Getting started with Webcast - challenges and solutions

[natet]

Have you tried using the CRAB at the remote building? You will get great results (and no feedback) if you use the CRAB.

It should be noted that this only works if you have EJ-10 CRAB boxes at your remote sites. The newer EJ-8 boxes do not have the RJ-11 connectors. There is a box that is supposed to be included with the EJ-8's that does connect to a telephone in line with the telephone's handset, but we have a couple of buildings that never received theirs, so I'm in the process of getting them.

In the meantime, I purchased a $20 phone recording device from Radio Shack that works well enough to be used for that purpose. It is also our current solution for injecting the sound into the phone bridge. It isn't ideal, but it works. I too will have to keep my eyes open for a better solution. I'm a computer guy, not an audio guy, so I'm learning about all this stuff as I go along.

[russellhltn]

There is a box that is supposed to be included with the EJ-8's that does connect to a telephone in line with the telephone's handset,

That's the first I've heard of that. I don't see any reference to it in the EJ-8 manual. The spec sheet explicitly says it has no telephone capability. I wonder if that's just something the FM group or the contractor was including?

[pete.arnett]

Need your input about the draft of cost options for some of the units in our area

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The following are some cost ranges that will vary with your expertise and purchasing skills

Level 1 cost is about $ 95.00 - assuming that you can borrow a video camera and use a laptop/desktop (borrowed or from a FHC) with Meetinghouse Webcast application installed and laptops/desktops (borrowed or from a FHC) at the receiving locations

Level 2 cost can be from $600 to $1,500 for a Pan, Tilt, and Zoom, (PTZ), networked IP Video camera, laptop/desktop (borrowed or from a FHC) with Meetinghouse Webcast application and laptops/desktops (borrowed or from a FHC) at the receiving locations

Level 3 cost can be from $840 to $2,040 for a Meetinghouse Webcast Communicator, a PTZ networked IP Video camera, and laptops/desktops (borrowed or from a FHC) at the receiving locations

Level 4 cost can be from $850 to $4,200 for a PTZ networked IP Video camera(s), audio microphone(s), audio mixer, video mixer (etc.), laptop/desktop (borrowed or from a FHC) with Meetinghouse Webcast application and laptops/desktops (borrowed or from a FHC) at the receiving locations

Please have your Stake Technology Specialist click here to review the Meetinghouse webcasting information at tech.lds.org/wikiand contact us if he has any questions
We need at least four (4) months to get things set up for the webcast of a Stake conference or other meetings

Some of the items that need to be researched are the availability of high speed Internet services from Internet Service Provider (ISP) at the sending Stake Center, local Facilities Management workload, and budgets (etc)

Authorization:

[list]
[*]General Authorities must provide authorization before you can webcast and/or record Stake Conferences or other meetings that are being presided over by General Authorities
[*]Stake Presidents must provide authorization before you can webcast and/or record Stake Conferences or other meetings within their stake boundary
[*]A webcast is an extension of the originating meeting and all rules apply at remote sites [/list]

[michaelfish]

Has anyone had experience with IP cameras? If so, I have some questions for you.

1. What was the cost of the IP camera?
2. Did the camera have PTZ (pan, tilt and zoom) capabilities?
3. Brand and model number of camera?
4. Did you experience the quality of the IP camera as being typical, better or worse than standard SD (consumer) camera?
5. What was the throughput bandwidth between the IP camera and receiving PC?
6. Did you run Webcast Communicator on a separate box (PC or laptop) from the capturing video feed or on the same computer that receives the IP camera feed?
7. Did you notice the CPU being overworked running cameras and communicator at the same time? If not, what is the configuration of the PC (processor, speed, memory, etc.)
8. Did you receive more than one IP camera stream on the same box? If so, how many? How was your experience with the set-up?
9. Did you notice audio synchronization problems using IP cameras?
10. Did you run any additional programs on the PC receiving the IP camera streams (Webcast communicator, video/audio mixer, etc.)

[sammythesm]

Has anyone had experience with IP cameras? If so, I have some questions for you.

