BEST Video Format for Playback on Big Screen

[Mr_P]

Not sure about the maximum allowable with AIC - but catalyst currently has a maximum playback resolution of 4480 x 2600 - which can accommodate RED content.

So your movie could be 3840x1080
...but it doesn't necessarily need to be - it could be smaller, at the same ratio.

7-8 layers of 1920x1080 @ 30fps (assuming a sensible data rate of about 60Mbit/s) is about the maximum currently possible with a 2011-2012 MacPro, SSD and a Quadro 4000.
It depends upon the data rate of the movie and the bandwith available from the SSD over SATA.

You will probably be able to playback more movies at lower resolution, and thus lower data rate. You need to test this yourself on your system -as results can vary.

If your frame rate is set to 30fps, (and playspeed is set to 100%) then the frame indicator should normally say 30fps.

However, if it is showing a lower frame rate - then it is dropping frames.
With what you have described - if you are playing more than 8x 1920x1080@30fps movies - then i wouldn't be suprised if the frame counter is showing less than 30fps and the movie not playing as expected.

One question: Why are you trying to playback 16 HD movies at the same time?

S

[Schoissi]

thx for info

i thought the 4480x2600 is the maximum of graphics, not movies.

why 16xHD:

A Client asked me for a setup for an installation with widescreen panorama with 8x Full HD Projectors.
So for crossfading i need to run in total 16HD movies at one time.

i´m new to catalyst,
i think currently you can have 4 outputs of 1920x1080 on one machine,
( with dualhead2go),
so i need at least 2 mac´s, each one should be able to play 8xHD.

is the playback resolution limited to x/y, or can the movie also be 7680x1080?
so my client only need to render 2 files, instead of 8.
it might also be easier for synchronization.

thx roman

[Mr_P]

Ah - that clarifies it a little more....

We did a similar project (with Ian H) using 7x MacMinis with 1080p outouts to 7x 65in plasmas. The content was taken from a red camera and then cropped vertically to fit the aspect ratio of the 7x 1920x1080 screens. To fit the screens we used a scale of aprox 3x in catalyst to fit the 4480pixel width to 7x 1920 (13440)
screen area. Much more than 3x scale started to pixilate slightly with out setup.

However - this demonstrated that you DONT have to use 1920x1080 1:1 pixel content. Lower resolution will usually look fine.
To achieve the full panorama over 7 Mac-Mini servers, we used the X-offset function on each server to offset the image the required amount on each screen.

i think currently you can have 4 outputs of 1920x1080 on one machine,
( with dualhead2go),
so i need at least 2 mac´s, each one should be able to play 8xHD.

For your setup - if you want to use MacPros - then you can use either 2x DH2G - one on each output. This can sometimes cause problems and also loses your programming/setup screen.

Personally - I'd use 1x Datapath X4 on each MacPro, then this also leaves the 1st output as your programming / setup & desktop screen - which you will need to setup mix windows and blending etc. The Datapath also has more control and offers more refresh rate possibilities.

why 16xHD:
A Client asked me for a setup for an installation with widescreen panorama with 8x Full HD Projectors.
So for crossfading i need to run in total 16HD movies at one time.

If you are using 2x servers - each with 4x projectors connected. So there is a maximum of 4x HD movie playback, and then crossfade to another 4x - so only a total of 8x movies maximum...

i thought the 4480x2600 is the maximum of graphics, not movies.

The maximum movie size catalyst will read is currently 4480x2600
you really don't want - or need - to be using files bigger than this... As explained above - smaller movies scales up are sufficient.

The limit is within catalyst - but can be changed - but there is also a limit with your graphics card, and this will depend on the graphics card specs.

is the playback resolution limited to x/y, or can the movie also be 7680x1080?

The X/Y does not limit playback - only position.

so my client only need to render 2 files, instead of 8.
it might also be easier for synchronization.

Synchronising 8 movies is no more difficult than synchronising 1x movie - its the same process - so maybe 8x 1920x1080 movies might be an option.

Hope this helps

Do test first!...

Simon