[Jeff Pulera]

I will also add that PTZ camera manufacturers are now adding native NDI output to their cameras. Panasonic and PTZ Optics will both be offering NDI soon, and Newtek just introduced their own camera, the NDIHX model.

NDI offers a one-cable solution with NDI PTZ cameras. ONE network cable can offer Power, Video, and Control of the PTZ camera! Imagine one operator being able to view, control, record, and stream programs from 4 rooms simultaneously…

The future is here!!!

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Jeff Pulera]

Newtek TriCaster would be very well-suited to this project. The only caveat is that you can only encode one stream at a time, except with TC1 model which has 2 encoders. Meaning, you would have to take 2 video outputs from TriCaster into stand-alone streaming encoders for additional streams. Or could use a PC with a dual-input streaming card such as Osprey perhaps.

Newtek NDI is video over the network, with no latency and excellent quality. Newtek just introduced the NDI Connect Spark. It’s a $495 box that takes in an HDMI source and converts to NDI – plug unit into the network and video travels to any device on the network (SDI version also available). Put a Spark in each room, and no need to run video cabling all over – use existing network jacks.

Using TC1 (or other TriCaster model with Advanced Edition upgrade), you would have 8-16 NDI inputs available over the network (plus HDMI or SDI inputs depending on model). All 4 cameras can come in via NDI, or physical connection. If you don’t want to use the venue’s network, pick up an inexpensive network hub ($50) and run your own Cat-6 between rooms to connect all sources to TriCaster.

TriCaster has 4 M/E buses. Route 1 camera to each bus, and use the M/E Keyers to add unique graphics to each source. There are 4 of these Keyers (DSKs) per M/E. TriCaster can record up to 4 sources at once to the hard drive as high-quality .mov with 4:2:2 quality, plus 2 additional sources as H.264 format.

The TC1 would be able to take in all 4 cameras either as SDI or NDI, add appropriate graphics via DSK to each source, record each source, and stream 2 of those sources via internal encoders. There are 4 SDI outputs – configure sources 3 and 4 to output as SDI and route to external streaming encoder (about $500-1000 per unit, various vendors).

TC1 is $15k. Could pull this off with a TC Mini at $8k (Mini HD4 with Advanced Edition software added). Mini would encode 1 stream internally, route 2 unique HDMI outputs to external encoders, and for 4th stream…NDI to another computer which would stream that source.

None of these are inexpensive, but they are ideal solutions to do what you need to do.

Since Newtek allows other vendors to use NDI without charge, it is gaining rapid adoption. For instance, vMix and other software switchers are now integrating NDI into their products. You may be able to build your own PC with vMix and add appropriate video cards to the system and achieve similar results to TriCaster workflow. Would require vMix 4k or PRO version. This would be less expensive than TriCaster if you are comfortable with the “build your own” workflow.

If you’d like to discuss options further, check our website for contact info – https://www.sharbor.com

Thanks

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Jeff Pulera]

Hi Alexander,

Why not just give your friend an .mp4 file? DVDs are becoming pretty old-school, and most Macs stopped offering optical drive years ago.

Thanks

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Jeff Pulera]

I’d recommend 16GB as the minimum RAM for HD editing work. That will help in many areas. What processor do you have?

I notice that the session frame rate is 29.894 rather than 29.97 which makes me wonder if you recorded some game play and the recording software perhaps used Variable Frame Rate? Adobe Premiere won’t even edit VFR at all, but assuming Vegas does, that frame rate variation will affect render times since it increases the calculations required.

Premiere users will run the VFR footage through HandBrake software to create a new Constant Frame Rate version of the clip prior to editing.

Thanks

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Jeff Pulera]

Hi Chris,

As an aside, I notice you exported the .mp4 using the 24.00 frame rate. Is that what you are shooting, the FILM frame rate, or perhaps the more common 24p VIDEO frame rate of 23.976? If the latter, then best to set the editing session and export to match, otherwise the footage timing gets changed a bit which can affect final quality.

Thanks

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Jeff Pulera]

We’re at a disadvantage since you did not share any specifications of the current PC, but in general – do not spend money to try and boost performance. The computer is very old and outdated and it will be a waste of money. At best, you would see only very modest gains.

Go with a new system if you can afford it. For editing HD video, you’d want an Intel Core i7 with nVidia graphics, such as GTX 1060 or 1070 for instance, 16GB RAM minimum, SSD boot drive, etc.

Thanks

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Jeff Pulera]

VLC Media Player is free and works great to play most any type of file.

Do NOT use Frame Blending, it’s not what you think it is.

There is no issue mixing 60p and 30p – it’s when you throw in a 24p clip into the mix, then it gets a little strange. 60p can be changed to 30p or 60i with no issues at all.

Edit your 60p clips in a 60p Sequence. Unless you wish to add some smooth slow-motion to portions, then edit in 30p Sequence and when you do a 50% speed change it will be silky smooth (using extra frames from the 60p source).

When exporting, there is no 60p for DVD – that will be 60i, or Progressive (30p). That’s okay, that is taken care of when you export from Premiere, just choose a preset. For Blu-ray, 60i is the way to go for export, again using a preset.

For online, your choice of 60p or 30p. Technically, encoding a 60p clip will require a lot more bandwidth (double?) than the same clip encoded to 30p, since you are compressing twice as many frames. Try 30p (29.97) export and you might find better playback on different devices since it will be easier for them to decode and display the 30p video.

Thanks

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Jeff Pulera]

Hi Mike,

More is not always better – for instance, cranking the bitrate up to the max.

Why not simply try one of the available H.264 export presets “as is” without messing with any settings? And why use QuickTime Player? Try something else.

As for Blu-ray, that supports 1080p24 or 1080i, no 60p or 30p options

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Jeff Pulera]

Hi Victoria,

I wonder if she is on a Mac? I don’t believe Macs can play .avi files. Beyond that, I would question the use of an .avi file in the first place for delivery – is there a specific need for the format to be .avi ? For electronic delivery, .mp4 is the usually the best choice because the files are much smaller than .avi and an .mp4 should be universally playable on PC, Mac, tablet, etc.

Thanks

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Jeff Pulera]

Dave has it right – ProRes export is NOT available on Windows machines, period, so that’s out. Use a DnxHD preset from Premiere (make sure settings match source – frame size, frame rate, pixel aspect, fields) and this will create an .mxf file that looks great and holds to up several generations. You can also use the Cineform codec (.mov) with good quality.

NEVER use H.264 as an intermediate codec – it is extremely lossy, meaning lots of compression = loss of quality. Use H.264 for delivery only as final stage, not during editing (other than source video if already H.264 which you can’t help).

Thanks

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers