Jim’s latest Aircasting suggestions

Summary

Below are some of Jim McLean’s thoughts on creating live streamed broadcasts. Jim also discusses how to create 3MAs  (like the 3 Minute Aircasts) that can be included in a broadcast.

The first paragraph references an early Hangout on Air (HOA) video that NY Times did.

Jim recommendations here are a starting point for what kind of information that the PSU team can include in  your Health Comm Live Google doc.

OnAir Post: Jim’s latest Aircasting suggestions

Background

Thanks Meredith for the NY Times video– yes-this was created using the older G+ HOA which is now only available via YouTube Streaming. Currently, Google Hangouts is strictly a conferencing app. As is Skype, Blue Jeans, WebEx, GoToMeeting, etc.

Interesting the Time’s food editor speak about overproducing the Hangout lost the spontaneity of the testing sessions and the nature of Hangouts in general- impromptu discussions/meetings streamed and recorded. 2 things I noticed that were different from time’s Hangout to the CBT-I session was the quality of video and audio for each participant was uniform- Framing, lighting, background, and audio levels were all uniform-made a huge difference when looking at the production in its entirety. This was obviously thought out ahead of time-probably even tested days in advance. The second was each user was using Hangout Toolbox which allows for a logo based lower third (name and title). Individual users must set and control this-it cannot be done remotely. Other than that-I think CBT-I looks just as professional.

So here is my take on the technology:

I agree-users should use whatever tech they are comfortable with and have access to. Recommending and supporting our technology best practice is what we should focus on controlling. However-If the session is using GHOA- then participants must use this platform. But if a participant is recording a lecture-they can use whatever applications they traditionally use- we simply need to require the end product be A, B, or C type of tech. At Mason there are 13 ways to record a presentation-and they are all used.

There is no advantage to using Skype or any other web conferencing tools over Hangouts- if leveraging Google Apps (Docs, Slides, gmail, YouTube, Forms, Calendar, etc., it makes more tech/consistency sense to stick with Hangouts as our main conferencing tool. With Hangouts and GHOA I can bring in any user with zero interface training. Presenters, curator’s moderators, authors, Aircasters-however do need gmail accounts and some training-on features Skype does not offer.

Yes- OBS can bring in a live feed from any tool-Facebook live, FaceTime, Google Duo, WebEx, Skype-does not matter. Might not make sense to conference with Skype but then produce online streams or recordings with Google products

Here is how one site Teachable deals with similar issue- And how they deal with recommending how to  DIY recording content

I would think the following tools should be the onAir Network recommended tool sets Hubs use:

Recording/Capture Content Tools

Screencast-o-matic (basic)

-Recording presentations for posts with audio narration

-Recording presentations for posts with audio and video

-Recording screen captures, a process, a demo, or an application how to

*Best for Authors recording Research presentations, PowerPoints with audio narration, Lecture Capture, 3MA

OBS (advanced)

                –Recording multimedia presentations with multiple source material (pdf, PowerPoint, video, multiple camera, audio, etc)

-Recording an advanced scripted, produced presentation

*Best for Aircasters and Advanced Authors recording Research presentations, PowerPoints with audio narration, Lecture Capture, 3MA
Online Meeting Tools

Google Hangout (local application/Live  stream and recording NOT available)

-Video conference calls (one on one or group)

-screen sharing

-application sharing

-pre-Aircast meeting and set ups

Google Hangout On Air (YouTube/Recording and Live stream are available)

-Live streaming video meetings presentations with multiple participants

-Recording video meetings presentations directly to YouTube channel for a later air date (not live streamed)

-Live/Record a lower resolution presentation/announcement with access GHOA tool sets (Screencast-o-matic is better tool)on)

Live Streaming Tools

Google Hangout On Air (YouTube/Recording and Live stream available)

-Live streaming video meetings presentations with multiple participants

-Recording video meetings presentations directly to YouTube channel for a later air date (not live streamed)

