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Articles (165)
by Anthony Burokas | Anthony Burokas introduces streaming producers to a brand new BirdDog in the new X1 PTZ cam, which departs from past models with a new design featuring a Wi-Fi antenna, Halo Tally, AI Tracking, an industry-first e-ink display for confidence monitoring.
by Anthony Burokas | A lot of products tagged as "AI-powered" were doing exactly the same thing before AI. But labeling their familiar features as "powered-by-AI" makes the same tech seem fresh and innovative.
by Anthony Burokas | This article takes a look at 12 options you can pick from when looking to produce live-switched video: Boinx mimoLive, Broadcast Pix ChurchPix, Ecamm Live, ManyCam, OBS Studio, PRISM Live Studio, Vizrt TriCaster, Telestream Wirecast, vMix, Vimeo Livestream Studio, and XSplit Broadcaster
by Anthony Burokas | IEBA's Anthony Burokas reviews a new low-cost, sturdy three-stage tripod system from YC Onion that's well-suited to live production with DSLRs and smaller camcorders.
by Anthony Burokas | NDI runs the risk of fumbling the ball on the 20-yard line—squandering the nearly decade lead they have in IP video by not enforcing that licensees integrate all of the standard. I write this in the hope that they re-establish what the NDI standard means: that to license NDI, and display the NDI badge, a product must be 100% compatible.
by Anthony Burokas | While the All-In-One live production and streaming tools grow and mature, let's make sure we keep backup solutions in mind to ensure a successful production—even if it still means a table full of gear.
by Anthony Burokas | If you're looking for a compact PTZ camera system for a small performance stage, conference room, podcast table, demonstration kitchen, instruction classroom, or any number of setups where the cameras can be positioned close to the subjects, and you would really benefit from the ability to manually change the shot or leverage automatic tracking, the OBSBOT Tail Air is custom-tailored to your needs.
by Anthony Burokas | Magewell's new Director Mini is a mini marvel. This 5.5" "all-in-one" production tool with a $1,299 street price can mix multiple inputs and do picture-in-picture graphics, audio mixing, recording, streaming, and more, as IEBA's Anthony Burokas explains in this in-depth review.
by Anthony Burokas | There's a difference between software where we are in charge, and software where we, and our work, are captives of our tool providers and their subscription-only services. It is in our own best interest to consistently run cost/benefit analyses of the value our tools provide to each of us. We each get to make the decisions that benefit our businesses, and, at a higher level, we are choosing to support those businesses that either do, or do not, put us first.
by Anthony Burokas | Today, we are seeing a similar conglomeration of features and abilities in today's production hardware, enabling one person to "do it all!" This begs the question: Should you do it all?
by Anthony Burokas | The customer wanting to watch your stream on Insta does not want a horizontal video shoehorned into a vertical frame. The customer watching the horizontal version doesn't want the vertical slice with the same thing blurred out behind it to fill the frame. Each of those customers is hungry for that particular experience. It's your job to give your customers what they are hungry for.
by Tyler Nesler | Too often, offsite attendees are treated as afterthoughts in hybrid events, where all the emphasis is on the audience in the room. But drawing in the remote audience and recognizing the importance of doing so is critical. Innovative strategies abound for drawing in remote viewers and creating more compelling experiences; Stream4Us' Anthony Burokas, LiveX's Anna Cowdery, and Howard & Associates' Andy Howard offer some best practices to best engage remote viewers in hybrid events.
As streaming has moved through the pandemic years into a new normal that isn't exactly what anyone expected, the meaning of hybrid event streaming production and delivery that has emerged over the last few years continues to evolve. So what does it mean in 2023, for producers, organizations, and audiences, both onsite and remote? And what can streamers do to level the playing field for those participating from near and far? In this clip from their recent panel at Streaming Media Connect 2023, LiveX's Anna Cowdery, Ohio State's Derrick Freeman, Boston 25 News's Ben Ratner, Stream4us' Anthony Burokas, and Howard & Associates' Andy Howard discuss best definitions and best practices for hybrid event video in 2023.
Featured Articles
Posted 20 Sep 2023
by Anthony Burokas | Look at the bigger picture when the wave of amazing gadgets hits. It's already on the way. You can see it coming. Is that item worth the possibility that it fails? Who stands behind it if it does? We're all looking for the next "game changer." That's natural. There are now a lot of companies, half a planet away, trying to be the next NewTek with cutting-edge technologies. Watch your fingers.
by Anthony Burokas | I had the opportunity to try and learn to surf earlier this year. I'm very glad that I took the lessons because I soon found out how hard surfing really is. While trying, failing, getting hurt, watching, and learning, I saw some parallels between my lessons on the water and the streaming business—which isn't quite as easy as it looks either.
by Anthony Burokas | There's a lot more imperfect gear on the market than ever before—gear we can't count on from gig to gig. Gear that can't deliver reliable video. Features that work and then don't. Devices that connect and then don't. We've lost core reliability. Bulletproof needs to be a feature.
