Tech Forum Archive

Reliable broadcasting for Stake Conference - how to

37 postsstarted by bcourtenaya 39,563 viewsoriginal topic

bcourtenaya
New Member
#1
Attached is a 16-page white paper in which I discuss how to broadcast Stake Conference reliably. This does not include the use of the church video distribution system as that doesn't work reliably. It also discusses how to distribute HD video (720p or 1080p) inside older buildings for about $200 - $250 per building. Having broadcasted Stake Conferences for over 10 years and within 3 different stakes, I am hopeful that this document will be helpful to other stakes. In 2017, we broadcasted a multi-stake reorganization to 10 buildings and did not have any problem. This document discusses the basic recipe, hardware, software, best practices and advanced capabilities.
📎 Reliable Stake Conference Broadcasts.pdf (2.33 MiB)
-- Bruce Anderson
lajackson
Community Moderators
#2
bcourtenaya wrote:Attached is a 16-page white paper in which I discuss how to broadcast Stake Conference reliably. This does not include the use of the church video distribution system as that doesn't work reliably.
Your white paper is excellent and is certainly a viable way to do stake conference webcasts. I have only two comments.

YouTube normally is not available at receiving meetinghouses through the firewall. This would necessitate an alternate method of reception, such as a mobile phone hot spot, or the unauthorized bypassing of the church firewall.

I do not agree that the church webcast distribution system is not reliable. For certain, there have been problems, but we have streamed our stake conference using the system for over three years now with no problems at all.

With those two considerations, I believe your white paper contains excellent information that will be of benefit to stake technology specialists responsible for stake conference and other webcasts.
danpass
Senior Member
#3
Thanks for posting this. Lots of great information!

On page 12, under Satellite with HDbitT, you might want to mention that in buildings with satellite receivers set up to receive 2 languages, the first language comes on the left channel and the second language on the right. So there is a need to isolate the left or right channel of the HDMI audio for each viewing location in the building, depending on which language is needed. See this topic for some discussion on the subject.
bcourtenaya
New Member
#4
Thanks for the comment on the dual language, I'll update the paper.

Youtube and firewalls can be an issue. I do bypass the firewall for a stake conference. I plan to look into the new firewall profiles and if they can be utilized to allow youtube. SL will allow youtube if requested but it seems more trouble than it is worth. I have found that when using Wirecast, the firewall doesn't block youtube at the stake center.

I do recognize that some stakes have been able to use the church distribution system but my experience was not so. I did extensive testing over about 5 weeks, I looked at building location, ISP, resolution, hardware ... every variable I could think of. SL also couldn't solve the problems. I tested Youtube and have never had a problem since. Speaking to some other stakes, their observations and results were the same as mine. Even beyond reliability, Youtubes solution is far better in my opinion.
-- Bruce Anderson
randysteck
Member
#5
Great information! I think we've seen a lot of what you've seen also. I think that anything that gets rid of the laptop on the receive end greatly increases reliability and the youtube stream certainly allows dedicated video boxes, and at 1080P instead of the 720P limit.

An alternative to Youtube Live is Sunday Streams. Not an advertisement, but we're still a little leery of Youtube Live given one experience with a drop-out about 18 months ago. Other stakes report using it with no problems at all. I don't think you can secure the stream, can you? In that case you'd not be able to webcast a conference with a General Authority. Our other webcast provider gives the option of a password entry so we were okay the last time this happened.

Wirecast is certainly the gold standard. We've been using vMix ($350) for the last 3 years with excellent results, and OBS has been tested rigorously and it's free open source. Any of these are better, in our opinion, than the Vidiu box, with one of the main reasons being 1080P streaming. This make a TON of difference on the 10 foot screen on the receive end.

I second the use of the HDbitT sender/receiver pair. Sending HD over existing coax to satellite rooms in the stake center makes this a MUCH better experience.

