The Roland V-600UHD: Big Bang With Big Potential
Production Tom White Production Tom White

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.

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Teaching Resources, Production Guest Contributor Teaching Resources, Production Guest Contributor

Company Profile: Conference Room Systems (CRS)

CRS (Conference Room Systems) is an ecommerce company offering a curated selection of audiovisual solutions for any organization. The parent company to CRS, Haverford Systems Inc., has been working within the audiovisual arena for more than 30 years as a Phila.-area installer and integrator. Following that legacy, CRS knew that they could also help DIY (do-it-yourself) customers across the U.S. With well-known manufacturers featured on its site, including Cambridge Sound Management, HuddleCamHD, PTZOptics and Magewell, CRS proudly offers the right balance of high-quality and affordability.

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Learn How Schools Can Stream Esports Tournaments
Teaching Resources, Production, Streaming Guest Contributor Teaching Resources, Production, Streaming Guest Contributor

Learn How Schools Can Stream Esports Tournaments

During the 2019 StreamGeeks Summit, a three-versus-three RocketLeague esports tournament took place. The event was live-streamed by a student-run team from New York City’s S.A.R High School and broadcast to Twitch. The student-run broadcast team used a Wirecast Gear video production system, which was connected to three PTZOptics cameras via SDI and seven gaming computers using NDI. The main PTZOptics camera was a 12X ZCam connected via SDI. This camera was used to capture the play-by-play announcer team from Hofstra University. Students from the S.A.R High School also had access to two PTZOptics 20X-SDI cameras they could remotely control using Wirecast and Xbox controllers to capture various views throughout the esports tournament.

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Why Can’t I Live Stream to Facebook?
Teaching Resources, Production, Streaming Guest Contributor Teaching Resources, Production, Streaming Guest Contributor

Why Can’t I Live Stream to Facebook?

If you’ve tried to stream to Facebook recently and encountered an error on your encoder, you’re not alone! At the beginning of May, Facebook started rolling out a new streaming protocol called RTMPS. As of November, the new protocol took full effect. Previously, Facebook - like nearly every other CDN - used the RTMP protocol for live streaming. Consequently, up until Facebook announced its update, most live streaming encoders were only designed to support RTMP. So, if your encoder is suddenly unable to stream to Facebook, you likely have Facebook’s streaming protocol to blame.

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Do Not Fear Color
Filmmaking, Production Guest Contributor Filmmaking, Production Guest Contributor

Do Not Fear Color

Up thru the 1990’s TV broadcasters needed to be timid about colors because the analog TV technology produced such unreliable results. One brand of cameras produced acceptable cool colors and earthy tone but throw a yellow or red at them and the TV set would look as though the image was on fire, while another brand could tame the tearing red, but washout the remaining parts of the color wheel. But we’ve come a long way.

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We Revisit Hoover High School After 10 Years
Teaching Resources, Production, Streaming Kreativ Alchemy Teaching Resources, Production, Streaming Kreativ Alchemy

We Revisit Hoover High School After 10 Years

The Video Productions program at Hoover High School in North Canton, Ohio, began in the fall of 1998 with the purchase of two digital broadcast video cameras and one Avid Express nonlinear editing system. Today, the program is two-fold, with three levels of a Career Tech based Video Production classes and a multi-year set of Broadcast Journalism courses. Both programs are multi-award winning and are rooted in exploring the fundamentals and advanced techniques of the television and film industries.

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Hands on Review of the New IDX VL-4X Charger
Production Guest Contributor Production Guest Contributor

Hands on Review of the New IDX VL-4X Charger

Our student work force operates at a very high level of production that actually competes with most local production companies in terms of quality. In order to get many hands on gear at the same time, we search for budget friendly products that can stand up to any expected abuse in the field. The VL-4X is a slim, lightweight 4-channel charger that is portable and affordable, making it a perfect fit for our needs.

