Lyrics Screen is Blank on secondary display

[p-buchanan]

Hi All,
I have Hoster running on a Dell XPS 702L Laptop with an I7 processor, 6 Gig of RAM and an NVidia GeForce GT 550M graphics adapter. This laptop only has an HDMI video output (no VGA). If I run the secondary screen from the built in HDMI output, it works fine.

Most of my customers would like me to be able to connect to their large flat panel displays, so, I have purchased a Sabrent USB to VGA Display adapter that allows me to add a secondary HDMI or VGA Adapter to the laptop via USB. I plug that into a Kworld PC to TV converter, that converts a VGA signal to an AV or S-Video output. The AV cord plugs into the AV input on the flat panel. When I try to display hoster on the seconday display (via a VGA cord or AV cord), the lyrics display is black. The Intermission screen works fine, as does everything else I display on the secondary screen. It is just the lyrics that seems to have trouble. Any ideas?

I notice that the secondary Sabrent display also has problem displaying a video played via Windows Multimedia Player it seems to work if I click on the display, but not if I just let it play. This happens even if I just play it using HDMI, with no video convertor.

[Roy Dennis]

I take it you have the k-light codec pac installed ?

Search for this Nvidea driver the Verde 285.79 Driver - Beta?

This is one link:
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Downl...a-233564.shtml

Ken Kelly may have some advise for you on this, he may answer later.

[p-buchanan]

Hi Roy,
Thanks for the response. I can download and install the NVidia beta driver if you think it might help. I will give it a try and let you know how it goes. I do not think K-Lite is installed (at least I have not intentionally installed it). It may be installed as a result of something else I have loaded, but it does not appear in the list of programs that I can un-install, nor does it appear in the registry.

[Roy Dennis]

Try the nvidea driver first. If you also want to play video files then the codec pac is necesarry.
This is printed in the manual under initial setup,:
Install Optional Video Codecs
Hoster uses the Windows Media Player (WMP) to play movie video and graphic files. Since there are so many different compressed video formats available, WMP allows linking in modules to decode the various compressed video file types.


MTU and MTU.Community Forum members recommend the K-Lite codec pack because:

• Click here to download K-Lite Full Pack
• It is easy for non-technical users.
• It contains most codecs you need to play video/movie files, and allows installing only the ones you want.
• You can select which codecs play which formats.
• Un-installation removes everything installed, including registry keys.
• It scans to avoid potential conflicts with existing codecs installed on your computer. The installation is able to detect and remove over 100 different codec and filter packs.
• It can detect broken codecs and filters installed on your computer and helps you to remove or replace them.

Download the Medialooks QuickTime Codec for; .QT, .MOV, .AMR, .M4V, .3GP video file types. This is a special DirectShow filter that works with Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center.

[p-buchanan]

Hi Roy,
I downloaded and installed the beta nvidia driver and the K-Lite codecs (both 32 bit and 64 bit). I rebooted and tried hooking up the secondary monitor to the sabrent usb adapter, and I get the same results. Karaoke graphics do not display on the secondary screen. An MP4 video does not play either. I just get a balck screen. This is only using the sabrent usb adapter. If i use the built in HDMI on the laptop, it works fine.

The only reason that I use the Sabrent adapter is to provide VGA output, which I can then convert to component A/V (RCA Yellow) output. I may need to purchase a HDMI to component convertor if this does not work.

[Roy Dennis]

Sorry that didn't work for you, I do not have any personnel knowledge of your type of connection so am unable to advise you. I use a VGA to composite video adapter myself or direct connection using HDMI, I can play most video formats with the k-lite codec including mp4 with this type of connection. I have not tried an HDMI to other types converters so again cannot advise you perhaps others will have advise.

[p-buchanan]

Hi Roy,
No problem, and thanks for the suggestions. Since a similar thing happens with Windows Media Player (in that I get a black screen on the secondary), it is most likely a problem with the Sabrent USB Adapter or driver. It does not seem to be sending everything over to the secondary screen. For instance, if I drag MS word over there it works fine. Even the main Hoster display seems to work fine as does the intermission screen. The Lyrics, however do not (even in the little preview screen on hoster).

I've posted a ticket with Sabrent, and we will see how they respond. As laptops get replaced, other users may run into a similar problem (the lack of a VGA output), so I'll keep trying to figure out a soultion. I'm pretty sure that if my laptop had a VGA output, I would not have this problem (all the darn thing has are two HDMI outputs). The HDMI to Component converter is a pretty low cost solution (about $40 dollars, US), and I am pretty sure that it will work (since the main HDMI works fine). In the meantime, it works fine as long as I run the secondary monitor directly off of the HDMI that is built in.

[Roy Dennis]

Yes I would think the HDMI conversion would be best option as that is using the Nvidea dual display card for it's signal wheareas I think the usb adapter is actually a seperate video card so would be unaffected by any Nvidea driver updates.

[RIKKI TIKKI]

Originally Posted by p-buchanan

Hi Roy,
No problem, and thanks for the suggestions. Since a similar thing happens with Windows Media Player (in that I get a black screen on the secondary), it is most likely a problem with the Sabrent USB Adapter or driver. It does not seem to be sending everything over to the secondary screen. For instance, if I drag MS word over there it works fine. Even the main Hoster display seems to work fine as does the intermission screen. The Lyrics, however do not (even in the little preview screen on hoster).

I've posted a ticket with Sabrent, and we will see how they respond. As laptops get replaced, other users may run into a similar problem (the lack of a VGA output), so I'll keep trying to figure out a soultion. I'm pretty sure that if my laptop had a VGA output, I would not have this problem (all the darn thing has are two HDMI outputs). The HDMI to Component converter is a pretty low cost solution (about $40 dollars, US), and I am pretty sure that it will work (since the main HDMI works fine). In the meantime, it works fine as long as I run the secondary monitor directly off of the HDMI that is built in.

P-Buchanan,

I have also tried to use multiple displays simultaneously from the HDMI and VGA ports on my laptop with no success! Other than a direct cable from HDMI to Flatscreen/Monitor... any other splice and the HDMI will cancel or not allow the other format (adaptor) for A/V or VGA or S-Video etc. Thus I have only used the HDMI for connection to a single Flatscreen, and for multiple monitors, I use the VGA adaptor, and run the usual video cables spliced to as many monitors as the venue requires... video quality doesn't suffer that much... and for Karaoke I've never had any degradation issues anyway! Where you might notice the HDMI difference would be Video Instabuttons, or HD presentations, which I don't use in my shows!

As for your Video codecs, I have had success with "Combined Community Codec Pack", but I'm still a novice with the Video, and I am learning just like you... listen to the advice here on the forum, and report back with your findings, ( good & bad ) and more knowledgable Hoster users will chime in to help!

[p-buchanan]

I posted a ticket with Sabrent, and it appears that their card does not support OpenGL and that is why Windows Media Player does not work. If Hoster (at least the lyrics screen) also uses OpenGL, that is why it is not working as well.

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by p-buchanan

I posted a ticket with Sabrent, and it appears that their card does not support OpenGL and that is why Windows Media Player does not work. If Hoster (at least the lyrics screen) also uses OpenGL, that is why it is not working as well.

Hoster does use Windows Media Player for its display so that would be a yes.