ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Sharon,
 
there are many ways this could be done.
The most common way this has been done recently is to use 2 industrial type DVD players ( typically pioneer 7400 series DVD players). These have a serial ( rs232) interface and the play/pause/seek functions can be controlled via simple serial commands. These commands can come from either a computer running a small utility program, or you could get the commands from a small micro-controller if you have someone that can program these. This technique is often used to run the left/right image sequences in 3d theatre systems ( so the sync achieved this way is very good). The dvd players are around $1700 ( australian) each. It is also possible to link a couple of base grade pc's together, run the video off their harddrives and achieve the sync with a bit of programming and hand shaking over an ethernet or serial connection. These systems can provide signal for either computer screens, or video with the right graphics cards. Most multiscreen systems in big venues are run using one of a range of "show control" software/hardware systems, and while these are powerful and flexible, they are expensive. 
 
if you would like any more details, feel free to contact me off list.
Dr Stuart Kohlhagen
Manager New Concepts
Questacon
The National Science and Technology centre
Canberra
Australia

________________________________

From: Informal Science Education Network on behalf of Sharon Yanai
Sent: Sat 6/4/2005 10:50 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Play 2 mpeg videos sync



ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Hello all,
For one of our exhibits we need to play two mpeg2 videos on two monitors one
next to the other and would like to play them in full sync.
Do you have any experience on that? Can you recommend a player/solution?
Least expansive solution will be appreciated.


Sharon Yanai
Head of IT
Israel National Museum of Science
[log in to unmask]



       
       

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]