Better Video Distribution

Last week we got a problem with our Video Distributor, so this time I made a little research to get a good (and hard to find) one. I found the Extron DA 6AV RCA EQ and it is produced by Extron Electronics, and by some reason, they have a policy that made me hard to order that piece of equipment, they don't sale direct, and they have some rules about territories and so for to their resellers so I cannot order from anywhere... finally, after several phone calls and a lot of patience, I got it. It worth all the effort, once installed, the video quality was enhanced immediately. We have a sharper image with great black & white values. The improvement really benefited our Internet Campus.

The Rack Two

The rack two is the newest on the Internet Campus.

• 1. APC Rack mount UPS
• 2. Empty space for future backup server
• 3. Power Speakers
• 4. Alesis Multimix usb Mixer
• 5. Keyboard/Mouse rack tray
• 6.The English Flash Media Encoder Server with an Osprey 230 Capture Card, Dual Core 2.5 GHZ, 4 GB Ram, 500 GB Hard Drive, Windows XP SP3 made by me on a Rack Mount Enclosure cabinet.
• 7. Furman Power Conditioner
• 8. KDVR-18 Custom made Equipment Rack
• 9. LN37A530 Samsung LCD TV/Monitor

Have Fun!

Flash Media Streaming

We are currently using three diferent providers: Mogulus, U-Stream and Live.yahoo.com these are free streaming services that allow you to be up and running with a live channel in a few minutes as soon as you have capability to deliver your video signal from your camera to your computer. The three of them are in beta stage and will be advertising driven, but while the beta phase is running, we can have it ad free.

My favorite one is mogulus, because it has an awesome control panel with great features that allow you to use lower third graphics and more.

Windows Media Streaming Provider

One of the most frequents questions I receive is about our Streaming provider for Windows Media format, seven years ago I meet Raul Joselito Palma who was launching a streaming service for radio and TV focused on the Christian market and we did few projects together, so when we started our Internet Campus, he helped a lot with his knowledge and expertise. We developed a private channel using IPTV technology and we are planning to use it for Small Groups. It has been always a reliable service with no blackouts since we started and always providing support to solve any problem, so here is all the information of the company.

http://www.elevangelio.net/

Their market is basically the Spanish churches, but they also serve English speaking ministries. The contact there is the Eng. Raul Joselito Palma and they also provided our IPTV solution for out Internet Campus.

The operator Console

Here is the Operator Console for the Internet Campus:

• 1. We use a MacBook as Character Generator, running power point with a slide with black background to run the lower third.

• 2. The MacBook is connected with a video composit adapter from Apple to the Video Switcher (4)

• 3. We have a Video Input selector to choose from Live Camera on Studio or another live camera out of the studio.

• 4. We use an Edirol V-4 Video mixer to combine the main auditorium, the Internet Campus Studio, CG, DVD's or any other source.

• 5. A preview Monitor is always required to monitor what's going on.

• 6. A 16 Channel Yamaha Audio Mixer is used to receive the Audio from the Main Audio Console, also to manipulate and control audio from studio, DVD, MP3 Player and so fot.

• 7. A DVD Player (DVD-X) is used to have a video loop running while we are not transmitting live.

• 8. A second DVD Player (DVD-Y) is used to play auxiliar videos or any other required signal.

• 9. An LTO tube pre-amp for the Studio Microphone is used to get a better audio quality. Belive it or not, there is no solid state pre amp that can replace a tube one... at least up to this day.

The Rack One

The Rack One, is the first one I build and it contains the main gears of our Internet Campus Streaming Servers:

• 1. An APC 1.5 KVA UPS
  

• 2. The Spanish Windows Media encoder Server with an Osprey 230 Capture Card, Quad Core Intel 3.0 Ghz. 4 GB Ram, 500 GB Hard Drive, Windows XP SP3 made by me on a Rack Mount Enclosure cabinet.

• 3. The English Windows Media encoder Server with an Osprey 230 Capture Card, Two Xeon 2.4 Dual processors, 4 GB Ram, 500 GB Hard Drive, Windows XP SP3 also made by me on a Rack Mount Enclosure cabinet.

• 4. Rack Mount Osprey Balanced Adapter

• 5. Video Distributor (Soon to be replaced by a new one)

• 6. Dell 1gbps/fiber switch

• 7. A Furman power conditioner/switch

• 8. An LCD screen to monitor the servers.

Video Distributor failure

Few months ago, I got a cheap video distributor. Video distributor it is the core of the processed video to be streamed. The signal comes out from the Video Mixer to the the Distributor, and then from the distributor goes to the different servers and monitors we have on the studio. Well, long story short, last Sunday I noticed a little blue color on Troy's face and the supposed blue background was green... out of phase. After a fast review we found the problem. The Impact Acoustics video distributor. A good friend of mine once told me, cheap is more expensive than good. I was able to experience that, so over the amount I paid for the cheap one, now I added the cost of the new one, plus the time to find a good one... I ordered an Extron DA 6AV RCA EQ . We use Extron product on the video production room for several years with no complains. Finally is good to remember that cheap, is always that... cheap.

Last week podcast...

Flamingo Road Church Internet Campus is publishing a Podcast every Week, and they invited me to participate on My First Recorded Podcast!!!! Want to listen to it? You'll have fun!

Hosts: Brian Vasil , Stacie Gonzalez and Miguel UmanzorGuest: Arturo De La Mora, Research and Development Pastor at Flamingo Road Church.

Mobile Live Transmition

We had today two awesome events at the beach, Baptism and a Concert. We got 7 countries watching the event. The question is:

What do you need to have a live event... at the beach?

• The beach! Hollywood Beach, FL.
• A computer (Of course) with firewire port (IEEE 1394) I use a MacBook running Windows XP Pro, Service Pack 3, 2 Gigabyte Ram, 2.2 Dual Core Intel Processor.
• A nice video camera with firewire. I use a Panasonic 3ccd
• A firewire cable with the specific connectors for the Camera and the Laptop
• A good wireless internet card (I Have verizon Wireless) with at least 500 kbps upload stream
• Adobe Flash Media Encoder
• Webcam Max Software
• A great team
• Your Mogulus.com Account
• Extra Batteries for your Lap Top and your Camera
  
  

Mix all together and you'll have a live event!...

Oh! My Gosh!!!! I felt sleep while blogger was uploading the pictures.... lol



I'll c onclude this post later on! zzzzzzzzzzz...................