Tag Archives: video

Livestream Presents Ultimate Guide to Livestreaming Events

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Livestream logoVideo streaming platform Livestream should know a few things about producing live-streaming events. Livestream is one of the first companies to offer live media streaming as a service. And while it may have some bragging rights in terms of longevity, many platforms have come up over the years to compete. YouTube, Twitter (via Periscope), and Facebook all offer a live-video component. That competition has caused Livestream to constantly grow and improve its services. Now, Livestream is going after the live-streaming market with a recently released Guide to Livestreaming Events ebook.

The Livestreaming Guide contains some interesting facts about live video:

  • In 2015, 374M people watched video content on Livestream
  • By 2019 there will be over 28M cord cutters – homes without paid TV services – in the United States alone

Lifestream’s guide is squarely aimed at brands, and it mentions noteworthy success stories from big companies that are producing live-streaming content:

  • Every Wednesday, Experian hosts a #CreditChat livestream on Twitter and YouTube to connect with their social audience and share information and data about building credit and eliminating debt
  • Southwest Airlines recently livestreamed from their operation control center to reassure customers during a spate of bad weather that was delaying flights
  • Big brands like Adidas, Taco Bell, DKNY and GE are also using livestreaming to share candid moments with their audiences, from press conferences to contract signings with celebs and behind-the-scenes moments

If you’d like to see what else Livestream has to offer in its guide, you can download the ebook for free after filling out a form.

Switcher Studio Is a Multi-Camera Capture and Streaming Solution

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Switcher Studio logoCreating a multi-camera video shoot has always been a challenge. Producers have to set up different cameras, assign camera operators, run those cameras thru a switching device, assign a technician to the switcher, and have the capacity to direct everything (and everyone) in real time. Video products like NewTek’s TriCaster have made the process easier. But TriCasters don’t come cheap, and now that we’re all walking around with devices that have built-in HD cameras, it seems only obvious that we should be able to put those devices to work in a multi-cam setting. And that’s exactly what Switcher Studio was made to do.

Switcher Studio allows producers to record video and stream live to a number of popular platforms, such as YouTube, Facebook, Ustream, Twitch, and other RTMP-compatible services. The video production is managed using Switcher Studio’s Director Mode feature:

Use Director Mode to record 1080p HD video. This feature allows you to disable the built-in camera on the main mixing device and connect up to 4 additional iPhones or iPads as sources. Tapping “Rec+Broadcast” triggers a recording on each connected device so you have full quality video from each angle regardless of any glitches or hiccups on the network.

When the production is complete you can composite the video from all angles with any edits made during your event. The final video can then be uploaded directly to YouTube or sent to your computer so you can make additional edits using Final Cut Pro X. Director mode can also be used in combination with a streaming video platform so you can broadcast at a lower bitrate while capturing full HD video to upload for on-demand playback after your production.

Switcher Studio offers a full suite of effects and features to make professional-looking videos:

  • Manage transition type(s) and duration or use the multi-view feature to cue multiple sources simultaneously
  • Select from layouts like dashboard, slots, flap and picture-in-picture or layer other content in your production
  • Add photos from your camera-roll or insert an image during your production
  • Prepare lower third graphics and logos to include in your broadcast
  • Take photos with another device and link with your iCloud account to update assets on the fly
  • Bring your computer screen in as a source (Pro account required)
  • Connect the primary Switcher to a TV or projector for viewing using a HDMI adapter or Apple TV via AirPlay support (Pro account required)

The most impressive feature of Switcher Studio is its ability to connect and control different mobile devices as individual cameras:

You can use the built-in camera of your mixing device as the primary camera or wirelessly sync up to 4 other iOS devices for multi-camera productions. Simply install Switcher Studio on any iOS device and select “Use as camera” from the welcome screen to connect as a source on the primary device. All devices communicate over a local wifi network and you can easily increase the distance between devices by expanding your network. Use Switcher Studio and capture unique perspectives to go where no one has gone before.

Switcher Studio is available under three different tiers. The free tier allows users to broadcast for up to 30 minutes a day for free. The Basic tier is $20/month and it unlocks more of Switcher Studio’s features. The Basic tier also has no limit on the amount of time video streams can last. For $25/month or $299/year, users can pay for Switcher Studio Pro, which offers the service’s full suite of options, including being able to connect up to four different iOS devices as cameras.

WinX Video Converter For Mac/Windows Is Free Until Next Week

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WinX Video ConverterCreating video files can be a real hassle. Different devices, different operating systems, different web browsers and applications, all have their own requirements when it comes to presenting video. Ideally, video producers could just offer one “master” file for distribution, and all of those different outlets would adapt that master file to their needs. But it truly is less than an ideal world when it comes to video distribution. That’s why it’s important to be able to offer video productions in as many formats as possible. But it’s not always easy to know which formats to use or how to create them. That’s where the WinX Video Converter application from Digiarty comes in.

