Wedding Live Stream

[ctb1010]

Hello,

I've had a bride request that I set up a live feed for a relative that's in a hospital and can't attend the wedding. I've read about videographers offering this service but have never done so myself and don't know where to begin. Have any of you done this? What equipment is required on my end and on the other end to make this successful? What software would I use? I shoot with two Panasonic DVX100b cameras.

Thanks for any insight!

 

[j1clark@ucsd.edu]

Hello,

I've had a bride request that I set up a live feed for a relative that's in a hospital and can't attend the wedding. I've read about videographers offering this service but have never done so myself and don't know where to begin. Have any of you done this? What equipment is required on my end and on the other end to make this successful? What software would I use? I shoot with two Panasonic DVX100b cameras.

Thanks for any insight!

these days, it would be easier than when I thought about this about 10 years ago...

With the availablity of 'internet' cameras, you could set up such cameras where the marriage is going to be officiated. And then perhaps a setup in the reception area.

The facilities involved would have to have some form of 'Internet connectivity'. I don't know what the upload bit rate is for using the various internet connectivity devices that use the Phone system and attach via USB to a laptop. I don't know if they have enough bandwidth to handle more than a postage stamp sized image.

The problem with using your DVX100's is that unless you are connecting the camera via Firewire, and essentially putting it out of commission for anything else, it will not be 'real time'. Further the transfer off of tape is playing at 'reat time' speeds so, it would be out of commission if you attempted to 'upload' something mid-event.

"Real(tm)" broadcast cameras, which are mobile, are connected to The Truck via a local RF link, are sending simultaneously as they shoot. In the truck the material is shot up to a satelite...).

 

[Allen Ellis]

Even going through the internet the signal is likely to be several minutes out of date. To be honest I would tell them they can do a live stream with hundreds of dollars of equipment and a bit of luck (someone at the other end needs to start it and watch it in case it drops out, if the internet at either end is slow you're basically out of luck), OR save everyone a lot of hassle and drive by that afternoon and drop of the tape.

That said, I don't have much experience with live broadcasts (I've fiddled with it a little). Perhaps there is some cheap great solution, in fact it probably wouldn't surprise me. But it's a road littered with road bumps and it's a lot of time on your part to research and test. If they're willing to pay for that, go for it!

 

[zmarsh]

This is how I would set this up, I tried this with a dvx100 in my house and it worked. This needs a pretty quick upload rate from an internet source, I don't know if cell reception would be good over 3g networks and what not, never tested that. I downloaded the free version of flash media server so up to 10 viewers at a time without a license. Since the dvx could be used as a live feed over firewire, it made it possible to stream the image through flash media server, and then onto a website. I was able to stream a video of my street, and people were able to view it with very little but noticeable lag. This method does require some website building knowledge, but it was very simple.