One addition to consider (and I know I sound like a broken record on this): use an IP camera for the broadcast. These are inexpensive and give excellent quality images at 1080P with 25X zoom in our case. We use two and they connect directly with Wirecast, vMix, or OBS with about a 400msec delay. if you can tolerate the 300msec on the internal coax, you can tolerate the delay on the IP cameras. This then does not require an HDMI input on the PC, or an HDMI-over-Cat5 interface if the camera is separated from the PC by any distance.

I like all these alternatives as they give higher reliability (without the receive laptop in particular) at lower cost and much better quality on the receive side.

Excellent work!
randysteck
Member
#6
One more note: we tried several ways to get a DSLR to stream stake conference. We found that we could not sustain the HDMI output for longer than about 45 minutes. The claim is that this is due to the sensor heating up, but my research indicated that this is also due to import quotas on video cameras. It turns out that if a DSLR can stream video continuously then it can be considered a video camera, which falls into a different import category and increases the costs for the company shipping them. Plus, it cannibalizes the camcorder market from these same companies... Weird, but a real effect.

A camcorder works great if all you want is one static image. We prefer to be able to move the camera view to the full choir, the chorister and proper framing of different height speakers. Thus, we went with 2 inexpensive IP cameras and vMix/OBS.

I fully agree that the audio is the most important. We used a digital snake from the sound cabinet to take a Y from the pulpit, ambient, organ, and wireless mics.

Also, we use two people at the stake center and one person at each remote location. At the stake center one person runs the camera views while the other activates the view for the webcast, monitors the stream and adjusts mic volumes as needed.
bcourtenaya
New Member
#7
Thank you for the feedback. I must admit I have not personally used the DSLR approach but I know of people who shot a lot of video with it. I have had the good fortune of having high-quality video cameras. I have been able to tap the resources of professional videographers in my last three stakes. These good brethren have brought their personal equipment to the equation as needed.

The newer version of Wirecast does allow for IP cameras. Latency does become an issue for some people. Some people complain about a 300 ms latency, it is like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Another option for cameras is NDI. This is a Network Digital Input similar to SDI but instead of being coax based, it is IP network based.

I would also love to see the church purchase some high-end cameras ($3k - $5k) and make them a regional asset for multiple stakes to use.

For the microphones, In our stake center which is the Legacy floor plan, I ran 4 XLR cables from the sound cabinet to the back of the chapel and installed permanent wall plates. In this way, I get quality audio inputs. I also purchased a Focusrite Scarlet Studio 18i8 audio box for which I capture my 4 microphone inputs and then via USB plug it directly into Wirecast.

Concerning Youtube, the feed can be secured (to a point) by changing the broadcast audience to private/ invitation only. Thus in order to view the feed, you have to log into youtube and have an invite tied to your personal google user id.
-- Bruce Anderson
randysteck
Member
#8
I would not try to do live video reinforcement with an IP camera just because of the 300msec latency. But, routing this to a satellite room in the same stake center with that delay is very reasonable, but you have to use the signal from the HDMI stream and not the building system. We've been doing this and it works well. We also stopped doing large monitors i in the cultural hall for stake conference because they were not helping. When we stopped nobody complained....

I will have to differ with you on the high end cameras. They are clearly great for broadcast and have great optics, but we have found that select IP cameras normally used for surveillance give excellent quality at 3Mb bandwidth which we stream out. Comparisons with a pro quality Sony showed a difference in contrasts, but not nearly as much as we had expected and blind tests with several others showed almost an even split in who preferred each image.

We should talk more...:)
johnshaw
Senior Member
#9
Your white paper should not include the cost of the vidiu since that is now provided by FM - There is no cost to the Stake for it.... that might just be old from the paper.

I've never had an issue with stake conference webcasting, the old system, the new system. I just don't get all the fuss.
“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom.”
― Thomas Paine, Common Sense
bcourtenaya
New Member
#10
The Vidiu box has been provided to many stakes but I don't believe that all stakes have been provided with this equipment (but I could be wrong). In any event, I list the cost of the equipment for comparison purposes only. I believe WireCast is the best solution followed OBS ( $free.99).

