Cameras & Video: March 2009 Archives

Submitted Question:

What is necessary to send live feed of show out to the
school?  We have an RCA input to the school's channel 6, but I don't see how to
get just the video out of the computer.

Sounds like your school is all set, since you already have the RF modulator system that accepts an RCA video cable.

I also cover this in detail in chapter 8 of my Training DVD volume 1...

As long as your computer has a video card with a tv-out jack (s-video or composite yellow) you are all set.  In our case, we've got an ATI Radeon X1600 AGP model that has an s-video out.  I had to use an adaptor to convert the s-video out to a composite (RCA) so I can connect an RCA video cable between the video card and our RF moldulator that sends out our signal (on channel 6 as well).  This picture shows our video card:

Now that the cable is connected, you next tell Windows to use the TV-out jack as the "extended desktop mode".  Be sure not to confuse this with "clone mode" as that is NOT what you want to enable.  See this link for more on how to enable this.

Finally you'd launch Visual Communicator and go to the setup tab, then video.  Check the box that says fullscreen output.  And that's it!  Be sure to have the cable connected to the RF modulator or TV set, so that your computer can sense that a live video output is connected.

Again I cover this in my video training DVD on volume 1, chapter 8.  Hope that helps, let us know by leaving comments below! 

Submitted Question:

I am using VC3. I would like to use multiple cameras but my pc is only recogizing one firewire camera. I have three separate firewire cards on the pc, one for each camera. Device manager shows only one at a time. All three cameras and cards appear to work, but not simultaneously. Any thoughts? I am running Windows XP. Thanks!

You did the right thing by installing 3 separate firewire PCI cards, so each camera has it's own.  Be sure that you've powered each one on in record mode (not playback mode) so Windows XP sees them all.  On my XP machines, you can go into the "My Computer" explorer window and see each camera listed.  Then I launch VC3 kowing that windows sees each camera.

Once inside of VC3, go to the setup tab--Video and choose each camera from the drop down menu.  I'm thinking that's what you need to configure next based on what you wrote...let us know by submitting comments below...

Submitted question:

I have a Canon camcorder like the one you suggest on your site...do you know how
to get to the while balance on that camera?

I'm thinking you are referring to the Canon ZR900 budget model perhaps?  If so, take a look on page 44 of the owners manual to see how.  Each manufacturer places this setting in different places, so the manual is usually your best bet.  I'll try to dedicate some time to a future Ask Mr Z epsiode showing how to manually set white balance, as it is quite crucial to getting clean, consistent v-screen keys in Visual Communicator or Ultra.  Training DVD Vol. 1 covers the things you need to enable/disable on your camera too.

Let us know if that helps, and leave comments below to continue this conversation...

Submitted Question:

When running VC live each day occasionally our vscreens
will fall out and we are left looking at a green backgroung rather than the
image that we set for the vscreen.  Have you ever experienced this and if so,
what should I try to fix this?  Thanks!

A few ideas:

1.  Be sure the vscreen image or video clip is actually on a local hard drive, not a removable flash drive, external hard drive, network location, etc.  If say someone disconnects the drive or the network is running slow, this can happen.

2.  Be sure you've saved the project (*.msh file) to a local drive as well, for same reasons as above.

3.  Be sure your camera is set to FULL manual mode.  Turn off autofocus, autoexposure, anti-jitter (E.I.S.) and set white balance manually.  See your cameras manual if unsure how to do this.  I cover these steps in setting up your camera chapter 4 of my Training DVD volume 1.  Basically you need to keep your camera consistent with the video image it is sending to your computer.  Too many folks overlook this, and it is important for achieving clean, consistent keys.  Don't change any lighting, and don't zoom in/out once you've set the key.  I really like the new V-screen wizard that comes with version 3 of Visual Communicator.

Those ideas may help, let us know below in the comments area and we can continue the conversation...