by Anthony Burokas | Want to generate and produce videos in dynamic, detailed, and customizable virtual environments using nothing but the built-in video capabilities of your smartphone plus a single subscription-service app? Skyglass Movie Effects Camera App makes it possible, and IEBA Communications' Anthony Burokas explains how.
by Anthony Burokas | Knowing where and how your content will be viewed should affect how you produce it. Whether you leave room for commercial breaks or whether you push through as if they aren't there are content considerations that are worth addressing at the outset. For narrative content, this is not just an editing decision: It's something worth keeping in mind even in the writing stage.
by Anthony Burokas | Thanks to bonding and some of the other technologies discussed in this guide, the days of sending glitchy, buffering video to viewers should be behind us. Read on to learn about the many options available, at a wide variety of price points, to ensure that streaming professionals can deliver the best video possible.
by Anthony Burokas | Today's video producers are now able to leverage new technologies that can really help with the live streaming production—especially on-location. By utilizing what are commonly called "podcast mixers," streaming producers can deliver a bit more polish, while also gaining better flexibility in production.
by Anthony Burokas | The production and communication tools we use are ever-more tied to the cloud, and to take advantage of it is to open a door of possibility and additional capability. Where do you want to go today?
by Anthony Burokas | In a field of 2.4 GHz wireless mic kits, it's hard to stand out. The Fulaim kit covers the basics, comes with a nice set of accessories, including the charging case, and the built-in DSP will be handy for a lot of people who need to bring down the ambient noise in their recordings.
by Anthony Burokas | The pendulum has swung back away from streaming for a brief period, but COVID opened millions of eyes to the power, capability, and convenience of streaming—from the provider's reach to the attendee's convenience. It also helped a lot of people realize that it's not as easy as it looks. I see the end result moving that pendulum toward more streaming—and more kinds of streaming—in the near future.
by Michelle MacGregor | Are you curious as to what the AWS EC2 server is all about and what it can do for you? Let's say that your current computer setup is subpar or perhaps you need a second unit for remote production using vMix. The EC2 is a viable answer.
by Anthony Burokas | Streaming media producer Anthony Burokas demos ingenious keyboard-touchscreen all-in-one for use with streaming and live content creation tools like vMix.
by Anthony Burokas | So, whether it's a quarterly meeting, an annual marketing show, or an industry event like CES or the International Auto Show, we still need in-person events. But how these events recognize and incorporate remote presenters and remote audiences will have to change from what was done pre-COVID. The future of events is hybrid, although these hybrid events will take different forms, depending on the event size, budget, and nature and complexity of the off-site elements. There are what I call "Three Tiers of Hybrid," which represent three different ways to bring local and remote presenters and attendees together.
by Anthony Burokas | The YoloBox Mini is a compact, single-source streaming encoder and recorder with the ability to do some audio mixing, overlay a sports scoreboard, social media content, logos, and lower-thirds. It's not a multi-camera live-switching tool like the original YoloBox or the YoloBox Pro. I consider it more of a YoloStream than a YoloBox, but this 5" screen device is so compact and light, it certainly is "Mini."
by Anthony Burokas | The YoloBox Mini provides the same core functionality as the YoloBox and YoloBox Pro with playback, titles, audio inputs, and multi-destination streaming capability but it uses a smaller 5.5" built-in LCD.
by Anthony Burokas | Virtual events are here to stay, from basic one-way webinars to highly produced, interactive simulations of the in-person experience. Here's how each of the three levels of virtual event production works.
by Anthony Burokas | If you're looking to get into multi-camera live-switched production and you don't already have cameras and you're looking to step into things, combining a feature-rich Blackmagic camera like the Studio Camera 4K Pro with the ATEM line of mixers makes a great ecosystem.
by Anthony Burokas | Anthony Burokas reviews the new Teradek Wave, which combines bonding, encoding, streaming, recording, and monitoring in a single compact devices that users control using Teradek's handy streaming app on its 7" touchscreen.
by Anthony Burokas | Anthony Burokas provides a walkthrough of Android tablet-based multicam livestreaming Yololiv's YoloBox and Yolobox Pro, discussing key features, usability, and current shortcomings.
Webinar Highlights Three Remote Production Workflows to Enable Attendees to Choose the Best Alternative
Featured News
Posted 15 Sep 2021
by Anthony Burokas | Anthony Burokas of Stream4us runs through a litany of multicam switching and streaming software and their pros and cons for live producers working with multiple remote guests in this clip from his presentation at Streaming Media East Connect 2021.
by Anthony Burokas | Anthony Burokas of Stream4us discusses cellular bonding and multistreaming solutions and their advantages for remote production pros in this clip from his presentation at Streaming Media East Connect 2021.
by Anthony Burokas | Anthony Burokas explains how Stream4us builds and sends out production kits to remote guests that enable full control of their desktops and cameras during live shows.
by Streaming Media Editorial Staff | LiveX Co-Founder Corey Behnke reveals the glue that holds his team's live streaming productions together, discussing tools and protocols, latency, and reliability in this clip from Streaming Media East Connect 2021.
