Custom VisionRacer VR3. D-box motion, Dual TH8s, Triple projection.

  • Thread starter Mayaman
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mayaman...tracked you down after someone gave me a link on avforums ;)
I'm setting up 3 projector rig (mainly for forza right now) but no matter what I do I cannot get screens/angles right :(
Could you tell me your numbers to give me something to look at?
I only have 2 projectors at the moment with 3rd one due this week. All units are identical, screens sizes are approx 45", projectors are identical distance from respective screens and both on minimal zoom and all setup identically.
It seems no matter what I do I cannot get screens to line up properly unless I create my own 'bezel' by leaving a gap (basically).
Getting very frustrated but I know you'll offer me words of inspiration :D
 
Ah nice, I was looking for center throw projectors but decided that for my rig the pico's were the best bet. And they've turned out fantastic as you can see in my video.

Well, I'm assuming they have a throw distance of about 5 or 5.5 feet to get the 46" image like my pico's.

The key is how you are mounting them and this is crucial, your screens must be properly assembled and lined up. The angles between the screens must be consistent. I use an angle of 47 degrees and it works well. Now the lining up of the projectors is the hardest thing. Where are you mounting the projectors?
 
I have tripod projector stands due to be delivered tomorrow but at the moment they're on makeshift stands.
I can be patient if you tell me there's nothing magic about setting it up. I have stands due tomorrow and 3rd projector due Thursday and then I just need one more xbox will I'll get in the next day or so.
I assume you did not need to set any 'degrees hidden' ?
It's been tough finding a decent guide to setup online, some places/people say the degrees are the degrees of the screens to each other..and others say it's what ever you want it to be as it's about the viewing angle in the FOV.
 
Where did you get the tripod projector stands? Can you post a link? I'm looking for some, but I might end up building my own too.
 
degrees hidden should always be zero, we are using projectors, no need for it. I set my screens to 47 degrees. Make sure you have a degree angle calculator. You can find them for $5 at home depot or any hardware store. Its basically a little metal contraption that lets you meassure degree.

Also, my main advice is to be patient. You must have ALL your hardware present in order to do your trouble shooting and alignment. Take your time, get some snacks, some drink and have fun. :)

It has been a four month labor of love for me. I started wtih just the VR3, then the triple stand, then projectors, and now dbox. I'm currently redesigning the projector stand from triple monopods to a single monopod with a mount for three projectors.

its all about the fun of the project. And trust me, there will be a moment when you line then up, and get in the seat and you'll smile from ear to ear. Just be patient and don't get frustrated, thats when everything goes to hell. :)
 
superbike81
Where did you get the tripod projector stands? Can you post a link? I'm looking for some, but I might end up building my own too.
Click to expand...

I got them through Amazon UK..but I'm sure they must be available everywhere.
These are the ones I went for

Mayaman
degrees hidden should always be zero, we are using projectors, no need for it. I set my screens to 47 degrees. Make sure you have a degree angle calculator. You can find them for $5 at home depot or any hardware store. Its basically a little metal contraption that lets you meassure degree.

Also, my main advice is to be patient. You must have ALL your hardware present in order to do your trouble shooting and alignment. Take your time, get some snacks, some drink and have fun. :)

It has been a four month labor of love for me. I started wtih just the VR3, then the triple stand, then projectors, and now dbox. I'm currently redesigning the projector stand from triple monopods to a single monopod with a mount for three projectors.

its all about the fun of the project. And trust me, there will be a moment when you line then up, and get in the seat and you'll smile from ear to ear. Just be patient and don't get frustrated, thats when everything goes to hell. :)
Click to expand...

I think this was where some of the confusion came in. I was reading about people setting 60 and 75 degrees to get better/longer views but what they didn't say was they were moving their screens at the same time (assuming they were of course).
Thanks for the reassurance mate...:) I'll be sure to update as and when I progress..
 
All I can say is that I had an extreme of 70 degree when I first started. That just made it more difficult to align the screen correctly and to be honest I didn't get a bump up in immerssion. I found that 47 degree, at the size of our screens almost covers up your entire peripheral vision so it feels like you're in the car.

You will see extreme 70 to 85 degree angles on yourtube but to be honest that really only applies to F1 cars that envelope you. For a road car its of no advantage.

Trust me, again, once you have this set up correctly with the triple 46" to 50" screens you'll see how awesome it is. Its almost, and I mean almost a perfect 1:1 to a real windscreen. You can see in my videos how close the size of the video game steering wheel is to my real hands. Its pretty close. That is what I was aiming for.
 
Do not forget that your seating position and height can be a factor in getting the horizontal lines of objects not to look disjointed.

