Jonas Dannert

Neither MOTU nor M-Audio works for WATCHOUT multiaudio under Windows 7, unfortunately. ECHO AudioFire and PreSonus products has been tested and used, though. /jonas

Hi WOChan, since I understand that you're based in HongKong(?) I'll recommend you to contact our Premium Partner in HongKong, Audio Visual Technique Ltd http://avt.hk/wp/ http://avt-china.cn/ http://www.avt.hk/ /jonas

I believe you'll need a real EDID Manager, like DVI Detective, DVI Parrot or similar. Your issues most likely is that the extenders EDID handling is inconsistent. /jonas

Correct. True, but I neither will give you 6 outputs, which was my point. Same thing here, I do not say HD7950 or R9 270X/270 is bad cards for WATCHOUT use, only that they do not give you 6 outputs, as of know. "I think the best card is the one that best suites both the task and the budget :)" /jonas

R9 290X is equal to HD7990, which never where available with 6 outputs. I doubt this card will either. The benefits of a R9 290X over a 280X is negligable (for WATCHOUT use) One get more video-memory and a severely hiked pricetag, though... /jonas

You'll need an ArtNet -> DMX-interface like Enttec ODE, KissBOX DMX or Sandsys Sandbox DMX. USB -> DMX is not supported More complicated lighting programming is better done at a lighting desk/console, or similar, and then record the result into WATCHOUT using the DMX recording feature available from 5.2 onwards. Please see the Release Notes here: http://www.dataton.com/downloads/watchout/support/Release_Notes_5.5.1.html /jonas New Media Type: DMX512 Recording Often, WATCHOUT is used together with lighting systems based on the DMX512 standard. WATCHOUT allows you to control individual DMX512 channels directly. However, when using numerous channels, or moving lights, a dedicated lighting console is generally called for. Once the lighting has been programmed into the console, it's often merely a matter of playing it back in the same way every time. By recording the DMX512 data coming from the console into WATCHOUT, you can simplify such installations by removing the console altogether. WATCHOUT will then play back the lighting cues from this recording in sync with your show. Assuming that you have a lighting console connected to your network using the ArtNet protocol (may require a DMX512-to-ArtNet adapter), you can record its programming into WATCHOUT as follows: Choose "Add DMX512 Recording" on the Media menu. Specify a file for storing the recorded DMX512 data. Save this file in/under the folder containing the current show file. In the Save dialog box, also specify the ArtNet Universe number used by the lighting console. Only data sent on this universe will be recorded. Click Save. Drag this new item from the Media window onto a timeline. Notice that the symbol on the cue is displayed in yellow, indicating that it is ready to be recorded. Place this cue where you want the recording to start, and extend it to cover the duration of the recording. Run the timeline along with the lighting console. You may simply start WATCHOUT and cue the console manually. Alternatively, use timecode to synchronize them. As the timeline reaches the cue, recording commences, as indicated by the lamp symbol on the cue turning red. Allow the timeline to run for the entire duration of the cue. Once recording is complete, the lamp symbol on the cue becomes gray. Disconnect the lighting console from the network, or switch it off. Play the WATCHOUT timeline again. The recorded DMX512 data will now be played back by the cue. An ArtNet-to-DMX512 adapter is required unless your fixtures/dimmers receive ArtNet directly. You can use the Fade tween track of the cue to modulate the intensity of all recorded channels. NOTE: Do not use this feature if any recorded channels use 16 bit precision. If you make a mistake during the recording, or simply want to do another take, you can revert the DMX512 recording to its initial, unrecorded state by double-clicking it in the Media window and selecting the "Re-record DMX512 File" checkbox. This dialog box also allows you to play the recording back using a different ArtNet universe than the one used during the initial recording.

Oh yes. They are not for everyone, though. Support frame-locking of outputs, through their S400 sync card, among other things. Maybe here? And I said slowly being replaced... http://www.amazon.com/Asus-Radeon-4DisplayPort-PCI-Express-R9280X-DC2T-3GD5-V2/dp/B00FT2KSVK/ http://www.amazon.com/Asus-R9280X-DC2T-3GD5-V2-Radeon-4DisplayPort-PCI-Express/dp/B00G64H7P0/ http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-MATRIX-R9280X-P-3GD5-Graphics-Cards/dp/B00FW47Y5I/ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121805 No, no significant reason that I know of. /jonas

Daniel, I highly doubt more projectors than 4 will make things easier here. Depth of focus will work, I wouldn't worry about that. Also if you're to close to the sphere with the projector (ie wide-angle lens) you'll not cover as much of the top and bottom of the sphere as would from longer distance. But that's my 2 cents, /jonas

Hi Basil, As with any 360 degree projection, one adds a "dummy" Display on each side. The overlap here needs to be the same as inside the actually used screen area, to work properly. Hope this helps, /jonas

It belongs to AMD:s professional series, FirePro. A very good, albeit expensive, 6-output card, with 6 MiniDisplayPort outputs Supports AMD FirePro S400 sync card for frame-locking of outputs. Mentioned here: http://forum.dataton.com/topic/699-recommended-display-cards-updated/?do=findComment&comment=2536 /jonas

