Stream (webcast live) with a camcorder?

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Level 1

13 points

Stream (webcast live) with a camcorder?

Hi, I'm looking to buy a camera that I can use to record/edit, and also to stream with.

I have been to two video stores and looked a bunch online and just getting contradictory information. The Best Buy guy was trying to convince me you could webcast with a flip mino, which I am convinced is false. How do you stream from a camcorder using modern cameras? I have a 2008/2009 MacBook Pro.

All the modern-day camcorders have HDMI and USB. They don't seem to have firewire anymore. In order to stream am I going to have to find a used camera with firewire? Or does it work with USB? Or, is there a way for the macbook pro to recognize a camera input through an HDMI input? (Is there even a way for a macbook pro to accept HDMI in?)

My applications are this:

1) Record puppet shows. Set up a camera pointing at the puppets. Cord goes from camera, to a visual device under the stage, so I (as the puppeteer) can see what the camera sees. Preferably this is just to my laptop for portability. USB? HDMI? Firewire? AV/component ? It's all right for the actual footage to be recorded to the camera's internal storage though.

2) Webcast with good audio. Me singing at a piano with three mics (vocal, 2xpiano). Audio probably goes to an audio device, the output of which goes to either the camera, or into the computer to the software that handles the webcasting. What connection to I use here from the camera to the computer? USB? HDMI?

I guess that's basically what I'm stuck on. Is this impossible? How do people stream big events like Steve Jobs' keynotes? They're not just holding up their Macbooks aiming their iSights at the stage.

I haven't bought my videocamera yet - if these HDV cams can webcast, I'd love to pick one up. For webcast software I would probably start with ustream, and maybe camtwist, but then maybe move to Wirecast or something. For editing I am thinking of picking up Final Cut Express.

Macbook 2ghz, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Dec 11, 2010 5:49 PM

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Answer 1

tangrams Author

Level 1

13 points

Dec 12, 2010 2:08 AM in response to tangrams

I am finding some of my own answers so far:

- You can capture HDMI using an HDMI capture device like the BlackMagic Intensity, which is a PCI card and requires a Mac Pro.

- You can capture HDMI into a MacBook Pro 17" using a Matrox device with an ExpressCard connector, but the 17" is the only one with the Express slot.

- Or, you can connect S-Video or component to a Grass Valley ADVC55, which will connect to a firewire port.

- Or, you can get a camcorder with Firewire, such as the Canon HV40.

- There is only one firewire bus on a Macbook Pro, which means only one camera. There are some reports that two ADVC55's will work on one firewire port but that isn't true for everyone. Although maybe you can still use a webcam or isight as a second camera.

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Answer 2

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Dec 12, 2010 10:17 AM in response to tangrams

I don't know all the answers to all your questions, but I will offer some thoughts on those questions where I have some experience.

tangrams wrote:
Hi, I'm looking to buy a camera that I can use to record/edit, and also to stream with...How do you stream from a camcorder using modern cameras? ...

Although high quality camcorders offer images superior to webcams or cheaper camcorders, there is no need for a camcorder. You can use a webcam to stream video. All you need is the software to do it. Some apps that can stream your webcam or Firewire camcorder are listed here:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2013310

All the modern-day camcorders have HDMI and USB. They don't seem to have firewire anymore.

The Canon you mention below is a great example of a consumer-priced Firewire camcorder.

... How do people stream big events like Steve Jobs' keynotes? ...

My guess is they have professional AV people using professional cameras and sound with professional broadcasting and streaming software like Apple's QuickTime Broadcaster and QuickTime Streaming Server:

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/extending/resources.html

For complex tasks like you describe, these professional applications are not easy to use, but they can do it all.

I haven't bought my videocamera yet - if these HDV cams can webcast, I'd love to pick one up. For webcast software I would probably start with ustream, and maybe camtwist, but then maybe move to Wirecast or something.

Fo the quality such web-streams deliver, your iSight or other webcams provide adequate image input. If you want to use external webcams for flexibility, see this page:

http://www.mac-compatible-web-cam.com/

For editing I am thinking of picking up Final Cut Express.

FCE will edit saved files, but I do not think it can be used as an in-line streaming workflow element.

- There is only one firewire bus on a Macbook Pro, which means only one camera.

You can use a Firewire Hub to connect multiple devices. One of many examples is

http://www.networktechinc.com/hub-1394.html

My guess is that the single FW port will be of less concern than enough processing power and the capability limitations of of available software that is compatible with multiple devices.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X (10.6.5); MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.5)
LED Cinema Display; G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11); iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9); External iSight; iPod4touch4.2.1

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Answer 3

Feb 15, 2011 8:05 PM in response to tangrams

I need the same info....the guy at Best Buy just sold me a Sony HDR-CX150, and there's no instructions to get it to stream - I can download through usb to iphoto, but that's about it. Help! Do I take this back to the store or am I missing something?

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