by Streaming Media Editorial Staff | Pizazz Chief Problem Solver Jef Kethley discusses how Sienna ND Processing Engine and other tools makes his team's live cloud and remote productions work in this clip from Streaming Media Connect 2021.
by Streaming Media Editorial Staff | The gloves come off as ace remote producers Corey Behnke and Jef Kethley debate the best way to get multi-caller remote productions rolling--the power and flexibility of Sienna Unite, or the easy familiarity and it-just-works of Zoom? One thing undisputed: Remote production is here to stay.
by Anthony Burokas | Anthony Burokas of Stream4us discusses the limitations of using business chat apps such as Zoom, Teams, and Skype in pro live production--such as the inability to correct color or edit isolated audio tracks--and recommends ways to circumvent those limitations in this clip from his presentation at Streaming Media East Connect 2021.
by Anthony Burokas | Anthony Burokas of Stream4us looks at the hardware and software features of the BirdDog PF120 20X Zoom box camera--with special attention to BirdDog's new Colour Matrix panel--in a video review filmed (partly) using the camera.
by Anthony Burokas | Airmix comes in two versions: the full-featured Airmix iOS video production suite ($29.99 per month), and the free Airmix Solo. This article will touch on some of the differentiating features of each version. We'll also explore how Airmix Solo works and how you can use it to elevate your live streams with minimal additional investment.
by Anthony Burokas | In interviews with two fellow producers on the all-virtual 2021 North Texas Irish Festival, a multichannel event combining six concurrent live feeds, produced in the cloud using vMix and AWS, Anthony Burokas provides a look inside a complex cloud production, including challenges and lessons learned.
by Anthony Burokas | Stream4us' Anthony Burokas discusses the importance of putting remote guests for pro productions through a detailed tech check before show day, to make sure they look and sound their best and can identify and address any issues well in advance of going live.
by Anthony Burokas | You're here. The guests are there. The audience is everywhere else. Here is an article that's chock-full of tips, tricks, and links for making it all come together in your latest remote production.
by Anthony Burokas | Anthony Burokas provides an in-depth look at the Teradek Vidiu X Live Streaming Encoder.
by Anthony Burokas | If you want to maximize your reach without overtaxing your gear, then utilizing some cloud technologies to send your one upload to multiple destinations can multiply the reach of your content.
by Anthony Burokas | As Zoom and other videoconferencing applications dominate our professional interactions, and remote productions and presentations remain a necessary alternative in-person conferences and other events, webcam video is often the weakest link in our remote connections. Anthony Burokas recommends alternative camera sources--smartphones, DSLRs, and better webcams--and explains how to make them work.
by Anthony Burokas | What's the best way to handle a multiday conference with one remote panel event after another, with about 5 minutes between them, maybe less? What if you add video playback, remote slide presentations, and the inevitable last-minute changes? On a recent project involving the challenges described above, my team and I chose a cloud-based workflow. In this article, I'll discuss what we used, what the cloud offers, and why we went this way.
Stream4us' Anthony Burokas offers best practices for making remote guests in multi-source live productions look and sound their best in this clip from Streaming Media West Connect.
Featured Articles
Posted 15 Dec 2020
by Anthony Burokas | Stream4us' Anthony Burokas explains how to use "virtual audio cables" from vb-audio.com to connect multiple audio sources when using a laptop for live streaming production with multiple remote guests.
by Anthony Burokas | Anthony Burokas discusses a recent Stream4.us project where they brought in up to 9 remote sources from around the world using StreamYard to produce the show in the cloud.
by Anthony Burokas | IEBA Imagineer Anthony Burokas explains how to handle audio when doing live production with multiple remote-in participants in this clip from his presentation at Streaming Media West Connect 2020.
by Anthony Burokas | The Mevo Start is a little camera with a lot of built-in capability. Even though the Start can stream to social media directly from the camera itself, I'm going to take a look at it specifically for higher-end, multi-camera use as part of an NDI-based production.
by Anthony Burokas | An exclusive first-look review of the new BirdDog Flex NDI Converter, a tiny device that delivers tally, audio, video, PTZ control, audio intercom, and power via a single Ethernet cable.
by Anthony Burokas | With social distancing making in-person live production difficult-to-impossible, Anthony Burokas demonstrates how to produce a professional live show using multiple remote video feeds using vMix Call.
by Anthony Burokas | A large portion of my time is spent educating clients on what I do, what I can do, and what I can't do. In particular, what I can't do is key to managing client expectations. By making sure we're both working toward the same goals, we have a better chance of avoiding potential conflicts down the road.
by Anthony Burokas | Many people have gone all in on NDI. But how they use it can be very different from how you might want to use it.
by Steve Nathans-Kelly | The second annual StreamingMediaProducer 25 is here! We chose the most innovative companies that enabled, enhanced, and streamlined the workflows of live video producers—particularly those who need the mobility, agility, and versatility to deliver great work, regardless of the venue or production conditions.
