Filed under: Odds and ends, Macbook Pro
Macs helping behind the scenes at the DNC
Doesn't matter if you're Obamapublican or a McCainocrat. One thing all Americans can agree on is that Macs rule when it comes to live media presentation. The Democratic national convention here in Denver is no exception. TUAW reader-on-the-spot YodaMac sent in these pictures live from the Pepsi Center.
Gallery: DNC Macs
They show this beautifully designed video backdrop being used at the convention, and better yet, the man-behind-the-curtain.
YodaMac writes: "Here are a couple of pics I snapped on my iPhone at the Pepsi Center in Denver during the DNC. Just thought it was interesting that those giant screens being used seemed to be run by Macs! (see 2nd picture- behind the scenes) I don't know about "ALL" the screens, but those fellas were definitely changing the names that appeared on the big screens for different speakers as they took the podium."
Cool stuff. And another vote for the Mac.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Terek Kincaid said 12:09PM on 8-28-2008
Ya, couldn't have *anything* to do with the fact that Gore is a director...
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David Hildreth said 12:13PM on 8-28-2008
hrm, if they are changing those graphics I wouldn't be surprised if they are just VNC'd over to a Deko or something a little more believable.
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Miles said 12:16PM on 8-28-2008
Okay, maybe its just me, but I don't see any indication that these Macs are running the screens. Its just two guys surfing the 'net on their MacBooks.
I don't know, perhaps they're networked with the machines that are really running the screens, and these are two guys are in charge of letting those who control the images know who is up next.
Them's just thoughts, though.
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Isaac said 12:19PM on 8-28-2008
Democrats use Macs.
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Charles R Hamilton said 12:22PM on 8-28-2008
So do republicans, libertarians, and even communists. Oh, you already mentioned the communists. :-)
/puts on asbestos underwear
1010 said 12:20PM on 8-28-2008
Call him Obamac :)
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Matthew McNamara said 12:21PM on 8-28-2008
I wanna know what this has to do with Apple TV. Yes, it's Apple computers controlling the big TVs, but an Apple TV pic?
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David Higgins said 12:30PM on 8-28-2008
Actually its a pretty common system used in modern churches. It is created by RenewedVision.
http://www.renewedvision.com/
I currently use the ProPresenter software at our Church. And will begin using the other two components next year.
Simply amazing software. And it's all Mac based.
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wing70301 said 12:54PM on 8-28-2008
David,
We currently use Easy Worship (PC only) at my church. Have you used that before? If so, how does it stack up to ProPresenter? I've been looking for a good reason for my church to switch to an all-Mac setup ;)
-Ken
Stormwater BMP said 12:36PM on 8-28-2008
The look and feel of Obama's entire campaign has reminded me of OS X. It's not just great design, it's a subtle way of courting young voters with visual cues:
http://www.filterra.com
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Markito said 1:37PM on 8-28-2008
If those guys really are controlling the screens, I would have moved the power cords under the desk and taped down. Some idiot is going to walk by, trip on a cord and unplug the power connection to the big screens' text.
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willy the impeached said 2:04PM on 8-28-2008
Those videos of Obama with the Weather Underground terrorist Bill Ayers are done on a mac too. And you can read about how Weather Underground terrorist Bill Ayers funded Obama's first campaigns and gave him a job at the Anneberg Foundation on a mac.
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Matt said 5:53PM on 8-28-2008
Take any person in the world over 30, and you'll find a connection to someone unsavoury. Doesn't prove anything, unless you can show your target supports the unsavoury character's views.
Dan G said 2:27PM on 8-28-2008
There is NO way they are running the screens.
The screens are most likely using a media server, and content is probably not coming direct from ANY laptop. Usually the content is downloaded directly to the media server, and run directly off it. You could use a mac to run the server, but that's all the tech would do. run the server.
There is also no external monitors on these macs, and you would need at LEAST 2 monitors, one for "preview", and one for "live".
No Mouse? really? The Director yells Get that Effing video on screen now, and you want to use a touch pad??? I dont think so.
These guys are surfing the net, or watching Star Wars, or editing a script. The REAL set up for the walls are much more impressive than 2 macs.
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Gabe said 2:48PM on 8-28-2008
Dan's come the closest so far. I've worked on a few events with on screen graphics like this (on a smaller scale), and the most common setup for something like this is a video switcher that can mix multiple layers of high-res video live (I think Pinnacle makes the one I saw last).
They have a set of hard drive based servers playing the background loops, Macbook Pros with Keynote for graphic elements and text, and feeds from the video truck for camera shots and tape playback.
The media servers aren't useful for content that can change often, such as text. It takes too long to render it as video and transfer it to the servers. So we can probably thank Keynote for getting Ted Kennedy's name up there on short notice.
If these guys were operating graphics, however, they should've been in the control room.
Alex said 1:53AM on 8-29-2008
Considering the region the show is on, the screen was probably powered by either a Catalyst or M-Box media server network. Both applications were written specifically for the mac.
A wall that size would be run off 4-5 quad core G5's and even a few dual's for good measure. There is no laptop control of mission critical vision is any large scale production. All of this content is pre-programmed and controlled off lighting consoles.
The media server is simply a glorified video playback device performing sync and some processing/scaling over the video.
I suggest checking out catvx.com if you have any interest in the software. Also suggest not making such odd conclusions... There is a very good reason machines/processing hardware costs upwards of 250k to run led screens/projection blends like the above.
chad said 10:26AM on 8-29-2008
Yup, typical TUAW. Be damned with common sense (that these guys have nothing to do with the big screens). They'll trust any anonymous tipster and post it if they think it will draw more hits. No research and no QA. I wouldn't expect anything less.
Justin said 3:15PM on 8-28-2008
It's got a screen with video and good looking text.. MUST BE A MAC!
WTF?
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Luigi193 said 4:06PM on 8-28-2008
In other news, McCain ordered that there be hand written slides on papyrus...
McCain '08
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David Higgins said 4:17PM on 8-28-2008
I tested EasyWorship previously and had used MediaShout instead when we were using PCs. With windows dying 3 times in two months (it was a fresh install with all the updates the last two times). I found myself trying software for my personal mac. I can literally teach someone how to use the software in 30 seconds, even if they are not computer savy. This makes my job so much easier.
The biggest hurdle is using Keynote instead of Powerpoint. Since keynote renders .ppts file a little differently, there is always some fine tuning that needs to be done. While we could use Powerpoint for Mac. We like the Core Animation that Keynote uses much better.
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