WinX Video Converter is available for both Windows and MacOS. Here are some of the program’s features:

  • Video converter that supports 1080p multi-track video MKV, M2TS, AVCHD, HDTV and BDAV
  • Convert video between AVI, MP4, H.264, WMV, MPEG, FLV, MOV, 3GP, QT, TS, MOD, TOD, and more
  • Support for merging, croping, trimming and adjusting parameters to control output size and quality
  • comes with diverse device presets for iPad Pro/mini 4/Air 2, iPhone SE/6S/6 (Plus)/5S, Apple TV (4), iTunes, Android, Samsung Galaxy Note 5/S6 edge+, HTC One M8, Google New Nexus 7, Chromecast, Amazon Kindle Fire, Surface Pro 3, WP8, Xbox, PSP, and more

Digiarty is offering a special free version of Video Converter thru Monday, July 11th. The Mac version can be downloaded here. The Windows version can be downloaded here.

NewTek Brings NDI Technology to Adobe Creative Cloud

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NewTek LogoLast fall, NewTek, the Texas-based hardware/software developer renowned for its media and broadcast products, announced the launch of its new NDI protocol for transmitting video over digital networks. Since then, NewTek has been working with third parties to help expand the adoption of NDI. Last month, NewTek announced it would bring NDI to Adobe’s Creative Cloud family of applications and services:

The NDI integration enables users of Adobe Premiere Pro CC, Adobe After Effects CC and other Adobe Creative Cloud applications to send real-time video and audio to any NDI-enabled receiving product, such as production switchers or capture cards, across a standard Ethernet network. With NDI for Adobe Creative Cloud, creators and producers can significantly accelerate their pre- and post- production pipelines, bypassing rendering and uploading of creative elements for a faster, more efficient delivery for content review and approval. It also allows teams in different locations to work together in one interface in real-time, making creative decisions collaboratively—and saving valuable time in the process.

NewTek’s NDI plugin for Adobe Creative Cloud is available thru a $9.99 monthly subscription from the NewTek Store. The NDI protocol itself is now available as a royalty-free software developer kit for any company looking to establish IP workflows within their organization, or in production tools and systems they manufacture.

 

New Teradek COLR Products Let You Fine Tune the Image

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Teradek logoWorking with different cameras in different environments can be a real challenge for video producers. There’s no way to know for sure if the camera you’ve got is the right one for the job until you’re on scene. And by then, it might be too late to get the optimal shot. Teradek is hoping to make this problem a thing of the past with its new line of COLR devices.

COLR is a real-time LUT box, camera control bridge, and HDMI/SDI cross-converter in one tiny package. COLR integrates with Pomfort LiveGrade Pro, allowing DITs and colorists to give everyone the right look. There are a total of three products in the COLR line. The first is the COLR Lite and it boasts these features:

  • Perfect for GoPros or DSLRs/Mirrorless cameras, COLR Lite offers real-time color grading with 3D LUTs and a CDL or 1D LUT.
  • HDMI in / 3G-SDI out.
  • USB port for Camera Control and auxiliary power.
  • 802.11ac WiFi.

Next up is the COLR Duo:

  • All the functionality of the original COLR with a second 3G-SDI output, allowing a unique 33-point 3D LUT and CDL or 1D LUT to be applied to each output.
  • 3G-SDI in / 2x 3G-SDI out.
  • Gigabit Ethernet and USB ports for Camera Control and auxiliary power.
    802.11ac WiFi.

And finally the COLR Pro:

  • The world’s first 4K real-time color grading system. Support for two simultaneous 12G-SDI inputs and up to four 12G-SDI outputs, with 2 independently applied 33-point 3D LUTs with a CDL or 1D LUT. Designed to be mounted in a rack or on a DIT cart.
  • 2x 12G-SDI + HDMI in / 4x 12G-SDI + HDMI out.
  • Gigabit Ethernet for network connectivity.

COLR pricing begins at $1190. Teradek will have demo units available at booth C6025 during NAB Show 2016 in Las Vegas.

JVC is Bringing a Robotic PTZ Video-Over-IP Camera to NAB

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KY-PZ100W cameraVideo-production systems are becoming equally as compact as they are sophisticated. That’s great news for producers, as it gives them new opportunities to extend their abilities. JVC is helping to further the process with a new camera it’ll be showing off during this year’s NAB Show in Las Vegas. The camera is compact, powerful, and can be controlled remotely.

JVC’s new KY-PZ100 is the company’s first-ever robotic camera. Here’s a list of important features:

  • Ideal for studio or field applications
  • 3G-SDI and HDMI outputs
  • Features JVC’s unique IP-based communications engine that provides streaming HD video at a variety of bit rates with minimal latency
  • Streams up to 1080p/60 video with two-channel audio using SMPTE 2022 forward error correction
  • Integrated Zixi technology delivers reliable streaming performance with forward error correction and automatic repeat request

One of the KY-PZ100’s coolest features is its ability to be controlled remotely using JVC’s new RM-IP100 remote control panel, a web browser, or a variety of remote units that support VISCA protocol. JVC’s RM-IP100 controller can memorize more than 100 preset settings and positions. For installation versatility, the camera is available in black (KY-PZ100B) or white (KY-PZ100W) housings and can be mounted upside-down, if necessary.

JVC will have demo units of this camera at Booth C4314 during the NAB Show. The KY-PZ100 is expected to retail for $3995.00.

