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Using FPP for synchronized video only

Started by nerdabilly, April 05, 2025, 09:44:38 AM

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nerdabilly

I've got a display I'd like to set up for Halloween which needs to show 3 videos in sync on 3 different monitors. I have the 3 monitors and 3 RPi Zero Ws. 

The sync and timing is very important here, and after trying a lot of different things (videolooper, OMXPlayer, VLC, custom python, custom shell scripts etc) I'm still not seeing the results I want.  Today I found a suggestion that setting up FPP may be able to accomplish this. 

So from my understand, I'd have one Pi as the Player as the 2 others as remotes, and the system would handle the synchronized playback of the videos. It sounds like it's worth a try but before I do I have a few questions:

1.) Overall, is this possible? It's not a strictly standard use case but it seems like its within the capabilities of FPP
2.) Would it cause any problems doing this without any attached hardware like cape, HAT or other lighting/LOR/DMX controllers? this would be strictly playing videos over HDMI so no need for additional light show hardware.
3.) If I go this route, would I also need to create .fseq files for each player or are the standalone video (mp4) files good enough? If I need to go into Xlights to create them I can, just want to understand what I'm getting into first.
4.) in terms of connection between the 3 RPi players, is communication over my home Wifi sufficient? is there a better option such as ethernet, USB, or RPi GPIO?

thanks

allknowing2012

Yes .. fpp by itself is a solution. One player, 2 remotes. No need for capes etc.  I believe you would need to create a sequence for the main playerer. It can just be the video for the media - I am thinking no effects at all. The other remotes just need the video. They all need to be named the same.
As for sync - it wont be perfect - expect some drift.

jnealand

Just remember that PiZW's are not the most powerful devices and may limit the speed and transmission volume of your video.  I have not run videos for a show so I only know what I remember from reading every post that comes up.  I do use PiZw2's for pixels and they work great.  I have connected to some TVs from the HDMI port and they do require a special HDMI size as opposed to using a regular sized Pi that takes a standard HDMI cable and has more power available.  YMMV
Jim Nealand
Kennesaw, GA all Falcon controllers, all 12v Master Remote Multisync with Pi and BBB P10 and P5

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