[ANSWERED] Isadora Network Control

T_Decker

I suppose this is a many pronged question, so I'll do my best to be clear.
I'm going into a show that is going to require all four video outputs for four projectors that my server has on its graphics card. What I'm concerned about is how to actually program Isadora when all four outputs are committed to stages. I've got some time to solve this, so there are a couple of approaches I'm hoping to try.

The server has an additional video output as part of the motherboard. I'm going to see if my BIOS will allow both the dedicated video card and on-board video work simultaneously. If so, I suppose the problem is solved.
Barring the above idea, I'm going to try to drive two of the projectors through a Star-Tech screen extender. (One video output to the extender which then goes to two projectors which would free up one of the video out ports on the dedicated card. However, I'm concerned that I'll hit a limit with the number of displays/resolution. (The four projectors are 1920x1200.)
So if that doesn't work, I'm wondering if there are tutorials on network control of Isadora? I have multiple licenses, so running two or even three separate instances is not an issue. What I'm thinking, is to run scenes remotely on the server from a second computer, but I'm not clear on how to do this. (I've seen a couple forum postings regarding OSC and Q Lab, but I'm trying to stay all PC.)
HOWEVER, this leads me back to the initial problem of not being able to see the patches on the server computer to edit in real-time. Is there a way to see a patch on a remote computer if the remote computer has all of its outputs committed to stages?

Any input on how to go about this (especially via a network solution) would be most appreciated!

Tristan

CitizenJoe

@t_decker said:

<p>The server has an additional video output as part of the motherboard. I'm going to see if my BIOS will allow both the dedicated video card and on-board video work simultaneously. </p>

This is what I do every day. I've even been known to run projectors from the MB graphics!

Cheers,

Hugh

Armando

@t_decker Hello,

Do you need frame synchronization between the machines ? Are you running one very hi res image through multiple projectors and machine ?

T_Decker

@armando

The setup will be two front projection surfaces in a portrait orientation that may or may not have separate imagery and then a third very wide aspect ratio rear projection screen (hence looking at driving the projectors for that "stage" via a one graphics card output to a desktop extender.) Synchronization is likely not to be needed as I doubt the rear projection surface and the two front projection surfaces will ever be showing the same imagery.

Woland

@t_decker said:

Is there a way to see a patch on a remote computer if the remote computer has all of its outputs committed to stages?

As far as I'm aware, you'd see the Stage Outputs instead as they would be frontmost (though if your remote access software can look at specific windows instead of just displays, then that would work).

My suggestion, if your current plan doesn't work out, would be to go for a hardware-based solution to the output problem; get a Matrox Triple or Quad-Head-2-Go or a DataPath fx4 to effectively turn one of your outputs into multiple outputs, which would give you a spare output to use for a monitor that you could then use for remote access purposes.

Best wishes,

Woland

mark_m

@t_decker said:

The server has an additional video output as part of the motherboard. I'm going to see if my BIOS will allow both the dedicated video card and on-board video work simultaneously. If so, I suppose the problem is solved.

Yes, this is the very simplest way. Should work.

DusX

It is worth noting that using the on-board and dedicated GPU's causes textures to be transferred between the two graphics units. This is generally a bottle-neck, and may cause issues in some cases. The most obvious may be video tearing, or flickering. Isadora is not officially supported in a multi GPU configuration.

Fred

@t_decker I would stay away from dual GPU's it can be ok, but certain tasks will slow things down a lot as video textures get passed from on eGPU, through the CPU and up to another GPU. This is a very very slow process, and a waste of resources if you can avoid it. Using 2 GPUs (like using the integrated one, along with your discrete one) will set you up for running into this pretty soon.

Hardware solutions would be the best bet to get out of this bind so:

I have so far only had good luck with budget products...The are not really up to long term touring, but sometimes are so cheap you can buy a spare and still be well under budget. So in that vein, here is a 2x2 video wall controller. It will mean that you use a single HDMI port running at 4k 60 and get 4 x 1080p 60 outputs-0 leaving plenty of space on your GPU for more screens.

I cannot vouch for this product so it is at your own risk, but it is very cheap (qatch out there are two colours here, one is the 4k 60)

https://www.aliexpress.us/item...

T_Decker

@fred and @DusX

Thanks for the heads up. I did get the integrated GPU working alongside the dedicated GPU just as a test. Next step will be to get all four projectors hooked up and build some test cues to see what happens...

I also want to check the Star-Tech extender to see if it works as an option...