8 video out, 3 live cameras in and phone cast?

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Samantha Schmitz

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Apr 13, 2023, 2:57:15 AM4/13/23
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I'm trying to figure out how to run 5 projectors and 3 analog tvs, as well as 3 live cameras an phonecasts.

I have 5 old macbooks (4 Pros one Air) with a total of 7 display outs.

would something like this work to split the display so I could assign the projectors in Qlab?


if so, would it be possible to run the 8 outs off of one computer? all of the projectors and the tvs are old, and resolution is not really an issue.

I would like to figure out how to use at most 3 of the computers. Any help would be much appriciated

Sam Kusnetz

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Apr 13, 2023, 10:00:45 AM4/13/23
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Hi Samantha

This is a challenging setup! I have some questions which will help me figure out if what you’re trying to do is plausible.

Are you hoping for all three cameras to be able to be shown on any display at any time?

Can you share the exact specs of the five MacBooks? What I’m looking for is found under the Apple menu in “About This Mac” and includes the exact model name (i.e. MacBook Pro 15-inch, late 2018 or MacBook Air, 2020) and the chip or CPU listed (Intel i7 or Apple M1 Pro).

It is highly unlikely that you’ll be able to run all eight outputs off one of these Macs. If someone hired me to build an eight-output system, the only old Mac I would even consider is a Mac Pro. What I would really want is a new Mac with an Apple M1 Max, M1 Ultra, or M2 Max processor.

In any case, the details about the Macs are going to lead us to the next step.

Best
Sam

Sam Kusnetz (he/him) | Figure 53



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Samantha Schmitz

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Apr 13, 2023, 1:33:14 PM4/13/23
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I think it would only be one camera on at a time but hopefully on different screens (possibly multiple)

Samantha Schmitz

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Apr 13, 2023, 1:49:00 PM4/13/23
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Is it possible to network computers running qlab 4.7 to ones running qlab 5?

Ethan Eldred

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Apr 13, 2023, 1:52:01 PM4/13/23
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You could send OSC between 5 and 4.7, yes.

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Ethan Eldred
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UCSD Department of Theatre and Dance
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Sam Kusnetz

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Apr 13, 2023, 2:03:57 PM4/13/23
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Hi Samantha

Thanks for the info on the Macs you have available!

Unfortunately, I wouldn’t expect any of those Macs to be able to drive more than one or maaaaybe two audience-facing displays.

All these Macs can run QLab 4. The 2008 MacBook and 2012 MacBook Pro can’t run QLab 5, but the others can. Even so, I would consider them too old to be reliable with modern software.

So, in summary, I’m sorry to say that I do not think your design is possible with this hardware. You could take the three newest, fastest of these Macs and run a single display with a single camera using each, but that’s about it.

Samantha Schmitz

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Apr 19, 2023, 10:48:29 PM4/19/23
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ok.
I'm trying to network 2 computers and trigger cues with OSC but I am struggling. are there an instructional videos or parts of the manual you can point me too.
both computers are licensed and running qlab5
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