 The
system
comes in a box with a cellular
modem, a CD-ROM
containing the IMU and VMU software,
and a printed Installation Manual.
There
are three versions of the IMU system: VJ, Club and Multi
Media Pro.
Click here for a page Comparing IMU
Versions.
The
software will run on any modern Windows computer. You can
use a laptop -- suggested for mobile DJs -- or desktop --
suggested for fixed installations like clubs and TV stations. We recommend running the software on Windows XP SP2.
For Mac users, owning new desktops and laptops with Intel based processors, the
software will also run on Windows XP SP2 running through Bootcamp on Mac OSX.
Your IMU-equipped
computer should have dual-monitor capability. This means
you can plug in a second monitor and put different windows
on each monitor. Fortunately, most current computers -- both
laptops and desktops -- have this capability.
What you need
for video output
The included VMU software
lets you connect your computer to a video display device
such as a computer data projector or a TV set. This is so
that the audience can see the VMU screen containing
the text messages, voting results, ads, photos and other
graphic elements. The video hardware you need for this is
simple: The computer's output needs to be accepted by the
display device's input.
Many
digital projectors and digital TVs can directly input
from the computer's monitor signal. They have a VGA
input (pictured) intended for computer signals. Just
use an external monitor cable, to connect between the
computer monitor output and the display device input.
One important specification is the
resolution of the display device. The higher the resolution,
the more detail you can get on the screen. Common resolutions
are: VGA (640 x 400 pixels), SVGA (800 x 600), XGA (1024
x 768), SXGA (1280 x 1024), and UXGA (1600 x 1200).
-
 Some
video display devices will only have analog video inputs,
such as an RCA jack or S-video connector. Many modern
computers include video outputs.
If your computer does not have a video
output, you can use a scan converter. This converts the
computer's monitor output signals into video signals.
Scan converters are readily available at computer stores
such as Radio Shack and CompUSA. Some genlocks also include
scan converters.
-
 The
system also handles SDI (Serial Digital Interface)
video. This provides the highest possible quality since
the signal remains digital, unlike analog monitor and
video signals. TextLive's IMU system outputs
to SDI, as long as the host computer has an appropriate
SDI video board. We recommend the NVIDIA Quadra 4000
series of boards.
Using SDI, it's easy to output
in high-definition video. For example, an IMU system
was used to createthe
first interactive HDTV show in the United States
What you need
for web and laser output
The IMU system
can go beyond video output. You can use add-on programs to
output to the web and to laser projectors:
- Web-- TexLive
can provide you with a collection of Java server and
client components. These let you run SMS promotions on
the Internet so that browsers will generate VMU-like
displays live, on a page at your website. This expands
your potential audience to the whole world (or use our
optional password protection system to allow only authorized
persons to view the web broadcast).
- Laser -- TexLive can also provide Lasershow
Messenger software used for projecting text messages
in laser light. In addition to Lasershow Messenger,
the computer will also need to have Lasershow
Designer 2000 software and hardware. The LD output
board (QM 2000) connects to any ILDA-standard laser projector.
Video display |
 Here's
a typical setup for projection video. The cellular modem
(left side in photo) is connected to a laptop computer with
the included USB cable. The laptop runs the IMU software.
In the photo, the moderator's message queuing screen is shown.
Most
modern computers can drive a second monitor with a different
display. Here, the second monitor output goes to a standard
data projector (right side in photo). It will project the VMU screen
-- what the public sees. This screen includes SMS text
messages, voting results, ads, photos and other graphics.
NOTE: The computer, projector and carrying cases shown in the
photos at right are not included in the IMU system. TextLive
does provide the cellular modem, the IMU and VMU software on
a CD-ROM disc, and a printed Installation Manual. Turnkey packages
are available that include all these optional items.
Portable and easy-to-use
 You
can bring your IMU system with you anywhere. In this
photo, the computer and modem are in one bag while the video
projector is in another. It's easy to use IMU at nightclubs,
parties, festivals and special events.
All
you need is electricity and cell phone service. You don't
even need to be connected to the Internet -- everything runs
directly off of your computer!
|
