Guys,

The company where I work has started doing a series of classes, interviews, etc via facebook live and my boss asked me to check out some gear to make them look better. Ideally we should have a portable sound mixer to feed the laptop several wireless mics and a way to use maybe use multiple cameras. If that is not possible, then we would need a camera that would allow us to pan and zoom easily (our current webcam does neither) and that can be used with facebook live (we have some canon dslrs and a sony shoulder cam, but neither have a usb output).

Since you already are using a laptop, I suggest using a software switcher like OBS or Wirecast. For your camera inputs, you need a capture card. My favorite is the Magewell HDMI or SDI USB3 capture cards, available on Amazon. They show up in your system as a webcam, so you don't need any drivers.

Both OBS and Wirecast can stream to Facebook Live. You can also stream directly from the Magewell capture card without OBS, but then you don't have the benefits of camera switching or graphics insertion.

For audio, you can either run the mixer into your camera, if it has XLR inputs, or use a USB audio interface or a mixer with a built-in USB interface. Sound Devices' new MixPre series has a USB interface built in. Several Behringer boards do as well. If you already have a mixer, then a USB audio interface like the Focusrite Scarlett will work with any XLR signal.

Loads of useful tips! Thanks!
Any advice on less expensive capture cards that allow an hdmi conection?

Some people like the Elgato HD60, but I've never used it.

I found for two camera shoot I needed two different makes Elgato and Avermedia to stop driver conflicts.

I use Elgato on OBS and it has no issues at all. However it will simply not work on some switchers like Livestream Studio.

Do you really need a fancy camera? I have done lots of streams with a two camera setup using a Logitech Connect camera and as a cutaway a C930 conference webcam ... they even make 4K cameras ....By using these you son't need any sort of converter as they output direct to USB. That's a really low cost setup if you already have a laptop ... webcams are cheap as chips and OBS is free!! I picked up my Logitech Connect unit off eBay for under $200 and the 920 and 930 cams can be had for under $100

Info/review on a cheap capture card on my blog here:
Digital cinema in the last frontier: You get what you pay for.....and other cliche's.... (http://alaskacameradude.blogspot.com/2017/09/you-get-what-you-pay-forand-other.html)

I'll second (or third?) the Magewell HDMI (or SDI) to USB3 "dongle." BTW it's driverless so there'd be no conflict on that. Sometimes multiple USB ports are on the same bus so there's potential bus bandwidth issues.

My personal camera preferences of the moment is Sony PXW-x70 but there are cheaper equivalent cameras (Sony NX100, Canon XA30 for example).

I use webcams as well (Logitech C920) but unless you're directly in front of it or using it for a static wide shot it's limited.

You can add a sound mixer and if there's any sync offset between the audio and video, Wirecast allows you to delay either.

Wirecast has great Facebook integration. You can schedule streams in advance right inside Wirecast rather than using Facebook's interface. Also there's now the ability to post Facebook comments as lower thirds using the free NewBlueFX Titler Live that comes with it. I also do a local recording (MJPEG MOV on Windows or ProRes on Mac) as a "confidence" record and if I want to do post work (editing highlights for example). If you need to grab the presenter's computer screen (PowerPoint for example) you can do that with NDI to Wirecast over LAN. If you need to bring in a remote guest you can either screen grab Skype or use Wirecast's built in Rendezvous.

As mentioned there are numerous ways of doing this. I have two ways of thinking about building a system. The easy one is building a system to meet YOUR needs. That means something that works with YOUR gear, the cameras and audio gear you own that will be used over again every time. Sometimes that works for inexpensive limited systems. Your situation falls into the OTHER category, you're the guy building a system for your employer. I can assure you that your input needs and expectations will change with time. If you make recommendations for a cheap limited system no one will remember how much it cost when your boss or a presenter wants to use an incompatible device and you tell them it can't be done. They will look at you and say "Why not? You told us what to buy, it must be your fault?" It is quite a conundrum for you.

Using a laptop full of dongles, external cards, audio feeds, and a software switcher is a very limited system. I am not saying it is a bad system if done properly but it is not versatile.

To be versatile and more compatible with different presenters needs, camera outputs, and audio mixing we use hardware switchers for the heavy lifting and use the laptop for the streaming. Fortunately hardware switchers have come down in price dramatically and are no longer limited to broadcast quality options. Take a look at the Roland line of switchers. They have an inexpensive line with USB output designed for streaming.

