How to stream live footage on LAN?

[erik2282]

I work for a church. We will be having a big mass in a couple months. In the past, these big masses get so packed that there is not enough pew space for people to sit, leaving many people standing during the whole mass. What my boss has asked me to do is research how we can have people watching a live feed of the mass on a projector screen in our youth center, which is a big room in another building on the same property. The cathedral and the youth center are on the same local network so I thought maybe I can use this somehow to feed the live footage to the youth center.

Can you please give me some pointers on how to do something like this? what kind of equipment/software would I need? We have a projector.

Thanks everyone for input.

Erik

[edDV]

Is this std def video or HD? Analog of digital source? Details help.

If analog, how are you converting to digital?

What is the Make/Model of the projector? Is it networkable?

Is your LAN 100BaseT or Gigabit?

[erik2282]

Wow, thanks for the quick response.

We do not have a video camera yet, we need to get one. probably go with HD. I dont know what you mean by analog or digital source. Please let me know. I will get the make/model of projector tomorrow at work. I will post tomorrow. I know it doesn't have a network port. It has a HDMI, S-Video, and blue VGA connector. The LAN in 100baseT.

Please let me know if you need any other info from me.

[erik2282]

Its an Optoma projector. on the tag it says regulatory model number is DAEPGLKG. its says dlp projector.

[edDV]

The projector has analog component and HDMI inputs and is 1280x720p native.

If all you need is a single camera to projector feed, the simplest method for distances >50 feet would be an HDMI balun pair. Prices varry depending on the distance needed.

An HD camera with HDMI monitor out (most HDV and AVCHD camcorders) feeds the send balun. The long distance feed is a pair of CAT6 network cables to a receive balum which then converts back to HDMI to feed the projector.

The CAT6 cables are run separate from the the LAN in most cases. Note that audio is carried over HDMI so there is no need for a separate audio run.

Example: This one is good for up to 150 feet.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003E7YRWS/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf...HNCH5ZHPE702RD

Alternate. Read user reviews carefully before purchase.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PT1A7C/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf...HNCH5ZHPE702RD

This would be much simpler and less expensive than streaming over the LAN and the quality would be better.

[erik2282]

edDV,

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer my question. I appreciate you looking up that information. Unfortunately, we are not able to make a run like that because the buildings are separated by a parking lot. The LAN is connected between the two buildings with a single fiber cable that we bought at Fry's Electronics. The ends of the fiber go into fiber-to-rj45 adapter/converter things and then into switches. The adapters kind of look like the ones you linked to. Anyway, that cable was buried about a year and a half ago around the other side of the building where there is grass, but that cable run is a lot longer than the buildings are far apart due to the shape of the buildings, land and other structures. I think, even if quality suffered a little bit, going over the network would be how we would have to do it.

Now, I was talking an electrician this morning and he told me that I might be able to use a program called VLC. He told me that that's what this program was for. I''ve actually had this program on my personal computer at home for a long time. I have never used it, but it's there. I don't know if what the electrician told me is true, but if so, is it possible for me to use this somehow to get the live feed? Or would this be something very complicated to do? or not possible at all?

Thank you very much again for taking the time to help me.

Erik.

[Cornucopia]

If you went SD instead of HD, you could use a standard GOOD Dv camera and pipe it thusly:
1. Into pc via firewire
2. Feed into 1st Enosoft DV processor (as source link)
3. Send this through Lan at 25Mbps, which (under light load overhead) should be manageable with the infrastructure you already have (100baseT across 2 buildings & a few 100baseT or Gigabit switches)
4. Connect this destination link to 2nd pc
5. Feed into 2nd Enosoft DV processor and show onscreen as full screen
6. Connect Video projector & speakers/amp to this 2nd pc. Done!

Scott

[edDV]

Now you are into network streaming which is more expensive and complicated. What is your budget?

Only HDV camcorders (at consumer prices) are capable of HD digital streaming live.

You will need a computer to compress the stream and a media player device or computer to feed the projector.

Are you certain you can't pull additional cables through the conduit? What is the total length?

[wingnut2003]

or you could use this, microsoft expressions. it is free and will broadcast over the local network or internet. you can get it here http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=24601

[edDV]

A deluxe setup would use a program like Wirecast than can switch multiple HDV camcorders connected Firewire. It will live stream to a media player (or computer) at the projector plus uplink to Ustream etc. for live internet streaming.
http://www.telestream.net/wire-cast/wirecast.htm

Export formats Flash, Quicktime, WMV.