Another question that has been raised about DSLR cameras and how long they can be used during a broadcast. I asked the question to our stake videographer, he said that it really depends on the camera. A $700 - $1,000 camera may stop after 30 minutes but a quick cycle of the camera will re-engage it. While not optimum, one could schedule a cycle during hymns or other breaks. He said his DSLR cameras don't suffer from 30-minute interval issue.
-- Bruce Anderson
bcourtenaya
New Member
#11
Attached is a minor update that references OBS software and HDMI over Coax.
-- Bruce Anderson
randysteck
Member
#12
johnshaw wrote:Your white paper should not include the cost of the vidiu since that is now provided by FM - There is no cost to the Stake for it.... that might just be old from the paper.

I've never had an issue with stake conference webcasting, the old system, the new system. I just don't get all the fuss.
We were compelled to take additional steps on webcasts when it became clear that the experience remote viewers had for our conferences were far less than optimal. SD resolution is demonstrably horrible on a 10 foot screen. Dropouts on video or audio break the thread of the conference. We were seeing less attendance at conference and one of the reasons was the terrible remote quality.

We decided that minimum quality was 1080P video, no distractions from freezes, dropouts, stutter, "tin can" audio, etc., and effectively an experience that was as close to being in the stake center as possible. That led us to the system I've described elsewhere in detail many times.

At the end, this is all about quality, and in our case the highest quality at the lowest possible cost. We're very pleased with the system in place and it's become a non-issue with increased stake conference attendance at remote locations.
dpavid
New Member
#13
Thanks for the white paper. We're in the same boat now. SP has asked us to broadcast stake conference to other meetinghouses as attendance has exceeded the capacity of the stake center. Our plan is to stream to YT live. We got that down. At the meetinghouses, has anyone tried to use a Roku, Firestick, etc. logged in to your YT channel to watch the private livestream? Just wondering if this option works and if so, is it just as reliable as a laptop as mentioned in the whitepaper. Less and smaller devices to do the same thing.

Next cameras. DSLR is out for us. Too much latency for live. What IP cameras are you using? Anyone using PTZ, NDI, or other cameras?

For audio, I assume everyone is grabbing audio from in house system by splitting audio from mic or pulling for audio rack. How are you sending it to your system? Wireless, long cable runs, etc.

Anyone going over the top and doing multi-camera, DSKs, pre and post stake conference footage?

Last, did your stake or FM group purchase all the gear or are you guys using your own equipment?

Thanks in advance!
johnshaw
Senior Member
#14
randysteck wrote:
johnshaw wrote:Your white paper should not include the cost of the vidiu since that is now provided by FM - There is no cost to the Stake for it.... that might just be old from the paper.

I've never had an issue with stake conference webcasting, the old system, the new system. I just don't get all the fuss.
We were compelled to take additional steps on webcasts when it became clear that the experience remote viewers had for our conferences were far less than optimal. SD resolution is demonstrably horrible on a 10 foot screen. Dropouts on video or audio break the thread of the conference. We were seeing less attendance at conference and one of the reasons was the terrible remote quality.

We decided that minimum quality was 1080P video, no distractions from freezes, dropouts, stutter, "tin can" audio, etc., and effectively an experience that was as close to being in the stake center as possible. That led us to the system I've described elsewhere in detail many times.

At the end, this is all about quality, and in our case the highest quality at the lowest possible cost. We're very pleased with the system in place and it's become a non-issue with increased stake conference attendance at remote locations.
Randy, I'd love to see those numbers, if you have it broken out by meetinghouse and how many wards in each building, etc.. When we first moved from everyone coming to the stake center (or having to rent a location large enough) to webcasting, our stake saw 8-10% higher attendance, it was fairly equalized by meetinghouse, and wasn't different whether it was a building for 1 ward or a building with 3 wards, each situation fell in that same %.

