Sounds like your setup is way more elaborate than what we plan or need. We are seeking to replace the use of a cellphone with a camera with enough zoom to be mounted at the back wall of room. So looking for the least possible investment. (Really small church and budget). All sound is done and plan to feed video mix from aux output of sound mixer. I understand from PTZ Optics that the camera has an audio input jack. Thinking of injecting audio feed there. Not planning on doing much if any production. Just set zoom on pulpit and broadcast initially only to Facebook - that's what we've been using with cellphone.Realize OBS is free open-source software. So there is no formal support staff. Most folks here are users and volunteers.
With that said, there are many ways to get video input to OBS
A video capture device is typically required for a non-IP signal, for example, HDMI or SDI. USB cameras (which PTZOptics and others sell) can be directly connected to OBS PC.
For Ethernet/IP network based cameras, you don't need a capture device hardware (other than network interface connection ie LAN or WiFI port/connection). What you need for network-based video signal is software running on the computer to receive and decode the incoming video signal (ie, what protocol is used). Windows 10, from what I recall, can natively receive a RTSP signal, as long as no password is required (just silly, actually... basically worthless). So, what you are looking at is a driver that can process the incoming video feed. Some IP security cameras use cheap, low-performing/ high-latency chips, and use RTSP to send video over IP. With a decent camera, and a fair amount of hoop-jumping on your part, one can get decent performance using RTSP in OBS [I've read about others doing, so, I have not]. There is different software options to receiving a RTSP, with varying stability, performance, maturity, options, etc
The industry standard for low-latency video over IP is largely NDI. PTZOptics and others (Panasonic, Sony, Canon, etc) all have NDI enabled cameras (usually PTZ). I am a user of a Panasonic NDI PTZ camera. With NDI, there is an old, apparently no longer supported OBS plugin(?), and then the more common approach is via use of the free NDI Tools from NDI's author NewTek. With the Panasonic, they provide a VirtualUSB driver that takes the NDI video feed and makes it appear as a locally connected USB camera (to any Windows App that can use a camera, including OBS). Beware mixing camera video signal technology, as the varying latency will make audio/video sync a headache (and may well cost more than simply buying the same camera type). Low-latency can be helpful in avoiding audio delay setups to match video signal.
if you can afford it, and camera placement flexibility is desired, as well as single cable for power (PoE), control, and video feed, especially if longer cable run desired, then NDI is a nice-to-use approach. The Pro & Con is that OBS can then see each NDI camera input. That is a con as computer has to decode each signal, vs using a video switcher where only a single video feed goes to PC. So... it depends on compute power available, and your use case
I hope this is the type of input you were looking for
I was given to understand that there is NO video encoding to be done by the computer. The PTZ 20X-NDI is supposed to take care of that. All the computer is doing, if I understood the tech there, was to make the account sign on and establish the IP link to upload the video stream from the camera itself.Actually, my setup isn't that elaborate, I'm just an IT professional and our church wanted future add-on capabilities
Mixing a USB camera and then later a 2nd camera (NDI, SDI, whatever) will cause a significant (probably show-stopping) problems in a low-budget livestream setup (due to video signal sync issues).
So least cost option now would be a USB camera, directly connected to PC. if there is no expectation of going to 2nd camera, or ok with replacing entire setup if adding 2nd camera, that would be my suggestion (keeping it simple). The downside to USB connection is cable length considerations (restrictions), so camera and OBS PC within a few feet of each other [beware those who claim they can use long USB cables. sometimes you can, sometimes you can't].
Yes, you can plug audio into camera, but why bother? You have the same gain adjustment adapter and TRRS cable required, and then you lose some flexibility (i think) in audio processing, example latency delay??... not sure. But same TRRS cable can plug into OBS PC and just use it vs extra routing hop thru camera which might help, but just as easily might makes things more complicated. So, .... just don't assume plugging audio into camera... maybe, but test
As for camera, a no-name knock-off NDI PTZ camera is about US$1K at the moment, while comparable Panasonic, Sony, Canon, PTZOptics are around US$2K. For me, the Panasonic was cheaper, immediately available, and had better optics and motor (quieter, diagonal movement, etc) than PTZ Optics, so no brainer. When I asked local resellers of both Panasonic and Sony PTZ cameras, what a House of Worship would get by spending more for the Sony, I was told 'nothing'. But that was 16 months ago. Another option might be to get a ePTZ camera (ie no physical pan/tilt/zoom function, rather it is a 4K camera that can electronically display a different portions of the image, and electronically zoom in) which *might* be cheaper. just food for thought/investigation
There are much cheaper options than PTZOptics, though in part you get what you pay for, so depends on image quality expectation you have. I have no personal experience with the cheap 30fps security camera type setups. In part whether such would work for you depends on the lighting you have (cheaper optics need more light)
And don't under-estimate computational power required for real-time video encoding. Cellphones have a dedicated chip and software to do it; PC's don't necessarily have such things. And going super low-budget (under-powered) on PC means you'll spend time trying to optimize OS and OBS, vs focusing on presentation/community
I was given to understand that there is NO video encoding to be done by the computer. The PTZ 20X-NDI is supposed to take care of that. All the computer is doing, if I understood the tech there, was to make the account sign on and establish the IP link to upload the video stream from the camera itself.
That is not true for Scheduled Live events. For FB, you schedule the specific time in advance (not an issue for House of Worship service on a set schedule), and you must start streaming 10+ minutes in advance of scheduled start time. FB will then start stream automatically.the problem on FB was you must everytime to start the stream you must press start stream on FB and i cant make by scripts
