Learn how to get started with Livestream Studio software: http://bit.ly/UpdateStudio. The Livestream Studio HD550 by Livestream is compact and portable all-in-one live production switcher. Pre-installed with Livestream Studio 4.0, this live production switcher is a easy to carry anywhere with its custom carry bag. Take HD550 everywhere, including on a plane.
Streaming video continues to be a very hot topic among churches. To address the demand in the church, sports, corporate event, and other markets, more and more manufacturers are building turnkey solutions designed to make it easy. We're back to look at another one—this time from what is possibly the most popular streaming destination for churches, Livestream. Livestream recently released a series of products called Livestream Studio Live Production Switcher. As of this writing, there are four hardware solutions along with the stand-alone software. We received the mid-range and highly portable HD500 model for testing, although the software is consistent across the line.
Self-contained and Portable
The first thing you notice about the Studio HD500 is that it looks like a small desktop PC with a handle on top. It ships with a magical carrying bag from Tom Bihn (seriously, this bag is nice). What sets the unit apart is that it also has a 17-inch 1900x1200 LCD screen built into one side, protected by a easily removable metal cover. Weighing just 15 pounds, it's very easy to carry around, and would certainly qualify as carry-on luggage.
Inside the box is a six-core Intel Core I7 running at 3.2 GHz. An Nvidia GForce GT520 graphics card drives the built-in display, along with an external one that can be set up as a multi-viewer. There is a 2.5-inch 500 GB hard drive inside, and with seven USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 ports, you have plenty of ways to add more storage. All of the Livestream Studio systems are built around cards from Blackmagic Design; in this case, a Decklink Quad and another Decklink Studio. The Quad gives you four HD/SD SDI inputs, and the Studio HD500 can be configured for input or output for a local live mix. In output mode, it would be easy to mix four cameras (along with internal graphics and other soft inputs) to both a stream and route local projector or video wall. As you might expect, audio can come in on the SDI inputs, or via the breakout cable on the Decklink Studio card (analog and AES are supported), or via a USB interface. The built-in audio mixer in the software allows you to mix sources or have audio follow video. Everything you need fits neatly into the carry bag, making this an ideal solution for portable churches that need video production, even if they don't want to stream. The latest software update now allows for recording of up to four video streams at once, and you can select from ISO camera feeds, and a pre-graphics 'clean' or post-graphics 'dirty' feed.
Full-featured Software
Rather than relying on third-party software control, Livestream built its own mixing and streaming package. It has a clean, modern interface, and is easily learned. Whenever I test systems like this, I always try to see how far I can get without looking at a manual. With this system, I had multiple inputs configured, was able to switch both a live feed and get a stream running in about 20 minutes.
For the demo, they included the Livestream Studio Keyboard—simply an Apple extended keyboard that's all decked out with custom key silk screening indicating the shortcut for every function. In no time at all, I was switching between our four cameras, adding lower thirds, and sending video to my Livestream account. I'm not exactly sure why, but the latency from the HD500 to what I saw on my laptop via my Livestream page was a matter of seconds. Most streaming appliances I've tested add a good 20-30 seconds of latency; this was more like 2-3. Setting up my account was as simple as entering my username and password, then hitting 'Stream'. I'm not exactly sure why, but the latency from the HD500 to what I saw on my laptop via my Livestream page was a matter of seconds. Most streaming appliances I've tested add a good 20-30 seconds of latency; with the HD500 it was more like two or three. This may not be a big deal if your viewers are at home or in another time zone. But if you want to use the stream to send video around the church campus, lower latency is a very good thing. Getting streaming started in the first place was as simple as entering my username and password, then clicking on 'Stream.'
Livestream Studio HD500 features a two-channel graphic engine with some pretty cool features.
Built-in Multi-viewer
While the built-in screen will display the four camera sources and contains a good-sized preview and program window, the thumbnails are too small to really judge focus and exposure. However, if you plug a VGA or HDMI monitor into the graphics card, you have a fully configurable multi-viewer at your disposal. There are quite a few screen layouts to choose from, and with a simple drag-and-drop interface, you decide what goes in which box. You can even add a clock, a stream window (to verify it's online) as well as a viewer count. Much to my delight, when I plugged the second display in, it was immediately recognized by the system and the multi-view window appeared. I had fully expected to at least re-start the software, if not the OS. In fact, this rather summarizes my experience with this box; everything works pretty much as you'd expect without a lot of fiddling on your part. You can pretty much plug in and go.
