Submitted Question:
Hello Mr. Z, I am in charge of the morning news broadcast for an elementary school. In the fall, I purchased visual communicator 3 for the students. I have taught them how to use it and they are very excited. We have one problem. We are trying to show the broadcast live. We are using a Radeon 9600 graphics card with dual monitor output and tv out jack. I am able to enable the output to the second monitor and view the show on the second monitor. We have a 7 pin s video to composite video adapter to connect to the tv out jack. I connected a composite cable to the adapter from the computer to the modulator but we are unable to get it to show live. I have even tried a an s video to composite cable. I have read the blogs from people with the same question but I can't figure out whats the problem. We currently broadcast live with the camera connection. The students continue to ask me when are they going live with it. Also, all drivers for the video card are updated. Any ideas?
It sounds to me that you've enabled the live fullscreen output onto another VGA monitor, but not yet to a TV set or modulator using the TV-out jack? Keep in mind that not every video card has an actual S-video out jack, some have their own special adaptor that is needed, even though it appears as a typical s-video jack. Look for the owners manual for the brand/model of card you have to verify this.
If that's the case, you need to make a display setting change first, before you even launch VC3. See this screenshot for reference, note that I only show 2 devices, not three because I don't have a TV set connected and powered on right now.
Within Windows XP or Vista, you need to enable the "extended desktop" mode, so the secondary display device is the TV-Out jack, and NOT the VGA monitor like it sounds you've done already. Be sure you have a TV set or modulator powered ON and connected so Windows is more likely to see this display device. Choose it and check the box to extend desktop onto this device.
Once you've done this, then launch VC3 and look under the setup--video tab for the fullscreen checkbox.
I cover this in my training DVD Volume 1, chapter 8 Presenting Live Shows.
Hope that helps, let us know below by submitting comments.
