The Emergence of Lightweight Broadcast Equipment

Mankind has always been fascinated with objects that can be described as extreme. Prefixes like super, jumbo, mega, and ultra were appended to certain words to emphasize extremeness in speed, dimension, strength, and other characteristics. We have been accustomed to words like supersonic, jumbo jets, ultralight, and hyperspace for quite some time now, and at present, words with prefixes like “mega,” “micro,” and “nano” have been recently introduced into the lexicon. These prefixes along with other superlative adjectives are usually used daily by advertisers to catch people’s attention. These advertisers know the psyche of most people who want things that are inclined to favor compact, portable, and easy to use products.

Broadcasting Equipment

Most television networks have news programs in their daily airtime, and among these daily programs, the news programs are most highly viewed by the general public. For this reason, the TV network’s news gathering department is one of the best equipped groups in the TV establishment. 

A news gathering team usually comprises of two persons (a news reporter and a cameraman) and a news gathering vehicle. A news gathering team needs to be very mobile to be able to reach the news location in a moment’s notice. Several news gathering teams may work together during a live coverage of a news events like that of the arrival of a visiting head of the state or religious leader, or that of the international sporting event. Before the onset of the event, every cameras, microphones and other audio/video equipment must be linked to production and SNG truck via extensive cabling. The preparation alone for the live coverage of any big event already necessitates a herculean effort on the part of the news gathering team, and the preparation itself also requires a lot of manpower and expertise. 

 

The Emergence of Wireless Technologies

The advent of advanced and miniaturized computers and wireless communications has engendered technological breakthroughs in broadcasting that greatly enhanced and innovated TV news coverage. At present, news gathering teams no longer necessitates lots of manpower and equipment. With the wireless technologies at hand, news gathering teams are now equipped with lightweight broadcasting equipment that use broadband technology instead of the traditional radio, satellite, and microwave transmitters.

The emergence of the third generation (3G) wireless network technology has allowed for alternative methods of broadcasting by way of the internet. Using 3G along with broadband technology, it became possible to stream large amount of data like video imageries in real-time. These technological advancements have led to the use of smart phones and other mobile devices.

Looking at what smart phone can achieve despite its diminutive size, engineers and technicians started to devise ways to utilize the smart phones in exchanging data files in broadcasting. This also led to the development of the wireless video camera link. With such link using either WiFi or broadband, it became possible to make lightweight, wireless video broadcast equipment. With this type of video camera, a news gathering team cameraman now has greater flexibility and freedom in their live news coverage. Likewise, via the use of cellular broadband, a news gathering team, which is remotely located, can now transmit its news anywhere and anytime. At present, many TV news networks are investing and trying to capitalize and optimize the use of wireless technology in their broadcasting of news and other live coverage.

The Great Innovation in the Area of Live Outside Broadcast

Technological advancements in the field of broadcasting had been in the doldrums for several decades. The broadcasting people had been very satisfied with the status quo for a long time, so little innovations had happened along the way. However, with the onset of the World Wide Web, and the innovations brought about by open-source platforms that enable software engineers to create better software for broadcasting, the broadcasting industry has been greatly revolutionized.

Understanding The Old Broadcasting System

The old broadcasting tools and equipment definitely looked crude as compared to contemporary broadcasting tools and equipment. Before, there was a need for complicated equipment and systems that have to be prepared beforehand prior to outside broadcasting transmission. A retinue of dozens of crews usually assisted the directors who direct all the necessary preparations and setup of outside broadcast equipment. The live outside broadcast then started after all the wires of equipment were already in place, while the outside broadcast units were always on a standby mode. Then, the heavy cameras moved around to get footages of the live broadcast. Afterwards, the footages are edited and sent via the satellite truck transmission. This outside broadcasting process was very laborious and required meticulous planning and attention. The abovementioned process likewise was usually repeated in every outside live broadcasting in the past, and you would surely feel that what they were doing were very crude and obsolete.  

On the other hand, the process of live broadcasting nowadays is already different from the old system. Those who engage in live broadcasting, nowadays, no longer use those tons of wires, heavy cameras, and those burdensome equipment. Some broadcasters nowadays make use of miniature tools that can readily fit into a backpack. They use streaming devices that can stream video footages anywhere there is internet connectivity.

Streaming outdoor events usually presents a great challenge to most streamers of videos. It usually also presents great opportunities for those who engage in this activity. Additionally, there is a big difference between outdoor streaming and indoor streaming. One big difference is that people are more excited to watch outdoor streaming of videos that indoor streaming of videos.

Concomitant Concerns Regarding Outside Broadcasting

There are some great concerns that need to be addressed if you want to stream live. First, there is the concern of bandwidth. There is usually a required bandwidth for perfect streaming without latency or delay, and this bandwidth requirement has to be complied with if you need to be successful in streaming live videos. Second, there is also the problem of getting internet connection in outside location wherein you are going to stream videos. Hence, you got to stay connected online if you want to make a successful online streaming of videos.

