Needing a little advice on a Computer Video system

[ingeborgdot]

I am needing a little advice and don't really know where to turn so I am here asking if anyone could answer with experience or point me in the right forum direction to find out the answer. What I am doing is trying to setup a video system in a gymnasium. We have two jumbo screens on the walls that we will use to play certain things during the games such as intros, player pics, graphics etc. We have a balun with HDMI to cat 5 running to the projectors that will play the video. We also have a speaker control to run all sound from our vantage point. Does anyone have any experience with anything like this? I could use a TriCaster 40 which would make it easy but the cost is a little prohibitive at this point. I am thinking of building a computer to run the video to play to the pjs but was wanting to know what some would think needs to go inside the computer? CPU, Video card, capture card? I will play HD video with this so it will need something fairly powerful. Also, I am planning on a possibility of several things to also do. We are for sure going to hook up several cameras and have them at various places during the game and show the crowd and different things during the game. We also live stream our games so I was hoping that I could possibly use those cameras for added looks too instead of a single camera. I just need to find something that will make this possible. I don't know if any one of these on this link would be what I need for capture or not? https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/decklink . We will be using HD cameras with either component out or HDMI out to go into our capture device. We don't have SDI. Then when we capture all of this I will be putting out a clone to the pjs and the monitor for the computer. We are looking at software to run the premade video clips too. http://www.clickeffects.com/products/crossfire/ or http://new.livestream.com/studio/software There is so much I want to do but just need to right equipment to do it. I am actually a little overwhelmed by all of it when looking for options because there are so many choices. I have not found anyone though that could tell me what my best options would be. I don't live in a large city so I don't have anyone that can show me anything and we are great distances from any. I would find it much easier to explain to someone by talking to them so I hope I can find someone that I can call on this. I don't know if this even makes sense to anyone but I don't know how else to explain it. I kind of know what I want to do but I have mixed emotions too. Like I said we do live streaming of or our games and I would like nothing better than to give us a more professional look and have 3 or more cameras going during the game but I have two great jumbo screens also that I need to utilize also and that will be my first priority at this point. If anyone can give me advice or lead me to the right spot (maybe an insane asylum) I would be grateful. Thank you.

[Cornucopia]

Trying to spec just the right items out for a project like this could take a while, with all the compatibility cross-checks, if you do a "mix & match" a la carte system. It can be done, but you do have to get it just right or you are screwed. If you don't make use of a systems integrator (sometimes available at resellers), it is probably not a good thing to step into without experience.

Therefore, I'd suggest a box LIKE the Tricaster. Possibly the Blackmagic ATEM series. It is slightly more component/modular than the Tricaster's All-in-One studio-in-a-box, so you could start smaller and then expand. Including a separate hardware streaming encoder.

The thing about prebuilt "blackbox" hardware devices is that they are often less flexible in architecture than rolling your own, but they are often more robust and glitch-free (all the installed components are expected to work fine together). And, since most non-Video-Professionals that use them rarely need to remodify their architecture once installed, they are more able to get up to speed (install it...set it...learn it...run it). Less hassle during showtime.

My $0.02.

Scott
(I am affliated in no way with BMD, just a fairly satisfied user)

[ingeborgdot]

I understand what you are saying but cost is an issue also. Do you have any specific Blackmagic ATEM products in mind? I have checked and there are many but not sure what would work best for me. Thanks for your reply.