Cameras & Video: February 2009 Archives

Submitted Question:

I have had great success using VC3 over the last few months, but only as a recording tool. We record our shows on a PC then broadcast the recording via Windows Media Player the next day. The show is saved to an external hard drive pieced together using Movie Maker then saved as a Windows Media Audio/Video file. The laptop audio runs through our sound board and the video goes through an AVerKey which goes to a VCR then through a coax cable to the media center. It has to go to the media center's channel 10 VCR to go out to the school. It really isn't all that bad of quality. As complicated as this seems it works well. However, I would love to skip a few steps and just do this show live. Any suggestions?

Wow, that is quite a complex workflow, but if it works that's great!  Sure you can go live with VC3, this would be known as live analog output (because there is live digital streaming capability over the web or network too).

For live analog output, your computer needs to have a TV-out jack (s-video usually or sometimes composite).  This type of video card is known as "dual-head" and can be purchased for under $100.  See video card specs here.

Then you would enable the extended desktop mode within Windows, and tell VC3 to use the extended desktop for the fullscreen live output.  I cover this in detail in chapter 8 of my Training DVD Volume 1.  Note that the live fullscreen output can also be a VGA monitor, Projector, or TV set too.

If you end up wanting to connect multiple TV sets (like we have) then a video Distribution Amplifier (video D/A) would be needed, these are under $100 and I like the Kramer brand.

Hope that helps, let us know below with comments or questions.

Submitted Question:

"I've been asked to design an inexpensive approach to a morning show for one of our elementary schools. They are hoping to stream their broadcast live using Adobe Communicator as a "studio in a box" so-to-speak and I was wondering what you are using to perform multiple camera broadcasts?"

We use two live firewire cameras in our setup, and Visual Communicator can handle up to 3 simultaneous live cameras.  The software does all the switching internally, so hardware is no longer required.  The trick is ensuring each camera has it's OWN separate firewire card, as this prevents any bandwidth sharing issues.  Newegg.com usually carries a firewire card (Syba brand I think?) for under $10 that has only one 6-pin firewire port, this is perfect for VC3 use since you never want to plug in more than one camera per card anyways.  That advice is for desktop PC's, if using a laptop see my advice on my SchoolTVmadeEasy.com website here.

Hope that helps, let me know below by leaving comments or related questions, thanks!