by Anthony Burokas | As mobile devices have become more powerful and deliver higher-quality stills and video, it was inevitable that companies would emerge that leveraged these new technologies to produce multicam live-switched media production. So let's establish some ground rules for mobile multicam media production success.
by Anthony Burokas, Shawn LamShawn Lam | As the calendar flipped to 2020, we decided to review and select the best video production gear over the past decade. Partially, this is a list of the best of what we have used in our own productions, but it is also an opportunity to highlight some true pioneers and game-changers. Part 2 of a 2-part series.
by Anthony Burokas, Shawn LamShawn Lam | As the calendar flipped to 2020, we decided to review and select the best video production gear over the past decade. Partially, this is a list of the best of what we have used in our own productions, but it is also an opportunity to highlight some true pioneers and game-changers. Part 1 of a 2-part series.
by Steve Nathans-Kelly | The Teradek VidiU Go makes streaming interviews from Streaming Media West 2019 easy and seamless.
by Anthony Burokas | NewTek has revitalized the TriCaster Mini with some powerful new capabilities. As a long time TriCaster user, and a Mini owner, I took particular note of this announcement to see what the new 4K-capable Mini brings to the table compared to my Mini HDMI.
by Anthony Burokas | In 2014, I made a presentation at Streaming Media West covering all the various ways an "Audio Mixing Ninja" gets the best audio possible. When it comes to live audio for streaming, there are a few additional wrinkles to consider that don't come into play with audio recording when you aren't streaming live.
by Anthony Burokas | Smashing through the $1,000 floor for a 4-input hardware video mixer, the Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini costs just $295, and it looks like a stunner on paper. Let's take a closer look.
by Eric Schumacher-Rasmussen | Our exclusive industry-defining list is back for 2019. Here are the 50 companies every Streaming Media reader must know, the ones leading us into the future. These are the most important, innovative, and interesting companies in the online video universe.
by Anthony Burokas | LiveCTRL makes the most of the broadcast-level video the Panasonic PTZ cameras deliver, in a simple, clean, and very easy-to-carry iPad interface.
by Anthony Burokas | Wipster Head of Creative Growth Kelsey Brannan and Streaming Media Producer's Anthony Burokas discuss how Wipster makes the client feedback process smoother in this interview from the Wipster booth at NAB 2019.
by Anthony Burokas | SmallHD Marketing Manager Colin Jackson and Streaming Media Producer's Anthony Burokas discuss SmallHD's new 7" monitors, the 702 Touch, and the wireless 500RX .
by Anthony Burokas | Dazzl.tv VP Marketing & Sales Ryan Jespersen and Streaming Media Producer's Anthony Burokas discuss multicam live streaming production in the cloud.
by Anthony Burokas | Litra's Andrew Simonoff walks Streaming Media Producer's Anthony Burokas through Litra's latest light offerings in the Litra booth at NAB 2019.
by Jan Ozer | If you missed the last few upgrades to Wirecast, Telestream's popular Windows/Mac multicam live video production and streaming platform, you've missed a lot, as Wirecast has gained significant functionality while retaining its high degree of usability.
Featured Articles
- by Jan Ozer -
Posted 21 May 2019
by Anthony Burokas | Streaming Media Producer's Anthony Burokas and NewTek's Will Waters discuss the implications of Vizrt's acquisition of NewTek and the impact of NDI version 4 and TriCaster Advanced Edition 3 in the NewTek booth at NAB 2019.
by Anthony Burokas | Streaming Media Producer's Anthony Burokas and Teradek's Michael Gailing discuss the new, lower-priced version of the Teradek VidiU Go at the Teradek booth at NAB 2019.
by Anthony Burokas | Streaming Media Producer's Anthony Burokas interviews Saramonic's Joe Nassar about (and with) Saramonic wireless mics in the Saramonic booth at NAB 2019.
by Anthony Burokas | Streaming Media Producer's Anthony Burokas and Deity's Andrew Jones discuss new solutions based on Deity's Deity Connect technology in the Deity booth at NAB 2019.
by Anthony Burokas | Anthony Burokas interviews Panasonic's Mitch Gross at NAB 2019.
by Anthony Burokas | Streaming Media Producer's Anthony Burokas and vMix's Martin Sinclair discuss customizable graphics and user-defined control on the show floor at NAB 2019.
by Anthony Burokas | Streaming Media Producer's Anthony Burokas and Atomos Global Head of PR Dan Chung discuss features of Atomos' new Shogun 7 on the show floor at NAB 2019.
by Anthony Burokas | Streaming Media Producer's Anthony Burokas and RODE's Ryan Burke discuss RODE's ultramobile wireless mic system and mixer on the show floor at NAB 2019.
by Steve Nathans-Kelly | The inaugural Streaming Media Producer 25 highlights companies that make gear that not only demonstrates promise or prowess in a single stage in the process, but fits well in a kit that makes your live production workflow work.