Hypothetically: Lets say your boss gives you a $1,000.00 budget for this. I would tell him now it won't work and not do it until he can afford to do it properly. That's better than spending his budget then telling him it won't work. Making corporate recommendations is different than cobbling together "something that works".

Kind Regards,

Steve

Guys, what if I want to use like 3 cameras via HDMI (if there´s an option to use usb too it would be great)?

You might want to look at the Mevo systems. Without buying a PTZ camera or mount for your DSLR, the Mevo uses 4k to be able to make multiple HD windows. You might be able to mix your current camera with a Mevo camera for maximum coverage.

I´ve checked some videos and it looks like a great solution. Did you ever use it, David? What scares me a little bit is the possibility of some lag from my command on the smartphone to the actual camera movements. We would be using it on live interviews where there are like 3 people and an interviewer so it´s very important that the Mevo can keep up with the shots moving from one person to another. When one person starts talking and I frame this person in the smartphone it´s crucial that the Mevo frames this person imediatly, because if there´s a lag there´s a change that when the Mevo focus on this person another person has already started talking.

I've never used it personally, but I did watch some live broadcasts from NAB last year that was done with mostly Mevo cameras. Of course, they had more than one and a full team of production specialists, but it was still impressive. I don't know if I would expect it to reframe very quickly, maybe. But my thought would be that if you could mix it with an existing camera, you could have most or all your shots set for the most part. I think if you stream 1080 you can have the 4k cut into 4 different shots, maybe 3. If you stream 720 then I would think that gives you more. I know that Telview or Telestream has a similar system that they are offering to mostly K-12 schools to be able to do multi-shot streaming with a single camera. One way to cut costs, not always the best solution but a solution for some.

I´m going to write the guys at Mevo, but if there´s no lag it would be an amazing solution.
https://getmevo.com/tech-specs/camera

Guys, what if I want to use like 3 cameras via HDMI (if there´s an option to use usb too it would be great)?

Both Edward and I answered this already. OBS or Wirecast and any number of HDMI to USB3 adaptors from Magewell, Epiphan, Inogeni, AJA and many others.

MEVO is limited in that you're taking a single 4K camera and dividing it up into 1080 or 720 frames so the cameras aren't truly independent.

For three or four cameras I would go for the Roland v1 switcher and any of the HDMI- USB converters mentioned. I found with my laptop two was all I could run But using the Roland you have up to four feeds in and one feed out.

Ok simple question here. Do you REALLY need 4 cameras?? With software like OBS (free!) you can set up scenes with a single camera so you can switch views instantly between people being interviewed all on one single camera. If you need cutaway shots you can use a webcam. We used to do a bridal show just with a single camera that could switch from host to guest as well as do closeups of products and still do graphics and lower thirds all on a simple laptop and one cam through an Elgato HD60 convertor. You can very easily make one camera appear to look like 6 cameras and have no lip sync issues that might happen if you used individual cameras. Just a matter of being innovative .. some neat graphics and lower thirds will also smarten up an otherwise amateur looking stream!!

Thanks for the memory jog Chris.

I had forgotten that my HDMI recorder can interface with the computer via USB, because I haven't used it for that purpose before. I've only recorded with it and transferred the files later for post-production.

I will have to test the performance with a "regular" camera and see if it looks smooth when used with OBS.

Because most streams are at 720 and your camera input is 1080 you can effectively crop an image without losing any quality (only up to a point ) 4K input and stream at 720P is even better of course. In Livestream Studio you can actually have 4 preset "Takes" on each camera that you program before you start but you can also make your cam act like a PZT camera too and control the speed and transition as you adjust the FOV live .. it pretty neat but the software is only free if you have a LS account! OBS quality I find is awesome!!

Has anyone used one of these devices?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1105735-REG/magewell_xi_100_d_usb_hdmi_one_hd_hdmi_usb.html

How well do they work?

Hi Ed yes the Magewell does work but remember it has USB3.0 out not USB2.0 Be careful not to be tempted into buying the clone units for nearly half the price or even less. Most people have had an issue with the non-Magewell converters

Has anyone used one of these devices?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1105735-REG/magewell_xi_100_d_usb_hdmi_one_hd_hdmi_usb.html/BI/2855/KBID/3801

How well do they work?

Works great. Flawless & easy to use.

Maybe the new Atem Mini. I am using one and i like it a lot.