ACADEMY HOWTOWEBCAST
Any pro worth their salt will want to use a professional-style camera rather than a webcam, for the quality and look you can get from a larger sensor. But it’s not as simple as plugging your mirrorless wonder cam or camcorder into your laptop and streaming, as the camera will output a high-resolution signal while streaming requires a low data rate 720p HD. So you’ll need an internet broadcasting device or encoder – or a more basic HDMI capture card – to turn your camera signal into something a computer can stream. AJAmakes the £432/$345 U-Tap encoder in both HDMI and SDI versions and Blackmagic offers the £450/$495 H.264 Pro Recorder/Encoder with SDI and HDMI. If you want to go bargain basement, a basic web streaming capture card costs half that and lets you plug in anHDMI lead from your camera, then your computer sees the device as a USB camera. But many devices like these are built for gamers anddon’tworkperfectlywithhigh- resolution cameras. And if, for example, 4. USING A ‘PROPER’ CAMERA
ABOVE Blackmagic Design has lots of cost-effective kit to help you stream, such as this Teranex Mini
you’re inputting audio separately, then there is often a delay between the audio signal and thevideosignal of up toa second. In that case, you’dneed some dedicated live software in order to set a delay to audio so it matches up with the video signal. It’s better to invest in dedicated pro equipment that gives you more for your money, like the £699/$699 Datavideo NVS-33 video encoder or £455/$495 Blackmagic Web Presenter, both of which take an input froman HDMI or SDI camera. It can be as simple as plugging your camera into the encoder box, thenplugging thedevice intoyour computer’sUSBsocket. Your computer sees the device as a USB camera, and you can stream instantly.
To get started capturing, you need to add source inputs – which can be from a Blackmagic Web Presenter – your computer’s webcam and separate audio inputs if you have them. You can then mix between them – disabling camera audio if you’re using a separate mic. You can also set scenes for things like opening credits, welcome screens etc. You then key in the settings for where you want to stream to, including bit rate. These are found in whatever streaming service you are going to use, such as YouTube. And you’re ready to stream. If there is a delay between your audio and video picture, OBS lets you adjust it so it matches. It’s a powerful program and one you should learn the basics of to get the best out of your streaming. Other options include Telestream Wirecast, which is a live production software that lets you switch between cameras, add transitions and effects, mix audio and output to any major streaming service. This works on a subscription model. And XSplit Broadcaster is a popular audio and videomixing software, but is Windows only. The Blackmagic Web Presenter includes 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 inputs with support for all formats up to 2K/60p. There’s also an SDI output so you can record a full- resolution master for editing afterwards. You also get balanced XLR audio inputs for connecting professional microphones, along with RCA hi-fi inputs for connecting iPhones and other audio sources. If you add on the £79/$85 Teranex Mini Smart Panel, it turns the Blackmagic Web Presenter into a broadcast-quality two-input live production switcher. The panel adds push button controls and an LCD screen, so you can swap between two live cameras. But, of course, it’s difficult to monitor this compared to a proper switcher with separate monitor screens. TheBlackmagicWebPresenter isabetter set-upfor asimple, single livecamera input and a second input such as a slide show or pre-prepared video on a computer linked via HDMI. Then you can switch between them, complete with built-in dissolves.
“It’s better to invest in dedicated pro equipment that gives youmore for your money”
5. MASTER THE SOFTWARE
Facebook Live, YouTube Live and Zoom are popular because they are so simple and user-friendly, but they offer a lack of control that professional filmmakers would want – especially if they are selling the service to clients. The first step into more professional results is to get to grips with software. If you only want to stream on YouTube or Facebook, but want to add transitions, captions or lower-thirds themes, inexpensive software such as justbroadcaster.com is ideal. But OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) Studio is probably the most popular software, as it’s free and works on Windows, Mac and Linux. From there, you can broadcast your stream to many of the streaming services such as Twitch or Livestream, as well as YouTube, Facebook or Vimeo. Download OBS from obsproject.com, and run the auto-configuration wizard, which automatically tests your system and finds settings that your PC can handle, including streaming or recording, resolution, bit rate, encoding capabilities and streaming providers.
ABOVE Mastering some new software like OBS Studio will really boost your streaming game
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PRO MOVIEMAKER SUMMER 2020
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