One good test is to use a pit wall be parked level facing it. You want the wall to appear straight across all 3 screens. I believe this is only possible with settings within the multiscreen setup matching physical angle but also importantly the distance/position and height of the user in relation to the physical screens and screen settings.

You can have perfectly calibrated multiscreen positions/settings but move from the sweet spot and they will then appear to be disjointed. Just raise or lower your height and you will see what happens between each screen.

GT5 does give more options over Forza in the multiscreens and of course PC even more.
I think I used approx 50 degrees too but it is personal pref.
 
Thanks chaps :) I appreciate the feedback.
My stands arrived today and last projector will arrive Thursday so I'm hoping for a busy weekend.
I picked up white foam board to test screen sizes etc as it's so light and easy to move around but I think I may opt to make a screen frame for proper material. I reckon making 3 lightweight screen frames, joining and hinging them and covering with one piece of screen material, that way I'll be able to move the sides if I want. That's the idea anyway..
 
Nice to read everyones ideas.
I have the intention of using a mdf board, covering it (photography super white background material) and ordered 3" black border tape on ebay that is coming from India. Been considering some form of locking clip behind the screens to ensure they stay level and lock in place.

My room would allow me to have 3x 65" screens but as Mayaman states too big becomes overscale. I think I will end up with 55"-60". I get 58" from exactly 36" throw distance. With a seating position of 70"-80" away from the centre screen being likely. I do have the option to use the digital zoom feature to reduce the image size a bit if it is too big or alternatively slide the seat a little further back and bring the pedals forward.
Putting both my seat and pedal mounts on seat runners.
 
I used to play using a wheelstand pro in my movie room..but after putting the GT Omega together I realised I wanted something more dedicated. Fortunately I live on my own with my son...so I've now nabbed the dining room ;)

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Equipment delivery. Onkyo 309 for sound duties, preowned Yamaha 5360 for seat shaker and Pioneer SHS100 speaker set :)

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Trying out screen sizes using foam board

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This will be the rear view mirror and/or replay screen

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This is what made me want to go multiscreen. I put the seat together and hung a sheet in front of the wheel..it felt so immersive being that close and offering approx 1:1 that I knew I had to do it..that was only on Boxing Day :D

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My girlfriend and I spent a year making this our olde worlde dining room...but it's about to become my gaming room. A local charity shop picked up all the furniture (may as well go to a good cause) so it's just about empty. The table was my last project..mame table with motorized screen. Lower screen, turn table sideways and play digital pinball simulator :)

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Earthquake miniquake for shaking duties. I may look at changing this in future but I use 3 of them on my cinema seats and they're awesome so I'll give this a blast and see how it goes. I will re-mount it but that's one of the last jobs..

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Mr Latte
Nice to read everyones ideas.
I have the intention of using a mdf board, covering it (photography super white background material) and ordered 3" black border tape on ebay that is coming from India. Been considering some form of locking clip behind the screens to ensure they stay level and lock in place.

My room would allow me to have 3x 65" screens but as Mayaman states too big becomes overscale. I think I will end up with 55"-60". I get 58" from exactly 36" throw distance. With a seating position of 70"-80" away from the centre screen being likely. I do have the option to use the digital zoom feature to reduce the image size a bit if it is too big or alternatively slide the seat a little further back and bring the pedals forward.
Putting both my seat and pedal mounts on seat runners.
Click to expand...

Until the last couple of weeks I've usually played using a wheelstand pro in my movie room on a 7ft screen and it's been awesome (complete with seat shakers etc) but even just messing around with multiscreen and being more 1:1 is a whole new game and I am really excited about it :)
I have a feeling it's one of those things that will always be on-going but I live on my own with my teenage son so I dont really have any restrictions on what I do when it comes to gadgets and boys stuff 👍
 
Looks like a good dose of equipment.

Just dont mention "tactile or bass shakers".
Ive ended up having 14 going to be used on my own setup for my experimental "surround tactile" immersion. Great for racing games not so much movies of course.

My screen mounts arrived today, yippee...

These will go on the side walls.
Fittings not put on yet but these extend out to almost 80cm yet fold back into the wall.
They support over 70kg weight so no problems with a big sturdy board being used.





For me it is important I still use my motorised 110" 16:9 screen. While I want the benefits of multiscreens and joy that triple screens bring. I do not want to be restricted to a "Plasma sized" screen for single screen entertainment and games particulary 3D stuff.

So I had the extra challenge to incorporate both triple screen setup and large 16:9 options. These heavy duty screen mounts should do the trick. The center screen mount can be manually lowered or the motorised drop down screen could just fall in front of it.

Good to have ideas and rub off one another.
Not so interested in a rear view mirror though.
 