-Live/Record a lower resolution presentation/announcement with access GHOA tool sets (not available in Hangout application)

*Best for Authors, moderators, and Aircasters (for advance GHOA productions-eg, CBT-I Live)

OBS (Open Broadcaster Software)

  -Custom Live streaming platform for multiple inputs via YouTube channel (camera, audio, multimedia content)

*Best for Aircasters

Media Editing Tools

Camtasia (video)

iMovie (video)

Win Media Maker (Video)

VLC (Video/Audio)

Audacity (Audio)

YouTube (Video-Limited)

H5P (Posted media via Wordpress)

Recording Capture Equipment

Minimum RequirementsWebcam

-USB Microphone/Headset

-PC/Mac

Best

 -HD WebCam (Logitech 920C)

-USB Microphone (Snowball, Yeti, etc)

-Audio Software mixer/enhancer VoiceMeeter (PC) LadioCast (Mac)

-LED or other Lights

-Background considerations (backdrop, etc)

*Best for high quality video recording lectures, presentations, other media content for Hub postings.

Live Streaming Capture Equipment (DIY)

HD WebCam (Logitech 920C)

-USB Microphone (Snowball, Yeti, etc)

-Audio Software mixer/enhancer VoiceMeeter (PC) LadioCast (Mac)

-LED or other Lights

-Background considerations (backdrop, etc)

-Ethernet connection

*Best for Hub shows, guest speakers, live meetings, featured presentations.
Live Streaming Capture Equipment (Conference+)

-HDMI Video Camera

-Tripod

-Blackmagic or other hardware encoder (1080p+)

-Directional condenser microphone, hand held, lavalier

-Audio Software mixer/enhancer VoiceMeeter (PC) LadioCast (Mac)

-Lightstands

                                -LED or other Lights

-Background considerations (backdrop, etc)

-USB extensions, USB multiport

-Ethernet connection

-Powercords

-Laptop (with optional second Display)
*HDMI Cameras with dedicated audio (XLR, etc) preferred. Web camera causes too many issues-including audio sync, camera control, and  low quality production value.

Also, I think the video capture approach for stage, conference, field productions, needs a second and third look. I don’t believe the webcam GHOA approach is working. The many issues from the conference recordings to streams to post editing is too labor intensive and with over all poor outcomes. The DIY equipment set ups might save costs on the front end but at a greater cost to quality and tremendous processing time on the back end. Although webcams can capture live streams- the recordings and the recorded streams (even more so) require extensive post production- for example 25-30 recorded panels will need to be downloaded, edited, additional content added, in some cases audio fixes, and then re-uploaded. That roundtrip will take on average 3-4 hours per video.

Processing the 3 main presentations-shot on Canon XA10-each at 2 hours long required 6 hours each of compression, then editing, and then exporting time (x2 of the original real time recordings-and then upload to YouTube- real-time at best (2 hours each). That comes out to 14 hours for each presentation.

The solution is to live stream live to tape- meaning no post editing, all content is produced live to the stream. This requires HDMI cameras with encoders, audio mics and mixers, all content to be included to the Aircaster (titles, posters, PDFs, PPTs, etc) and a detail approach to the panel, presentation, or lecture and goal of the final video. Other interactive components can be added in Wordpress via H5P.

I think the WebCam approach must be relegated to GHOA or OBS Live streamed shows, presentations or 3MA’s or similar.

As for the 3MA’s I mentioned a good approach is to have users create their own content based on our instructions. I have created a Camtasia Template that has all the Inserts (Title, Intro, Extro, and place cards for video and presentations. All that is needed is to replace text and drop video into place cards and export and then upload and post. Producing via Hangouts or GHOA is not a good approach.

Finally- I think the creating and optimizing images also needs a similar set of standard work flows- low resolution screen captures must be avoided. Logos, Icons, and featured images must be high quality.

Lots of info to digest.

Discuss

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