But if you have the data that shows the increase in attendance from SD to 1080p I'd be happily surprised. I'm just not sure that people are any more excited sitting in the cultural hall looking at a screen at 1080p than they were at SD. But I would love to be pleasantly surprised.
“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom.”
― Thomas Paine, Common Sense
drepouille
Senior Member
#15
30-40 years ago, I enjoyed listening to General Conference in the chapel over a dial-in phone line. I probably paid more attention to the talks back then than I do now, watching in 4K in my living room. Maybe that's because I tend to nod off more quickly now...
Dana Repouille, Plattsmouth, Nebraska
russellhltn
Community Administrator
#16
johnshaw wrote:But if you have the data that shows the increase in attendance from SD to 1080p I'd be happily surprised.
I note that he was talking about not just SD to 1080, but also making sure it's smooth. That part seems like it would have more impact.
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derrickfulkerson
New Member
#17
Hi, do you have any recommendations for HDMI Switches for switching between a camera feed and say a laptop (for PowerPoint)? We have had issues both in streaming and even with local in building setups. The Teradek will usually drop the stream once you try to "switch" sources for example.

I know that a Video Mixer would have a smooth enough transition as to avoid these issues but video mixers are expensive. I was looking at so-called "fast switches" and "seamless switches" but I am skeptical that they will get the job done.

I was looking at something like this, for example: https://www.amazon.com/J-Tech-Digital-M ... 07MTRGFPT/
shawnellis
New Member
#18
Great article post explaining in detail how to set up live broadcasting. Wirecast is definitely one of the top live broadcasting software options out there. There are also some other good live streaming software options such as vMix and OBS. OBS is the best free streaming software I've found. You can find a good comparision of these streaming software options at https://www.lightcast.com/best-live-bro ... -software/
Mikerowaved
Community Moderators
#19
[Moderator note: Normally we don't allow self-promoting links, but Shawn's article comparing the 3 major players in software video webcasting was well written and could be useful to members of the forum.]
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jerrywinters
New Member
#20
Take a look at the new Blackmagic Design Atem Mini. $300 gives you 4 hdmi inputs and a host of great features such as lower thirds. It converts all input resolutions for you. Used it for our Conference in Feb 2020 and worked flawlessly.
derrickfulkerson wrote:Hi, do you have any recommendations for HDMI Switches for switching between a camera feed and say a laptop (for PowerPoint)? We have had issues both in streaming and even with local in building setups. The Teradek will usually drop the stream once you try to "switch" sources for example.

I know that a Video Mixer would have a smooth enough transition as to avoid these issues but video mixers are expensive. I was looking at so-called "fast switches" and "seamless switches" but I am skeptical that they will get the job done.

I was looking at something like this, for example: https://www.amazon.com/J-Tech-Digital-M ... 07MTRGFPT/
Mikerowaved
Community Moderators
#21
jerrywinters wrote:Take a look at the new Blackmagic Design Atem Mini. $300 gives you 4 hdmi inputs and a host of great features such as lower thirds. It converts all input resolutions for you. Used it for our Conference in Feb 2020 and worked flawlessly.
The ATEM Mini is indeed a nice product at a very reasonable price, but there are a few negatives that folks should be aware of before spending stake money. Take a look at this in-depth review published last September at StreamingMedia.com:

https://www.streamingmedia.com/Producer/Articles/Editorial/Featured-Articles/The-Blackmagic-Design-ATEM-Mini--Is-It-for-You-134104.aspx
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jeremywillden
New Member
#22
A huge +1 for the ATEM Mini from Blackmagic Design. I own one of the (much larger $3000) 8-input ATEM 4k switchers and have used it with excellent results for several stake conferences, but I just purchased an ATEM Mini for smaller/simpler shoots and in fact, for most stake conferences it is perfect. While the front panel is straightforward and easy to use, once you connect a computer with the (free) ATEM control software, many hidden features become available.
Want to overlay the words for the Hymns over live video? The built-in keyer does a very good luminance key (light text on a black background, and keying makes the black background disappear so your live camera feed has the text overlaid).
Our stake center was just updated with HDMI distribution and a new sound system, and this switcher would work beautifully for conference. Though the new stake center video rack includes a ($1000+) "video switcher" it is definitely *not* designed for switching feeds live. When switching inputs, the video freezes for about a second, then changes to the new source. At $300 the ATEM mini provides far superior fades and (instant) cuts. Highly recommended!
jeremywillden
New Member
#23
They just released a new "ATEM Mini Pro" that includes a stack of new features for $600, including direct hardware streaming from the switcher itself and direct-to-USB disk recording. For less than the cost of a VidiU box, you get a nice 4-input video switcher and the streaming converter, and have a low-latency HDMI output for overflow projectors and such. I've got one on order and plan to provide an update once I've tested it.

Along those lines, for the past several weeks I've done a "virtual singing time" for our primary (I'm also the primary chorister) using the ATEM Mini ($300 model) and it works very well as a webcam input, supporting a DVE picture-in-picture so the "Sing-Along" app takes up most of the screen while I'm in a corner leading the music.
Mikerowaved
Community Moderators
#24
jeremywillden wrote:They just released a new "ATEM Mini Pro" that includes a stack of new features for $600, including direct hardware streaming from the switcher itself and direct-to-USB disk recording. For less than the cost of a VidiU box, you get a nice 4-input video switcher and the streaming converter, and have a low-latency HDMI output for overflow projectors and such.
Nice that it includes multiview - that was a deal-breaker for me with the original ATEM Mini. Not being able to preview any camera(s) to setup the next shot meant you're always switching blind. The original didn't have any audio VU indicator, hope this one does.

Unfortunately, it appears the Pro version can only stream via hardware at 1080p. The optional bitrates range from High 6 to 9 Mb/s, Medium 4.5 to 7 Mb/s, or Low 3 to 4.5 Mb/s, which are all well above the maximum bitrate allowed for streaming to the church's portal. Might be able to pass the HDMI output to the VidiU to further reduce the bitrate, but then you lose the multiview capability since the one HDMI output jack can only be set for program output or multiview. The more expensive ATEM's have 2 HDMI jacks to support both at the same time.

In any case, looking forward to your hands-on review!
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robyoungberg
New Member
#25
Hi All,
Has anyone used the Atem Mini Pro to stream to the Church's system? I found a video that shows how to edit the xml file. I'd love to have an auto configuration setup like the Teradek Vidiu has, but I'm not sure it's possible yet.
RichardJMarlatt
New Member
#26
robyoungberg wrote:Hi All,
Has anyone used the Atem Mini Pro to stream to the Church's system? I found a video that shows how to edit the xml file. I'd love to have an auto-configuration setup like the Teradek Vidiu has, but I'm not sure it's possible yet.
We have two buildings running ATEM Mini Pros throuh the church's Webcast portal. Below is our XML file we are using. The challenge is that the church's webcast system creates a new RTMP URL and key for each event so you have to edit and reload the XML file prior to each event to go live. After you load the XML file you then need to select "Church Webcast" from the dropdown menu and paste the "Stream Name" in the "Key" field in the ATEM software.

Image

Code: 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<streaming>

	<service>
		<name>Church Webcast</name>
		<servers>
			<server>
				<name>Default</name>
				<url>rtmp://MHW-20-93670.westus.cloudapp.azure.com/23lk</url>
				
			</server>
		</servers>
		<profiles>
			<profile>
				<name>Streaming Medium</name >
				<config resolution="1080p" fps="30">
					<bitrate>750000</bitrate>
					<audio-bitrate>48000</audio-bitrate>
				</config>
			</profile>
			<profile>
				<name>Streaming Low</name>
				<config resolution="1080p" fps="30">
					<bitrate>500000</bitrate>
					<audio-bitrate>48000</audio-bitrate>
				</config>
			</profile>
		</profiles>
	</service>