Wirecast 6.0.7 Can Live Stream to Facebook Video

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Wirecast logoIt seems like only a matter of time until every possible mode of communication is built into Facebook’s ever-expanding platform. The monolithic social network’s latest frontier to conquer is native video. Last year. Facebook began allowing users to upload longer-form static videos. Now, the company is offering live-streaming video to all users. Time will tell where Facebook will stand against competitors like YouTube in the online video space. Still, more producers are trying out Facebook as a video platform, and that prompted Telestream to update its popular video production suite Wirecast to work with Facebook video.

Wirecast users who upgrade to the latest version will be able to take advantage of all of the application’s standard features with Facebook video, including using multiple cameras, text overlays, transitions, and more. There are some Facebook-specific features, too. Wirecast users will be able to log in and send a video stream to Facebook from directly within the Wirecast User Interface. Once a stream is started, users will be able to see the number of live viewers, the names of followers who are watching, and a real-time stream of comments throughout the live broadcast. Once the broadcast is complete, the video will stay on users’ timelines like any other video post.

Wirecast 6.0.7 is available now. Learn more about the software with the latest release notes or get general information on Wirecast here.

Telestream Bringing New Apps, Cloud Service to NAB 2016

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telestream-logoVideo products and services provider Telestream will be bringing several new products to this year’s NAB Show in Las Vegas. Lightspeed Live Stream and Lightspeed Live Capture are two new applications that deliver real-time, enterprise-class streaming and capture for media creators. Telestream Cloud is a video encoding SaaS (software as a service) designed to meet the needs of video production and post-production professionals.

Lightspeed Live Stream solves the problem of preparing real-time content for adaptive bitrate live streaming while Lightspeed Live Capture can independently record multiple channels of SD, HD, or a single channel of UHD video. Both applications can operate stand-alone on Telestream’s Lightspeed Live server but the greatest benefits are realized when coupled with Telestream’s Vantage platform for complete workflow orchestration. Users can concurrently stream, capture and process live content for consumption on a wide variety of platforms.

Telestream’s Cloud service offers high quality video transcoding for all formats and codecs, and dynamically scales in response to customer needs. The service utilizes an easy yet powerful API to automate and integrate workflows. File transfer and encoding times can be optimized from any location since Telestream Cloud uses multiple cloud service providers including Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services and Rackspace.

Telestream Cloud features certified ProRes presets to deliver high-quality video files that conform to Apple standards and ensures trouble free post-production on Apple’s Final Cut Pro platform, as well as other popular editing software packages.

Telestream will be demonstrating all of its new products and services at booth SL 4525 during NAB 2016.

Cerevo Announces LiveShell 2 Video Streaming Device

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LiveShell 2The market for all-in-one live video streaming devices has really taken off over the last year. It’s definitely easier than ever to create, capture, encode, and stream live video. The latest device in this ever-expanding vertical was just Announced by Cerevo. It’s named LiveShell 2 and it’s the followup to the company’s original LiveShell product.

LiveShell 2 can broadcast video and audio encoded in H.264+AAC, with a resolution of 720p and a bitrate of up to 10Mbps. Streaming is possible via wired LAN or Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac). The addition of 5GHz Wi-Fi support means stable streaming is possible even in bandwidth-congested areas.

LiveShell 2 doesn’t require a computer in order to operate. You can connect a camera direct to LiveShell 2 via HDMI. Also, LiveShell 2 supports several live streaming services, such as Ustream, YouTube Live, Twitch, and RTMP servers. LiveShell can also be used in Local Mode which allows LiveShell 2 to broadcast sound and video to a specific RTMP server in a completely closed LAN environnment. In addition, the RTSP mode can be used for direct delivery of video using the LiveShell 2 as a server.

LiveShell 2’s internal rechargeable Li-po battery provides up to 3.3 hours of broadcasting time. It can be recharged via the included A/C adapter or a mobile USB battery charger.

The Cerevo LiveShell 2 is expected to retail for $299. It is not yet available for purchase.

Newtek Announces NDI Protocol for Video Production

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NewTek LogoNewtek, the Texas-based technology company best known for its Tricaster line of products, recently announced the development of a new protocol for connecting video equipment to Ethernet networks. The protocol is named Network Device Interface (NDI). From the Newtek press release:

…a new open standard for live production IP workflows over Ethernet networks. NDI allows multiple video systems to identify and communicate with one another over IP, and to encode, transmit and receive many streams of high quality, low latency, frame-accurate video and audio in real-time. This new protocol can benefit any network-connected video device, including video mixers, graphics systems, capture cards, and many other production devices.

NDI will be available as a free, open-source SDK in Q4 of 2015. Newton expects many software developers and hardware manufacturer will begin adopting NDI, helping to ensure it’ll become the new standard for connecting video equipment to IP networks. Also, the NDI protocol should work with most existing video applications and hardware products from the beginning. NDI is also compatible with SDI equipment as well as many other established network technologies.

This should prove to be a real game changer for media producers going forward, as it’ll improve video production workflows and make it easier to integrate different types of equipment in different locations.