Graphic Options
Livestream Studio HD500 features a two-channel graphic engine with some pretty cool features. It's very easy to build lower thirds and full screen graphics in the editor. Where it gets interesting is the dynamic features. The graphic window offers a design mode, where as you might expect, you layout your graphics, logos and other features. Once complete, you enter data mode, which allows you to change the content of the boxes on the fly with minimal trouble. In fact, you could easily build a lower third graphic with Dynamic Text. Pre building a library of lines of text for different pastors or speakers makes it easy to change the lower thirds on the fly. Simply clicking the line makes it active. In just a few minutes, you have a full set of graphics for your staff.
Moreover, because the graphics can contain video windows, you can build complex multi-input, picture-in-picture effects that go to air with a single click. What I like about the software is that once everything is set up, it's very easy to operate, and completely visual. And while it's not hard to set up, it would take no time at all to train a volunteer to handle fairly complex graphic overlays.
Other Cool Features
A new feature called Remote Camera allows you to turn a computer desktop (via network) into an input. Right now, it's Windows-only, but they promise OS X is coming soon. This could be very handy for including sermon notes on the stream or IMAG screens. You can also pull in content from your Livestream account as another input source. I didn't get a chance to test this feature, but it may make it possible to stream from one location to another very easily (quality would be my main concern—however, the quality of the stream I sent from the HD500 was quite good). Each of the four inputs has a scaler available to it, making it easy to mix and match input formats. For my tests, I pulled in a SD-SDI feed, a 1080i output from my switcher and another 1080i camera. It converted each source to 1080i, as needed, without issue, sync'ing everything up in the process. The system can also be genlocked should you desire.
Tally is not supported directly, but a recent software update makes Studio compatible with the tally system made by MetaSetz. Tally is often forgotten with these systems, and I'm glad to see it's available. While this unit is obviously made to stream to Livestream, it's also possible to send video to UStream, YouTube Live or any RTMP-compatible server or CDN, such as Wowza Media Server, Akamai, [and] Flash Media Server. While I'm not sure how this might be used in a church, it's possible to play back any of the ISO streams without stopping recording, which gives you basic “instant replay” capability. This might be useful for certain sermon illustrations, or perhaps baptisms.
Conclusion
With an MSRP of $8,500, the HD500 isn't cheap. However, when you consider that you can walk into a venue with a bag on your shoulder and in under five minutes be fully ready to stream, switch and ISO record a service, it's a compelling option. It's very easy to use (I never once consulted a manual or help file to figure anything out), and as far as I could tell, it's very stable. We had no problems streaming a weekend, and the video quality was quite good with minimal latency. The inclusion of the built-in monitor makes it especially appealing for portable churches. Not having to lug a monitor in and out each week would be a huge benefit of this system. The system comes with a year of free phone support, a one-year warranty, and software updates are free.
Editor's Note:
*While Livestream's Studio HD500 is still available, a new version, the Studio HD510 was recently introduced. The new version twice the storage capacity (1 TB), twice the RAM (16 GB) and five HDMI inputs, compared to one on the Studio HD500. It also includes a keyboard, and much more.
For More Information about LiveStream
Livestream lets you be a mobile content broadcaster with their newest mobile streaming product, the Livestream Studio HD500.
Livestream made its name by being a top-tier content delivery network with their Livestream service accepting a wide range of broadcast devices and configurations. Recently, as an natural extension to their original broadcasting desktop software, Livestream has created a brand new broadcasting suite called the Livestream Studio.
When combined with the supported capture devices, Livestream Studio allows you to transform your computer into a live production control room allowing you to switch, record, and stream a live broadcast to the Internet. While you can purchase the software separately and develop your own hardware platform, Livestream has a whole range of officially built systems with the most notable one being the Livestream Studio HD500.
It Fits as a Carryon!
The HD500 includes a built in LCD screen.
The HD500 is the ultimate portable live production switcher. Making the former case modder and LAN party enthusiast in me smile, the HD500 is a self-contained computer that includes an embedded LCD screen on the side panel with the entirety in a form factor that easily fits in a medium-sized carry-on bag.
The HD500 uses a Decklink Quad and an extra Decklink to provide 5 SDI inputs.
The HD500 includes 5 HD-SDI inputs (4 of which are mini-BNC), an array of analog and digital inputs, and a 500 gig hard drive, all while giving you a supremely short setup time. Simply put the HD500 on the table, plug the cameras in, plug your keyboard and mouse in, and turn it on.