</streaming>
quintonrhq
New Member
#27
The ATEM mini does not have a multi-view screen making a two camera setup sub-optimal for us. The ATEM mini pro has this feature allowing us to frame the preview PTZ camera and then switch it into the program stream. Good little boxes but both lack the easy ability to use the church streaming directly. OBS gets to do that.
big2thumbs
New Member
#28
The ATEM Mni Pro works perfectly!
* It has multiview HDMI output with a nice audio VU meter
* 4 HDMI inputs
* 2 mic inputs plus great audio processing
* easy webcast capability that works well with the Church's webcast system (after you figure out a few pain points)
Thanks to those that figured out most of the pain points. The above in richardjmarlatt's post xml file works great. What is missing in the post is where to put that snippet of xml. So you need to add it to the 'setup.xml' file after the other 'service' listings. You can find the setup.xml in C:\Program Files (x86)\Blackmagic Design\Blackmagic ATEM Switchers\ATEM Software Control.
This file gets uploaded to the ATEM Mini Pro when you start the "ATEM Software Control" software, so change the file before you start the SW.
As noted by richardjmarlatt the URL needs to be updated in the xml file after you set up the meeting on the church's webcast config page.
big2thumbs
New Member
#29
big2thumbs wrote: So you need to add it to the 'setup.xml' file after the other 'service' listings. You can find the setup.xml in C:\Program Files (x86)\Blackmagic Design\Blackmagic ATEM Switchers\ATEM Software Control.
This file gets uploaded to the ATEM Mini Pro when you start the "ATEM Software Control" software, so change the file before you start the SW.
As noted by richardjmarlatt the URL needs to be updated in the xml file after you set up the meeting on the church's webcast config page.
(I don't see a way to edit my last post so I'll make corrections here)
I said "setup.xml" file, I meant "Streaming.xml" file. (Don't change the name of the file but it might be a good idea to make a backup copy )
I said that you need to update the URL for every event BUT If you add you ATEM Mini Pro as a new encoder, then the RTMP URL will stay static as well as the 'Stream Name' or 'key". So you WON'T need to edit the streaming.xml file for every event - just once. You do need to add the 'key' before starting the stream. There is probably a way to include that with the URL in the xml file but I don't know the syntax.

I failed to mention that one very useful feature that I use is the keying video effects for displaying hymn text and speaker names. You can do this with chroma-key or luma-key or pattern-key. I like chroma key for speaker names and pattern key for hymn text. Hymn text is easy to set up by copying hymn text from the church's website and then pasting in Word with a custom page size of 6.21” tall x11” wide with a 4.8” top margin and 0.1” bottom margin. If you do chroma-key, make green your page background color and highlight some other color like dark blue and light text like yellow. You can put the new church logo in a corner using luma key. But you can pretty much use any of them for any of these uses.

So for less than the cost of a Teradek Vidiu, you get an encoder and a very powerful mixer with video effects.
TCliftonii
New Member
#30
Has anyone successfully used the ATEM Streaming Bridge with an HDMI connection to the podium and an SDI connection in lieu of the building camera feed? I can get the HDMI to work perfectly, but my SDI connection doesn't work at all. I tried two different bridges to no avail. I'm trying to push the video feed from the Streaming Bridge to the RS and primary rooms, as well as cultural hall projectors. Those are all coax or RCA connections. If I can get the building to recognize the program video from my ATEM Mini Pro, we'll be golden.
russellhltn
Community Administrator
#31
TCliftonii wrote: Sun Oct 03, 2021 10:09 pm I'm trying to push the video feed from the Streaming Bridge to the RS and primary rooms, as well as cultural hall projectors.
Not all coax connections are the same. It may be running though a video distribution amp. The coax runs themselves may be set up for RF, not baseband video. In fact I'd same most runs in the building are setup for RF and only a few are for video.
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johnshaw
Senior Member
#32
I've found that many of these connections are running Daisy Chained from one room to another which will impact what you're trying to do, as Russel also mentioned, it could be direct from an amp to certain places and some are daisy chained, but no building I've worked with has every really been setup the same way.
“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom.”
― Thomas Paine, Common Sense
danpass
Senior Member
#33
TCliftonii wrote: Sun Oct 03, 2021 10:09 pm Has anyone successfully used the ATEM Streaming Bridge with an HDMI connection to the podium and an SDI connection in lieu of the building camera feed? I can get the HDMI to work perfectly, but my SDI connection doesn't work at all. I tried two different bridges to no avail. I'm trying to push the video feed from the Streaming Bridge to the RS and primary rooms, as well as cultural hall projectors. Those are all coax or RCA connections. If I can get the building to recognize the program video from my ATEM Mini Pro, we'll be golden.
If you are feeding your video into an analog video distribution system, you will need to convert the SDI output to analog. We use one of these.
bcourtenaya
New Member
#34
I don't have experience with the setup you are describing but just off the top of my head, I would suggest a different approach that may be easier. The SDI solution is a tried and proven technology, the follow on the the SDI solution is the NDI which is basically the same thing but over ethernet (Network). So rather than trying to use old coax, if you ethernet in your locations, I would just to that. You can even use an iphone running NDI as a feed to broadcast. I have used 3 of these in the front of the chapel to provide multiple camera angles. Wirecast and I believe OBS will accept the NDI connections.