by Anthony Burokas | For situations where bulky or heavy setups need to be flown over talent on stands or arms, the lightweight Soonwell FB-21 offers distinct advantages to alternative bulkier and heavier setups.
by Anthony Burokas | This article compares a range of sub-$100, sub-compact mixers that can help you capture top-quality audio at events where you don't need bulkier, more expensive mixers with more inputs than you may need.
by Anthony Burokas | If you're currently dealing with a two-piece system with an external recorder, or looking at a DSLR solution but find long-GoP MPEG recording to be too heavy-handed with the compression, the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K deserves your attention.
by Anthony Burokas | Cinamaker 2.0 is really coming together into a solid iOS-based production solution. Standout features include loading and saving projects, the built-in editor, and dedicated chroma key on each channel.
by Anthony Burokas | I found the VidiU Go to be up to the Teradek standard of professional production gear, now for the mobile, bonded streaming audience.
by Anthony Burokas | With the addition of Cinamaker to the field of contestants I discussed in my July 2018 iOS Head to Head article-Switcher Studio and Teradek Live:Air Action—I set out to determine which app would deliver the best video quality for live streaming and live recording.
by Anthony Burokas | Cerevo offers a package with their multistream-capable LiveShell X and the RICOH R Development Kit streaming camera for users looking for some serious streaming hardware for their 360 productions.
by Anthony Burokas | If you're looking to add a third-party tally to an existing system, there are only a few options available. The FlexTally is flexible, extensible, and wireless.
by Anthony Burokas | Cloud-enabled capabilities will play an increasingly important role in the future of the Switcher platform, and building in the cloud requires more resources to support, deliver, and maintain
by Anthony Burokas | Teradek's Link Pro Backpack offers enhanced MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) cellular connectivity, plus the reliability of bonded cellular, connected to Teradek's powerful Link WiFi Access Point, and all rolled together in a backpack powered by your choice of V-Lock or 3-stud battery.
by Anthony Burokas | Compared to other pro Sony cameras I've used, the Sony HXR-NX80 delivers better images, with a longer zoom, in a tinier package that travels very, very easily. If you need camcorders for a multicam live streaming kit that needs to travel, these little cameras deserve a look.
by Streaming Media Editorial Staff | We walked hundreds of miles of conference floors and watched scores of demos to determine the best streaming video products from this year's show.
by Anthony Burokas | Streaming Media's Anthony Burokas interviews Lightcast's Andreas Kisslinger in the Lightcast's booth at NAB 2018.
by Anthony Burokas | Streaming Media's Anthony Burokas interviews Magewell's Mike Nann in the Magewell booth at NAB 2017.
by Anthony Burokas | Streaming Media's Anthony Burokas interviews Zype's Ed Laczynski at NAB 2018.
by Anthony Burokas | Looking to be able to do professional-level work for my clients on location without having to disassemble my TriCaster studio (or purchasing a second TriCaster to take on the road), I found apps for iPad and iPhones that let me connect everything together wirelessly and stream it to the web via my cell phone's LTE connection.
by Anthony Burokas | Live production and streaming with mobile devices--from capture to delivery--isn't just for hobbyists anymore. But if you're looking to use your iOS device for professional production you'll need to gear up right, and this article will show you how.
by Anthony Burokas | This tutorial will look at online previewing and reviewing client videos with Frame.io through the lens of a recent 29-video series my studio produced with myself, a remotely located editor, and a client reviewing the videos in development.
by Anthony Burokas | This review looks at 2 affordable E-Image tripod systems sold by iKan, assessing the tilt, panning, and counterbalance adjustment controls on the heads; the locking systems on the legs, and more.
by Anthony Burokas | The Atomos Shogun Flame has a great feature set for my DSLR-based videography, giving me many features and capabilities that my DSLR simply does not have, but which make shooting, viewing, assessing, recording, and editing, easier and better.
by Anthony Burokas | With its 1" sensor, 20x optical zoom, and extensive array of image controls, Panasonic's AG-UX180 strikes a balance well-suited to the prosumer camera market.
by Anthony Burokas | Though not unique in the category of flexible panel LED lighting solutions, Aladdin Lights' Bi-Flex II is very well made, and incorporates a lot of good design features into a very packable light
by Anthony Burokas | The new Panasonic Lumix GH5, introduced at CES, looks like an improved GH4, but each of improvements addresses user requests, complaints, and issues with the GH4—as well as what Panasonic sees going on with the competition. Put them all together, and the GH5 appears to be a very solid piece of kit that can't be found in any competitor's portfolio.
by Anthony Burokas | No streaming solution will be 100% perfect or suited to all of your needs, and they're changing week by week as the streaming world grows and develops. But asking these questions should put you well on the way to picking the right streaming solution for you.
by Anthony Burokas | Holding the decently sized Sony PXW-Z150 camcorder in my hand, I can see the evolution from Sony's first digital camcorder, the DCR-VX1000. We've come a long way from recording one hour of standard definition on a MiniDV tape. Now it's hours of 4K on SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Plus, it has wireless remote control, or integrated live streaming, and a larger 1" sensor for compelling shallow depth of field.
