Video project installation in a high school

[Sayen]

One of the things that has plagued me since we moved into our new theater is the complete lack of video - both monitors, and a mounted projection point. I've been trying to research the project, and have followed threads here for a year or so now, but every project seems to be someone working within their existing framework of equipment. So the question is this: If you could start clean, purchase the equipment you wanted, what would you choose? What method would you use to run signal?

This is, ultimately, what I want to do. I'd rather do it myself, knowing full well how much fun it is to run cable.

- Two camera mounts on FOH run back to monitor stations backstage, and one monitor station in the booth. Possibly a normal video along with some sort of lowlight or IR application. Neither has to be high quality, just another means for the SM and crew to monitor the stage.
- Backstage camera to monitor greenspace for communication purposes.
- Video control to a mounted projector, most likely (properly and professionally) suspended off a scenery pipe downstage. Video control for projection should be possible from the booth and from the SM position backstage.

It's a high school, so I don't need top of the line gear. What I really want is basic functionality along with a solid training environment. Pretend I don't own any cable or a computer, which means options are unlimited as far as what I might purchase - other than keeping this in the middle of the price range. Used equipment is fair game.

The only existing infrastructure is a lighting network, in the typical star configuration. We will never use every port on the network, so I have toyed with hijacking a couple of the cable runs for other nefarious purposes. I already took over one line to get Internet access in my booth.

[Studio]

For the monitors just use coax cable don't go digital it causes lag.

[ScottT]

Actually, depending on your school's network infrastructure digital might be the cheapest and easiest way to go. So, if your school can handle dedicated video feeds then go with professional video over IP system.

[Footer]

Typically video onstage consists of the following...

• Conductor/Maestro Cam fed to the wings and SM
• FOH IR Camera fed to SM
• FOH Color camera fed to SM and Green Room

That should be all you need. You don't need a camera in the green room so you can watch whats going on there. Keep in mind the system I just mentioned is used to produce full length Broadway style shows in a Regional Theatre setting. If it works for us, it will be more then enough for you.

A projection system is a totally different animal. Personaly I have never been a fan of a perminatly installed projection system in a theatre. If you bolt a projector to the ceiling and hang a screen... that's all you got. We also need to know your intended application.....

Added to that... is there actually money to do this or are we in hypothetical land.... either is OK... just let us know.

[museav]

So while on the one hand a blank page may offer more options and opportunities, it also means more things that have to be defined to fill out the page. In this case, a lot more information on the facility and application would be required to make some decisions while the budget and the installation method may affect other decisions. Determining the appropriate signal and cable types is going to depend on factors such as the sources, the run lengths, the cabling paths available and so on. The distances and image areas involved will affect what camera and lens combinations may work. The potential screen location(s), distance from that to the furthest viewers, different uses, etc. will determine the appropriate screen (also not noted) and projector. Where and how the projector can be mounted will affect the projector lens, which can be a costly item, and things such as how the projector can be mounted and whether a lift might be desired or required. Also, some people's ideas of "the middle of the price range" may differ significantly from others, do you have any general idea of budget or equipment level to help better define what you take that to mean?

It may also get a bit more complicated than you expect. For example, how do you switch between the two cameras and distribute that to multiple destinations? What are the sources for the projector and where are they located? What 'control' of the projector is desired and what type of user interface?

DIY and used equipment may save money but you should also consider what it might cost if you need to purchase some of the related cable termination and other tools, what happens if something does not work, how you are going to test and adjust the systems, etc. Also think in terms of what you are potentially leaving for others and how you are going to document what you do.

[Sayen]

There is money, and I'm assuming this is a two or three year project, sticking bits of it in at a time. As far as signal type, what would you recommend? ideal cable type for a run of 100' or more? I figure I'll work my way up from the ground.

I want a greenroom camera as a means for supervision, as a high school teacher/building manager. I trust my students, I don't trust other students, and it's really just another means for communication. Shoot, the most effective pacifier I've ever used was a video feed from the booth, where green room members could watch the SM and board ops faces during the show. I may go with a cheap wireless webcam and run that separately , I've had good luck with that for other projects in the past. A camera at that location just cuts my run time down considerably, so I can sit in the house and help train technicians while having a rough idea of what is going on backstage.

I cannot (and for political reasons do not want to) use the school's network. I may be able to hijack the ethernet lines used for lighting, since we don't need nearly as many ports as we have access to.

Projector mount doesn't need to be permanent, but I think that permanently running cables for a rigged projector at a single location greatly reduces my setup time. Because it's a school, most of the technical setup work falls on me, especially on short notice. A center mount projector would be the ideal location for most events, and if I want something different for one of my shows I can easily move it.

Footer did a nice job of summing up camera desires. Conductor camera is lower on my list, but is also a consideration.

I know this will be pricey, and I'm trying to stay open on budget. I don't quite know enough about video to wing it, especially when it comes to cable over significant distance. When I think midrange, that would be like avoiding DJ crap in lighting, getting up to a level where things are at least reliable. I'm not looking to record, although the feed to the projector should be clear.