Gear for live streaming?

Donald McPherson · February 23rd, 2018, 12:52 AM

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.

Chris Harding · February 23rd, 2018, 07:03 AM

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!!

Jay Massengill · March 1st, 2018, 11:02 AM

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.

Chris Harding · March 1st, 2018, 09:34 PM

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!!

Ed Roo · April 21st, 2019, 01:25 PM

Has anyone used one of these devices?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._hdmi_usb.html

How well do they work?

Chris Harding · April 22nd, 2019, 05:29 AM

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

David Barnett · April 22nd, 2019, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Roo

Has anyone used one of these devices?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...2855/KBID/3801

How well do they work?

Works great. Flawless & easy to use.

Lico Francisco · January 21st, 2020, 12:55 PM

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

February 23rd, 2018, 12:52 AM	#16
Donald McPherson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Aberdeen Scotland Posts: 815	Re: Gear for live streaming? 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. __________________ A little knowledge goes a long way but not long enough.

February 23rd, 2018, 07:03 AM	#17
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Gear for live streaming? 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!!

March 1st, 2018, 11:02 AM	#18
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	Re: Gear for live streaming? 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.

March 1st, 2018, 09:34 PM	#19
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Gear for live streaming? 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!!

April 21st, 2019, 01:25 PM	#20
Ed Roo Major Player Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Columbus USA Posts: 312	Re: Gear for live streaming? Has anyone used one of these devices? https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._hdmi_usb.html How well do they work? Last edited by Ed Roo; April 21st, 2019 at 01:57 PM.

April 22nd, 2019, 05:29 AM	#21
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Gear for live streaming? 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

January 21st, 2020, 12:55 PM	#23
Lico Francisco Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 109	Re: Gear for live streaming? Maybe the new Atem Mini. I am using one and i like it a lot. __________________ Learning to become a better videographer.