Question / Help "Getting Started" Hardware

[keeppace]

To all,

I am looking to build out the hardware components to begin testing a live stream to Youtube.

I have been looking around but havent found anything yet that goes thru the various pieces - Capture Card (I see the BlackMagic is one option) - and interested in what basic sound boards I might try as well

So .. if someone knows of a site/blog/book etc that walks thru some of the basics - greatly appreciated !

Some specific things I am looking to learn more about

1. A Good entry/mid capture card (I keep seeing references to Blackmagic - but not sure which card)
2. Recommendations of Camcorders that support streaming (if it has an HDMI out is that good enough)
3. Basic "sound board"

 

[dodgepong]

You won't need a capture card if you're streaming content from a single computer unless you're capturing video from external sources (such as another computer, a game console, or a camera with HDMI out). If you do need one, though, I don't really like recommending BlackMagic cards because they are very difficult to get set up and only support a limited array of resolutions and frame rates. What kinds of things do you want to capture, and how much are you willing to spend on one?

I'm not sure what you mean by camcorders that "support" streaming...often, people use simple USB webcams if they are just streaming themselves, such as the Logitech C920. If you want higher quality video and more camera options than that, though, you're going to have to be prepared to spend a lot more money.

As for sound board, what do you mean, exactly? Do you mean a sound card, or an actual mixer board? What kind of inputs do you need? Do you have a microphone already Can you get by with just a microphone that plugs directly into the computer?

 

[keeppace]

Dodge,

Thanks for the quick response

So - I have a room dedicated to doing video in my house. Right now I have it setup with a Tripod - a low end HDMI Camera that has memory sticks - and it records to SD Cards.

I have a "low end" wireless solution - where I wear the wirless piece and the other piece plugs in directly to the camcorder. So for recording purposes - that works well ..

As to streaming - I am thinking of doing this in more of a "studio setting". Meaning I would love to be "mobile" rather than behind a desk - and my room is setup where I have a large greenscreen in the background (which can be removed) - but the Camcorder / Tripod allows me to move as needed ..

If its possible- I would just hook the output from the camera into the PC - and then use that as the source to stream (assuming that is possible . .)

And while the "audio" solution I have "works" - its a PITA to have to plug the wireless receiver into the Camera - my preference would be spending a few dollars on some low end sound board that I could plug into the PC - and making adjustments on the board rather than the camera

As to capture cards - I am not married to anything - all recommendations are welcome - its just that blackmagic products were the first ones up on the list of searches I have been doing ..

 

[keeppace]

Oh .. and I would add - while I don't have a budget in mind at the moment - I don't want to go "whole hog" - and at the same time I am looking for something that is a step up from "bargain basement" .. that I can learn with and then upgrade as I go ..

 

[toysareforboys]

I live stream with a "pro" camera and black magic card, so it's not "impossible" lol :)

For my "pro" camera I use a Canon T2i/550D with hacked Magic Lantern firmware (just install it on the SD card). You can use any lens you want, including super old lenses (no autofocus). The Canon 50mm f1.4 lens works really well, and so does the stock 18-55mm lens that comes with the camera.

That camera outputs flawless live HDMI. I use an external mic (Rode VMP) that I run to my mixer board.

The black magic card I have is the Black Magic Intensity Pro ($199). It's an internal, pci express card. Works freakin amazing with a decently powered computer (get an i7 if you really want to do 1080p). It's totally flawless, zero dropped frames, true broadcast quality recordings.

This is the mixer I use: http://www.monoprice.com/Product/?c_id= ... 4#feedback

If you want to do 4k I've got a mind blowing setup for around $4k that will do 4k.

Good luck with your setup :)

-Jamie M.

 

[keeppace]

Jamie,

I love being overloaded with info - so if you could share the 4K setup (not that I plan on doing it ) but I would love to see the concepts / pieces ..

So .. here is what I have right now

1. I have a Panasonic HDC -S90 that has an HDMI Connector (and a Mic In)

2. I have a HP PC with a 6 Core AMD Processor -

3. The low tech" wireless card setup

So .. the mixer board - I assume that plugs directly into the Sound Card on your PC ? - And you just select that as the source within the OBS Software ?