[erik2282]

Cornucopia,
On Step1 how do i get firewire into pc? the outs on the camera with a firewire adapter? or do some cameras already come with a firewire cable? In step 3, how do set it to 25mbps? on the Enosoft software? I'm guessing that I to set up the IP address on the software to find the computers?

edDV,
My boss didn't give me a budget but I am thinking around $500-$800, mainly for the camera. depending on the price we might go with sd instead of hd. Yes, I can't pull cable through the conduit, by boss does not want to touch that stuff. I will be looking more into the Wirecast and Ustream programs in the next few days.


wingnut2003,
I will look more into that software, it sounds good.

Thank you guys for your responses to my questions. I am much obliged. I will post in the next few days after I play with the programs here at home. I have two Windows7 laptops that I will see if I can stream video with some of the programs. I have a Sony DCR-SR45 Handycam that I will try to use with this.
I was looking the VLC forum and it said to be able to stream live video on the LAN, you have to have a Linux machine as an intermediary device between the source and host computers. hmm.. I dont know..

[Cornucopia]

You would, of course, have to have a Firewire (aka IEEE 1394 / Sony iLink) port on your PC. If you don't already have this, there are PCI cards, etc that you can add on for a VERY reasonable price (I recommend that you get one with a TI controller chip, they have MUCH less problems).

On the Camera? Unless I'm mistaken (and if I am, then the manufacturer must really be CHEAPO), EVERY DV camera should have a Firewire port.

Standard DV is by nature ONLY 25Mbps (~36 if you count type 2 audio & other overhead). No options or variations, and constant bitrate. That's the nature of DV. (There is also a Pro 4:2:2 version that is 50Mbps and an HD version that is 100Mbps, but we're not talking about them here...).

There should be instructions that come in the manual/readme of the Enosoft software that explain how to set up this kind of thing. I haven't looked at it in a number of years, so don't remember all the details. I'm sure that JohnnyMalaria, a member of this board and the author of those programs, would be happy to assist...

Scott

[edDV]

The camera you should consider for digital HD streaming is the Canon HV40 ($599 new). It will live stream 1440x1080 24p/30p/60i MPeg2 to 25 Mbps Firewire and all the streaming apps (Wirecast, VidBlaster, Adobe Flash, etc) support HDV (and DV) input. AVCHD cameras do not support compressed digital streaming, only uncompressed HDMI or analog.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/597424-REG/Canon_3686B001_VIXIA_HV40_High_Definition.html

As said above, this approach would give you a live HD stream for your projector plus ability to internet stream through Ustream, Bitgravity, etc).

http://www.telestream.net/wire-cast/overview.htm
http://vidblaster.com/
http://www.adobe.com/products/flash-media-encoder.html <---- free


PS: The HV40 can also stream standard def DV @ 25 Mbps + 1.5 Mbps PCM stereo audio over Firewire.

[erik2282]

Sorry for my nubee-ness in the video world.

I saw some cameras that say AVC and MPEG4. I was reading up on these compression formats, and I read that Mpeg4 is newer than mpeg2. Would this not be better for what I need? Or does the mpeg4 compression hinder the quality of the hd video stream?

edDV, I showed the canon video camera to my boss and he liked it, but he asked me if I can find one similar that instead of cassette, has an internal Harddrive or can record to SD cards.

Thank you for helping with all my questions.

[aedipuss]

if you are streaming live you can just leave the tape out of the cam.

[edDV]

Sorry for my nubee-ness in the video world.

I saw some cameras that say AVC and MPEG4. I was reading up on these compression formats, and I read that Mpeg4 is newer than mpeg2. Would this not be better for what I need? Or does the mpeg4 compression hinder the quality of the hd video stream?

Those cameras would not stream live. You would need to record first, capture from the flash card then play back. If you want a live stream (at less than $5000 investment) go with the HV-40.

edDV, I showed the canon video camera to my boss and he liked it, but he asked me if I can find one similar that instead of cassette, has an internal Harddrive or can record to SD cards.

Thank you for helping with all my questions.

Same answer. You can directly record the stream in the PC but I'd recommend also recording to tape as a backup.

I suggest you talk to tech support at Wirecast or VidBlast.