1. What was the cost of the IP camera?
2. Did the camera have PTZ (pan, tilt and zoom) capabilities?
3. Brand and model number of camera?
4. Did you experience the quality of the IP camera as being typical, better or worse than standard SD (consumer) camera?
5. What was the throughput bandwidth between the IP camera and receiving PC?
6. Did you run Webcast Communicator on a separate box (PC or laptop) from the capturing video feed or on the same computer that receives the IP camera feed?
7. Did you notice the CPU being overworked running cameras and communicator at the same time? If not, what is the configuration of the PC (processor, speed, memory, etc.)
8. Did you receive more than one IP camera stream on the same box? If so, how many? How was your experience with the set-up?
9. Did you notice audio synchronization problems using IP cameras?
10. Did you run any additional programs on the PC receiving the IP camera streams (Webcast communicator, video/audio mixer, etc.)

Hi Michael - I'll try to take a whack at a few of these. Due to my work, I had easy access to a bunch of IP cameras, which I thought might work for webcasting, but as I experimented with them, I found that I could not really put together a workable solution for webcasting.

1,2, & 3 - You can get PTZ surveillance grade IP Cameras for much cheaper than the Sony EVI-D70 - however the optics of these cameras are significantly poorer than the EVI. Optical zoom on most IP cameras is extremely limited, and the maximum resolution you will get is a grainy 640x480. Most cameras have tiny CMOS sensors, so they just don't put out great video. Companies make IP cameras this way because they are mostly used for surveillance, not serious video broadcast, so grainy video is OK for most applications and they have to offset the cost of putting more microprocessing components in there by scrimping on the optics.

4 - Worse.

5 - Throughput is negligible. I don't think you have to worry here, especially if you're running GigE in your network. We've routinely tested these types of surveillance cameras in configurations of up to 48 cameras, and only then do you start saturating a network interface. I wouldn't worry about this.

6 - Well, here was the biggest problem. There weren't any good ways I came up with to convert IP video stream(s) into a video feed the Webcast system could digest. Axis does have a 'driver' which allows 1 video feed to be captured as a 'video capture device' which was readable by the webcasting software. I played around with, but it only allows one camera in motion-JPEG format, and there was a long delay between selecting the camera and actually receiving the feed into the webcasting software. It almost felt like it was about to crash.

I suppose you could purchase some kind of video mixing program that was capable of IP video and mix the IP video streams on one computer and output them to another computer (or webcast communicator) but my quick search for such programs didn't bring up any promising results and the 2-computer setup is too cumbersome to me anyways.

7 - This depends on what program you use to mix the video and whether you're running webcasting software on the same PC. Everyone's mileage will vary. If whatever software you use to mix the IP video streams on the PC is using the h.264 video from the cameras, then yes - you will see a major processing hit. For 1-3 cameras, you could probably run it from the same PC w/o processing problems.

8 - This was my goal, but I was not able to achieve it due to the Axis driver's limitation to only feed one camera feed into the webcasting software - and my unwillingness to use a 3rd party video mixing utility and 2 computer setup as noted above. This is why I abandoned an IP solution.

9 - As I never used this in a production environment I can't really comment on whether there was audio synch issues. However, on the cameras I tested there was be a 1-2 second processing delay between the live action and the resulting video. This would make it extremely difficult to feed audio into the system in any other way but through the camera(s) and keep the audio synched. (i.e. couldn't have an external audio mixer and insert the audio through the sound card) So, yes, I would anticipate big problems here.

My main motivator for wanting to use IP video was that it would take a single CAT5 run to each camera position that could provide power,video, and control. I was able to find a solution to do this with the analog/Sony cameras by purchasing baluns. These balunsallow video, camera control, and even power to be transmitted on one (or two, if you're going longer distances) cat5e cables. This means I still only have to run CAT5, which will be future proof against a potential IP solution in the future, so this is the route I've chosen to go.

[michaelfish]

Meetinghouse Webcasting Cost Options

Need your input about the draft of cost options for some of the units in our area

-----------------------------------------
The following are some cost ranges that will vary with your expertise and purchasing skills

To keep costs down, cables are custom made (simple) and many components are purchased used. If you want new components or pre-made cables, expect to pay 2 to 10 times more...

