Isadora on Unix/Linux

[JSIminging]

Hello all,

I am a photographer/multimedia artist and I am relatively new to Isadora. I used it running windows 10 in a gallery show last spring to send out images to multiple 4K OLED displays to create "video walls" of sorts.  I am now wanting to go a step further and code a platform from Unix with the sole goal of running Isadora. The idea is no menus, no extra OS functionality except the ability to employ ICC color management and boot right into Isadora and run patches. Does anyone have experience using Isadora on Unix/Linuix based platforms and be kind enough to share your experience? Thanks a lot.

-John Singletary 

[DusX]

@JSIminging
Isadora does not offer Linux/Unix support outside of MacOS (freeBSD unix based).
I am interested to know how you plan to support ICC color management?

[Fred]

@JSIminging said:

ICC color management

As isadora will not work on linux, you may be much better of chasing a windows setup. You will get great functionality and will be able to have boot to Isadora and run a patch. ICC colour management is available on OSX, and windows  (http://www.colourmanagement.ne...) however it is a kind of primitive tool, and offers only basic transformations and colour science. If you are willing to go this far, I would look at using hardware calibrated monitors, and if these are out of your league, check out using hardware calibration on a monitor that has good specs (*like 99%+ Adobe RGB or REC 709 - Eizo has some cheaper stuff) and use a LUT box to store and recall calibrations (3d luts). Windows 10 is reasonably efficient and quite stable, with the ability to pick and chose hardware as needed (ala nix). All of this stuff can be scripted and automated, if you want a more flexible autoamted startup system take a look at always up (https://www.coretechnologies.c...).

Or maybe there is something in your needs I did not get?

[JSIminging]

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback. First, ICC color management is a pretty simple thing with the right tools and software it can easily be implemented on really any OS. The real issue here is I am creating a peremenant piece that where once installed I will probably not see it again so in this case Windows is way too buggy and requires updates, the display manager reorders all of my screens unless it is shut down in a very specific order. None of this was an issue at my last gallery show as the staff could be instructed as to how to operate the system, however, in this case I need something really simple with basically no computer OS architecture just a simple on off switch and so on. 

I am thinking I may be better off looking into more complex AV equipment that plays the loops of the patches in video format, however, I still need to be able to load a LUT (look up table) to color manage the file before sending it out across the displays. Something that can play 6 4K videos in a synchronized way. Thanks very much for your thoughts.

-John

[Fred]

@JSIminging in this scenario I would go straight for bright sign units, there are 4k models that can be synchronised easily and work great day in day out for years. They can do some complex interactions if need be.

[JSIminging]

Fred, thank you the suggestion. I have not heard of this technology but sounds ideal. I’ll definitely look into it! Much appreciated.

[JSIminging]

@Fred do you possibly have a link to where I could read about this thing on the web or a manufacturer? Google searches are not turning up anything helpful... Thanks again.

[Fred]

@JSIminging https://www.brightsign.biz/dig...

[JSIminging]

@Fred, awesome. Thanks so much, really appreciate it.

[bonemap]

@JSIminging

I have been using a BrightSign XT linked via HDMI to a permanent 4K monitor. The monitor installation is about 30km from my workplace and the curated content is authored using the proprietary BrightAuthor and uploaded to the player remotely through the software’s interface - this works great - except for the fact that I can not preview the monitor in situ. I have VirtualBox running Windows 10 on a MacBookPro as the BrightAuthor tool is only available for Windows and I have video editing software for Mac. The default layouts and options in BrightAuthor are oriented for digital signage, with options to schedule different content layouts through a 24hr calendar. 

I have also assisted with the installation of a 3 x projector edge blended installation that used 3 x BrightSign players to sync the HD video files playing off SD cards inserted in them. This worked with a master slave set up with the players linked using cat5 cabling. 

@fred is right - and I have also found that these installations are very stable and continue to run day in - day out without any remediation or hick-ups.

I have seen a little bit of discussion in this forum about linking Isadora to the BrightSign player, but I have not gone there as yet - but if you perform a forum search using the keyword BrightSign you will get a number of threads where they are discussed.

Regards

Bonemap 

[JSIminging]

Bonemap, that’s really helpful to know. Thanks everyone for your replies, extremely valuable and appreciated.