Cheap Switcher to add Apple TV

[drowland]

We are wanting to add an Apple TV to our setup so the Pastor can switch between the slides himselft from his iPad.

The theory works great, but I'm not sure how I'm going to connect it in. The video card output from our Media computer is DVI. I use an adapter to convert to VGA and run the cables to a splitter at FOH and go to the projectors from there. So I need to add in a Apple TV which has only a HDMI output. I also need to strip out the audio to plug into the sound board.

Is there a cheap video switcher that will allow me to swtich between VGA and HDMI and output to VGA? If not, I guess I could use a HDMI to VGA converter and then use some type of VGA switcher.

This all sounded so easy until I started working through the connections in my head.

As I'm sure most people will also be in the same boat. We have no money. The Pastor is buying the Apple TV and I'll probably end up buying any switching/converting devices needed. Thanks for any help.

[Brad Weber]

Originally Posted by drowland

We are wanting to add an Apple TV to our setup so the Pastor can switch between the slides himselft from his iPad.

The theory works great, but I'm not sure how I'm going to connect it in. The video card output from our Media computer is DVI. I use an adapter to convert to VGA and run the cables to a splitter at FOH and go to the projectors from there.

If you are using an adapter to go to VGA rather than some type of converter then the computer output must be DVI-A.

Originally Posted by drowland

So I need to add in a Apple TV which has only a HDMI output. I also need to strip out the audio to plug into the sound board.

Is there a cheap video switcher that will allow me to swtich between VGA and HDMI and output to VGA? If not, I guess I could use a HDMI to VGA converter and then use some type of VGA switcher.

This all sounded so easy until I started working through the connections in my head.

When you start mixing analog and digital signals it can get complex and more so when you throw in HDMI with its combined media and HDCP and EDID considerations. It can get even more challenging with Apple device HDMI outputs, which tend to want to be connected to HDCP compliant devices. Google "Apple TV + HDCP" to see how frustarting that aspect can be.

There are switchers with VGA and HDMI inputs and VGA and HDMI outputs, however those devices will not pass HDCP encrypted HDMI to the VGA output. Similar with HDMI to VGA converters, although you may find some HDCP compliant devices that are intended to be used to convert a VGA input on a projector or monitor into an HDMI input (being intended to convert an analog input to an HDMI input and not to convert a protected high resolution digital signal to a high resolution analog signal is how they justify the legality of such devices).

Originally Posted by drowland

As I'm sure most people will also be in the same boat. We have no money. The Pastor is buying the Apple TV and I'll probably end up buying any switching/converting devices needed. Thanks for any help.

As long as the Apple TV output is not enabling HDCP for your content then there are apparently several lower cost HDMI to VGA converter and VGA switcher options that should work. But you might want to purchase them from a vendor that will accept returns just in case they do not work.

[Natepelzel]

Sorry if this isn't what you're wanting to hear, but of you're using propresenter for your media stuff, there's an app that can control it for the iPad. There's also a keynote remote app. I know this doesn't quite answer the original request, but if you have no money and controlling presentations from the iPad is the end goal, and app is going to be much more affordable than an apple tv and a digital to analog converter plus a switcher.

Hope this helps,

Nate

[drowland]

I appreciate the info.

We are using MediaShout, so the iPad control isn't an option (yet).

I'm still on hold on this now. I don't want to buy something that won't work. If I can get them both to a VGA, then I might try some type of KVM switch. I've got tons of those at work (we actually don't use them since we changed to blades).

I love the simplicity of something like the Belkin SOHO switch. It would also be nice since we have multiple other churches using our building. I get tired of them disconnecting our computer. I could create a "guest" connection and have a cable ready for them to use.

Just thinking out loud.

Thanks,
Doug

[Natepelzel]

Have you seen this yet? should do what you're looking for, assuming you get a kvm switch.

Nate

[dovprst]

I control my sermon presentations from my iPad directly to a projector using the VGA adapter, OR by using Keynote Remote to control Keynote from our MacBook Pro. There apps to control Power Point on a PC too. The Mac or PC is connected to a simple Kramer switch and goes out via VGA to 2 monitors and the projector. That is how we do it on the cheap. We're not using Worship software, like Media Shout, right now, though. I guess if you're using Media Shout, you can ignore this post.