Peter Reid

I would like to be able to force output from s-video when nothing is connected to it. OSX will not output from s-video before a TV or a projector etc is connected. Is there a way to override this behaviour? Perhaps with a terminal app.?

This has caused me problems in 2 separate situations. The first was when sharing a cheap video switch with another VJ. In practice it was necessary to switch the switch over to me and hit detect displays before the mac would output video, not good in a live situation. The second was when connecting a cheap wireless video transmitter. The Mac refused to detect it as an output, and I couldn't force it to output data regardless.

I've done the obligatory searches on the net and on the list though I probably just haven't found the right search terms.

Powerbook G4, 1.25 GHz, 512MB RAM, Max MSP Jitter 4.5.7, OSX 10.4.9

I would like to be able to force output from s-video when nothing is connected to it.  OSX will not output from s-video before a TV or a projector etc is connected.  Is there a way to override this behaviour?  Perhaps with a terminal app.?  

This has caused me problems in 2 separate situations.  The first was when sharing a cheap video switch with another VJ.  In practice it was necessary to switch the switch over to me and hit detect displays before the mac would output video, not good in a live situation.  The second was when connecting a cheap wireless video transmitter.  The Mac refused to detect it as an output, and I couldn't force it to output data regardless.

Powerbook G4, 1.25 GHz, 512MB RAM, Max MSP Jitter 4.5.7, OSX 10.4.9


force-s-video-output-when-not-connected

You may need to trick it by using a terminated s-video cable? I dont know off hand, but i know for BNC video connections you have to use a 75Ohm terminator. Not sure what Svideo would need, but it must register an electrical connection to determine that there is a functioning video output device out there.

Trick that and you should be good to go.


the only thing to do is connect a device ~before~ the show, detect 

it will keep transmitting to the s-video port once active, even if it 

becomes disconnected (from a switch for example)

note that when you sleep & wake your powerbook it automatically 

detects displays again so you'll want to avoid that.

in regards to the cheap transmitter, if it didn't see it then its 

either faulty hardware or a bad cable. (not the mac's fault)

> I would like to be able to force output from s-video when nothing 

> is connected to it. OSX will not output from s-video before a TV 

> or a projector etc is connected. Is there a way to override this 

> behaviour? Perhaps with a terminal app.?

> This has caused me problems in 2 separate situations. The first 

> was when sharing a cheap video switch with another VJ. In practice 

> it was necessary to switch the switch over to me and hit detect 

> displays before the mac would output video, not good in a live 

> situation. The second was when connecting a cheap wireless video 

> transmitter. The Mac refused to detect it as an output, and I 

> couldn't force it to output data regardless.

> I've done the obligatory searches on the net and on the list though 

> I probably just haven't found the right search terms.

as far as I know, it is impossible.
the only thing to do is connect a device ~before~ the show, detect  
displays to activate it.
it will keep transmitting to the s-video port once active, even if it  
becomes disconnected (from a switch for example)
note that when you sleep & wake your powerbook it automatically  
detects displays again so you'll want to avoid that.

in regards to the cheap transmitter, if it didn't see it then its  
either faulty hardware or a bad cable. (not the mac's fault)

> I would like to be able to force output from s-video when nothing  
> is connected to it.  OSX will not output from s-video before a TV  
> or a projector etc is connected.  Is there a way to override this  
> behaviour?  Perhaps with a terminal app.?
>
> This has caused me problems in 2 separate situations.  The first  
> was when sharing a cheap video switch with another VJ.  In practice  
> it was necessary to switch the switch over to me and hit detect  
> displays before the mac would output video, not good in a live  
> situation.  The second was when connecting a cheap wireless video  
> transmitter.  The Mac refused to detect it as an output, and I  
> couldn't force it to output data regardless.
>
> I've done the obligatory searches on the net and on the list though  
> I probably just haven't found the right search terms.


Force s-video output when not connected.