Newbie here, wanting setup advice for 3 screens

[Lord Chancellor]

I'd like to set up a projector and 2 LCD monitors/televisions. The projector will be in the center of the stage, and the monitors/tv's on the sides, closer to the audience.

I'd like to be able to show one thing (picture, video, etc.) on the projector and be able to put words on the monitors, but also be able to show the same image/lyrics/whatever on all 3 screens at the same time.

What do I need? What equipment? Which presentation software?

Thanks for taking the time to read and respond. I'm a pastor and not a tech guru, so any help is much appreciated.

Thanks

[Paris MkVI]

One way to do this is to have a dedicated switcher/scaler for each screen or screen group.

For example we have two front projectors for the congregation, and one rear projector for the worship leader/choir/confidence screen.

Content on the front screens is controlled by an Analog Way Octovue 8-input switcher/scaler. We can select the upstream video switcher, or select cameras, MediaShout PC, DVD or other sources directly on the Analog Way unit.

Content on the rear screen is controlled by an Analog Way Quattro D 4-input switcher/scaler. We can again select the upstream video switcher, DVD, etc. But we usually select the MediaShout PC, so they only see the presentation materials, not camera shots, etc.

Of course, you will need your sources to go to DA's upstream from these switchers, so you can feed your sources to multiple locations.

So the signal paths might be sources--->DA--->switchers, recording devices, routers, switcher/scalers--->projectors.

Depending on your equipment and setup, you might lay out paths differently.

[bpalermini]

Another approach would be to use a matrix switcher something like THIS. It would give you control over all of the inputs and all of the outputs on one box. You would need to convert any video (composite, s-video, etc.) to VGA before they got to the box I linked to with something like THIS for each source.

This matrix switcher goes black between sources on switching. That may or may not be ok with you. If you want a seamless switch or to fade between sources you will need something more expensive.

You might also need A VGA splitter if you decide to always send the same signal to both side screens.

I think you should buy a box that is bigger than what you need now. Some day you might want to add lobby screens and other inputs for things like signs, etc.