The HD500 has a durable carryon bag that fits the unit plus your keyboard and mouse
Overall, the hardware side of things is actually very simple, yet very elegant. At a weight of 15 pounds, the HD500 is easy to carry and easily fits under the seat on a standard airplane.
Software Simplicity
What really drives the HD500 though, aside from the great hardware, is the very featured Studio software package the system revolves around.
The Livestream Studio software has all your standard features you’d expect from a mixing system, live multi view of inputs and preview/program based switching, as well as additional features such as built-in broadcast recording and streaming.
When recording, the HD500 records at the same format of the session giving you about 10 hours of 1080i video. Recorded video will show up in one of the two media playback bins, and you can add your own media to the bins as well. The Studio software will transcode any media to match the session format as needed.
What really drives the HD500 though, aside from the great hardware, is the very featured Studio software package the system revolves around.
The Livestream Studio software has all your standard features you’d expect from a mixing system, live multi view of inputs and preview/program based switching, as well as additional features such as built-in broadcast recording and streaming.
When recording, the HD500 records at the same format of the session giving you about 10 hours of 1080i video. Recorded video will show up in one of the two media playback bins, and you can add your own media to the bins as well. The Studio software will transcode any media to match the session format as needed.
With the HD500, you can also stream to a variety of different CDNs. Unsurprisingly, it works the best with Livestream’s own service, but there is native support for Ustream and YouTube Live broadcasts. Even still, you are free to use any CDN you’d like provided they can accept a standard RTMP feed.
The Studio software includes an input follow-based audio mixer. It can optionally follow the input channel associated with a camera and mute other channels, or you can enable all audio channels associated with the cameras and do your own mix right in the software.
What really sets the Studio software apart though is the supremely featured graphics system. While many systems provide basic titling and overlays for on screen graphics, the Livestream Studio software’s implementation is by far the most elegant and likely the best featured system outside of a separate broadcast graphics system.
The graphics system works around the concept of layered objects. Cameras, images, video, and text are all different objects you can place on your canvas. It’s trivial to add the maximum 4 live cameras on top of a custom background to create a very nice looking multi-person interview look.
Texts and titles are also objects, but are special in their own right. These text fields are actually text fields backed by a data list similar to a printing mailing labels in a label maker using a list of addresses in a spreadsheet. Each text box field is linked to information on a separate tab in a list, allowing you to pre-populate and easily switch between different sets of information such as different names of on screen talent, bullet points, and lower thirds.
The graphic system also includes fun features such as countdown and clock objects, giving your viewers a dynamic count to when the next event will be. When the countdown reaches the appointed time, the system will even automatically transition into whatever is queued up in preview.
Quirks
No broadcast system is without quirks, and the HD500 is definitely not an exception.
While the system works really well with embedded audio coming from the camera sources, using off board external audio from an extra mixer is a bit finicky. You have to use the “extra” decklink card of the system to pull audio in, and it does require a video feed to go with it. One option to save an input would be to route the mixer audio back into a camera and pull the audio via the embedded feed.
Another interesting point is while the HD500 supports five camera inputs, you can’t use all the inputs if you want to have an broadcast output signal at the same time. To get a broadcast signal out, you’d have to convert one of the inputs into an output, reducing your camera support to four. While there is a dedicated HDMI output available for the program feed, it unfortunately does not include audio. It works well for conference settings to drive displays, but not for recording or rebroadcasting the program externally.
As a final quirk, while the Studio software contains many fun and silly wipes, it doesn’t contain a dip to black/color mode. It only contains direct fade transitions between cuts.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I think the HD500 is a great system thanks to its unparalleled mobility and elegant graphics system. For those of us who travel frequently to produce live productions, the HD500 should be a serious consideration.
The HD500 eliminates the need to bring a case for your mixer system, a case for your monitor, a case for your accessories, allowing you to potentially do your entire gig with a single carry on. Just show up, place your HD500 on the table, and plug the camera feeds into it. I think some of the best uses for the HD500 would be red carpet events and other small short events when you want to be able to produce an high end production with as little setup as possible.
Livestream Studio Hd500
At $8500, the Livestream Studio HD500 is not a cheap piece of gear, but compared to competing products, it’s a very compelling price point.
Livestream Studio Hd500
You can find out more about the HD500 from the Livestream website and be sure to check out the longer workflow run-though I did where you can see a whole production as well as a lot more detail into the system.