Green Hippo?

[katanna]

Howdy all!

We are about to start building a new building at my new church and a company has given us a proposal for a media package that includes Green Hippos as media servers (to be used in conjunction with ProPresenter).

I have never heard of Green Hippo before and have never used media servers before. Could someone explain to me what these would be used for? We aren't a large church and am wondering if this is a necessity, a luxury, or a not needed up-sell.

Matthew

[Esoteric]

Wow. Okay, first off Green Hippo is the name of the company that produces a wide range of products.

Next, a media server is simply what its name implies. It is a piece of computer equipment that uses specialized software to stream video to a specific location. Before software like Mediashout, Pro Presenter, etc this was your only option to stream video seamlessly to devices like projectors.

The fact he included this equipment with a Pro Presenter installation tells me that they are either in over their heads or upselling, because with a media server there would be no need for Pro Presenter. The media server would be cued by your lighting console, and output to the projectors or video wall.

We work or have worked with some of the largest churches in Texas, and none of them use media servers. While they are a nice added convenience (since you can cue media from a lighting console), they are completely unnecessary in 99% of church applications.

Mike

[katanna]

Thanks for the feedback, that was sorta my impression.

To expand a bit: I am not directly involved with this project (at the current time, at least). Long story short: My opinion was being asked about some proposals that were made by a big-name installation company. They made a pitch to the pastor which included a package with Green Hippo media servers (for, I believe, environmental projection) and of course he was dazzled by their presentation; I consider it my job to reel him in and get him what we need.

Matthew

[Esoteric]

Yeah, there is no need for media servers for EP. We do EP all the time (and I know another company that does as well) and neither of us use media servers 99 times out of 100.

I hate to rag on the big guys, I used to work for two of them, and I use one as a distributor for some of my lighting that requires a distributor, but lets be honest. They aren't in it to help you be a good steward or to help you get value, they are in it (mostly) for the money. I actually worked for a large company out of Dallas that would not bid a job unless it was $100,000.

There are some good ones out there.

But if you are using one of the big boys, hire a consultant that will have your best interests in mind. Especially if there is not a tech guy (with a lot of experience) in on the project.

Again, there are some great guys out there, but it is easy to get dazzled and forget that these guys want to make some money and push some product (don't we all?). It might be stuff you need, but it might not. Always nice to have someone in your corner.

[Esoteric]

Also, like I said, a Hippotizer would be a nice convenience in a system like that (bypassing PP) because you could trigger it from the lighting console instead of having another button to click. But man. the $$$$$ is just so much considering that it is a convenience and not a necessity.

[Gracetech]

Hippo systems are nice for what they were originally created for but have very little place in most modern churches. I would go with something like PVP or just PP. That's going to be a pricy add in.

Is this the first church that the installer has worked with? It sounds like the installer has a strong tour history or just read an article somewhere. The last time i used the hippos was atleast 4 or 5 years ago and that was for a tour group. In the secular tour group this is the norm to have a media server. There are a few major media servers out there and Green Hippo is one of them.

crt