is a small flash on the screen but since we primarily use easyworship on-screen, and rarely switch sources (camera, DVD)....this has worked great for us.

To run ppt on just the back screen _ yes on the video matrix.

Chad Gleaves
Owner - sundaymorningvideos.com

[Chkurgrnd]

Did you say if it was a desktop or notebook computer? I didn't see that in the beginning post. I'm assuming that the 19" Acer is there as a desktop monitor...

The foldback is a completely separate animal in that you don't run thru your matrix unless there is a separate in/out. If you are running a notebook, then you will need a USB-VGA adapter. OS? Windows or Mac (running EW thru Bootcamp)? This one is the only one that I had success with after trying 5 other ones that said they would work with Windows 7 & Aero. If you have a desktop, you'll need another video card (since you probably already have a dual output card for the operator and FOH projector setup). I would suggest anything from nVidia and look at the GeForce... the best you can get with your $$$. You might notice a difference in performance if you switch a new card with your existing one. You'll notice a difference too if you switch from the S-Video to at least VGA cables. Cables are what makes or breaks the signal transmission and S-Video tends to degrade and look fuzzy/blurry. Best way to do cabling anymore (and this is an example... you can search your friendly web browser for "balun") but it is much easier to run Cat5 and terminate near projectors if you are concerned about fitting thru holes and conduit. There is a section here on CMN that would help educate if your head is spinning!

How long of a run of cable do you have to do for Foldback? Foldback located on the wall at the back... would it serve you better to have it smaller like a 32" or 40" (and relocate the 50" for somewhere else in the church) and have it nearer the front by where the stage ppl can see it better? Just questions, not judging decisions that have been made.

Yes, if you load up the powerpoint in a schedule, you can black the front by clicking "black" at the top right hand corner (by clear and logo buttons) and still run powerpoint on the foldback thru your "live" panel on the operator monitor just for foldback. Are you just using EW for lyrics and powerpoint?

[cincyfan722]

The Computer that we use is a desktop, and is an HP Pavilion Elite m9040n. The current video card is a GeForce 8400 GS with DVI, HDMI, and s-video outputs. I will probably look into the video card solution, but I will check out the USB adapter as well. The length of s-video from the booth to the FOH projectors is about 125' or so and the distance from the booth to the back wall display is about 35'. The display on the back wall is good where it currently is and works fine, we just want to show the Display Foldback feature for the worship leaders and the Pastor. Would replacing the s-video cables be the best solution, and what would be better to replace them with, VGA, DVI, or HDMI? Would rapidrun cables be the best solution, and if so what kind? Along with switching cables what would be a good card for the new cables? Also we use easy worship for song lyrics, verses, powerpoint, video presentations, countdowns, etc. I was just curious about the blackout option because if the Pastor doesn't get the chance to make a good powerpoint presentation for everyone, then he likes to just have some of his notes on the back plasma, and the front screens blacked out. One last question, with a video matrix, can you send any input to any output as well as one input to many outputs?

Thanks again for any advice!

[Chkurgrnd]

From what you have said and if it were my equipment here is what *I* would do... Quick work here that I did: I didn't know what RapidRun was so I went to the website. I like the idea they have come up with. With not a lot of knowledge, anyone can switch out ends according to their needs... nifty idea.

By their planning tool, using "Cables To Go", to go out DVI from the computer, to the RapidRun cable and terminating VGA at the front projectors the cost was around $260. Getting baluns and Cat5 would be fairly comparable... the baluns are what cost. That would crisp up your front projectors... I'm not sure how you have them split but I think the Optoma brand has an in/out so you'll just have to obtain the appropriate length of VGA to get out from one and in to the other. That is probably the easiest way in and out without having to worry about a splitter and lost signal. Speaking of which, @ 125 feet you might want to look at a VGA amplifier for the signal... while you won't use all those, that is the least expensive one that will get the job done.

For the foldback, you're going to want the most crisp signal you can get so you can see it from the 100' or so you have from the stage. You could go with one of these, go out HDMI, change it and buy a length of VGA cable to go to the 50" monitor. Since you're with a desktop the best way is to get another video card if you really need it. The more memory on it, the faster your images or videos will respond. The other option with the USB to DVI is only if you have to as it relies on the current memory from the notebook graphics to make it work well.

The reason I asked if you only used EW for lyrics and for projecting Powerpoint is because I wondered if you knew what all it could do. The need for standalone DVD players, etc. is minimized by the program hence I really wondered why you needed the matrix. The matrix will only do what you tell it to do, and what it is designed to do. If you want to switch with only one output (ie. FOH) then you'll just want a switcher. But you pretty much have one...

[SoundLightVideo]

I just recently rebuilt our Projection PC the the EW HD/Extreeme specs.

Are the projectors throwing 16x9 like the plasma?
Are you wanting to go VGA to the plasma? (recommended)
If so you will need a second video card. (like EVGA GTX460 for $159)

We used a Matrox DualHead box to split the FOH and foldback. But this can be done also with the second card.

EW's site has decent instructions on what is needed to do this. easyworship dot com/easyworship/techspecs/

I am east of Cincy if you need any help with anything.
let me know!

[shane2943]

+1.

We use a 2nd video card and it works fine. Takes a little bit of fiddling to find the configuration that EW likes though. Here's how our's is set up:

Video card 1: NVidia GeForce 9600GT - First PCI-e slot closest to the processor - Set as display '1' in Windows - Only connected to 1 monitor and serves as the desktop (or console) view
Video Card 2: NVidia GeForce GT240 - Installed in Next available PCI-e slot, set as displays '2' and '3' in Windows - Runs the front projector view from the DVI port (using a DVI to VGA adapter) and the foldback from the VGA port.

We actually use 3 monitors lined up for our video console. One for the console (desktop) view, one for the front view and one for the foldback.

[cincyfan722]

Thanks everyone. I will try some of the ideas that you guys suggested and let you know if it works. I need to check and make sure that we have a second PCI-e slot, but if we do we will probably go with the second video card. I will check easy worship for a list of video cards, but are the ones that you guys suggested the best? Also shane2943, what are the inputs on your two video cards?

[shane2943]

No inputs on these cards. Outputs only. IIRC, the 9600 has 1 VGA, 1 DVI, and 1 S-Video and the GT240 has 1 VGA, 1 DVI, and 1 HDMI.

[cincyfan722]

Sorry I meant outputs. Thanks again I will check that out.