Small monitor that loops 80s MTV videos

[Yoeddy1]

Hi guys,

I thought it would be cool to have a small monitor in my game room that continuously loops music videos from MTV during the 80's/90's era.  I thought this would be a really cool way to add some nostalgia.

What would be the best way to go about this?  Are there little monitors that play videos like those photo monitors that loop photos?  Something that could play videos and sound.  Is a PC with a monitor the only way to do this?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jason

[05SRT4]

Jason,

How small of a monitor were you thinking?

[matsadona]

I did exactly that some weeks ago at an 80's event here. Kept it simple with a Rasperry Pi and a standard CRT TV. The CRT is both "authentic" and more forgiving to videos with low quality (i.e you don't want to show them om a HD LCD TV anyway).

The Pi was loaded with this image: http://www.binaryemotions.com/digital-signage/raspberry-video/

By the way, I used the Composite video output.

[yotsuya]

I have a LCD TV running mine. I have a touchscreen jukebox that also outputs video. So far, I've collected over 1100 80s/super early 90s videos.

I'll have to check that link out, Matsadona. Thanks.

[matsadona]

I forgot to mention that I bought a license for that software. I have also used it for some commercial signs just looping a 30 second video. It can be used with online content, but I have only used it totally stand alone so far.

+ Easy to use. Just add power and it will start to loop through the videos.
+ It is caching the content (to the SD card) at the first boot. I.e you don't need any usb drive connected in run-time.


- You can't change the order or have it random etc. If you restart it often you will here the first song over and over.
- It is caching the content (to the SD card) at the first boot. First boot takes long time, and you need a big SD-card.

[yotsuya]

Here's a few shots of my setup in action. I am considering a small TV looping videos in addition to what is displayed on the big screen.

[Yoeddy1]

Thanks guys!  So yes, just small (19" or so?) monitor that could sit on top of my MAME cabinet or maybe hang on the wall.  Is there such a monitor that will just accept a CF card or USB stick and play videos?  Maybe not.  If not, is there a good step by step that somebody could share to set something like this up? 

Thanks,
Jason

[matsadona]

Well, there was those TV's with built in VHS or DVD player

If you don't wanna go on the Raspberry Pi route you have small media players like this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/HD-1080P-USB-SD-MMC-MKV-AV-Port-HDMI-Video-Audio-Digital-Multi-Media-Mini-Player-/361288013202

Most modern TV's has built in USB reader and media players, and there are specific "digital signage" monitors like this one: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1021213-REG/asus_sd222_ya_21_5_digital_signage_media.html

[Aceldamor]

Yots, is that your game room? If so, I need to come over and destroy some of those high scores 

[yotsuya]

Yots, is that your game room? If so, I need to come over and destroy some of those high scores 

Yep. I'm up to 15 games now.

[vwalbridge]

Yots, is that your game room? If so, I need to come over and destroy some of those high scores 

Yep. I'm up to 15 games now.

Ya know Yots...you could just consolidate all your games into one mega-cab with cup holders and neon bling. Saves you a ton of space. Not to mention all the annoying time having to walk from one cab to the next. 

[yotsuya]

Yots, is that your game room? If so, I need to come over and destroy some of those high scores 

Yep. I'm up to 15 games now.

Ya know Yots...you could just consolidate all your games into one mega-cab with cup holders and neon bling. Saves you a ton of space. Not to mention all the annoying time having to walk from one cab to the next. 

---fudgesicle--- that noise. Like I've stated before,  MAME was like my first love... you still have a tender spot for her in your heart, but you move on to hotter women.

[pbj]

But with MAME, even if it isn't perfect, you still get to cram in anything you want however you want whenever you want.

[yotsuya]

But with MAME, even if it isn't perfect, you still get to cram in anything you want however you want whenever you want.

True. MAME will do anal without complaint.

[paigeoliver]

You can probably get a 13" crt tv with a built in VCR for $5 at a thrift store. Record a VHS tape and off you go.

[pbj]

Or point one of the 20 devices you already have collecting dust to a Youtube 80s video compilation....

[vwalbridge]

Or point one of the 20 devices you already have collecting dust to a Youtube 80s video compilation....

You finally found a use for your RPi

[yotsuya]

I just scored 15 more videos! [ROCK]

[BlueGhost]

A digital picture frame might work.  Most of them play video files and are 4:3 ratio.

[Automark]

I had this video without sound in a loop last week in my arcade, everybody thought it was cool, and a 80s mix on Spotify for the sound

[yotsuya]

Just finished ripping my Madonna's greatest hits video, plus I scored about 5 more U2 videos off of VHS that I converted to DVD. Slowly but surely!