Video advice for a small church

[jklug2001]

Since the audio is already being captured, cant we just capture the video to the PC as well, then use a program like VirtualDUB to mux? After the audio and video are synched, then we can use Nero DVD maker to put it together, and voila! A DVD Master that can be easily duplicated.

Supposing we then add an additional video card to the PC and run the other 3 additional screens as duplicates of our live capture....... or even use a program like VLC to work as a media streamer..... ive done that at my computer shop before......

[sempei13]

The fun thing about church tech is often making things that shouldn't work, work. If you're sending video out of the computer with VGA, you could use a DA (distribution amplifier) and baluns to send the video over cat5 to either projectors or HD tvs.

Paul

[tdangelo]

Jklug2001,

Note that just because you have an HD camera that does not necessarily mean that you cannot feed a SD switcher or make SD DVDs. If you purchase a SD camera now be prepared to replace it in one to five years (or more likely three years). The future for video is greater than 525 lines of video (standard definition). Another reason to invest in HD now is that (as others have noted) you will want to run the projectors at the highest resolution you can. If the cameras are “SD” it will require the projectors (or outboard gear) to scale up. This ALWAYS causes video delay, and in an I-mag environment that can result in serious lip-sync issues. If the cameras are 1920x1080 and the projectors are set at 1920x1200 (for example) there will be no scaling involved.

Consider that any video system can be summarized as having THREE parts. (1) Inputs/originations. (2) Outputs/destinations. (3) All the stuff in between, which I refer to the “guts” or “infrastructure” of a system.

Inputs/originations & Outputs/destinations are the least expensive and easiest to change or upgrade at a later date. #3, the “guts” or “infrastructure” is the hardest and most expensive to change later on.

In this category will be permanent cabling, switchers, routers, patch-bays, distribution amplifiers, control room monitoring, etc. Invest the greatest percentage of your finances and quality-budget here.

As Sempei13 was asking the dimensions of the room (camera location) vs. the field-of-view that you want the camera(s) to attain are really important before you make any decisions on a camera make/model especially if the camera does not support interchangeable lenses.

Regarding camera support, you have to make a decision on what the camera is going to be before making a decision on the tripod (or PTZ, ped, lock-off, etc.). The support will be rated for a specific camera weight class. I would not echo the comment about “over buying” regarding camera support because camera support can have the longest usable life cycle IF you buy with future needs in mind. If you purchase now a tripod that works great with 2 lbs cameras but then upgrade in three years to a 10 lbs camera the $1000 or so that you spent on the tripod will be wasted.

[tdangelo]

Originally Posted by osborn4

They are convinced that multiple cameras are not needed, so the initial budget will be to buy A camera. I've talked to them about getting the largest CCD they can with whatever money they come up with. And an audio line in. Anything else we should look for in a camera in low - medium light with a 60' shoot?

In order of importance:

If a 2/3" camera - a lens optical focal length of 300mm
If a 1/2" camera - a lens optical focal length of 220mm
If a 1/3" camera - a lens optical focal length of 160mm
If a 1/4" camera - a lens optical focal length of 125mm

Rear zoom / focus control capability
Studio viewfinder (monitor) and mounting
BNC spigots for video output
Balanced audio inputs with AGC "off"
Timecode jam-sync capability
Gen-lock
CCU capability

[ruikuanli]

Hi guys,

sorry to interupt, i found this thread very useful and interesting to me. I am a newbie assigned media director in our church and still learning. I do have the same inquiry with jklug2001. however due to the insufficient resources here in our country I'm finding alter ways to buy diff stuff and work together as one.

where haviing a community event that will be held in public. as my pastor requested we will broadcast the event and show it on the projector which will be scaled above the stage.. we improvise by making our own rear screen that has the size of 5ft H and 15ft W.

Im planning to run the cablings into coaxial converted the one end ito composite that is connected to 2 projectors and the other end is on catv signal amp, also the video-out from the compter is also run via composite-converted to coaxial then connected also to the input of catv amp.


my problem is, i do also have a HD sony camcorder which i want also to connect in, to broadcast it on the projector.. im planning to use analog video selector just to switch the display from the computer and from the HD camcordr.


..would this work?

[tdangelo]

Not elegant, but yes it will work assuming your camera has a composite video output.

[[Admin] osborn4]

Originally Posted by tdangelo

In order of importance:

If a 2/3" camera - a lens optical focal length of 300mm
If a 1/2" camera - a lens optical focal length of 220mm
If a 1/3" camera - a lens optical focal length of 160mm
If a 1/4" camera - a lens optical focal length of 125mm

Rear zoom / focus control capability
Studio viewfinder (monitor) and mounting
BNC spigots for video output
Balanced audio inputs with AGC "off"
Timecode jam-sync capability
Gen-lock
CCU capability

Thanks Ted.

Are you talking about a 3 chip camera or single chip camera?

[sempei13]

I agree. If you wanted to run it long term, the composite input on the projector isn't the best way to do it. I'd scale it first and then connect it to the projector w/VGA. You'll get a better looking signal that way.

Paul

[tdangelo]

Originally Posted by osborn4

Are you talking about a 3 chip camera or single chip camera?

Good question. The quantity of imagers does not change the field of view. Only the imager size affects field of view (based on a given lens focal length).

In a three chip camera the imager size is not the sum of all three imagers. It's computed based on only one imager as the additional imagers are only handling a different portion of the color spectrum. Thus, three 2/3" imagers being illuminated by a dichroic filter or beam splitter still results in a 2/3" imager size focal equivalent.

[tdangelo]

Originally Posted by osborn4

I've talked to them about getting the largest CCD they can with whatever money they come up with.

I could probably be accused of being a gear snob. Even with that affliction I think the imager size is less important as high quality small diameter imagers are coming out. I've seen some 1/2" cameras recently that look much better than some 2/3" cameras from six years ago.

More important than imager size (which will affect field of view and depth of field), I would look for the highest resolution (1920x1080 minimum) and light sensitivity (F10 or better, meaning the higher number the better, at 2000 lux and 89.9% reflectance) as possible. Another important factor is that 2/3" cameras tend to have a larger selection of lenses, especially used ones.

[[Admin] osborn4]

Thank you. This is all very helpful.

Would a three chip camera work better in less than optimal lighing conditions?

[tdangelo]

Originally Posted by osborn4

Would a three chip camera work better in less than optimal lighing conditions?

Not necessarily. The 3-chip camera is going through a filter which can can reduce light sensitivity, so in theory the single ship has an advantage. With that said each lens have different spec.

- Tom