by Anthony Burokas | The Video Devices PIX E5H 5" LCD Monitor and 4K recorder offers a lot of capability--4K ProRes and H.264 dual recording, image assessment, and tools to assist with video shooting--in a small and rugged package.
by Paul Schmutzler | When discussing the current state of UHD/4K, "current" is a fast-moving target in mid-2016. This article will introduce you to what you need to know to get into 4K for live production and online video, from codecs to cameras.
by Anthony Burokas | Are you looking for an easy way to get smooth 4K handheld footage without breaking the bank? The Yuneec Typhoon 4K ActionCam is a handy little tool that makes it easy to get the smooth shots you want, if you can live with the limitations.
by Anthony Burokas | Every live producer knows half of good video is 90% audio, and intrusive ground loop hum can ruin even the most visually pristine webcast. Here we'll look at how to identify the source of the problem and detail two possible solutions.
by Anthony Burokas | As a longtime user of the Panasonic GH4 DSLR, and the founder/moderator of the now-10,000+ member GH4 Technical Group on Facebook, I know there has been plenty of talk about making the GH4 into a successor to Panasonic's AF100 Micro 4/3 Camcorder. When Panasonic announced the DVX200, the bar was set quite high. Reportedly, based on the GH4, the DVX200 is all that, and a lot more, but what did it give up to get there?
by Anthony Burokas | At the bare-bones, sub-$1000 level, there are very few HD mixers that combine the mixing, recording, and streaming capabilities that the Cerevo LiveWedge offers, although this device does come with a few caveats.
by Anthony Burokas | In Part 2 of this review we'll focus on image delivery, comparing the JVC LS300's HD and 4K image-making capabilities with the Panasonic DMC-GH4, focusing on its handling of deep shadows, bright backgrounds, variable sensor mapping, depth of field, sharpness, and aliasing.
by Anthony Burokas | In my search for an ideal camera media file offloading workflow using a low-cost tablet, the missing piece of the puzzle has been a finger-friendly, Windows-based media-backup application. Raw4Pro Backup Champion may be exactly the solution I was looking for.
by Anthony Burokas | As we enter the "Internet of Things" era, when all sorts of "things" are directly reachable over the internet, it should come as no surprise professional camcorders are coming along for the ride. They are actually somewhat late to the game, with smartphones already providing the ability to send a video out over the internet from the same device that captured it for quite some time. But connected professional camcorders have a lot to offer users looking for a streamlined professional streaming solution that video-capable smartphones can't deliver.
by Anthony Burokas | JVC is running ahead of the pack again with the GY-LS300, an affordable ($3,995), interchangeable-lens, Super35/variable-sensor area, 4K/HD camcorder that also features internal streaming capability, first model in a new product line.
by Anthony Burokas | Live audio is challenging. Unlike many of the issues that arise on the video side of the equation, none of the problems that affect audio quality—RF interference, feedback, ground loop hum, hiss, over-modulation—can be seen. All of these challenges take a knowledge and understanding of the problem to assess and fix them properly. On live productions, more often than not, the time to fix audio issues is as soon as you hear them starting to happen.
by Anthony Burokas | This article demonstrates an easy way to use a camera's or external monitor's focus peaking feature to assess your camera's noise profile as I change various camera settings.
by Anthony Burokas, Shawn LamShawn Lam, Tim SiglinTim Siglin, Steve Nathans-KellySteve Nathans-Kelly | The 12 products and technologies described in this article reflect what four of our writers found when they unraveled the industry developments of the past 12 months and picked Streaming Media's Gear of the Year.
by Anthony Burokas | After using my new media wrangling kit in the field a few times, I've augmented it with a few accessories and come to a few realizations that made it worth revisiting this entire premise. As in many cases, smaller is not always better, and when it comes to operating a computer, this is definitely the case.
by Anthony Burokas | If you improve your editing efficiencies and leverage the strengths of your existing system, editing 4K camera-original footage on a modestly equipped $1,000 PC should prove more than manageable.
by Anthony Burokas | In this article, I'll take a look at three cost-effective and compact mobile media wrangling tools on the market today: the RAVpower RP-WD01 portable media device, as well as the WinBook TW800 and WinBook TW100, which are Windows 8 tablets featuring a full-size USB 3.0 port on the edge.
by Anthony Burokas | Smaller and smaller is the direction of mobile video production, and now video mixer, playback, recording, and streaming services are all being crammed into ever-smaller cases. Today I take a look at the Paladin Flypack, a Windows-based, portable production system by Paladin Innovators.
by Anthony Burokas | This article is designed to help you avoid some of the many pitfalls that you can fall into when doing audio mixing for live production.
by Anthony Burokas | Anthony Burokas provides a sneak preview of his Streaming Media Producer Live 2014 seminar, T203: Choosing a Video Switcher, which he'll present Wednesday, November 19 at 11:30 AM in Huntington Beach, California.
