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microsoft / MixedRealityCompanionKit

This is a MixedRealityToolkit style repository for code bits and components that may not run directly on Microsoft HoloLens or immersive headsets but instead pair with them to build experiences.
MIT License
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PC to Output Spectator View to HDMI TV/Projector #178

Closed GennadyK closed 7 years ago

GennadyK commented 7 years ago

Hi guys, We need to choose PC to use with Spectator View and we will need to output it to the HDMI projector. We also would like that PC to be as compact as possible (laptop or mini tower), but have enough power to handle new Acer/HP Windows Mixed Reality Headsets - recommended system configuration is on this page: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/d/acer-windows-mixed-reality-headset-developer-edition/8pb4twx13m2n/7zt9 Now for the Spectator View there are 3 Capture Cards tested/recommended - 2 of them are USB 3 and do not have HDMI out to an external display. As of what I read it's the Unity that has a Full Screen option of that Spectator View and then PC outputs screen/sound to HDMI projector through the video card's HDMI output. Is this about right? Also what kind of video stream the Blackmagic Intensity Pro 4K PCIe capture card has on it's HDMI out port? Will it just play the same stream it captures or Spectator View could be send through it to the external device too? Also is that PCIe capture card better than USB 3 cards and why? And also is any reason why mini tower PC could be better choice over the laptop, assuming the same specs/budget? All these Qs are good for the FAQs section- maybe it's not a bad idea to create one.

TIA, Gennady

fieldsJacksonG commented 7 years ago

I would recommend using a desktop PC with the Blackmagic Intensity Pro capture card.

The output HDMI on this capture card outputs the composite video stream that you see in the spectator view window. You can connect this feed directly to a tv, projector, or external video capture device.

The external capture cards can also be used, but they may occasionally lose video feed, especially when unplugging and re-plugging the USB cable. These external cards do not output the composite feed through their HDMI out ports (because USB does not have the bandwidth to do so) instead, they act as a hardware passthrough for just the color feed. To project the composite feed, you will need to press the full screen button on the spectator view window and mirror your Windows display.

So the PCIe card on a mini tower PC is recommended because it is more reliable and provides an easier to use video output.

GennadyK commented 7 years ago

Thank you fieldsJacksonG, So if it's a laptop with USB 3 video capture device, then to output spectator view to HDMI output of the video card we will need to keep spectator view window in the full screen. And as I understand in case of the Blackmagic Intensity Pro capture card it could be configured to output spectator view feed even when Unity is on the background so we can even switch to different window/application to check something and this wouldn't interfere with the output. But in the case everything is configured properly and already running I guess we don't need to switch anywhere and can just keep spectator view window in the full screen mode. Are these two assumptions correct?

Thanks, Gennady

fieldsJacksonG commented 7 years ago

That is correct

The external capture card uses your GPU to project, so whatever is displayed on your screen would be mirrored to your display.

The internal PCIe Intensity Pro card has its own framebuffer sent to the output HDMI port, so Unity can be run in the background.

GennadyK commented 7 years ago

Thank you so much fieldsJacksonG for patiently explaining all this. Best, Gennady