Streaming service for church? Frustrated and confused!
 

I'm trying to help our church get services streamed live. For awhile it worked with uStream, then we tried Justin.TV (better framerate)

We were using a simple one-camera connection via firewire. It worked. Not great, but it worked. Now we're running three cameras out of an analog switcher, and I've hit an unexpected roadblock. The capture devices we've tried are not compatible/unseen by Flash Media Live Encoder. What's crazy is, NOBODY can tell us which devices WILL work.

I thought WDM drivers were supposed to solve this. I've tried ATi TV Wonder PCI, a Pinnacle D550, a WinTV160...in a fit I even tried a Dazzle DV170 (ok, stop laughing)

Nothing. WME9.0 is in the same boat -- it can detect fw or usb cameras.

I've spent a great deal of time and money and the church staff's patience is wearing thin.

I need a cheap solution. The Canopus AVDC110 is $100 too high. ANYBODY have a suggestion? Solution??

I personally don't have a solution to your problem but I have worked with churches on video projects and understand their budget conscious nature. But I would say that if $100 is all that is holding you back from producing a quality streaming experience for your viewers then just spend the extra $100. If the church can't find the money in the budget then maybe take up a special offering, an amount that small shouldn't be hard to raise.

Sorry, I didn't have a technical solution but this is what I would do personally.

Do you have a DV deck available? DSR-11 or BR-DV3000. If you do, run the analog signal into it and use it to convert the signal into FireWire. I use that set-up for live webcasts over LiveStream another service which I suggest you look into.

However, the Canopus AVDC110 is the solution of choice. I've used it with FME, with Wirecast, with WME. It is the least expensive best way to get SD switcher output available to a live encoder.

Live firewire capture is also somewhat dependant on the chip in the firewire card. OHCI is essential, the TI chip seems more reliable than VIA. If your FW card is working for camera capture, it's probably OK.

Canopus AVDC-55. Single direction only, but cheaper than the 110. (Although I have to agree with the other posters that $100 is not worth the headache. Tell the church to find the money if they want the broadcast).

AVDC-110 would still be my first choice, though!

Good luck,

kfox

thanks for info