There are also the natural factors such as the wind and rain that can interfere with your streaming live videos. A strong gust of winds can greatly affect the audio of your video and may make it inaudible to your excited audience. Lastly, there is the overhanging problem of losing your power supply or source during the streaming process. If you would be streaming long events, you definitely need more batteries or access to a continuous power supply.

Streaming Technology Makes Outside Live Broadcasting Cool and Easy

If you are going to look at the unprecedented technological developments in the various fields of endeavors nowadays, you will surely be amazed at how the pace of technological advancements is feverishly going on. A century ago, for example, the Wright brothers—both bicycle mechanics and enthusiasts—had just experimented on “heavier-than-air flight,” and they were successful in flying their own ragtag airplane. Fifty years afterwards, humans were able to fly spacecraft to the moon; and at present, human-made spacecraft are now teetering on the edge of the Solar System. It seems that with this unprecedented pace of technological advancement, it is very clear that humans are already at the threshold of even greater technological advancements.

On the ground level, people are fervently excited about how technological developments have made their lives cozy and cool. If you take the case of mobile technology, for example, barely twenty years ago, Bill Gates predicted that humans will soon be using wireless smart devices in doing their everyday business. Nowadays, Bill Gates’ prediction is already a reality. Most of us are now doing our banking and most business transactions using smart mobile devices.

The Impact of this Unprecedented Technological Advancements on Live Broadcasting

Even the broadcasting industry is not spared from the trickling effects of these unprecedented technological advancements. Several decades ago, broadcasting live was only left into the great broadcasting corporations who got the resources and the manpower to do so. Nowadays, even the ordinary guys out there can stream live videos right at their very homes or anywhere they want to broadcast. Gone were the days when live outside broadcast would necessitate highly specialized outside broadcast equipment, lots of tools and instruments, tons of cords connecting those equipment, and outside broadcast transmission. Nowadays, using highly specialized compact equipment with transmitter, one can broadcast live without much snag and latency anywhere and anytime in the world.  

To broadcast live, you simply need to have a camera that is hooked to the internet. You also need an online streaming host that would provide you with the needed bandwidth to broadcast. Hence, you need to subscribe to any hosting website that can provide you with the needed bandwidth. Subscribing means you need to make an account on one of these hosting websites, and sometimes you got to choose which streaming plans you want to avail of.  Once you have the necessary account and got this needed bandwidth, you can then engage in streaming live your videos. The process of streaming live is definitely that simple nowadays.

The Measurable Advantages of Streaming Live

Streaming live videos has definitely plenty of advantages; hence, more and more people are engaging in streaming live videos for the following reasons. First, it can generate a greater number of audience which you cannot generate when you are simply posting a video online. Second, streaming live can generate greater online interactions with your prospective audience and actual followers. Third, streaming live can also generate a sense of urgency for your audience to watch your video. Next, you can generate new revenues via streaming live videos. Lastly, streaming live can definitely make you popular and stand out from the rest of the crowd.

For more information about outside live broadcasting, visit: http://www.liveu.tv/lu500.

On Figuring Out the Ideal Media Streaming Devices to Avail of

Ever since the introduction of the television (TV) set to the general public, it has become one of the widely known sources of public information and entertainment. The traditional TV set has evolved from being a simple furniture—with its polished wooden body and rounded black and white CRT (cathode ray tube) screen—into a pure appliance with flat colored CRT screen. Thereafter, the TV sets became available with optional cable or satellite connection and VCD/DVD jack ports. The CRT screen was later on supplanted by plasma, and subsequently by the more efficient LCD or liquid crystal display. But the TV set’s technological development did not stop there, but went on with the creation of today’s internet TV and smart TV—a hybrid between a computer and television.

The fast-paced development in computer and communication technology has likewise led into the introduction of pocket-sized mobile devices which could be used as regular telephones, personal computers, video cameras, radios, and televisions at the same time. With on-demand access, people can watch live or previous TV programs anytime and anywhere. There is, however, one major drawback when watching using a mobile device—its small screen size—which makes the screen quite difficult to watch. Despite the introduction of touch screen which put away the space-consuming keypads, the mobile device’s screen still remains a bit small. For this reason, even if the huge TV screen is an immobile platform, the huge TV LCD’s screen still remains popular among consumers.

Media Streaming Device Varieties

With the recent introduction of smart TV and media streaming devices, people can now view streamed movies and other programs from media streaming services websites on-demand. Media streaming devices like the streaming box or stick can be easily plugged into the HDMI port of the TV to access the net, or even watch a media file that is saved on a personal computer PC, laptop, and/or mobile devices. A stored media content from a mobile device such as tablet or smartphone can be readily streamed to a streaming stick for instant viewing. Aside from having internet access, every media streaming device has Wi-Fi connectivity options.

