Journey from SD to HD Webcasting
Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2016 3:16 pm
Back in the dark ages when webcasting began, we had one EVI-D70 camera. We quickly learned it was difficult to produce a pleasing stake conference with all the herky-jerky . camera movements. We got a lot of comments! So we added a video mixer and used a member’s camcorder as a second camera. Things were a little better but other issues cropped up - like communicating to the camcorder operator, color balance between cameras, video noise, etc. Wanting to make things better, we found we could buy used EVI-D30 cameras on ebay for <$75ea, so we bought three cameras. With 3 cameras we could now produce a stake conference with NO live camera movements, and a variety of camera angles just like general conference(left, center, and right views). The comments were now MUCH better. This setup served us well for a long time.
When FM gave us the VidiU encoder in 2015, the stake presy asked us to begin upgrading to HD cameras and equipment. However, buying several new HD PTZ cameras + HD Switcher at the same time was a problem for the stake budget, so we got creative. In late 2015 we researched and found a older model (Canon HF-M40) HD camcorder (with large noisefree 1/3” sensor) that still used an IR remote controller (for remote ‘zoom’ control) and purchased several used at $200each from ebay. Even today, excellent quality refurbished Canon camcorders (models HF- G30/G20/M50) are available on the canon website at low prices. We proceeded to mount the camcorders on top of our old EVI-D30 cameras to give us pan/tilt capability. It isn’t pretty to look at, but we have 4 HD camcorders with PTZ for <$1K – which can be used until prices are more reasonable on “real” HD PTZ cameras! In early 2016 we completed the rest of the system. To get the camera HDMI signals to the switcher, we opted to use robust RG59 coax and inexpensive HDMI/SDI converters (using long, amplified HDMI cables is not as reliable). The addition of the Roland V1-HD Switcher, a 1x4 HDMI Splitter, HDMItoAV Converter, 1X2 Video DA, and a LOT of wires made the system complete.
With this “all digital” HD video signal path, the encoded webcast has no visible noise, more dynamic range & contrast, better resolution, and more saturated color than before. The last step will be to replace the obsolete 800x600pixel, dim projectors in several bldgs. Attached is a schematic of the system.
When FM gave us the VidiU encoder in 2015, the stake presy asked us to begin upgrading to HD cameras and equipment. However, buying several new HD PTZ cameras + HD Switcher at the same time was a problem for the stake budget, so we got creative. In late 2015 we researched and found a older model (Canon HF-M40) HD camcorder (with large noisefree 1/3” sensor) that still used an IR remote controller (for remote ‘zoom’ control) and purchased several used at $200each from ebay. Even today, excellent quality refurbished Canon camcorders (models HF- G30/G20/M50) are available on the canon website at low prices. We proceeded to mount the camcorders on top of our old EVI-D30 cameras to give us pan/tilt capability. It isn’t pretty to look at, but we have 4 HD camcorders with PTZ for <$1K – which can be used until prices are more reasonable on “real” HD PTZ cameras! In early 2016 we completed the rest of the system. To get the camera HDMI signals to the switcher, we opted to use robust RG59 coax and inexpensive HDMI/SDI converters (using long, amplified HDMI cables is not as reliable). The addition of the Roland V1-HD Switcher, a 1x4 HDMI Splitter, HDMItoAV Converter, 1X2 Video DA, and a LOT of wires made the system complete.
With this “all digital” HD video signal path, the encoded webcast has no visible noise, more dynamic range & contrast, better resolution, and more saturated color than before. The last step will be to replace the obsolete 800x600pixel, dim projectors in several bldgs. Attached is a schematic of the system.