Video Repeaters

[hauntedjack]

I am wanting to set up a video telling the customers the rules. For my setup I want an actor (who will be the scare after the vid) to trigger the video to play. I would prefer to use something other than a DVD player. I know that there are video repeaters out there. But does anyone have any suggestions? Has anyone worked with any? Obviously I would want this to be trigger-able, not just loop. Thanks in advance

[Scareside]

There are few solutions that come to mind when is comes to triggered video playback.
1# A Gilderfluke video playback brick (They should still have them)
2# Use a computer with a hacked keyboard. (I use these for my preshows)
3# Alcorn Mcbride Digital Video Machine
4# A hacked DVD player with a push button soldered to play button.

There some more that I didn't mention because I forgot the names but hopefully other will remember

[beardedbil]

First you have to decide if you want SD or HD video playback...

Then I would look at gilderfluke gear such as:
BrightSign (which they have equipped with inputs to trigger video)

or the Alcorn Mcbride DVM...

We are dealers of this equipment and can help you setup, program, and install these pieces. Just let us know how we can help! Contact us through our website...
Best,
Bill Rod.
www.darktecheffects.com

[sophisticatedterror]

Light o rama also controls video playback as well sound and lighting and any other effect in your room all from the same controller...

[FablesStudios]

How does LOR do it? I love using their system but could not figure out the video part? Would it need to run off a computer if using video, not off a director unit?

Thank you!

Peter T

[beardedbil]

I don't recommend using LOR for video playback, I know some people who have done it for short Christmas runs, but it has to run from a computer... Using a solid state playback device will give you worry free operation for many years to come... Just my two cents
Bill

[sophisticatedterror]

Yes you would need your computer and it is quite simple especially if you already have one of their controllers and you can also trigger it as well via, button, switchmat. Very economical. Have a computer? Have a lor controller already? then why not? lol You would need the latest version of software...If you have any questions you can pm me. Ive been working with LOR for years with huge commercial applications so feel free to hit me up!


Kale

[Brandon_K]

I *highly* recommend contacting Randy @ Illusionator. He doesn't have the player on his website (IIRC, he only recently started selling them ala-carte), but he sells a standalone player that I've been EXTREMELY happy with.

I have Ghost Bust's setup in our 2 (parallel) first rooms. The room is fully automated and I was having issues with other brand of video players. Since the APC16+ controller runs the room, it just needs to send a pulse to the video player. Unfortunately the other video players I've tried were "lazy", meaning they might play right away or they might play a second or even 3 after the trigger was sent. Since the room is programmed around the video, this really screwed up sync between everything.

Randy sells a player that is on par with price cost as the others I had tried ($300 if memory serves me), has multiple triggers (with a really nice self adhesive membrane switch included), uses standard CF cards, and they play exactly when you tell them to. Randy was a pleasure to work with as well.

That being said, it looks like Gilderfluke has released some new players since I last looked into them. At the time when I bought these, Gilderfluke's cheapest gear was nearly twice the cost of Randy's unit, that has since changed. I would definitely give Bill a call to discuss the Gilderfluke gear, they manufacture extremely high quality kit.

[SlightlySick Illusions]

I use the Solid State players available at Haunted Enterprises. I have had great luck with theses and have used them for several years. It is so easy to program, it is all in how you name the files. 001.mpg for your hold file and 001.mpg for your play file. That's all there is to it.

[Brandon_K]

What players is Randy offering now? I didn't know he was doing anything in video. The website doesn't show anything at the moment.