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Go these ones Amazon via "Designer Habitat"

These




I seen some mounts that were identical on other websites costing £80 each or more.
These were the best value and damn they seem good.

edit:
mikochu
Do you have to reinforce the mount to the wall?
Click to expand...
The kit comes with a complete pack the walls I have are masonary.
Reviews I've read on most of these type brackets is to not go with their own little spirit level but use a proper manly one.
 
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lol, you replied to my message before I edited it. I made a joke about amazon, but I realized it was Mayaman that doesn't like Amazon cables. lol
 
I like Amazon cables that are from mediabridge or amazon basics. The other no name cables I got there literally fell apart.
 
OK, I just spent the last hour racing in F1 2010 with my D-box. I can't really convey into words the awesomeness of this thing. Now I know this post will get the "Hey its crap over priced only 2 degree of movement" haters, but I wasn't prepared for the difference this makes not only in immersion, but in fun.

Firstly, the 2 degree of movement is extremely, and I mean EXTREMELY misleading. It turns so smoothly yet at the same time with a ferocity that really surprised me. Leaning into turns was given a new meaning with this thing. Acceleration, braking, turning, all super enhanced and with the triple screens the immersion is pretty ridiculous.

One thing that not a lot of people know is that it has transducers in it as well that give you the most intense and realistic vibration and sense I've ever had. The buttkicker is a toy compared to this thing. It gave subtle rumble strips, collisions, and deep vibrations so strong that the contents of my stomach were literally moving around.

I goofed around with Flight Simulator X as well and all I can say is this is easily the best video game purchase I've ever made. I'm pretty shocked actually at how good it is because I wasn't expecting this.

OK, feel free to ask questions or as I know some will bag the crap out of the D-box but I'm a believer now. Best money I've spent in a while.
 
I'd be scared to see a D-box in action...cos I know it would then be on my wants list ;) I've never seen one for sale in the UK anyway (thankfully)

I have been toying with the idea of mounting my screens on the walls ratyher than my frame so I can have a second chair/seat with flight controls fitted so I can just slide out one seat and slide in another..but not convinced yet.

3rd projector is out for delivery today, stands have arrived already and I've got 3 xboxes sorted so onwards and upwards this evening ;)

Mr Latte..where are you based? dont supose you're in Surrey/Hampshire, I'd love to see GT5 in 3D/triple screen. In my movie room I run an Optoma HD33 just for 3D movies and the RF glasses are indeed awesome..
 
D-Box yes it would be nice to experience but personally Ive always felt that it would wear off or often your not going to want to be shaked about. Depending on mood, after a meal or a few beers/coffee, barf bag may be needed, lol.

One question having seen many motion videos online, does it while being more engrossing effect laptimes as surely it has to be harder to focus/concentrate being thrown around?

Steve, sorry Im 30 miles from Belfast.
Have yet to test again with the replacement transmitter. Maybe later in the week.
FM4 should impress you, some lovelly looking tracks which in triplescreens you appreciate more.

The HD33 would of been nice but the short throw of the GT750 appealed to me more and with most games being 720p on consoles will do for a year or two.
 
Mr Latte
D-Box yes it would be nice to experience but personally Ive always felt that it would wear off or often your not going to want to be shaked about. Depending on mood, after a meal or a few beers/coffee, barf bag may be needed, lol.

One question having seen many motion videos online, does it while being more engrossing effect laptimes as surely it has to be harder to focus/concentrate being thrown around?

Steve, sorry Im 30 miles from Belfast.
Have yet to test again with the replacement transmitter. Maybe later in the week.
FM4 should impress you, some lovelly looking tracks which in triplescreens you appreciate more.

The HD33 would of been nice but the short throw of the GT750 appealed to me more and with most games being 720p on consoles will do for a year or two.
Click to expand...

I think I'd just like to try a D-box ;) Not fussed about laptimes personally, I think I'd rather have the realism but then I dont plan on racing online, I just enjoy career games and driving :D

My projector choice for my rig was based on games being 720p for now hence the Hitachi's with favourable throw.

One question is back to the point of angles..where are the angles being calculated from? Is it the centre point of the middle screen to the centre of the side screens? I found a calculation on overclockers using trig and gave up :D
 
It's not about being "thrown around". It's the added realism. There were a couple times last night that my brain was literally fooled that I was moving, it's a very weird feeling. Plus, I don't think people understand that you can adjust the effects and that it is about so much more than movement. It has tactile vibrations that you cannot see in the video, so I can't properly convey it in video or words. You literally have to feel it. The subtle thump of gear changes, the sound and vibration of the road rolling under you. In fact, you can turn the movement way down and have a Phoenominal tactile experience. In other words it's doing things I didn't know it could do. People will dismiss it but to be honest they probably haven't tried it. I'm going for realism and immersion and fun. Could care less about lap times, but didn't notice any detriment. Just the grin on my face. :)
 

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