by Anthony Burokas | The ultra-portable TriCaster Mini joins the TriCaster 40 at the sub-$6k end of the TriCaster line, but weighs in 10 lbs. lighter and adds HDMI input ISO-recording, a new compact control surface, an internal monitor, and more.
by Anthony Burokas | I'm revisiting ring lights because I found one that addressed the two things that wanted to be different when I reviewed the Rosco Ring Light http://buff.ly/1u7t08l last year. The F&V R300 is a different design, with LEDs facing the subject instead of into a white plastic. It also has a battery holder on the right of the light, and a built-in power/dimmer on the left. The exact two things I said I wanted in a ringlight. But how does it light?
by Anthony Burokas | Anthony Burokas previews his Streaming Media Producer Live 2014 session, "T205: Audio Mixing for Live Production."
by Anthony Burokas | The Beachtek MCC-2 and Kamkit allow users to mount, control, and connect various accessories to their DSLR with ease.
by Anthony Burokas | For location lighting, moving around a lot, and travel, the Fiilex LED kits offer amazing capability and flexibility in a small and light package. Designed for use as a fixed solution, for a small sound stage, or grip truck, the Gus 41 makes a perfect solution. It is very wide and soft or small and focused as needed.
by Anthony Burokas | The Peak Design Capture PRO system is great for "hybrid" shooters tasked with covering events where you need to have your camera at the ready at all times, such as walking around covering everything that happens at a large event, but still need to be able to quickly put it on the tripod for a speech or talking head.
by Anthony Burokas | The time for idle speculation about 4K production has passed. 4K is here, and it's arrived in mainstream cameras at various price points with some surprisingly modest data rates. Do you need all-new, cutting-edge hardware to handle it? Probably not. Delve deeper into the specifics of your production chain, and do a little math to find out what your needs really are, and what you find might surprise you.
by Anthony Burokas | This article and accompanying (hear it for yourself) video will compare the results of capturing audio with a $20 Audio-Technica wired lavaliere mic and a $200 professional mic from Sony directly into a DSLR. Is the $200 Sony really worth the 10x cost?
by Anthony Burokas | A strong contender for the most affordable 4K camera on the market today, Panasonic's DMC-GH4 adds both UltraHD and pixel-for-pixel Cinema4K to the feature set that made its GH3 predecessor great, and joins a rapidly growing Micro 4/3 marketplace.
by Anthony Burokas, Shawn LamShawn Lam, Tim SiglinTim Siglin, Steve Nathans-KellySteve Nathans-Kelly | Rather than tempt you with the Next Big Thing, in this "Gear of the Year" feature we invited three contributing writers—and producers in their own right—to choose four products each, all released in the last year, that have proven themselves indispensable to professional online video production and webcasting workflows, or represent the best currently available choices in their particular category.
by Anthony Burokas | Audio is half of all the "AV" we work with, so after getting some great LCD screens, adding some good speakers should be the requisite next step. How does the Blackmagic Design Audio Monitor stack up for providing good sound reproduction?
by Anthony Burokas | IEBA Communications' Anthony Burokas offers a sneak preview of his two Streaming Media Producer Live sessions, "Choosing Lenses for Online Video Production" and "Choosing a Video Switcher."
by Anthony Burokas | In Part 2 of our in-depth look at the Canon XA20/25, I'll touch on a feature new to Canon's pro line of camcorders, and to see how the AVCHD image stacks up.
by Anthony Burokas | An in-depth discussion on the features and usability, image quality, and capabilities of the Canon XA20/25, along with comparisons to the predecessor XA10 and next-higher models XF100 and XF300 featuring the author and Andrew Jones of Dallas's The Movie Institute.
by Anthony Burokas | There's been a lot written about the forthcoming Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera--mostly by those in forums who haven't handled it. As of May, there were just three models in the U.S. I got my hands on one to see how it works.
by Anthony Burokas | Apple announced many upgrades to software and operating systems yesterday, but the biggest announcement that professional users have been waiting for was the Mac Pro. We were told that it would be worth waiting for and the new machine is clearly innovative. But is it for you?
by Anthony Burokas | External audio mixers make it easy to adapt XLR mic and line-level sources to the audio inputs on DSLRs. The juicedLink Riggy Assist series of audio mixers are intended to adapt various microphones to be used with DSLRs. They can also provide additional features like phantom power and metering. The Riggy Assist does all this and more.
by Anthony Burokas | An in-depth look at a portable Reflecmedia chromakey kit that combines a retro-reflective screen with a green-blue ringlight for versatile, quick-and-easy, reliable greenscreen setup and keying.
by Anthony Burokas | Learn about the five types of lighting commonly used in video productions, as well as the best uses for each.
by Anthony Burokas | Want to produce great shows on-time and on-budget? Re-evaluate your production pipeline to break up time-consuming tasks.
by Anthony Burokas | In the P7700, Nikon has improved on earlier P7000 models with numerous video formats and a microphone input, plus a tilt-swivel display and several under-the-hood improvements. Is this the video-and-stills powerhouse I've been waiting for?
