Streaming for back stage monitors

[wicktech]

hi, Im based in a school and we have a gantry down the side with our sound and lighting control on. we want back stage monitors and to monitor into separate rooms. I have a 2GHZ imac with 4 GB ram and I also have some old desktop PCs. I have installed a cat5E network to back stage and the isolated rooms. I was wondering if anyone was able to recommend any software to stream the video over the network as im struggling to get it working with reasonable quality. I cannot get VLC to stream at all and I am currently using quicktime broadcaster which works but quality is rubbish.

 

Help please :)

 

Thanks, Mat

[Mr Steve]

Old CCTV camera > composite splitter> cat5 baluns to each room > Composite in to a TV or projector. No PCs or streaming required

[J Pearce]

I used an aviosys 9100a at my previous place of work to implement backstage streaming, it was easier to use hardware than software.

[Jivemaster]

Use wires it's easier! if you have cat5 cable use baluns to link a cctv camera and the monitors -some cameras will drive a couple of monitors. Send audio down one pair from the cat5. Cameras usually prefer 75ogm coax.

[alistermorton]

Old CCTV camera > composite splitter> cat5 baluns to each room > Composite in to a TV or projector. No PCs or streaming required

 

Agreed- that's probably far easier and more reliable than involving a computer trying to stream. We used just that sort of arrangement (in both directions) at the Ashcroft where the orchestra were in the scene dock behind the cyc - it allowed the orchestra to see the stage, and the cast to see the MD on the monitor.

[dwright2104]

As Prev Mentioned,

 

get a cctv camera http://cpc.farnell.com/iq-cctv/iqc600b/camera-650tvl-ir-bullet/dp/SR08297

 

get a video splitter, http://cpc.farnell.com/unbranded/av-484/audio-video-distribution-amplifiers/dp/AV12775?crosssellid=AV12775&crosssell=true&in_merch=true&

 

get a cat5 balun for each tv required http://cpc.farnell.com/pro-signal/psg03185/av-over-cat-5-rx-tx-pair/dp/AV18767?in_merch=Featured%20Products&MER=e-bb45-00001001

[Jivemaster]

Remember also that digital delays, there will always be latency, and if there is noise then the latency will grow, so as you want cues from the video please use and analog instant cable feed. -just watch the news on TV, if they go to an OB then the newsreaders questions take about a second to reach the reporter!

[AHYoung]

You will find that as a minimum you get half a second delay between lens and screen if you stream, but it could easily be several seconds which rules it out for anything critical. Yoiud certainly never consider streaming a conductor camera because of the delays. My advice is to keep it simple and composite video using cctv lotechology optionally over cat 5 cable infrastucture using baluns, its cheap, reliable and just works...