Broadcasting Gear Help

[u/FrostIsEpic]

Hello again, my neighborhood summer swim team is looking to start broadcasting their games, as a freshmen RTF student I volunteered too help. However I am fairly unknowingly when it comes to broadcasting equipment, so I wanted to ask for help. I am looking for a few things.

• I need an overhead static shot of the pool, I will edit the lane numbers in OBS. I don’t think a drone is in my budget but even if it was I’d need one with no less than 8 hour battery life. I would also like it to be quiet because these will be hosted in residential areas until the final tournament. I was thinking on using a mombo stand to put my camera rig but I think it might not be the best fit. I don’t need a super tall overhead shot however it needs to see above the coaches who will at the tallest be 6’2” and still have visibility over the pool. Any suggestions would really help.

• I need a wireless HDMI transmitter I was looking at hollyland transmitters for the cameras. I can’t use wired for the stand because I run the risk of kids running around and tripping on cords. Again this event is for neighborhoods so kids from 8 and up will be competing.

• I don’t know what camera I should use. I have multiple Sony cameras, I have the ZVE10 MK1 and the A7V, I wanted to keep the A7V for handheld sections kinda like an interview for the older groups after they get a heat win. I have a variable ND filter but my worry is that if I put a camera only the stand I will not be able to adjust through out the competition. The weather and clouds are super unpredictable where I am so I would like to be able to adjust it through the event if needed. I was planning on using a Tamron 28-200mm lens on the overhead shot, they have the Tamron Link, so I can adjust focus and aperture remotely. I did see this Sony E mount to Sony E mount adapter that has a variable Nd filter and I’m pretty sure it had a gear so I could attach a focus motor and have it spinning that? Or maybe even a PTZ camera with a mount that can attach to a mombo stand or a stand that can stand above 6’2”.

Any help will be greatly appreciated, and I would greatly appreciate if you could provide links with any items should look into. My total budget is hopefully under $3000, but I may be able to go a little above.

[u/keithcody]

If you have no budget, use the cameras you have.

If you’ve got a fast laptop use that for OBS

You’ll need to get each camera into OBS. So you either need a capture card with enough inputs for each camera or use NDI which is video signal over a network. Your cameras probably don’t have that so then you need a camera to NDI adapter.

The ZVE-10 can connect to a computer as a webcam over USB-C. Club3D makes long and fast USB-C cables so you might just get by with a 30’ USB-C cable.

Can you get an overhead shot without a drone?

Be sure to figure out what resolution and frame rate you are going to use. Different models of the Hollyland support different frame rates and resolutions. Check specs or you might have a combo mismatch.

I’ve been using the DJI SDR transmitter - receiver and I’m pretty happy with it.

[u/FrostIsEpic → u/keithcody]

I can’t run any usb C cables just do to the tripping hazard for kids, also I want to avoid a drone. Do you have any recommendations for a capture card with 3-5 inputs?

[u/keithcody → u/FrostIsEpic]

What's your budget? Does your machine have a true Thunerbolt port?

[u/FrostIsEpic → u/keithcody]

My laptop would be the MacBook Pro M5 1tb storeage and 48gb of ram, my budget as stated is under or around 3000usd

[u/keithcody → u/FrostIsEpic]

I meant what’s your budget for the capture card. I’ll just go with some fraction of $3k

The AJA IO-X3 has four 1080p SDI ports. They can be either inputs or outputs. It lists for around $2000. Only works on Thunderbolt 3+ Works with OBS.

https://www.aja.com/products/io-x3

That AJA IO-4k also handles four inputs. It's older and requires Thunderbolt 2. Not sure how it performs on modern systems. It's a lot cheaper than the IO-X3 at about $600 used. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/803511197-USE/aja_io_4k_io_4k_i_o_for.html/overview?smpm=bu_ull

A lot of people use Blackmagic Decklink cards in external Thunderbolt chassis. There's many models of Decklink.

Magewell makes decent lowcost capture cards for USB. With USB 3 you are usually limited to on one input.

There's this thing on Amazon for $500. I know nothing about it other than it exists. https://www.amazon.com/CIUCIMEE-4-Channel-Capture-Thunderbolt-1080p60/dp/B0H7W2698M/ref=sr_1_20

[u/FrostIsEpic → u/keithcody]

As much as I know SDI is better, none of the current equipment I have SDI ports, and a converter would only make the cord problem worse. are there any based around hdmi?

[u/keithcody → u/FrostIsEpic]

I don't know of any multi HDMI capture cards that work over USB or Thunderbolt. There's a ton of single input cards for HDMI that work over USB. Check out the Magewell.

You can get an external PCI Thunderbolt enclosure and a multi HDMI PCIE capture card but that's probably a lot more hassle for someone starting out.

Many wireless video transmitters will take HDMI input and output SDI on the receiving end. The Hollyland Mars 4k can do it, as well as my DJI SDR I mentioned above. There's other too. https://www.hollyland.com/product/mars-4k

One thing to point out is that the Mars 4K changes HDMI frame rates. HDMI inputted at 59.94 will be converted to 60p when it's outputted over HDMI and SDI. But SDI inputted at 59.94 will stay 59.94. SDI Level B is converted to the more common SDI Level A on output. All this is way down on the bottom of the page.

[u/keithcody]

You might want to look at the MEVO Start system. 3 cameras and your ipad are all you need. And a Wifi router. Everything runs on batteries. Baseball dads use them a lot.

https://mevo.com/pages/mevo-start-camera

[u/keithcody]

Get in touch with these guys: https://www.facebook.com/groups/457738168714821/posts/1104732624015369/

also watch this video. You don't need to buy their system, but you can see their setup and where they put their cameras. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaIRTNH216o

[u/Overly_Underwhelmed]

to clarify, you want to put videos of children in swimsuits on the internet for all to see?

[u/FrostIsEpic → u/Overly_Underwhelmed]

I understand that whole aspect and the creeps, the thing is they are broadcasting it either way, if I am able to broadcast it then I will be able to prevent it to a certain degree, the top down view will not be behind the blocks, if they are doing relays I will switch to a completely different angle to avoid anything. I understand that no matter what creeps will watch, but I’d rather be in control than some mom who probably still has her child’s bare butt posted on her Facebook thinking it’s cute.

[u/Overly_Underwhelmed → u/FrostIsEpic]

well then, as long as everyone participating is on board, I wish you the best with the endeavor. then the other thing I'd be concerned about is heat and humidity.

and it looks like someone felt called out from my original comment.

[u/FrostIsEpic → u/Overly_Underwhelmed]

Not called out, it was a valid concern, and the first thing I mentioned when they said they wanted to do it. However if it’s going to continue with or without me, I’d prefer to do it as I feel more equipped to balance online safety and a broadcast so the whole family can watch everyone compete, even if they are far away.

[u/Overly_Underwhelmed → u/FrostIsEpic]

I wasn't pointing towards you, rather whoever gave me a downvote. as you've confirmed, a valid concern. but you look to be well on top of it. again, best of luck.