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My rather HUGE theater project - Page 2

post #31 of 66
3/7/09 at 6:23am
Thread Starter 

Re: My rather HUGE theater project

Quote:
Originally Posted by Swanny
Dude off the hook! When can I come over?

Bring it!
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post #32 of 66
3/7/09 at 7:58pm

Re: My rather HUGE theater project

when can i move in?
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post #33 of 66
4/11/09 at 1:27pm
Thread Starter 

Re: My rather HUGE theater project

Just an update. I've installed another table set with chairs, some neon (we bought previously), walkway lighting and wall mounted some older Infinity's I had laying around (they sound GREAT!). Also started populating the bar with some booze. Pics:











It's looking like I'll be able to order the screen in May! Woohoo! Can't wait! Then I'll just be one step away from fully functional - nice!

CURRENT PICS LINK
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post #34 of 66
4/11/09 at 3:33pm

Re: My rather HUGE theater project

This is FRIGGIN amazing........Like having your own bar hangout at home....AWESOME.

RayJr
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post #35 of 66
5/19/09 at 7:58pm
Thread Starter 

Re: My rather HUGE theater project

Got the screen in:



Custom mount welded:



Installed:



Some specs:

Focupix Flexio 16:9 Electric Projector Screen
Two remotes: IR and RF (both work great!)
205" diagonally (17 feet)
1.3 gain (good for lower lumen projectors on really large screens)
Price: $1,199.99 + $126.78 shipping - cheap!. It was delivered 7 days after the order - fast!
Weighs less then 90lbs (a huge consideration when having to mount this sucker!)
Web LINK

I set up my temp projector on a table:





Just a 4:3 aspect until we get a better projector (I want the JVC DLA-HD350 personally)

Nice!

Today I finished and installed a custom rail system:













A walk thru vid

More at: The Partybarn

Look under "Current" and "Audio Visual"
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post #36 of 66
5/21/09 at 1:49pm

Re: My rather HUGE theater project

LOVE your project. That video rail gives me an idea on how to install a video projector in our movie theater here at work....It will be above the audience and tough to get to for routine cleaning, bulb changes and so on. I was going to make it lower on cables, but thought it would be too wobbly. Having it on a track solves the whole problem!!
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post #37 of 66
5/21/09 at 5:50pm
Thread Starter 

Re: My rather HUGE theater project

Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckg
LOVE your project. That video rail gives me an idea on how to install a video projector in our movie theater here at work....It will be above the audience and tough to get to for routine cleaning, bulb changes and so on. I was going to make it lower on cables, but thought it would be too wobbly. Having it on a track solves the whole problem!!

Cool - I'm glad the idea can be used again! For my situation, I wanted to have the weight distributed on the main supports (rather then the ceiling purlins). I also figure this design will help reinforce the strength of the building at least to a small extent. The rail is needed because the projector I'm currently using and the one I plan on buying have different optimum focal lengths. This way I can make easy adjustments for different projectors.

I now have the cables installed - I'll have to get more pictures posted!
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post #38 of 66
5/21/09 at 7:05pm
Thread Starter 

Re: My rather HUGE theater project

Here's a shot:



The power runs down one support and two video cables run down the other (I kept the vid away from the power). The vid cables: Monitor and HDMI.
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post #39 of 66
7/24/09 at 5:43pm
Thread Starter 
I haven't updated this in a while.  We've had a couple parties - and everything has been great!  Another one tomorrow.    The biggest upgrade I've made since I last posted is the AV machine I built. It's a coreI7 running Vista (for now), 6gb ddr3 ram, 1gb ddr3 video, dual raptors in a raid 0, tied into the AV server( the other computer in the rack) via ethernet. What's cool with the server, is I'm loading all my DVD's on to it (using DVD Shrink - free), and any computer on the network can pull up any DVD anytime (I leave the server on all the time - running XP). It works really well! The server currently has 2 1tb drives. I calculate I can put about 200 dvd's on each drive. If I fill them up, I've got room for 3 more! Some pics:

 

 

the machine on the top is the new AV machine, the bottom one is the AV server

 

The right hand monitor mirrors whatever is on the screen - makes navigation a lot easier when in the control loft!