Streaming devices comes are different from one another, not just in shape or size, but also in brands. Some brands of streaming devices have around hundred applications to choose from. Some media streaming brands come with remote control, leaving them free for other usage. Other brands offer their media streaming devices at very low prices.

Some media streaming devices act as live streaming video equipment as they can be used to show media files that are stored on other PCs, tablets, and laptops. Many streaming devices are preloaded with media streaming software in order to have easy independent access to the net, without using other devices such as a PC or laptop.  

While most TV sets nowadays offer 4K resolution with high dynamic range (HDR), not all media streaming devices have similar parameters. Some media streaming device are designed to be inexpensive, some are designed for PC gamers, and other media streamers are designed to be all-rounders.  Most media streaming devices today support HDR10 and 4K apps like Amazon, Netflix or YouTube. Lastly, it is important to figure out beforehand if your TV set and the media streaming device are compatible before availing of any media streaming device.   

Formal Television Studio Broadcasting and Outside Broadcasting

You would usually think of a production set as a hub that is quite busy and filled with people with their own expertise who are working together to pull off a live broadcasting of an event or news. Some of these people in your imagination would include a director that directs everything, plus those staff like cameramen and other production personnel. In fact, if you are going to give a free rein to your imagination, your imagination would likewise visualize various equipment included in a production set that make possible the broadcasting of an event. These equipment may include tons of cables, microphones, cameras, and other broadcasting equipment that make possible such broadcasting. These would surely be the nitty-gritties of the scenario in your imaginative exercise. 

Well, in actuality, these are indeed the typical scenario that you would see in a broadcasting studio.

But things are changing in most sets of broadcasting networks. Since the onset of the World Wide Web and the use of internet as a means of transferring data, broadcasting, whether remotely or not, has radically changed. Since the introduction of third generation GPRS to the internet technology, the methods of transmitting information data has greatly changed. Moreover, with the greater use streaming videos, the transfers of data from any remote broadcasting set to the end points have become quite easy. 

Previously, it would be easy to broadcast something if you were broadcasting from a formal television studio. However, it was definitely troublesome and meticulously burdensome to make a video production outside of a formal studio.

A video production that is done outside of a formal studio is called electronic field production (EFP). Some examples of EFP include productions like concerts, interviews, and sporting events. EFP usually requires outside broadcast transmission, and EFP usually requires the use of production trucks for the covering of outside productions.

Streaming Media Makes Outside Broadcasting Easy

A decade or two ago, it is quite difficult to imagine how the technology involved in network production would evolve. However, nowadays, it is easy to see that the use of streaming technology is the way to go for outside productions. There are companies and developers that are pioneering in the production and manufacturing of tools and equipment that could further simplify outdoor broadcasting. The solutions provided by these companies allow broadcasting even from remote locations without the use of elaborate outdoor network setups that were once indispensable to an electronic field production.

These companies provide roaming solutions that allow broadcasters to make hassle-free coverage from almost all locations around the world. Moreover, these pioneering companies provide great solutions to scenarios that were once problematic to broadcasters. Using both satellite as well as cellular networks together with the solutions provided by these companies, broadcasters nowadays can readily relay video feeds to the expectant public from around the world. These companies likewise provide hybrid ENG vehicles that usually replace the use of traditional satellite trucks. Additionally, broadcasters can now easily make live broadcast even if they are highly mobile or even if they are in the middle of a harsh condition. Lastly, the works of broadcasters have been greatly enhanced and facilitated sans the cumbersome traditional cables and other broadcasting equipment which were once indispensable to outdoor network broadcasting.

For more information about outside broadcasting, visit: http://www.liveu.tv/lu500.

The Onset of Mobile Transmission

Less than a decade ago, outdoor or remote broadcasting used to be a massive undertaking. The broadcast network would usually field several people—the technical director, cameramen, anchors, technicians, production personnel, electricians, cable pullers, and utility men—in order to pull off a successful outdoor or remote broadcasting. Aside from these needed manpower, there were also those necessary equipment consisting of a number of cameras and microphones along with the kilometers of cablings and wirings, communications gear, lightings. Moreover, production and SNG or satellite trucks were needed to ensure that the broadcast of an event would be readily accomplished.

The satellite with its array of satellite dishes would then transmit the event to the network station via satellite for broadcast, and these outdoor or remote broadcast transmissions were done by means of satellite transmission using C-band and/or Ku-band radio frequencies. Another means of transmission before was by way of microwave transmission, and this was the most commonly employed means of transmission in the past. The third, but least common, was the transmission via fiber optic lines that employed the use of a prepared fiber optic line from the remote location to the studio. Although the third method of transmitting had the best quality of transmission, it wasn’t popular before because of the high cost of laying a dedicated fiber optics cabling.

