Installation and how to get started

Start the file syncmaker.exe and load a Video or Audio file into the Playlist. Press Play to see the file playing. Continue with the tutorial.

If you like to uninstall syncMaker please start Uninstall.exe.

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syncmaker PRO supports playback of native WMV files that are generated with Windows Media Encoder. That is the suggested path to present your videos in full or even more than HD resolution. Just download free version of the Windows Media Encoder 9 Series and encode your HD or SD material to the native resolution of your monitor or projector. Load the encoded *.wmv files to syncmaker PRO and let them playback in full resolution.

If you want using DVD and VOB File Playback or MPEG-2 files you have to register an external DirectShow DVD-Codec Filter. This filters have the extension *.ax and are not included inside the syncMaker package. But if you have a DVD-Player installed (often comes with your DVD Player Hardware) there is a chance that you find this filter in this installation or in the Windows System Directory (e.g. C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM). Or try a *.ax search on your Program Directory (e.g. C:\Programs). Use syncMaker Menu DirectX|Register DirectShow Filter to register that filter to the DirectShow system. After doing that you should be able to add a MPEG-2 or VOB file into the syncMaker PRO Playlist (e.g. direct from the DVD) and play it. If you only hear sound try to change the windows display settings to another resolution or to another color depth.

If you don`t have such a Filter try to search the internet for the French software "FusionSoft DVD Player". It is freeware and may not work proper on your system but it comes with two DVD Codecs named "FraunhoferAudio.ax and FraunhoferVideo.ax. After installation of that software you will find them in the Windows System Directory (e.g. C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM). Use syncMaker Menu DirectX|Register DirectShow Filter to register both filters.

We got very good video quality results using the DV encoding (comes in *.AVI files) which are received from a firewire or IEEE 1394 interface card (with the DV Camera connected). syncMaker can play this DV encoded AVI files with no need to install a new decoder. Please be sure you enable DMA Mode for your hard disk to allow smooth DV video playing. 

Beside DV Files and VOB Files you can get smooth and good result using DivX Files or Windows Media Files (*.wmv). Use DivX Encoder/Decoder (www.divx.com) to create DivX Files or Microsoft's WMEncoder to create Windows Media Files.

You may have to experiment a bit to find the best file and coder type for your setup. A nice Software for de/encoding is also VirtualDubMod. To encode DVD Source Files like *.mpv or *.mpg Files give TMPGEncDVD a try. To create VOB Files and DVDs you may try the software DVD-Lab.

To learn more about Coding Video Files take a look at the site http://dspguru.doom9.net.

If you plan to make an Video-Installation with video projectors you should have some TEST-Frames at the beginning of your movies. Together with the HOT-Keys (see Menu) it allows very nice and easy configuration of your projector. If you sets the IN-Points after the TEST-Frames the frames doesn't appear during normal playback.

If the movie drops frames please check if you enable DMA Mode for your hard disk in the System Setup. 

If you using LAN connections it is recommended that you should deactivate automatic DHCP-Server. Using a DHCP-Server IP addresses may change on rebooting the computers so syncmaker PRO tries to access to the wrong IPs and will fail. If this is not possible in your LAN, contact your LAN Administrator to make sure that the DHCP-Server don`t change the IPs of the syncMaker PRO Master and Slaves Computers. An other possibility is to using the Network names (names of the computers in the network) instead of IPs.

If you plan an running an (art) installation which has to start and run automatically over a long period:
 

• Don't forget to disable "energy saving settings" on the computers. So there will be no shut down during the installation
• Don't forget to disable "automatic change clock on Summer/Winter" in the clock setup.
• If you like you can use Tweak-UI (you'll find it on the net) to allow automatic log in on startup of Windows. With Tweak-UI you can manage the boot-up of your computer. (e.g. No Scan-Disk)
• Disable all Virus Scanners, they slowdown the system and might like to update from time to time via the network.
• Use "Start on Power fail" settings in your BIOS setup to allow automatically bootup after a Power shutdown.
• syncMaker supports automatic closing during windows shut down process (e.g. pressing the power button of the pc). If lock mode is enabled syncmaker will not ask for file saving in this case.