Also, I chose to not use IP cameras because at present, there are too many problems with these cameras to overcome (see post above).

Needed for all Scenarios
Audio cables from building sound to connecting device
Extension cables where needed
Microphones for choir, mic stands, microphone cable
Plugstrips, etc.

At Receiving locations:
(one each for receiving locations):
1 - borrowed laptop running Windows Media Player
1 - borrowed video projector

For building distribution to TV sets :
(each receiving location would need):
1 - VGA to Composite video scan converter ($20)
1 - Composite video distribution amplifier (30)
1 - RF modulator ($10)

Also...
cable tools (make your own, any length for $5-10)
RF splitters ($3)
RG6U coax cable ($60/1000')
F-connectors (100/$10)
video/audio adapters ($10)

The following are different scenarios and pricing for transmissions (i.e. at the Stake Center)

Level 1 cost $95 to $600
1 - borrowed camera, tripod, connecting cables and power supply
1 - Roxio USB Capture ($47)
1 - borrowed laptop running Webcast Communicator

Level 2 cost $600 to $1,500
2 - Sony EVI-D70 cameras, included wireless remote and power supply ($250)
1 - Videonics MX-1 video mixer ($250)
1 - borrowed laptop for superimposing hymns over video
1 - VGA to Composite video scan converter ($20) (if laptop does not have composite video out)
1 - 4 input microphone mixer ($75)
2 - borrowed microphones, microphone cables, stands
1 - Roxio USB Capture ($47)
1 - borrowed laptop running Webcast Communicator


Level 3 cost $850 to $2,040 -

Multicamera Wiring Diagram.jpg

3 - Sony EVI-D70 cameras and power supply ($250 /ea.)
1 - Sony RM-BR300 joystick camera controller ($850)
1 - Quad video processor ($20)
1 - borrowed 20" monitor (for quad display)
2 - borrowed 13" monitors (for preview and program)
1 - borrowed laptop for superimposing hymns over video
1 - VGA to Composite video scan converter ($20) (if laptop does not have composite video out)
1 - Videonics MX-1 video mixer ($250)
1 - 4 input microphone mixer ($75)
2 - borrowed microphones, microphone cables, stands
1 - Roxio USB Capture ($47)
1 - borrowed laptop running Webcast Communicator
CAT5 cable for remote control operation ($50)
RJ45 kit -crimp, tester, connectors ($15)

Multicamera Wiring Diagram.pdf

On a personal note: I chose not to include the Webcast Communicator box because of the chance of becoming outdated quickly and problems associated with them noted previously in other posts (however, I personally have never used one). I chose laptops because of their multi-faceted use (classroom presentations, Internet videos for instruction, general PC use, etc.) and because they are sometimes available to borrow. They also sell for about half the money as a communicator box.

I welcome any comments and suggestions to my items listed above...Mike

[pete.arnett]

Mike,

Great write up

Also, if the receiving location is a LDS meetinghouse and it does not have a video projector, then you can contact your local FM Group and request a replacement device

If you purchase the cables through Staples using your unit's account, the price is around 50 to 60 % off on networking cables.

Staples
Go to store.lds.org, then click on "Administrative Materials" then under "Office Supplies and Other Materials Available from Staples" then click "CLICK HERE TO PLACE ORDER ONLINE »"

[russellhltn]

Also, if the receiving location is a LDS meetinghouse and it does not have a video projector, then you can contact your local FM Group and request a replacement device

That may only be true of meetinghouses that have a satellite connection. I''m not aware of anything that says all meetinghouses should have a projector. It's not that way in our stake.

[pete.arnett]

Interesting,
Because our receiving meetinghouses need to have a video projector and several local FM Group's managers have agreed to provide them

[aebrown]

Interesting,
Because our receiving meetinghouses need to have a video projector and several local FM Group's managers have agreed to provide them

It is certainly within the discretion of a local FM group to provide projectors to more buildings than just those that have satellite dishes. Particularly if those buildings are used to receive webcasts, this makes a lot of sense. But that doesn't mean that the FM group is required by policy to do so. It is good to hear that your FM group has that budget available and is helpful in providing projectors for those purposes.