Vegas for live concert Projection

TGravlin wrote on 9/11/2007, 11:56 AM
I play in a rock band. We want to start using video projected onto a screen behind the band as we play. You see similar media at concerts by major artists Like U2 etc. This poses a few (solveable I'm sure) technical challeges.

I know that I can create a finished video in Vegas. With audio tracks that would include a click track to keep the band in time with the video. (fed to in ear monitors)

I know that there are several ways to project the video depending on the venue etc. (rear screen, front screen, High end led walls etc) It just needs a signal sent to it to be projected. How is the signal sent over distances longer than a few feet of cable? (assuming the projector is located 100 ft away from a stage mounted laptop or whatever)

I'm looking for something simple and bombproof to use to control the playback while I have my hands full of guitar. Footswitch control to select the track and start/stop would be great. Can Vegas be controlled by a MIDI cc#? Maybe something like advance to the next marker and wait on the first button.... and then start/stop on another?

Can Vegas be setup to generate a video signal for playback that would not ever have things like menus or track names or other computer screen visuals? Hopefully while still being able to see those things on a laptop screen onstage.

Has anyone ever done this with Vegas?

Comments

Kennymusicman wrote on 9/11/2007, 12:19 PM
I would not use Vetgas for what you suggest. You are talking more in the realms of VJ'ing. Arkaos rocks at this - and is rewirable, so you can easily chuck it into a midi host (say cubase) and have lots of control over it. It will spice up your displays with realtime image "fun". Seriously - check it out.

Alternatives include resolume and others.

As for cable distance. You either have to go composite out (SVideo will lose color over distance), VGA 15pin is cool (normal monitor output), or you can get a video - ethernet adaptor for sending it along a network cable (good for LONG distances).

Arkaos is simple. Bombproof, will allow your cc control via your midi host.

I do it all the time at my gigs. Beats laser shows any day of the week too :)

Ken
David Settlemoir wrote on 9/11/2007, 12:36 PM
If you watch the Tour Documentary on the "Queensryche Mindcrime at the Moore" DVD you can see their drummer (Scott Rockenfield) talking about triggering video events during the show. I don't know what system they use, but they have a lot of video during their shows.

David
Chienworks wrote on 9/11/2007, 12:57 PM
I've had more problems sending composite over a distance than S-Video. But, in either case, the projector in our church has about 170 feet of cable coming back to the control booth. We're running S-VGA, S-Video, and composite to it. All three signals come out bright, clear, and colorful. We're not using any sort of amplification or repeaters at all. The cables are pretty much run of the mill mid grade stuff, nothing fancy or expensive.
TGravlin wrote on 9/11/2007, 1:08 PM
Thanks for the suggestion on Arkaos.

Currently we run a few audio backing tracks with a stereo MP3 player. One side contains audio sent to the mixer the other side is the click that the drummer and I hear to stay in sync.

I like this setup since it's DOESN't use a computer that could potentially crash. It's extremely simple and works without fail.

It sounds like I could use SONAR (which I have) to generate the audio and a MIDI track with some cc comands at various places to change the rewired video to the correct visual. Is this right?
DataMeister wrote on 9/11/2007, 1:50 PM
In addition to the ArKoas software solution for DMX control, there are also full hardware based media servers and even a few DMX controlled DVD players that you can use if you are wanting something that doesn't depend on Windows or OSX.

ArKaos makes the A10 hardware but there are also plenty of other brands like
High End Systems
PRG (Production Resource Group)
Martin
Green Hippo
MA Lighting

Or if you want to go the DMX - DVD player route:
Pioneer, Phillips, Panasonic.

Kennymusicman wrote on 9/11/2007, 2:05 PM
Yep - Sonar will do what you ask as a host, and something like Arkaos will respond happily. A decent (not amazing) dualhead card it really cool in that you can alter your programming in realtime on one screen, and the projection doesn't get interupted in the other.

You could even, say have a faux 'drum' track with triggers to differing videos, then your video will play to the beat. ...to explain more.. Think simple.. kick, snare, kick, snare etc.
Now instead of hearing kick snare etc, think of seeing a video on kick, a new video on snare, back to video (or different) on kick etc -with perfect, repeatable timing. :)
David Settlemoir wrote on 9/11/2007, 3:07 PM
I emailed Scott R. and he said they use something from edirol to feed their screens. I looked on edirols website and it looks like either a PR-50 or PR-80 is what they use. Hope this helps.

David
TGravlin wrote on 9/11/2007, 5:34 PM
I love the idea of a dedicated hardware unit that will do what I ask.

I'd rather it not be DVD based since a simple fingerprint can cause failure.

So far our best reliable audio only solution is an MP3 player. I'd love something so simple for video playback too.

I don't really have (or foresee) a need to be able to change up the video as the show goes on. It'll all need to be pre edited together since I need to actually play my guitar the entire show without fooling with a computer at all.