passing on my experience

[Robster]

I gig a lot 4 times a week is not unusual.

I have a laptop with s video output so i used that to small screen or to Plasmas in venues.I used that method for two years

Now i bought a new PC monitor as a singer screen so i used the VGA output instead that is also on my laptop, i have a VGA splitter and also a VGA to s-video composite and pass through VGA little converter so at one venue i go from my laptop to a projector to the pc monitor and a to a composite input crt .

Now before i went VGA i used the s video only and i would say at least once a week hoster would crash and i am almost certain it was the s video connector coming loose and windows and hoster having a difference of opinion and causing a crash... not a big problem as it would boot back up with your songs still there but still irritating

now i use VGA and it just doesnt crash at all, if i unplug any of the VGA outputs from the splitter.. hoster and my music program just carries on with no problems this is a real advantage to me as i like playing quiet background music as i pack up my monitors etc until the last moment.

I so wish i had used VGA connectors and outputs before for the last two years i have been using s video connector which so easily work loose even the high quality ones.

So for me my show has been improved by using VGA and splitters as opposed to s video.

tiny little thing and i am sure most here know such things but i thought this might help some new hosts.

i now am far more confident playing music videos in between karaoke songs and i play via instabuttons logo movies of my logo and contact details.

Thank you MTU

[bryant]

Originally Posted by Robster

I gig a lot 4 times a week is not unusual.

I have a laptop with s video output so i used that to small screen or to Plasmas in venues.I used that method for two years

Now i bought a new PC monitor as a singer screen so i used the VGA output instead that is also on my laptop, i have a VGA splitter and also a VGA to s-video composite and pass through VGA little converter so at one venue i go from my laptop to a projector to the pc monitor and a to a composite input crt .

Now before i went VGA i used the s video only and i would say at least once a week hoster would crash and i am almost certain it was the s video connector coming loose and windows and hoster having a difference of opinion and causing a crash... not a big problem as it would boot back up with your songs still there but still irritating

now i use VGA and it just doesnt crash at all, if i unplug any of the VGA outputs from the splitter.. hoster and my music program just carries on with no problems this is a real advantage to me as i like playing quiet background music as i pack up my monitors etc until the last moment.

I so wish i had used VGA connectors and outputs before for the last two years i have been using s video connector which so easily work loose even the high quality ones.

So for me my show has been improved by using VGA and splitters as opposed to s video.

tiny little thing and i am sure most here know such things but i thought this might help some new hosts.

i now am far more confident playing music videos in between karaoke songs and i play via instabuttons logo movies of my logo and contact details.

Thank you MTU

I gig a lot too, 6 times a week is not unusual. Seven times last week actually, and starting up again tonight.
All my places use at least two (some more) screens for audience and singer. I've used the s-video out to rca converter on two laptops with a switcher in between for other TV screens while leaving Lyrics one one or more and showing videos and slideshows of the singer singing on one or two of the others (at the same time). Sometimes a video camera hooked into the switcher for video view of the singer and audience on several other screens as well. I imagine most karaoke shows are not this elegant (at least not around here). I've never had a crash because of the s-video out or the vga port; Ever.

[billyo]

i have never had a problem with vga/s-video adapter ,a monitor and a 42" lcd flat screen tv is all i use, and my shows is not as grand as yours, all i have are stage lights in a scaffold setting , a video camera would be nice, i just dont want another gear to carry.

[Robster]

ok connect up via the s video conector to an external screen play a karaoke song and unplug the s video lead ..does your hoster crash ? mine does

Now i use VGA output not the s video output .

I have the VGA to a powered splitter i can un plug any output from the splitter and it wont crash

This is a very useful real word difference to me

i believe its windows auto detecting if a display is there or not

the powered splitter is seen as a device itself so doesn't cause the auto detect to freak out ..from the spliter i convert then to s video or composite with other adaptors. the lead from the VGA output to the splitter is always conected untill the laptop is turned off.

I do four mobile different venues every week and i think the s video connector is not upto such repeat abuse and does easily pull out, i have a lot of customers who come up to me to ask requests and lean on my stand and its often them who lean on or accidentally pull near or on the s video connector i had tried covers , adhesive tape etc ...VGA with its screws seems to stop that for me.

but if no one elses has ever had this problem fair enough ..but i have found using the VGA in stead of the s video output on my lappy really works better for me.

[billyo]

i have my s-video/vga adapter permanently tucked in the back of my 19"monitor which is in a custom case,using an industrial velcro tape to hold it, all cables (s-video/vga ),are plugged into the adapter and stapled in, using a telephone wire holder, so at the end of my show, all i had to do was unplugged the cables going into the tv, and everything stays plugged in on my adapter, no wear and tear of the adapters port.