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Mac Pro multi monitor spanning.... portrait?

Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2010 10:58 pm
by luxcollective
I am currently using Modul8 with a MacBook Pro to span 2 or 3 projectors using the triplehead2go... a pretty typical setup. I am looking to move to a Mac Pro with multiple video cards because I want to be able to span 3 or 4 plasmas mounted In portrait mode and Matrox GXM's do not support portrait mode.

I am used to how the Matrox GXM's show the multiple outputs as a single super widescreen and it's easy to match the Modul8 set-up for that "1" output... but how does Modul8 format that same output for multiple video cards which will show up as multiple video outputs? Can the output of Modul8 simply span across multiple video cards as one layout just like it does on a Matrox GXM? I want to better understand how it works before I make the move.

Thanks!

Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 9:10 pm
by Valparaiiso
Have you taken a look to "Advanced output" in OUTPUT menu ?
Create a clip (output setup) for each output graphic card.

Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:20 am
by luxcollective
yep... the advanced output / setup totally makes sense to me with my current setup, but I am only using a MacBook Pro with a single DVI 2nd video output running a single superwide video out split to 3 projectors via the GXM. Shows up nice and simple in the advanced output, however, I don't understand how it works on a Mac Pro with multiple video cards... before I spend $3,000+ to make the move to Mac Pro for my intended use I want to make sure how I think it works is actually how it works since I can't test "multiple graphic card output" setups on my MacBook Pro.

I am trying to confirm whether a Mac Pro tower with 2 video cards (w/ 2 DVI outputs each for 4 total DVI outputs) can span the Modul8 output over 3 of the DVI outputs and if it can also do so if the DVI outputs are set up in portrait mode. Obviously, the first DVI output would be used for the UI. Anyone using a Mac Pro tower and spanning across multiple portrait-oriented outputs?

Thanks!

Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:08 am
by sigmasix
Don't panic, it's made for that :wink:

Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:03 am
by Valparaiiso
OK, I got a Mac pro with two Radeon ; four graphic outputs, one preview and three outputs.
It works perfectly.
Even if there are "portrait-oriented" outputs ! :lol: , since you choose the aspect ratio of each output clip in the Advanced Output.
You can do what you can not do with Matrox GXM, to have several outputs which have not necessarily the same resolution and aspect ratio than the others.
By example : one output on a big HD beamer, and two on plasmas ( one in a portrait-oriented way, the other in another way), or one 1400-1050 beamer and two 1024-768 beamers.
I mean you can marry different aspects ratios and resolutions.

If you come to Marseille, I will show you a demo. 8)


I must precise that, due to my poor English, I'm not sure to understand all your concern : I have understood that you feel worry about one thing but which one ?

Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:32 am
by luxcollective
thanks all! I am stoked. Will pull the trigger on the Mac Pro and 3 plasmas and make it all happen...

Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:52 am
by Valparaiiso
Mac Pro, fast hard drives, good graphic cards, a lot of RAM and M8 gets more powerful :D