You are welcome to contact me directly to discuss.

Bruce Anderson
bcourtenaya@gmail.com
801-821-3805
-- Bruce Anderson
davidengel84
New Member
#35
I know this thread is a bit old, I'm hoping that posting this question is ok.

After reading the originally posted documentation for Reliable Stake Conference broadcasting an issue was mentioned that we experience, which is the HDMI over Ethernet and audio lag. We use the HDMI over Ethernet option (J-Tech boxes), and use the pulpit mic/sound in the overflow rooms of the Stake Center. There is a bit of video lag, and I'm not sure many people notice but when I've done testing it's pretty noticeable to me, but as far as I know no one has complained about it. I am a perfectionist (unfortunately) and I'm looking to improve that experience if I can. I have not yet found a reasonable, quality, and cheap way to input the mic audio into my HDMI stream. Even if I could do this, the mounted or mobile TVs being used in the overflow rooms would be providing the audio which is far inferior to the room's built-in audio system.

The video only HDMI feed comes from a mounted chapel camera, with an HDMI run directly to the wall plate below, which I tap into and send over the J-Tech TX box to the RX boxes. In the overflow rooms I just turn on the "overflow mic" using the fancy (but dated) green LCD screen switch/buttons. The camera's HDMI run does not return to the tech closest in the chapel, it's about a 10' run from the camera to the wall plate. I stream to YouTube Live to our remote buildings and those that are homebound, using OBS. We used to setup laptops and receive the stream in the overflow rooms, but I felt that experience introduced several other problems so we moved to J-Tech boxes. I'm not sure how to fix this lag issue with my current setup. Is it possible to reduce the video lag somehow? Maybe by isolating the network ports in the overflow rooms to a smaller IGMP snooping supported gigabit switch? Or should I just deal with the lag? How are others doing this?
russellhltn
Community Administrator
#36
There's three places you might have delay:
  • The camera itself
  • The J-Tech boxes
  • The TV
I'd suggest some testing to see if you can break it down and find out how much each step adds.

I know I've seen features in the past on a projector that added a delay on the video. You might look for the same on the TV.
Have you searched the Help Center? Try doing a Google search and adding "site:churchofjesuschrist.org/help" to the search criteria.

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Mikerowaved
Community Moderators
#37
For stake conference, I use the J-Tech HDMI over CAT5e boxes in the overflow building(s). Basically, the HDMI from the receive laptop gets split, with one branch going to the front projector, and the other going to the J-Tech Tx/Rx pair with 100' of CAT5e in between to hook up a rear projector. The audio goes either from the laptop or front projector to the overhead sound system. Been using this same setup for several years and I've never experienced any lip-sync issues (and I'm pretty critical of that sort of thing also).
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