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In Plain Sight: Finding Inspiration for Set Design
Production Guest Contributor Production Guest Contributor

In Plain Sight: Finding Inspiration for Set Design

I have been designing studio scenery for TV productions for a very long time, close to 2000 productions, from the grand to the prosaic. Just like any person who has ever had to put a pen to paper or a brush to canvas with a deadline clock ticking, I have my personal sources, computer folders, scrapbooks and old books. But I often find my best inspiration in the aisles of my local home center.

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Veteran’s Day Project from Hoover High School
Production Guest Contributor Production Guest Contributor

Veteran’s Day Project from Hoover High School

Our next documentary called “My Grandfather’s Story” and it will premiere November 8th, 2019. It is the story of William E. Pilati, who served in the 275th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, and will be told through a documentary featuring Mr. Pilati and his granddaughter Siena Pilati. Pilati fought at the Battle of the Bulge with his fellow soldiers in a halftrack vehicle.

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The Game Has Changed: Video Production is Not What it Used To Be
Teaching Resources, Production Tom White Teaching Resources, Production Tom White

The Game Has Changed: Video Production is Not What it Used To Be

The demand for video content has grown exponentially in the last five years. It’s everywhere. In the past, if students put out some video products the response was “that’s cool” or “man I wish I knew how to do that.” Now video products must flow from the classroom immediately and consistently. News, sports, clubs, administrators, community entities, and more all want video and they want it now. If you are in a small community, they not only want it now, they want it for free and from you. Video has permeated every aspect of life and this is the biggest thing that has changed about our jobs.

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Shooting Great Footage in Outdoor Lighting
Production Kreativ Alchemy Production Kreativ Alchemy

Shooting Great Footage in Outdoor Lighting

The fundamental principles of good light­ing apply whether you shoot video indoors or out. However, sunlight presents unique challenges to videographers. On almost any given day, there is more than enough light outside to shoot a scene. At first, an abundance of light seems like an asset. However, the hundreds and thousands of lumens cast by the sun can actually cause problems for your camcorder. Not techni­cal problems, but aesthetic ones.

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Blackmagic Design Announces New ATEM Mini
Production Kreativ Alchemy Production Kreativ Alchemy

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.

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A Look at BMD’s Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
Production Guest Contributor Production Guest Contributor

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.

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Sound for Live Production - Part 1
Production Guest Contributor Production Guest Contributor

Sound for Live Production - Part 1

The key to good audio for live production, as in all productions is isolation. By isolation I am referring to isolating, or emphasizing your desired audio against the ambient, or unwanted audio. Like almost everything else, the key is improving the signal to noise ratio.

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How Wilmington University Used Wireless Video for Spring Commencement
Production Kreativ Alchemy Production Kreativ Alchemy

How Wilmington University Used Wireless Video for Spring Commencement

Wilmington University, a non-profit undergraduate & graduate college based in New Castle, Delaware, found the answer with zero-delay wireless video. Essentially, wireless video is the sending of A/V from camera to switcher completely wirelessly, removing the need for any HDMI or SDI cables. This means that previously stationary cameras can now be roaming, capturing the action from exciting new angles and giving the audience a more engaging show.

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A Graphics Solution You Have to See to Believe
Production, Streaming Tom White Production, Streaming Tom White

A Graphics Solution You Have to See to Believe

I recently got my hands on NewBlueFx’s Titler Live 4 and that was the answer. I used Titler Live at my previous school for our sports shows but I never used it for news. One of the things I remembered about Titler Live is how easy it was to build graphics. One of the things I was most excited about with Titler Live 4 was the integration of spreadsheets into the serving of graphics info.

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Moving to PTZ
Production, Streaming Guest Contributor Production, Streaming Guest Contributor

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.

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Small Parabolic vs. Shotgun Mic
Production Guest Contributor Production Guest Contributor

Small Parabolic vs. Shotgun Mic

Many believe that all shotgun microphones have very tight pickup patterns similar to the polar pattern on the right. Unfortunately, this polar pattern shown is for a lobar microphone while only very few shotgun microphones have a lobar pattern. Most low-cost shotgun have a cardioid polar pattern while medium cost shotgun microphones have hyper-cardioid, or super-cardioid polar patterns.

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