Recommendations for a live streaming setup

Andreashej

Andreashej

Member
Hi everyone!

My riding club has recently got a new oval track, and are planning to do some bigger events. Since I am the photo/video freak in the club, I have been asked, if I can make a setup that allows us to live stream events from our new track.

This will be our needs:
  • Live streaming in HD-quality(720p will do)
  • 4-6 cameras
  • Live scorebords and timetables
  • Portable
  • XLR audio input
  • Showing commercials during the breaks
I have done some research, and found the Black Magic Design products which, together with livestream.com, seems to be able to handle our needs.
So, I'm thinking of an ATEM 1 M/E switcher, a couple of stationary GoPro cameras and then some manually operated cameras(I've got a XH A1 we could use).

Do you think that will fit our needs?

I've got an HP Elitebook 8540p, which I'm planning to use with the switcher and then, when we get the need for it, expand the setup with a hardware switching board.

A few questions:
  • The stationary GoPros will the easy to connect with cables, but the manually controlled cameras will be easier to connect wirelessly. Is that possible in some way?
  • I'm thinking of just getting the switcher and the GoPros for the club, and then renting cameras when needed, since it's only 4-5 weekends a year?
  • Will it be possible to do the switching and post-processing all by myself, or will I need an assistant?
Please let me know your thoughts of this project, and let me know your opinion and advices for a live stream noob :)
 
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What is your budget? You can absolutely do wireless, however 30 meters of SDI cable is about USD$45, whereas a wireless transmitter and receiver pair is about USD$5,600 for the same 30 meters.

In all your setup sounds good, but the ATEM 1 M/E switcher has only 4 inputs. The 2 M/E has 16 SDI inputs.
 
Thanks for the reply!

Maybe we'll reconsider doing wired SDI anyways, our budget depends quite a lot on how much we can get from funds.

I'm glad to hear that I'm not way off in setup :) I thought that I'd be using 4 SDI cameras and then 2-4 HDMI cameras, but surely, if it fits our budget, I will go for the 2 M/E :)
 
Be sure to take some test footage in your intended setup before you settle on those cameras. The measured resolution of the GoPros is low, and the lack of detail may be noticeable in your setup.
 
I sure will :)

How do you guys think my XHA1 will perform in HDV mode connected with component? I suppose that's the only way to connect it?
 
and BTW, what about tally lamps? Does that go through the SDI-cables with the right camera, or will I need another solution for that?
 
HDMI cables have a max effective length of maybe 25ft. Any further, and you will need HDMI to SDI converters. (Blackmagic Designs, etc). You might want all SDI cameras to begin with.
 
Make sure to check compatibility between the ATEM 1 M/E switcher and the GoPro. I know that some of the firmwire had been upgraded recently on the switcher to handle progressive framerates better, so the GoPro may not be an issue now. But it has been for some folks in the past. Definitely double-check it before you commit funds to those cameras.

Also, you need to do a little more research on how to get the signal from the switcher into your laptop which will then by sent upline for streaming. Blackmagic has a few other products that can help with this. Something like the Intensity Extreme.

With XLR, remember that the switcher doesn't have a preamp. So you may need to pipe audio thru a traditional mixer like a Mackie mixer and then into the ATEM.

I'm not sure how you are going to do graphics, btw. The switcher isn't going to help much with this. This plug-in might help you: http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/atem/workflow
 
Thanks for your answer!

I will surely check the compatibility, thanks for pointing that out :)

I thought about just streaming with Livestream for Producers. Don't you think that will work?

No worries about XLR, the sound setup is already complete with mixer and amplifier, so I'll just grab the output from it :)

I have thought about making the graphics in Photoshop or another program, them import it to Powerpoint, add the text in PP and add a green background, that can be keyed out, and then use an HDMI-port for that? But the Adobe Photoshop Plugin looks interesting too :)
 
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