by Anthony Burokas | Rosco's LitePad Loop, a new ringlight system designed specifically for DLSR producers, projects a soft, even light that's easy on the eyes. Despite some inherent challenges for operators of small DSLRs like my Panasonic GH2, I found it well worth the effort.
by Anthony Burokas | Using the iPhone is a very handy and tempting solution for production, especially when you need something fast. iPhone video using the device's standard controls and built-in audio leaves a lot to be desired. With the addition of a video app, and an external audio interface, you can make a huge improvement in the quality of the video you produce with the iPhone.
by Anthony Burokas | Looking beyond the small set of white and bi-color LEDs specifically made for video production, you can find a whole other world of LED fixtures made for other markets--including "disc jockey" LED lights and controllers. For the cost of one good fresnel light, you can have a multi-light, expandable LED lighting package.
by Anthony Burokas | Streaming Media Producer continues its "What Is...?" series tackling essential topics in the streaming media and live production world with a look at IMAG, or image magnification, a common and effective way of delivering instant video projection of speakers and performers at corporate, conference, and faith-based events. We examine the technical challenges, the required gear, and the preferability of producing separate feeds for projection and streaming of the same event.
by Anthony Burokas | In Part 1 of this two-part series on the Nikon D800, I looked at the operation and functionality of the D800 DSLR as a video camera. Now, in Part 2, I'll share some usability notes, as report the results of some audio and video tests (with test footage) comparing the D800 to another highly regarded DSLR, the Panasonic GH2--to see if a lower-priced but very capable DSLR can measure up with quality glass--and to a more traditional prosumer camcorder.
by Anthony Burokas | In this two-part series, we'll examine how well Nikon's much-heralded D800 DSLR works as a video camera, in terms of operability and functionality. In part two, we'll report on some audio and video tests comparing the D800 to another highly regarded DSLR, and to a more traditional prosumer camcorder.
by Anthony Burokas | Streaming Media Producer kicks off its "What Is...?" series tackling essential topics in the streaming media production world with a look at live switching, touching on the differences between switching and mixing, assembling the components and crew of a live switch, and the basics of "punching" a multi-camera show or event for live delivery.
by Anthony Burokas | Litepanels recently shipped the MicroPro Hybrid, a dimmable, on-camera Hybrid LED that can refresh itself much faster than most any strobe light can. Thus it may pack a powerful 1-2 punch for DSLR producers who need to capture both video and still images. But how well does it handle both tasks? In this article Anthony Burokas reviews the new light and compares it to an LED light that's one-fifth the cost to see how these two lights measure up.
by Anthony Burokas | Adapting servo zoom ENG lenses to your DSLR rig with suitable rails and power makes for a smooth transition from prosumer camcorder to large-sensor video camera.
by Anthony Burokas | DSLRs have become the standard by which current and future large-sensor camcorders are judged. But as we adopted DSLRs and primes to produce more "filmic" video for our clients, we left something critical behind: the feathery smooth servo zoom that serves feature film producers so well. So how do you get that capability on your DSLR?
by Anthony Burokas | In an era of ever-shrinking HD cameras, cell phone HD, and DSLRs, you might ask, why would anyone need an on-shoulder HD camcorder? Is it the copious amount of I/O jacks? The ergonomics? Or the easy access to numerous features in a big camera sort of way that enamor the Panasonic AG-HMC80 to its target end users? Let's find out.
by Anthony Burokas | Roland's VR-5 A/V Mixer features multiple video inputs, an internal media player, computer input and conversion, a built-in audio mixer, two integrated LCD monitors to see video inputs, output and various device settings, and the ability to internally record your program output while also sending your program to a laptop for streaming--all for an MSRP of $4,995.
by Anthony Burokas | HD video mixers aren't cheap, but they do offer amazing functionality inside compact boxes. I put Panasonic's AV-HS400N through its paces during an awards ceremony. I found much to like, and a few minor issues, and look forward to technologies like this becoming more affordable in the years to come.
by Anthony Burokas | How do you get all the different cameras you might use to cover an event to match? There is a trick you can use to set up a color profile for each of the cameras, and then use the corrections established there to correct for the rest of the footage from your project.
by Anthony Burokas | Sonnet has crafted a beautiful solution for rapid footage offload that gives your laptop far more connectivity, power, and capability than ever before. The system is solid, and in pure professional parlance, it does what it says it can do. The Qio is, according to Anthony Burokas, the most useful professional video production accessory for a laptop-enabled tapeless live production workflow that you can get.
by Anthony Burokas | Anthony Burokas goes behind the scenes at NASA TV to shadow an event video crew that's responsible for bringing launches live to the world.
by Anthony Burokas | A physically similar follow-up to Panasonic's more professional AG-HMC80 AVCCAM, the AC7P uses the more consumer AVCHD format, loses a few ports, and drops $1,200 from the price tag, making the $1,300 (MSRP) AG-AC7 the least expensive actual on-shoulder camcorder you can buy. But what do you get?
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