ONLINE STREAMING - STAY CONNECTED

ChurchNews

Mar 25

Now more than ever it is so important to stay connected. We have stock on the way to help you facilitate online streaming to your community.

Here’s a quick rundown on three of those products which can be a great option -

Blackmagic Intensity Shuttle USB - $395rrp

This the simplest, most inexpensive way to get HD HDMI & analogue video sources into your PC/Mac via USB.

Magewell USB Capture HDMI Plus - $700rrp

For more serious setups, the USB Capture HDMI Plus has HDMI loop through, allowing it to be inserted into your existing video system without the need to use additional outputs from a switcher. It will also output signals up to 2k, whilst also down-converting incoming signals of up to 4k resolution.

Blackmagic Atem Mini - $589rrp

The Atem Mini, unlike the previous units, is a Video Switcher for up to 4 HDMI sources. All inputs have format conversion for mix & match of different video sources. The Mini includes a USB 3 Webcam output, so your streaming software can recognise it as a standard Webcam device. Also comes with comprehensive control software for deeper control of all video & audio functions.

How to Stream Online

Many churches are now entering the world of online streaming for the very 1st time, thanks to the new restrictions on gathering. Whilst church teams may have plenty of creative ideas of what they want their stream to look like, the technicalities of what’s required may not be so familiar. Here’s the 3 things you will need.

1 - Video Camera

The window into your streaming world begins with the camera. Whilst you can certainly spend tens of thousands of dollars on a broadcast level Video camera, the basic requirements come much cheaper. We suggest a HD capable camera with an output resolution of 1920x1080 via HDMI or SDI connection, is a great start.

Examples:

Blackmagic Studio Camera range – from $2559 rrp + lens
Marshall CV365 – from $1700 incl. lens

For extra control, a PTZ camera (Pan/Tilt/Zoom) adds the ability to remotely control the camera image without a camera operator. You can even store & recall presets for specific shots.

Examples:

Marshall PTZ CV-620 – from $2826 rrp

2 - Capture Device

To get your video camera signal into a PC you will need a capture device. We recommend a HDMI or SDI via USB device as the most flexible. Again, a device that is HD capable or better will provide good results. If you are integrating streaming into an existing system it will be useful to have a capture device with pass-through (a HDMI/SDI input & output) as well as the USB connection. The device will also need to accept the same signal you are already generating with you existing system eg. If you are running a 4k system, then you will need a 4k capable capture device.

Examples:

Blackmagic Intensity Shuttle - $395 rrp
Magewell USB Capture HDMI Plus - $700 rrp

If you have or intend to use multiple cameras & video sources like a PC/laptop, then you will need a Video Switcher. A switcher is capable of taking inputs from multiple video devices & switching them to a HDMI or SDI output. Some switchers also have a “streaming” output via USB or ethernet. This effectively makes your switcher a capture device.

Examples:

Blackmagic Atem Mini - $589 rrp
Roland VR-1HD - $2229 rrp

3 - Streaming Software

The final step in streaming is getting your Video/Audio sending to Facebook, Youtube or your chosen streaming destination. To do this, the most common method is to use a streaming software application to encode your signal & “send it on”. Many streaming applications will also allow you to simultaneously record the stream, allowing you to upload the content at a later time. Some also allow you to engage with your audience by displaying Facebook comments, directly within the application.

An important point to remember about streaming is that the software to encode a stream is quite CPU intensive &, as such, requires a reasonably powerful computer. We would strongly suggest that the PC/laptop allocated to streaming should not be used for other processes whilst outputting the streaming data. Additionally, the quality & reliability of your stream is dependant on the speed & stability of your internet connection.

Some commonly used applications are listed below: