How do I get a video onto 3 screens? at DVinfo.net

Jason Simpkins · February 17th, 2007, 12:06 PM

This may sound stupid but I don't have a clue. I am working on a project that will require 3 separate videos to run on three different screens and possibly be a power point presentation. How would this work? This is for a trade show event.

That's about all the info I have right now.

Thanks, Jason

Bill Davis · February 17th, 2007, 12:39 PM

Cheapest and easiest way would be to buy 3 $49 DVD players at Costco or somewhere similar. And use them to feed your 3 screens. Use a laptop to play back powerpoint on one of them, if need be.

No need to overthink this provided there's not something you're omitting from your discription.

Jason Simpkins · February 17th, 2007, 12:48 PM

Ok so I have 3 screens 3 dvd players. Then during the presentation I or he is using power point. During the presentation how does power point trigger a certain video to play on a particular screen. You know it sounds simple, as that is the way it is mostly done at church also. But a board is used for that.

Kit Hannah · February 17th, 2007, 01:33 PM

3 DVD players would work if you just were looping video on each screen, but for a live setting where you need to project the same image on all 3 screens, it would be even easier and cheaper to get a video splitter. You can get a cheap one at radio shack, but I would suggest getting a better one from a real electronics store. We use these Calrad 1in, 5out HDTV Splitters - you can pick them up off Ebay, or at many electronics stores - They work flawless. You can use S-Video, component, composite - it even has digital audio (spdif) and regular audio. Although the big chain stores don't sell them to the best of my knowledge, most of them use them in their Television Departments to distribute the HDTV signal to all of the TV's. That's how you walk in and they are all playing the same thing on all of the TVs. I believe you can link up to 10 of these units without loss. They also have 1in, 8out or 9out units available.

http://cgi.ebay.com/CALRAD-1X5-HDTV-...QQcmdZViewItem

Bill Mecca · February 17th, 2007, 07:54 PM

You can also incorporate the videos into the powerpoint presentation, so it could all be run from the same laptop.

I think though there is a little confusion as to what you want to do. Your original post made it sound like there were 3 separate videos to run on 3 separate screens. If you need to run the 3 videos and a power point as part of the same presentation to be displayed on 3 screens simultaneously, you can do what either Kit or I have suggested.

Boyd Ostroff · February 17th, 2007, 07:58 PM

The "pros" use a variety of hardware/software for this kind of thing. Watchout is one popular solution. More info and downloads here: http://www.dataton.com/watchout

Of course, this may be more than you want to get into due to the cost and complexity....

February 17th, 2007, 12:06 PM	#1
Jason Simpkins Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 64	How do I get a video onto 3 screens? This may sound stupid but I don't have a clue. I am working on a project that will require 3 separate videos to run on three different screens and possibly be a power point presentation. How would this work? This is for a trade show event. That's about all the info I have right now. Thanks, Jason

February 17th, 2007, 07:54 PM	#5
Bill Mecca Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 475	You can also incorporate the videos into the powerpoint presentation, so it could all be run from the same laptop. I think though there is a little confusion as to what you want to do. Your original post made it sound like there were 3 separate videos to run on 3 separate screens. If you need to run the 3 videos and a power point as part of the same presentation to be displayed on 3 screens simultaneously, you can do what either Kit or I have suggested. __________________ Award-winning Pine Barrens Documentary! Video, Audio, Music & More

February 17th, 2007, 12:39 PM	#2
Bill Davis Trustee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Posts: 1,538	Cheapest and easiest way would be to buy 3 $49 DVD players at Costco or somewhere similar. And use them to feed your 3 screens. Use a laptop to play back powerpoint on one of them, if need be. No need to overthink this provided there's not something you're omitting from your discription.

February 17th, 2007, 12:48 PM	#3
Jason Simpkins Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 64	Ok so I have 3 screens 3 dvd players. Then during the presentation I or he is using power point. During the presentation how does power point trigger a certain video to play on a particular screen. You know it sounds simple, as that is the way it is mostly done at church also. But a board is used for that.

February 17th, 2007, 01:33 PM	#4
Kit Hannah Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fresno, California Posts: 528	3 DVD players would work if you just were looping video on each screen, but for a live setting where you need to project the same image on all 3 screens, it would be even easier and cheaper to get a video splitter. You can get a cheap one at radio shack, but I would suggest getting a better one from a real electronics store. We use these Calrad 1in, 5out HDTV Splitters - you can pick them up off Ebay, or at many electronics stores - They work flawless. You can use S-Video, component, composite - it even has digital audio (spdif) and regular audio. Although the big chain stores don't sell them to the best of my knowledge, most of them use them in their Television Departments to distribute the HDTV signal to all of the TV's. That's how you walk in and they are all playing the same thing on all of the TVs. I believe you can link up to 10 of these units without loss. They also have 1in, 8out or 9out units available. http://cgi.ebay.com/CALRAD-1X5-HDTV-...QQcmdZViewItem

February 17th, 2007, 07:58 PM	#6
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	The "pros" use a variety of hardware/software for this kind of thing. Watchout is one popular solution. More info and downloads here: http://www.dataton.com/watchout Of course, this may be more than you want to get into due to the cost and complexity....