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Prompter UniversityPO Box 11929
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Need Teleprompter Hardware and Software?
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Can I Build a Cheap Reverser? Typically, Teleprompters are single mirror systems. That means that the the talent is going to see the mirror image (or reverse-reading) of whatever is being displayed on the teleprompter monitor. In order for the talent to be seeing right-reading text, either the display of the monitor must be reversed, or the displayed text has to be bounced off TWO mirrors (as in a double mirror teleprompter). In the instance of a single mirror teleprompter with a CRT monitor, all teleprompter manufacturers physically modify the teleprompter monitor innards to reverse the image displayed on the tube face. A single mirror Teleprompter with an LCD Flat Panel monitor is a different matter. Only one Flat Panel manufacturer offered the option to reverse the display from a programmable menu through buttons on its front panel. The cost of the Flat Panel with that option was prohibitively high for most teleprompter purchasers. A far simpler (and cheaper) solution requires the reversing function to be handled by the teleprompter scrolling software package. Most all software packages support this reversing function. Text is reversed by software and displayed on the Flat Panel, reversed again by the single mirror such that the talent sees right-reading text. This solution is not without its own set of problems. Most notable is that the operator's console (computer monitor) is also showing reverse-reading text. This makes it somewhat difficult for the teleprompter operator to recognize words, and thus keep up with the talent as (s)he reads his right-reading text. What to do...what to do? There are two solutions - one is very expensive, one is dirt cheap. Here's the expensive fix first: There are several companies manufacturing hardware VGA reversers. Caution, though, half of the reversers simply do not work. The ones that do work are extremely expensive (over $400 per box). The up side is you only need one box per installation, which will save larger studios, running several teleprompters, a heap of money over buying Reversing LCD Flat Panel Teleprompters, each with its own internal reversing program (at a cost of close to $400 per panel). Ah, but the cheap fix is way more creative and costs about $1.98 in parts. Interested? Here it is: Use standard non-reversing LCD Flat Panel Teleprompters. Command your scrolling software to display reverse-reading. Head on over to your local home center (Home Depot, Lowes, etc) and buy a sheet of 1/16" thick plexiglas, polycarbonate, acetate, or lexan window material. The cost is about $1-$2 per square foot. Have your home center cut the sheet to the inside dimensions of your operator's console (computer) monitor screen. Take the sheet to your operator's console and place it over your monitor screen, flush with the front of the monitor cabinet. Run a piece of gaffer's tape down the left or right side of the plexi sheet to act as a hinge to join the sheet to monitor. During normal non-scrolling operations, the operator would look right through the plexi at the monitor. But when scrolling is required, the operator can open the plexi window and easily see reflection of the reverse-reading text in the plexiglas just as the talent will see it (right-reading). Is that cool or what?
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