The Radical Changes Brought about by the Onset of Internet

The advent of broadband internet has revolutionized, not only the means of communication, but also the transfer of information media to the appreciating public. The introduction of 3G or third generation GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) to the wireless network technology for public consumption has brought more opportunities for the expansion of broadcasting by means of the internet. During the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing, the transmission using video streaming via UTMS or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (3G) was first introduced.

Using the cellphone signal like GSM’s HSDPA or CDMA’s 3G in the transmission, or specifically, in the streaming, streaming has eliminated the need for cumbersome cables and wires that run between camera units and the production vehicle. GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) have increasingly become the specifications and the standards for mobile communication. Transmission by media streaming only requires the acquisition of stable signal to be able to transmit to its home studio, dispensing the need for satellite trucks or microwave transmission that need to stay in the line of sight (LOS) of the receiving or relay antennas.

Mobile uplink via the 3G (or alike) wireless cellular transmission has likewise greatly innovated remote broadcasting. At 2008 Beijing Olympics, for example, the average uplink speed of 1Mbps with live standard definition videos was already good. At present, the bitrate is at about 20Mbs and the file transfer rate is at 80Mbps.

Today, people worldwide use their portable mobile devices like Smartphones and tablets, not only to call or text a friend or anybody, but also to watch the news and other TV programs. Mobile devices, like the Smartphones, have already supplanted the older systems like the portable satellite tv for good reasons. Smartphones, for example, combine the different functions of a cell phone, media player, personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer, calculator, digital camera with video, and television into one. Lastly, anyone can watch a movie, news, or any TV program on a portable mobile device like the Smartphone anytime and anywhere. 

For more information about mobile transmission, visit: http://www.liveu.tv/the-liveu-advantage.

How to Do Away with Many Broadcast Equipment?

The world has slowly become a global village wherein each part of the world is connected to each other via modern modes of communications and transportation. Information and news from around the world are readily available to anyone who wants to see them via the internet. Moreover, events from around the world can be readily watched and seen via live broadcasting anywhere in the world. Hence, it is reasonably right to claim that the world has really become a global village.

How Live Broadcasting Evolved throughout the History?

Broadcasting refers to the distribution of any video or audio content to various audience who are not located in a single place. The means of transmission of these contents is usually via electronic transmission. The old form of broadcasting was that of the radio broadcasting which was quite popular in the early 20th century. In 1930s, television broadcasting also became popular. Furthermore, in the 1960s, satellite broadcasting likewise became popular, and during the onset of the World Wide Web, live broadcasting or web broadcasting has been greatly enhanced and became popular in the 1990s.

Broadcasting were previously done from a television studio. In the broadcasting studio, there are equipment that make possible the broadcasting process. However, not all broadcasting are done in the studios. Often, newscasters and productions are done outside of the television studios, away from the necessary equipment that make possible the broadcasting of contents. Outside studio broadcasting is made possible by bringing in the production trucks anywhere there is a need for outside broadcasting. The broadcast truck usually contains all the necessary equipment to enable a broadcaster to make broadcasting outside of the studio.

The old production trucks were usually run by many crews. This is to make sure that the remote broadcast of anything would be running smoothly.  The usual video broadcast equipment of a production truck included video monitor, vision mixer, frame synchronizer, video tape recorder, intercom, video router, microphones, and many more. There were also various designated crews that included:

• ·         Camera operator
• ·         Technical director
• ·         Video technician
• ·         Video tape operator
• ·         Audio mix engineer
• ·         Graphics operator
• ·         Audio Assistant
• ·         Stage manager,
• ·         Utilities

The advent of different software that allow easy remote broadcasting has clearly enhanced and facilitated the process of broadcasting nowadays. Moreover, with the development of remote transmission software, the process of broadcasting has been greatly improved.

Live streaming and web broadcasting can never be possible without the great improvements in the digital networks and the advancements in computer technology. Streaming via the web allows broadcasters to stream video contents directly to a multitude of computers around the world.

With the onset of live streaming software and applications, anyone who has the software can stream anywhere there is an internet connection. Sans the production trucks and the numerous crews that make the running of the production smooth, anyone can stream live video footages to different devices around the world.

The benefits of live broadcast software are aplenty. First, it facilitates the live broadcasting of sporting events around the globe. Churches likewise have utilized live streaming technology to expand their religious reach. Lastly, streaming videos also facilitates live broadcasting for newscasters and broadcasters, making their jobs less cumbersome.  

For more information visit: http://www.liveu.tv/broadcast.