 

[toysareforboys]

So .. the mixer board - I assume that plugs directly into the Sound Card on your PC ? - And you just select that as the source within the OBS Software ?

That's the easiest way. You can plug it into your PC by USB and it'll show up as "7.1 channel sound card" so you can record all 8 channels individually, but that's pretty useless in live streaming :)

Your PC sounds pretty descent. I built a PC the other day for live broadcast with an AMD X8 FX-8350 Eight-Core 4GHz CPU in it, was super fast and worked great! Much cheaper to build than high end i7, not sure how it compares.

Have you tried live encoding/streaming 1080p on your box yet? You could run a 1080p movie in VLC and use OBS to stream it and see how your CPU keeps up. That'll tell ya if you'll need to get a better PC before worrying about black magic card, etc. (black magic kinda sucks because it doesn't do any processing on the card, just dumps the video totally raw to whatever app you're using, so puts 100% of the load on your CPU to do the encoding, etc.).

-Jamie M.

 

[keeppace]

Ok .. for giggles and chuckles - what are some of the more popular / reasonable encoder cards ?

As to the my machine - its a AMD Phenom II 1045T - 8 GB RAM and a ATI Radeon HD 5570 Graphics card with 1GB Memory

Also was looking at the mixer board on Monoprice - some people were saying they got a hum via USB - have you experienced that ?

And have you tried any wireless setups ? Any you would recommend ? ( I hate cords ;) )

 

[toysareforboys]

Ok .. for giggles and chuckles - what are some of the more popular / reasonable encoder cards ?

As to the my machine - its a AMD Phenom II 1045T - 8 GB RAM and a ATI Radeon HD 5570 Graphics card with 1GB Memory

Also was looking at the mixer board on Monoprice - some people were saying they got a hum via USB - have you experienced that ?

And have you tried any wireless setups ? Any you would recommend ? ( I hate cords ;) )

You have no idea how much I hate wireless. Everything, and I mean everything, in my house is wired. I have a 10 gigabit wired network, all my machines run stripped SSD's, I can copy stuff from one machine to another at 1gb/sec :)

When I connected it by USB I had hum, yep. So I connected it to my sound card instead, no hum. I saw someone posted to make sure nothing else was plugged into other USB ports (I had mouse, keyboard, cell phone, camera, etc. etc.) so I bought a USB 3 pci express card and when I plug mixer into that, no hum (it's the only thing on that card) :)

The only other card I've tried is the USB 2.0 Elgato Gamer HD but I was never able to get it to work with anything (which I found out was because they don't provide 64 bit drivers, only 32 bit). I got it for $106 on a black friday sale, so if it could encode 1080p30 as flawless as they advertise, woulda been a sweet sweet encoder/tuner box.

Seems the Avermedia cards are popular with streamers: http://q.avermedia.com/en/recentral/liv ... or-pc-game

-Jamie M.

 

[keeppace]

I hear you on wired LAN - its still faster than wireless no question.

I was referring to the Microphone - as I do a LOT of moving during my presentations - I don't like the microphone cord - so for this application a wireless mic setup works best ..

I have the OBS Installed .. next up is the VLAN Client so I can at least run the test - but I am still going to need a card (I think ) so that I can try to connect my Camcorder to the PC via HDMI ..

 

[toysareforboys]

I hear you on wired LAN - its still faster than wireless no question.

I was referring to the Microphone - as I do a LOT of moving during my presentations - I don't like the microphone cord - so for this application a wireless mic setup works best ..

I have the OBS Installed .. next up is the VLAN Client so I can at least run the test - but I am still going to need a card (I think ) so that I can try to connect my Camcorder to the PC via HDMI ..

Oh, the mic :) lol.

For wireless it's hard to beat this kit: http://www.sennheiser.ca/live/senn/produit/en/1132/17

For a hand held mic to work with the above: http://www.electrovoice.com/product.php?id=105

Yeah, to test your encoding you'll have to try re-streaming something that you're playing on your computer (preferably not a game, something easy like a 1080p video or whatever). Katy Perry's new Roar video in 1080p is a good source ;)

-Jamie M.