Next Step: Chroma Key Lyrics

We've been using the Analog Way "Smart Cut II" for about 18 months to scale and switch between 2 computer sources (one with Song Show, one with PowerPoint), DVD, and VCR for projection of announcements, song lyrics and sermon points during church worship and special events. No camera inputs, yet, but we think we'll be doing that, too, some day.
For us, a 'next step' will be to mix recorded video with long lyrics via a chroma key capable device.
We'd like to stay at our current XGA resolution, and Folsom's ScreenPro looks like it does all we'd like, but is $pendier than we have at the moment. Or should we go find the money?
What devices are recommended (quality vs. cost) for dropping a video behind some PowerPoint text without first converting down to NTSC then back up to XGA? (Or is that down/up conversion not as bad as it sounds to me?) Am I getting into this at a time that I should be leaning away from analog devices, if possible?
Thanks for any advice to send me in the right direction!
Posted by Mike Brown on Dec 18, 2002.


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The couple times I've seen it done, down scaling and then upscaling looked fine. With that in mind, if you can avoid it, I would. Fewer pieces is always better. I've never regretted buying better equipment. I guess I'm saying you should go high end, if there is any way.
Posted by Paul Clifford on Dec 18, 2002.

[MediaGal]

Umm, I'm pretty much a newbie here but I am wondering if you are strapped to powerpoint? The latest version of SongShow (I believe it is) has the fantastic ability to display text (lyrics) over moving video (you could use your own - not sure which format it needs for that) with great quality. It is even able to maintain the moving image as it transitions from frame to frame. Of course, you need to make sure that you have the PC power to accomplish that. Also, I heard that they are working on some minor latency issues regarding using the live fire-wire content behind the text in real-time!!

I agree... Song show is good like that...

lol

Anyway... I am having problems keying out the green when I am lower thirding in show show. The mixing board is able to key out most of it but there is still green on the edges. Is the a problem with the mixer or converter?

[sempei13]

I use a videonics mx-pro (about as low-end as you can get switcher wise). To get around the "green edge problem", I key out black. I use Easy Worship, with a pre-created background with mostly black. I set the borders so they don't go outside of the lower third and the outline and drop shadow so that they're the same color (but as dark as possible) as the predominant color of the lower third, keeping the text white. It's not perfect, but it works.

Paul

videonics mx-pro. Wow.... We use a remote and everything's hooked to the projector. HAHAHAHA That's as LOW as you can go. HAHAHA I got to use a Sony 3 channel video switcher and I was in heaven. Man, I want one of those!!!
And yeah, Paul's right. Try to avoid upscaling and downscaling. You'll end up losing quality right away.
To tell you the truth... PowerPoint sucks! I've been using it for quite a while and I like it for normal office presentations, but for the stuff you're wanting to do it's just not designed for. Our church just picked up EasyWorship and I'm liking it a lot better than PowerPoint. As I recall you can have video in the background. I'm not sure, don't quote me on that. I know it's got AA onboard! WOO HOO!

[MJ220]

Originally Posted by sempei13

I use a videonics mx-pro (about as low-end as you can get switcher wise). To get around the "green edge problem", I key out black. I use Easy Worship, with a pre-created background with mostly black. I set the borders so they don't go outside of the lower third and the outline and drop shadow so that they're the same color (but as dark as possible) as the predominant color of the lower third, keeping the text white. It's not perfect, but it works.

Paul

Can you give more details on how to do this in EW. I am trying to create lower third folr IMAG. Thanks

Correct me if i am wrong please...

but i believe most of the work to make this happen is done in the Chroma Key settings of your video mixer.

unless you're video is going thru the capture card of your computer and adding your lower thirds that way. we are currently doing it this way, and there is a significant loss of video quality this way. I am currently trying to figure out how to get my video switcher (Panasonic ag-MX70p) to Chroma Key.

[farangfellow]

Hi - we use MediaShout and love the ease of changing the Worship sequence on the fly. I especially olike that the Pastor can assk for a special closing Hymn or Praise music and we can have it in place practically before he can finish his sentence. Although MediaShout can include a PowerPoint projection, I can not imagine why you'd want to do it.

PowerPoint is not easily edited or added/deleted to without backing out of show and moving to edit mode. Then when you have done it - back into show mode. I am the techo for a Baptist Church - not a pusher for MediaShout. I feel that Song Plus is probably as good.

[kbob]

Welcome, farangfellow, and congrats on your first post!