Broadcast Production Values Come to Community Group Video Streaming

For community groups everywhere, getting activities and calls for support out to the masses is an important part of not just snagging volunteers and funding, but also raising their profile to bolster participation. Video efforts tend to be shaky, low-res, Webcam-type affairs, but Telestream is rolling out turnkey, live video streaming solutions for sports groups, churches, schools, corporations and other live event producers to produce content with professional broadcast-level quality.

Users can mix an unlimited number of pre-recorded video clips, titles, and graphics with up to four live video sources, and transitions, titles, composite templates, scoreboards, 3D images, virtual sets and chroma key are all available to give live video productions professional polish.

In a nod to the ubiquitous streaming zeitgeist, groups can also set up Wirecast to stream directly to YouTube, Ustream (News - Alert) and Twitch, or simultaneously stream to multiple destinations in a choice of resolutions and bandwidths. Or, users can display the video locally on an external monitor, such as an in-house projector or other display system.

The solution, which starts at around $5,000, is based on the Matrox VS4 four-channel video capture card and Telestream Wirecast for Windows live streaming production products. The turnkey systems are being made available through a worldwide network of certified system builders.

“Live streaming professionals are striving for more ways to engage their audiences,” said Filippa Hasselstrom, Wirecast product manager at Telestream, in a statement. “Wirecast allows producers to easily switch between and record multiple live camera feeds from Matrox VS4. Plus, it provides production features such as chroma key, transitions, composite templates, lower-thirds, virtual sets and built-in scoreboard templates.”

The turnkey solutions allow capturing and sending of four video feeds to Wirecast for live streaming, while Matrox VS4 simultaneously records the original high-quality video feeds to disk for post-event editing. Wirecast also allows users to stream video at resolutions up to 1080p HD and save productions to disk for on-demand distribution in a choice of Web-friendly formats, including QuickTime H.264, Windows Media or Flash. Audio/video sync and support for up to eight embedded audio channels per input are also included.

 “Matrox VS4 and Telestream Wirecast for Windows turnkey solutions give creative professionals the tools they need for online video streaming with the production values seen in traditional television broadcasts,” said Wayne Andrews, product manager at Matrox. “And it couldn’t be simpler. Just hook up cameras, start Wirecast, and stream. Matrox VS4 automatically detects the presence, resolution and frame rate of the inputs so onsite set-up is effortless. It also enables simultaneous ISO recording.”