Myth Busted: Hollyland Wireless Does Work When People Show Up!
Tom shares his experience with the Hollyland C1 as he tried to bust the myth about the device only working in the perfect scenarios.
What Are The 5 Major Problems With Wireless Microphones?
Wireless microphones are convenient and versatile devices that allow you to move freely on stage or in the room without worrying about cables. However, they also come with their own challenges and potential issues that can affect the quality and reliability of your sound. This blog post will discuss the five major problems with wireless microphones and how to solve them.
The Blackmagic Camera App Should Change Your Classroom
On September 14th, Grant Petty and his Mary Poppins desk gave the IBC 2023 Update. There are two times each year that you can be guaranteed that Blacmagic will announce new products and this year was no different. But this one is different! There were several things announced including new cameras and other tools but this announcement should change the way you teach students how to use cameras.
Building a Live Video Workflow with Blackmagic Gear
I was so excited when Blackmagic Design reached out to let us try a live video workflow with the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Plus, Blackmagic Hyperdeck Studio 4K Pro, Blackmagic Web Presenter 4K, and Blackmagic ATEM Mini.
Must-Have Affordable Camera Gear for Beginners
The hardest thing about being a student filmmaker is not having the gear you need to start working on your craft. You are so eager to get started, but you don’t have anything to do so. Maybe you have the advantage of using your school’s gear for your projects, but you finally decide it’s time to start investing in your own because you don’t want to borrow anymore.
Unboxing SmallHD Focus 5" On-Camera Monitor
Watch as Stream Semester Unboxes the SmallHD Focus 5" On-Camera Monitor and walks you through the details for educators and student filmmakers. Let us know in the comments what you think of the monitor! We love it!
ATEM Mini Pro is the Best Intro Switcher for Educators
The ATEM Mini Pro is as close to plug-n-play as you can get. It has two buttons to get the video content you create out of the switcher. The ATEM Mini Pro is the first hardware switcher that I know of that has both recording and streaming capabilities built into the unit. This device is earthshaking and anyone who live streams is scrambling to get their hands on one.
Perfect Live Production Setup for Mixing, Switching, and Streaming
When your students are creating a live production, whether it’s your regular newscast or a special sports game for social media, you need an end-to-end IP solution that’s flexible, portable, and affordable. That’s exactly what you get with the Switchblade M7, Kiloview E2 encoder, and Skaarhoj Air Fly controller. Take a look at how each piece of gear works in the system.
New Video System with Instant Replay for School Sports
Genesis-1 includes 3 cameras, 4 channels of instant-replay, slow motion, and a title generator that includes “score-bugs.” This turnkey video production system is designed to achieve a complete video production right out of the box. It includes JVC GY-HC500 4K cameras, an integrated switching system, a Clear-Com 2-Channel intercom, and an H.264 encoder for direct streaming to your favorite social media platforms.
Affordable Gear for the Content Creator
As a High School Media Arts teacher, I have access to thousands of dollars of gear in a TV studio. Students learn how to operate high-tech broadcast cameras, increasingly capable DSLR cameras, and switcher boards that allow us to film a real TV production. But there are two pieces of equipment I bought recently that changed the game for productions on-the-go.
The Roland V-600UHD: Big Bang With Big Potential
On the surface, the V-600UHD is a standard switcher. Eight channels of video, a T-bar, audio meters, and of course the cut and auto buttons that are standard issue with all switchers. On the back, there are 4 HDMI and 2 SDI inputs paired with audio in. As for outputs, you have 1 SDI out, three HDMI outs, of course a multi view out and a pair of XLR outputs for audio. Again, pretty standard stuff… But just like frosty, there is a lot of magic under that hat.
Blackmagic Design Announces New ATEM Mini
Blackmagic Design has announced the ATEM Mini a new low cost live production switcher specifically designed to allow live streaming to YouTube and business presentations via Skype. ATEM Mini will be available in November 2019 from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide for US$295.
A Look at BMD’s Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
The Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is a small, lightweight, cinematic camera that is perfect for student users and professionals alike. It is easy to hold, easy to operate, and easy to see why this is one of the most popular cameras on the market. Inexpensive at $1295, this camera fits nicely into new or existing workflows especially for users who want high-end cinematic style camera on a low-end budget.
Tom Unboxes His Ace 500 from Teradek
Getting more eyes on your videos requires movement and dynamic camera angles that are impossible to achieve with a wired camera setup. That’s where wireless video comes in. The Teradek Ace 500 is the most affordable wireless video system made for schools. Connect an Ace transmitter to your camera and get closer to the action while sending HD video back to your switcher up to 500ft away.
Seriously, You Can Stream From Anywhere
After using the VidiU Go for three or so months now, I have to say that I am beyond impressed with how well it works and how dependable it has been for me. I typically stream to youtube and the NFHS Network and have had no issue with either. I definitely suggest you give it a shot - especially if you are a school that has to travel a great distance in order to play other teams or are in an area where internet connectivity is rare if at all.
Moving to PTZ
How did PTZ Optics cameras make my life easy? Well… If you have read my stuff for a while you know that I hate graduation. Graduation and cats may be on the same level when it comes to how much I hate them. Graduation always brings something to the table that makes me want to scream and throw things. This year was no different.
Sound Shark Attacks In-Game Audio
The Sound Shark is the smallest parabolic microphone I have ever seen. It will actually work with the shoe mount on the camera and not blow out the balance on a tripod. Most people are aware of parabolic mics as the ones “that those guys use on the sidelines at football games.” This is the portable, easy to use version of the same technology. Parabolic mics “aim” soundwaves toward a small microphone built into the device.
Cellular Bonding and College Sports
LiveU invented and patented bonded cellular video transmission in 2008. At that time, LiveU changed the workflow of news acquisition, replacing expensive microwave trucks at a local station level with wearable backpack encoders. News stations could cover breaking news and weather events from virtually anywhere. Today we are disrupting how live sports is covered, replacing costly Fiber and Satellite truck solutions with portable IP encoders.
Henry Engineering Sportscaster Review
The SportsCaster is a specialized mixer and audio controller. It mixes the mics (and other sources), but it also creates the different headphone mixes I need for the broadcast team. And it gives me a “three-button Intercom” so I can selectively communicate with the announcers, the field reporter, and the camera ops.
A Beginner’s Guide to ScreenFlow
Some of the more high-end, professional grade editing suites can do all this and more, but unless you’re a dedicated film school and you’ve got around $1000 to blow on a software license, chances are you’re looking for something which gets the job done well without maxing out your school’s budget. ScreenFlow 4 is, hands down, one of the most intuitive yet advanced video capture and production tools you can buy for under $100.