A cheap switcher/mixer for easy use?

[MrTerje]

Hi all!

So, our church want to invest in a kind of a mixer for our projector. Here is what we want:

We have one PC with DVI and VGA out. The screen settings are set to extended desktop, and then we have two screen monitors, one for powerpoint/easyworship/main monitor, and one for the presentations (screen 2). Then we have one projector that shows the same picture as screen 2. Now, what we want is to be able to turn the projector black with a fade, so that we can do changes on the second screen on our monitor 2 (like fullscreening a video etc.), and then fade in the projector again.

We don't have too much money to spend on this, but approximately 1500-1800 USD.

[Brad Weber]

Originally Posted by MrTerje

So, our church want to invest in a kind of a mixer for our projector. Here is what we want:

We have one PC with DVI and VGA out. The screen settings are set to extended desktop, and then we have two screen monitors, one for powerpoint/easyworship/main monitor, and one for the presentations (screen 2). Then we have one projector that shows the same picture as screen 2. Now, what we want is to be able to turn the projector black with a fade, so that we can do changes on the second screen on our monitor 2 (like fullscreening a video etc.), and then fade in the projector again.

We don't have too much money to spend on this, but approximately 1500-1800 USD.

So all you want to do is take a single source, go to black for the projector while you make changes and then switch back to that same source? If the projector has a picture mute function could you simply use that? It may be a cut rather than a fade, but it might also be free.

If you want to do more than that you might want to think about how any future plans might be relevant. For example, if a second computer input or any other inputs might be beneficial in your future use or if you'd like to fade to a logo or still rather than black.

[sempei13]

It might be overkill, but this one from Kramer will do what you want for just over $1000. Gives you room to add other sources too.

Paul

[[Admin] osborn4]

I'd also try doing as much as possible (e.g. playing videos) in EasyWorship so you don't have to switch like that.

The projector picture mute ( or freeze) is also a good idea, as Brad suggests.

If EasyWorship can't do what you need it to, it may be cheaper to check out one of the other players in the Worship software field (MediaShout, ProPresenter, SongShow Plus) and see if they can. I use SongShow Plus and only very rarely have to display something outside of it.

[MrTerje]

Originally Posted by sempei13

It might be overkill, but this one from Kramer will do what you want for just over $1000. Gives you room to add other sources too.

Paul

Hmm.. That might be what we are looking for. Thanks for the tip, gonna check that one out.

Originally Posted by osborn4

The projector picture mute ( or freeze) is also a good idea, as Brad suggests.

The projector is too far away from us to be able to mute it from the computer. Also, the text "Image freezed" or something appears on the screen.

Originally Posted by osborn4

If EasyWorship can't do what you need it to, it may be cheaper to check out one of the other players in the Worship software field (MediaShout, ProPresenter, SongShow Plus) and see if they can. I use SongShow Plus and only very rarely have to display something outside of it.

We often have speechers that comes with their laptops with some images they're gonna show like five minutes before the meeting (a really bad habit in our church), in addition we have a lot of videos (with a bunch of different codecs, I still haven't found one program that can read all of them). Our goal is to be as professional as possible on the A/V part, and for example not having to drag a media player or a web browser over to the projector screen and then fullscreen it. That doesn't look very professional.

We're having a new years conference in a couple of days, and I've spoke to the company that we're renting lights and stuff from, and we're going to rent one (really) expensive switcher, just to figure out whether or not this is a need for us. Then if it is, we will look for something in our price range. (It's a Di-Ventrix II, if someone is familiar with it).

[wotz]

For playing videos, look at media player classic. With the right switches in the shortcut, it can open the file on the display monitor, fullscreen it, and close when finished - no manual dragging and fullscreening. Just drag and drop the media file onto the shortcut. There is an opening screen, but that can be customised too, to be less intrusive. We did that until we bought the h264 plugin for Songshow. We now play almoat everything through songshow.

[Borggren]

Hej Terje

One of the Kramer switchers will do the job. If you want it to look really prof. you should avoid black on your screens, and instead make sure that you are always showing something. I always have some sort of video backdrop or event logo i switch to, instead of just nothing. That could be from a second pc.
If you are using a switcher with build in scaler, your projector will always get the same input regarding resolution and timing etc. from your sources.

[Brad Weber]

Originally Posted by Borggren

One of the Kramer switchers will do the job.

Along with those from Extron, Analog Way, TVOne, FSR, Altinex and probably a host of others.

Originally Posted by Borggren

If you are using a switcher with build in scaler, your projector will always get the same input regarding resolution and timing etc. from your sources.

You can actually need to be a bit careful on this as not all switcher/scalers scale all inputs, they may pass through some computer or digital inputs without scaling. And others will actually scale to the resolution and refresh rate of one of the inputs rather than a user selected resolution and refresh rate, so if you change those factors for the source they then change for the output as well.

[MrTerje]

After checking more out around that mixer from Kramer, I am 100% positive that's exactly what we need. And the fact that we can be able to load in our own logos to show straight from the mixer, is a huge "plus" for us.

Thanks for all the feedbacks and inputs! We're definitely gonna buy this, and when it arrives, I'll try to remember and post here again telling whether or not it works as we expected.