[DJboutit]

Wireless video transmitter

http://www.amazon.com/Nyrius-NY-GS3200-Wireless-Transmitter-NY-GS3200RX/dp/B001WW0D98/...4877769&sr=1-5

http://www.amazon.com/RF-Link-AVS-5811-5-8GHz-Transmission-Repeater/dp/B0002EXJ8Y/ref=...4878185&sr=1-1

[edDV]

Wireless video transmitter

http://www.amazon.com/Nyrius-NY-GS3200-Wireless-Transmitter-NY-GS3200RX/dp/B001WW0D98/...4877769&sr=1-5

http://www.amazon.com/RF-Link-AVS-5811-5-8GHz-Transmission-Repeater/dp/B0002EXJ8Y/ref=...4878185&sr=1-1

Very low quality sd. Distance probably won't work.

Anyone else have an alternate?

[DJboutit]

They work up to like 400ft if they are only 200ft to 300ft apart they should work fine on a 40" tv. The only good way to do this would be get a hold of like a 10w to 30w tv transmitter but this would be a little pricey $1500+

[DJboutit]

Here another way quality might not be to great get a Linksys wrt54g wireless router install wddrt on the router and turn up the power of the rotuer a good amount & also hook 2 d link antennas to the router place router as high as possible. Now get a wireless laptop that can hookup a d link antenna, whichh takes video in sing up to this site https://winamp.orb.com/orb/html/login.html so you can steam the video from the video camera. Now in the room that is away from the church use a computer hooked to a 40" flat screen tv then have have the computer login to https://winamp.orb.com/orb/html/login.html. I am not 100% sure winamp remote can do live streaming I have not tested it. The video will play just fine if you can get the laptop in the church & the computer in the other room to connect to the same network

[erik2282]

On the Canon HV40, is it possible to record to the miniSD card while streaming to the computer and on to the LAN? If so, that would be ok because i saw that there are miniSD to SD adapters that we can plug in to another computer for quick viewing. ater everything is done.

I've suggested a wireless setup, but it was turned down.


thank you all for your suggestions.

[aedipuss]

the sd card is only for still pictures.

[edDV]

On the Canon HV40, is it possible to record to the miniSD card while streaming to the computer and on to the LAN? If so, that would be ok because i saw that there are miniSD to SD adapters that we can plug in to another computer for quick viewing. ater everything is done.

I've suggested a wireless setup, but it was turned down.


thank you all for your suggestions.

The HV40 does a live stream over Firewire whether or not a tape is also recording. You can record at the PC end (raw HDV stream or converted distribution stream) but it is a good idea to also record to tape in the camcorder as a backup.


PS: I'm assuming a budget around $1000 here (cmacorder plus sw not counting a PC or media player at the projector). HDV cams are well supported. AVCHD solutions will require more expensive higher performance computers and Black Magic HDMI capture devices. The tech level is much higher since HDMI live capture with streaming conversion is early beta level. Again talk to tech support for the streaming software.

[erik2282]

1x 1/8" (3.5mm) Stereo Mini

This is what the specifications say for the INPUTS on the Canon HV40. Is this for a microphone? Can I plug in audio from our soundboard to this port/plug? If so, I'd use the headphones port on the soundboard to the camera.

Thank you.

[edDV]

1x 1/8" (3.5mm) Stereo Mini

This is what the specifications say for the INPUTS on the Canon HV40. Is this for a microphone? Can I plug in audio from our soundboard to this port/plug? If so, I'd use the headphones port on the soundboard to the camera.

Thank you.

The HV40 has an external Mic Jack. You can convert a balanced Line or Mic level XLR from the mixer with a step down transformer or camcorder external mixer (Beachtek DXA-2T).

http://www.performanceaudio.com/buy/Shure/A96F/5770 (mono)
http://www.beachtek.com/

[1234-One]

I am not experienced, but with my searching I also found this possibility:
http://www.christianworldmedia.com/wordstream/how-to-webcast-using-expression-encoder.asp

[edDV]

I am not experienced, but with my searching I also found this possibility:
http://www.christianworldmedia.com/wordstream/how-to-webcast-using-expression-encoder.asp

Yes, that works too and is similar to Adobe's flash encoder. I'm not sure if it imports an HDV stream, you may need to drop down to standard def DV. You will need a PC at the projector to receive the stream.