Showing the Slide Show:
What do I need to display the DVD slide show?
Most of our customers want to show or display their DVD slide show to their guests, friends, and family. We are often asked for advice on how best to display the slide show... Below is a compilation of thoughts and ideas on this subject. Although the theme is primarily wedding-related, these concepts can be easily adapted to any other special event:
There are several ideas on when/how best to show off the slide show:
- Project the slide show at the reception in a theater-style environment for everyone to see (this is the most common way)
- Have the slide show running continuously off to the side of the main events
- Have the slide show running next to the guest book or place cards
- Project the slide show at the rehearsal dinner
- Project the slide show at the bridal shower
- A DVD player that plays DVD-R discs (90+% of all DVD players do)
- A video display (typically a large television or a projector & screen combo)
- An audio system (such as built-in speakers, or your DJ's sound system)
- Check your owner's manual. It must should specifically state whether or not it will play DVD-R discs. Please note that DVD-R is not the same as DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, VCDs, or anything else that may be listed.
- If it does not specifically state that it will play DVD-R discs, you should do a search on this website (http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdplayers) to see if others have had success with your particular model of DVD player.
- If neither of these resources suggest that a DVD-R will work for you, it is highly probable that you can not play a DVD-R disc. Since this is a significant event, you should consider borrowing or purchasing another DVD player (less than $100 these days). You might also want to check with the place where your event is taking place (reception hall, restaurant, etc.). They may have a DVD player which you can borrow.
- This is not as simple a question as you may think. It will depend on how many people are watching and what configuration the tables are in...
- Rule of thumb: if you will be having a small gathering of 50 or less people, you can probably get away with a large television screen. This is certainly the simplest solution since TVs have built-in audio -- and some even have a built-in DVD player. If you have more than 50, chances are that you'll want to consider a video projector and screen.
- If you have guests configured in a "long" setting, you should definitely use a video projector, because guests in the rear will not be able to see or hear.
"Long" setting
- Another way to look at it, is if your guests will be no more than 1 table away from the screen, a large television will probably be just fine.
- If your event will be larger than 50 people, or you have a layout that is not conducive to everyone seeing the video... you should use a video projector and screen.
- Again, it depends on the size of the audience... but a 8-10 foot screen is often big enough.
- There are many kinds of video projectors, and they all have varying technical specifications (number of lumens, contrast ratios, etc).
- We will not be able to specify for you here about your specific projector needs, but generally speaking...
- The brighter the room - the more lumens you will need (get a brighter projector). Also remember that often the lights can be dimmed or even turned off temporarily.
- The better quality video you want projected - the higher the contrast ratio should be.
- Consult with the people you get the projector from for their expert guidance.
- In any event, you should make sure that the projector is able to accept video input from your DVD player. Typically these are common RCA jacks found on virtually all projectors. If you are hooking up a laptop computer to the projector, you will need a computer video input jack.
- For optimal results, you will want to use a screen -- but many times it's not 100% required. In some circumstances, you can get away with using a blank wall.
- If an audience member sits in just the right spot, at the right angle, they will see a very bright spot reflecting from the projector. A screen will dramatically cut down on this glare from the projector.
- A screen can be preferrable if there are no blank walls to project onto, or if the walls are painted a strange color.
- A screen will also help give you the truest colors from the slide show...
- If you are going to be using a television to project the slide show, you should just plan on using the built in audio of the television. For the size audience you will have, it should be plenty loud enough.
- If you are going to use a projector, the built-in speaker on the projector is unlikely to be loud enough. You will need to hook into a larger audio system.
- You can take the audio output from the DVD player and plug into an existing audio input on the speaker system (like from the DJ or band). NOTE, that this will require advanced coordination between you and the DJ or band. There are many things to consider: will the band's speakers be close enough to the projector? will the band/dj permit you to use their speakers?
- The simplest way to handle audio is to amplify sound by using a microphone. Chances are very good that a microphone will be employed by the DJ or band or both. You simply connect the audio of the DVD player to the projector -- using the projector's built-in speaker. Then simply position a microphone right next to the speaker of the projector to pick up the audio. It's not the most elegant solution, but it does work.