2/10/2007 7:25:13 PM

Has anyone set up a computer with 2 control monitors? The reason I ask is that where the computer is located in our sound booth it has a blocked view of our projection screen. Moving the computer is not an option due to space constraints, however we can squeeze in a second monitor. The preview window in the control window is too small to accuratly display what is being projected. Resizing is no help due to the need to have access to all 4 control windows (preview, database, program, curent item). What I was hoping to do is have a second monitor to span the desktop to increase the program window across 2 monitors or to have the projection show on the second monitor as well as the screen. I know there has been discussion about splitting the projector signal, with mixed results. Our projection computer has a dual head pci card, and a 17" LCD. We are going to move to a 19" LCD but I don't expect that to make a big difference. I am trying to add a second single head pci card. Have not been able to find one to work in the computer as of yet. 
Any help is much appreciated...


Greg

                     

2/10/2007 7:41:39 PM

The best way to do what you want is to get a VGA distribution amplifier (DA) that will take a single VGA output, amplify it and send it (identical feeds) to two or more VGA outputs depending on the DA.

Attach this to your second VGA out on your video card that is currently going to your projector. then attach your projector to one of the VGA outs on the DA box and the second monitor another one.

This will give you a full screen of exactly what's going to the projector. This is the way we run and really like it. We no longer have to fire up the projector while we are creating the slide shows, which saves us a lot of hours on the projector lamp.

Don't just get a VGA splitter. Even though it won't cost as much, the signal will weaken when you split it. The DA has that amplifer component that will strengthen the signal before splitting it.

2/10/2007 7:56:14 PM

Going to a 19" screen should make a huge difference...
If you have the resolution of the screen set to it's "native" resolution

We are currently using a 17" at 1280*1024 and I can comfortably use it with the Database window and the program panel + inspectors open with Improv Panel
At home i have a 19" at 1600*1200 and there's heaps of screen real estate to use

As for having the SSP control window spanning accross two screens
For you to be able to Span it it would be a good idea to have both of the screens
on the one video card connected to each out put and getting another Video card
for the Display screen
The two screens would have to have a small bezel on the outside of them to
allow you to not notice going from Screen 1 to screen 2

The reason I say this is not only to make setting it up easier but so it's a bit more logical
But having said that i would imagine it is possible to do...
You may find if you can see what's being displayed on the projector next to you may help you more then you think
If you are going to show what's on the projector Don't get a VGA splitter cable... they are useless.... get a powered one instead

Is this what you meant or have i misunderstood you?

2/11/2007 7:16:42 AM

Thanks for the info....it was very helpful. Now what is a good place to get a DA for the split?

 

 

2/11/2007 11:24:16 AM

We lucked out and found one on eBay to pick up. There are no moving parts, so I was comfortable buying it used.

If you search on VGA distribution amplifer or VGA amplifier splitter (Splitters are ok, as long as they are amplified).

2/12/2007 8:21:42 AM

1. Many audio/video stores sell video DA's, for example, allprosound.com, commercial, catalog. We use Kramer products. The Kramer VP-300 is a XGA in to 3 XGA outs, so one output can go to the projector, one output can go to the computer's second monitor, and one output can go to another video device (in our case it goes to scan converter so we can display projection material to a TV monitor on the stage that the musicians and preacher use, so that they don't have to turn around to see what is now on the screen.) The VP-300 is $120 from them.

2. It seems to me you ought to just keep your existing dual-head graphics card so that one output drives your SSP control monitor and the second out drives the new DA, which in turns drives the 2nd computer monitor, the projector, and the stage floor monitor. Make sure you set Windows properly so SSP can drive the two monitors.