Cihaner, thanks so much for sharing! /jonas

Even that this is many moons ago, there has not happen so much under the sun, that has changed the equation in any dramatical new way. As things stands now there are new products for sure, but so much faster are they not. My 2 cents, /jonas

That should work then. Each Cue have 8 String commands at the same point in time on the timeline, or? If so, the String commands needs to be separated, slightly in time. /jonas

"I think the best card is the one that best suites both the task and the budget :)" I like that one! Here is where we normally put more info and examples of setups and how-to-tweak etc: http://forum.dataton.com/topic/734-watchout-5-technical-notes/ There are of course always new products, that can be used, too. Either AMD (up to 6 outputs) or NVidia (up to 4 outputs) For example, the AMD HD7xxx-series is slowly being replaced by AMD R9-series (290X/290, 280X and 270X/270) http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/R9/Pages/amd-radeon-hd-r9-series.aspx#1 All graphic card manufacturers will of course update their line-up accordingly. One example is ASUS and their line of consumer 6 output cards: Standard - http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/R9280XDC23GD5V2 Overclock -http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/R9280XDC2T3GD5V2/ Gaming (ROG) Standard - http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/MATRIXR9280X3GD5/ Overclock -http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/MATRIXR9280XP3GD5/ I doubt overclocking makes any difference for WATCHOUT use, though. /jonas

I agree with Claudio, you'll need to separate your String Cue:s slightly, then it will work. /jonas

Hi, Adela is right, there is an old project (WO3) for a sphere setup, it's not ideal but it might help a bit. The ideal setup and positioning of the projector is dead center on the equator of the sphere, with 4 projectors. Preferably quite far from the sphere, the 2.8-4.3:1 lens is to be preferred here (see drawings in the project below). This means that you can take advantage of the mirroring horisontally & vertically-feature of the geometry adjustments in WATCHOUT, making the setup far easier. Please see P163 in the WATCHOUT 5.2 User Guide. Link: http://dataton.com/downloads/watchout/support/education/sphere/ /jonas

In my experience, same EDID is only really the same EDID if it comes from the same source/switcher or EDID Manager like DVI Parrot/DVI Detective etc. Different sources, set to same intended EDID, is not to be trusted if stability is the goal. /jonas

Yes. By creating a Show, downloading and test it, then make the Display computer autostart via a textbased script, is the most common way to achieve this. Please look here in the Forum for an example "autostart.txt" file as a starting point: http://forum.dataton.com/topic/1127-watchpax-autostarttxt-script/ Yes, if they are placed on an Auxiliary Timeline (Task Window) No. But using a software like Projectionist will help in easy creation of one. http://www.neodarque.com/Projectionist/About Yes. It's a mesh-based geometry correction grid, intended mainly for flat/curved surfaces. Both, heavily depending on type of project. Projecting onto three-dimensional objects/shapes involves many more steps in the total process, outside of WATCHOUT, than simple geometry correction on the Display output It's always important, but not as important as having a good color balance between projectors. Calibrated output from all projectors is necessary for a perfect result. Same lamp-hours will not guarantee this, but is a good start. /jonas

I don't think 5.5.1 is the issue, but unstable EDID is a very likely source for your issues. You need exactly the same EDID for all 6 outputs from one card for stability. /jonas

"Does this above statement mean the Watchpax will play a QuickTime .mov with the Animation codec?" Yes. But avoid bigger file sizes, since the higher bitrate needed, likely will be beyond WATCHPAX capabilities. "And since H.264 can be encoded with an unlimited amount of variables will it be better to use an all I frame encoded file or some I,P,B GOP for WATCHPAX. A all I frame (No Frame Reordering) encode will create a bigger file but is decoded with less CPU "overhead" is it not?" Theoretically, yes. But you'll have to test what works for you. A 10-15 MB/s 1920x1080p30 h264 file works well. /jonas

MisterK, This is not a WATCHOUT issue, it's a hardware setup case. Put a separate PCI/PCIe 6-pin FireWire card in the Display computer (preferably). I would not trust a laptop with a built-in FW port, maybe a desktop Production computer with a separate PCIE/PCIe FW-card, but the usual way to stable playback of sound is through the Display computer/s. /jonas

What FireWire card is used in the PC in question? I would guess this is the most likely point of failure here. All FireWire cards are not equal, always use a known-good brand product and with a 6-pin FW connector. In all cases, the Echo AudioFire 12 always need external power connected, as far as I know. /jonas

How about here? DATATON software - earlier versions archive /jonas

Yes, that's Single-Link DVI, possible with an ACTIVE Single-Link DVI to MiniDP-adapter, not needing external power. 2560 x 1600 is Dual-Link DVI, possible with an ACTIVE Dual-Link DVI to MiniDP-adapter, needing external or USB power. Example: http://www.accellcables.com/B087B-003J.html That said, this will work for still imagery, not video at this resolution for WATCHPAX. /jonas

Yes, but the normal way take out edgeblend completely, is to go to Preferences -> Edgeblend Tab and dial down the edgeblend curve to 0. Yes. /jonas