 


Edited by Rhatphlegm - 8/1/2009 at 12:15 am GMT
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post #40 of 66
7/25/09 at 7:04pm
Oh, my, things have taken a life of their own, haven't they?

A side question, on top of your AV rack, are those Nixie tubes?

That, and I feel like I should recognize the projector you're using now; it's sort of a distinctive shape, but I'm drawing a blank on it.

Leo
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post #41 of 66
7/31/09 at 5:07pm
Thread Starter 
The projector came off EBay (they're military surplus for around $350).  It's a JVC DLA-G10U.  Native res of 1365x1024.  I'm using it to fill in until the end of the year when I can afford an HD projector.  I think I'll get a JVC (an HD350 maybe?) or better...

YES!  The clock on top of the rack uses nixie tubes (I think the site is "tubeclock.com")  I got it as a kit for Christmas - very cool.  The tubes are genuine Soviet vacuum tubes - I love it!

I need to get more pictures posted to my site.  What I've got doesn't do it justice.  We add more to it every month (just put a small chest freezer in), and we've now had three very successful parties.  It's been great!

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post #42 of 66
8/1/09 at 4:02pm
Thanks for the link on the nixie clocks.. so many people don't know about them, and those who do almost never believe in them.  And my brother the impossible-to-shop-for electrical engineer may be getting one for Christmas..!

Leo
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post #43 of 66
12/12/09 at 5:37am
Thread Starter 
I haven't updated this in a while, but this is kinda nifty.  If you've never played Wii Bowling on a big screen - you gotta try it.  It really adds to the game when it's huge.





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post #44 of 66
12/13/09 at 8:45am
Cool looking place. It's going to be real sweet when you get a HD projector. Did you have to buy a liquor license?
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post #45 of 66
12/15/09 at 10:32am
Thread Starter 
Yeah, just a 4x3 aspect (can simulate 720P) for now - but dang it was a good deal on ebay - $329/ free shipping.  I'm holding out to get something really fancy...
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post #46 of 66
1/15/10 at 7:58am
Wow - that looks incredible!  Wii games on a 65" are pretty life-size, I can't imagine the impact of a huge screen!  What's with the drunken chair?

oh, and for those nixie clock aficionados - my bro gave me a kit for Christmas!!
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post #47 of 66
1/19/10 at 3:39pm
Thread Starter 
The Wii needs a lightbar for the controllers.  In a normal scaled setup, the light bar is on a wire connected to the Wii that sits on or near your TV.  In this setup, the Wii is up in the loft and I use a wireless light bar.  The optimum position/height is on a flipped chair...

Did you get your clock together yet?  If not, I'd recommend using paste flux when soldering the flush mount IC's.  It turned out to be pretty easy that way.  In fact, I flux the crap out of everything I solder.  It just flows so much better then relying on flux core (not enough).  Just use isopropyl for clean up...
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post #48 of 66
1/20/10 at 11:23am
Ahh...now the chair makes sense!

My nixie clock is from TubeHobby, and does not have surface-mount parts.  I selected this one because it uses a PIC chip, which I could alter if I wished, has spearate circuit boards for display and brain, and will use most any GPS for time source, and because it does not use surface mount parts!

I'll put up a couple of photos when I get the case together.  My current plan is to chop/channel an old rack mount computer chassis.  Right now I'm mostly done with the soldering - just want to hold off until I get a socket for the PIC.
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post #49 of 66
1/20/10 at 4:46pm
Looks incredible.  It's going to look even better once you got that HD projector. Btw. it would be great to see some pictures here from other members as well.
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post #50 of 66
1/20/10 at 10:22pm

Quote:
Btw. it would be great to see some pictures here from other members as well.

We are rolling out our Gallery SW in a few weeks and I think some members (myself included) are waiting on that.
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post #51 of 66
1/31/10 at 6:02pm
 Great job so far!!
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post #52 of 66
2/2/10 at 11:44am
Thread Starter 
So, for anyone reading this, what would you add/change to make this setup better??? (besides the stripper pole - the wifey shot that one down!)
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post #53 of 66
2/5/10 at 7:26pm


Quote:
Originally Posted by Rhatphlegm View Post

The Wii needs a lightbar for the controllers.  In a normal scaled setup, the light bar is on a wire connected to the Wii that sits on or near your TV.  In this setup, the Wii is up in the loft and I use a wireless light bar.  The optimum position/height is on a flipped chair...
 

I also have hooked up a Wii in my theater, projected on a 120" screen, it is really absorbing to play when it is big like that.  One tip I learned off of a Wii forum somewhere, that actually worked flawlessly - We didn't have a wireless light bar handy, and the corded one only has a 10 ft cord, which was not nearly long enough to reach the Wii in the back of my theater room.   So instead of wiring it up with extensions and having the wire running across the floor where we were playing, we just removed the lightbar completely and setup two candles (I used a pair of Yankee "jar" type candles for saftey) about 4 or 5 feet apart below the screen.  The candle flames naturally emit the infra-red light needed for the hand controllers to read, even through the clear glass of the jars.   Plus, they also make the room smell pretty too, since they're scented, lol!
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post #54 of 66
2/6/10 at 2:40pm
Matt:

Looks like you have done a great job already. I can't think of anything else to add. What do you use this for anyway? Just for fun? Another way to make a little cash on the side? Inquiring minds want to know.

Parker
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post #55 of 66
2/9/10 at 11:43am
Thread Starter 


Quote:
Originally Posted by Parker Clack View Post

Matt:

Looks like you have done a great job already. I can't think of anything else to add. What do you use this for anyway? Just for fun? Another way to make a little cash on the side? Inquiring minds want to know.

Parker

I have a side job in the Adult entertainment industry and the Partybarn is typically used for various 'films' I star in...

....Gotcha!   Heh heh, no, really, it's just for fun.  We have friends over from time to time.  We also like to watch movies and play Wii.  Last year I watched almost the entire Babylon 5 series out there - that was really cool.  Sometimes we'll just head out there for some drinks and not have to worry about other people or dui's, etc.  Most of it was a blast to build and I plan on using it for many years to come!

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post #56 of 66
5/5/10 at 3:05pm
Thread Starter 

There will be an article (with pics!) about the Partybarn in the Jun issue of Electronic House magazine - I'll have to leave a link for the online version when it comes out.  I don't know if it will be a little blurb on the last page or something more - can't wait to see! 


Edited by Rhatphlegm - 5/17/10 at 4:15pm
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post #57 of 66
5/19/10 at 9:19am

Are those small Infinity speakers really enough to fill that HUGE space?  Personally I would have gone with something larger but thats just my opinion.

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post #58 of 66
5/20/10 at 6:01pm
Thread Starter 



 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon3212 View Post

Are those small Infinity speakers really enough to fill that HUGE space?  Personally I would have gone with something larger but thats just my opinion.



Well, the smallish Infinity's are for the surround and zone 2 speakers (6 in all - 120w each).  These combined with a nice center channel and fairly high output front speakers (not to mention the PA sub) can produce more than enough volume for my purposes.  I'd also point out that while this is quite a large setup, it's not exactly a Colosseum - the volume of space get's filled with sound fairly well.  Granted larger speakers + receiver would do better, but these have been doing just jiffy!   Believe it or not, I DO have some budgetary constraints.

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post #59 of 66
5/26/10 at 2:31pm
Thread Starter 

Hmm, ok, seems to be some kind of DIY book that the PB is in. Here's the pre-order link:
http://www.electronichouse.com/artic..._diy_projects/

I ordered 5

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post #60 of 66
5/27/10 at 2:43pm

 

Quote:
 These combined with a nice center channel and fairly high output front speakers (not to mention the PA sub) can produce more than enough volume for my purposes.

 I guess I really shouldn't talk, I use a small pair of B&W 601's for my mains and they are enough to make you go deaf.  Size doesn't always determine volume capability I guess.

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