Epiphan Pearl-2: One 4K Camera into Multiple HD Angles!
Photo Moment - March 13, 2017
The last of the series on the Epiphan Pearl-2 (then I have to send this back… oh wait… I left the country… I'm SO not returning this thing 😁 ). This time we're taking a single 4K video stream and turning into multiple HD feeds. Talk about a great way to do a “three camera” interview, live!
NOTE: This is *not* a paid review. I am not being compensated in any way, shape or form for this review by Epiphan. Unless you BUY it from the affiliate link below, I won't make money on this. Which tells you that my enthusiasm (and criticism) is genuine.
PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S PHOTO MOMENT (MANY ARE AFFILIATE LINKS):
Epiphan Pearl-2 [B&H - https://bhpho.to/2kLoWx2]
Panasonic LUMIX GH4: [B&H - https://bhpho.to/2lEblbN] [Amazon - http://amzn.to/2mlXrJ2] [Adorama - http://jal.bz/2l8ig93]
OK, I got an answer from epiphan on streaming multiple resolutions/compressions settings simultaneously. It is as I explained in the show; each "Channel" (which is where you build everything for your show; your layouts [Sources], your audio delay, encoding and streaming settings, etc.) can only have ONE encoding setting. So while you can stream to multiple destinations, each one will get the same encoding settings. There is a workaround, of sorts.
You can set up multiple channels, and each channel can have its own encoding and streaming settings. So while you couldn't realistically do live switching on the pearl-2 on two simultaneous Channels, if you're doing your switching elsewhere (i.e. on an ATEM), you absolutely CAN bring that input into multiple Channels, and each Channel can output to unique encoding settings.
This would allow you to send 720p to Facebook, and 1080p to YouTube, for example. (Although as I also noted, unless it's changed, it's against Facebooks' ToS to simultaneously stream your show to Fb and somewhere else. Which is just stupid.)
You can set up multiple channels, and each channel can have its own encoding and streaming settings. So while you couldn't realistically do live switching on the pearl-2 on two simultaneous Channels, if you're doing your switching elsewhere (i.e. on an ATEM), you absolutely CAN bring that input into multiple Channels, and each Channel can output to unique encoding settings.
This would allow you to send 720p to Facebook, and 1080p to YouTube, for example. (Although as I also noted, unless it's changed, it's against Facebooks' ToS to simultaneously stream your show to Fb and somewhere else. Which is just stupid.)
stupid question (But I am new to streaming) - how is the Pearl 2 box connected to the internet thru your laptop or is it via another internet connection or wifi?
+Epiphan Video Oh interesting! And it's pulling the source from the pearl-2 not re-downloading it, right? I’ll address this again at https://youtu.be/cO2j8nw-Dt0 on PhotoJoseph‘s Photo Moment 2017-03-27
Thanks Joseph for explaining! Pearl-2 also has another way to accomplish streaming the same switched program to different places with different encoding settings.
You can set up your first channel and configure it with high resolution, high bitrate, etc. You'll do all the live switching on this channel. Then create a second channel that uses the RTSP output of channel 1 as it's only input. In this second channel, the live switched program from channel 1 is re-encoded in real time to your selected lower bitrate and frame size. You can read more here (Option 1, as shown in this blog post): https://www.epiphan.com/blog/multi-encoding-videos/
You can set up your first channel and configure it with high resolution, high bitrate, etc. You'll do all the live switching on this channel. Then create a second channel that uses the RTSP output of channel 1 as it's only input. In this second channel, the live switched program from channel 1 is re-encoded in real time to your selected lower bitrate and frame size. You can read more here (Option 1, as shown in this blog post): https://www.epiphan.com/blog/multi-encoding-videos/
Loved this video Joseph! Thanks a lot!
+PhotoJoseph We had a chance to work with the Panasonic GH-4 last week. We created a quick How-to article for camera configuration: https://www.epiphan.com/solutions/how-to-get-4k-output-from-panasonic-gh4-camera/ to resolve the problem. Hopefully you can add this as a sticky note to let everyone know.
Have you tried streaming from the Pearl 2 to Facebook?
I tried to get it set up for a couple days and just couldn't get the two to connect.
I logged in to Facebook from my NewTek Tricaster Mini and four clicks, and about 30 seconds later, I was pushing to Facebook just fine.
I tried to get it set up for a couple days and just couldn't get the two to connect.
I logged in to Facebook from my NewTek Tricaster Mini and four clicks, and about 30 seconds later, I was pushing to Facebook just fine.
+Frisco Studios So yes, having the device log into the CDN and pull up a list of upcoming events is certainly easier, but getting the URL and code for a scheduled event on Facebook is easy enough; it's presented when you schedule the event. Maybe if they don't take the pearl-2 away right away I can show you.
I just couldn't get it to make that last connection. Also the difficulty in having to create an event in the group, and stream to that event, as opposed to just "going live" when ready. I also couldn't seem to find the right RTSP setup that would accept Facebook's URL and Keycode two data points. Either Pearl wanted one, or more than two.
With the Tricaster, I had the client log in to Facebook, select the page she wanted to stream to from a pop-up that appeared, name the stream, click okay, click stream. Done. That seemed way, WAY easier.
With the Tricaster, I had the client log in to Facebook, select the page she wanted to stream to from a pop-up that appeared, name the stream, click okay, click stream. Done. That seemed way, WAY easier.
+Frisco Studios I did a test today and it worked fine (although I didn't make it public). However the first time I tried it didn't work. What is or isn't happening?
I have a Pearl 2 in for testing as well, and Epiphan said to me that they'd be making the USB ports work with their HDMI and SDI video ingest dongles. MEaning it's not just for "webcams" (which can actually be decent HD cameras) but can be utilized for more than 6 "real" cameras.
+Frisco Studios Right, good point on the flexibility. But be careful; the $999 unit is quite limited. Granted it's been over a year since I went through this but I bought and returned the $1k then $2k version, finally settling on the $4k one. Less expensive models didn't handle 24fps, or progressive content, or PiP with any level of control, or multiple sources on screen at once (supersource), or any other number of things.
I think it's a good application for a setup such as yours, where the sources and the usage of those sources are used in a similar way every time. But if I were covering a sports event, where I needed different things and wouldn't know in advance what was going to happen )so I couldn't build the "channels" ahead of time, then I think the AETM is a better solution for unpredictable live events.
Also, the new ATEM's ability to also do crew communication to the cameras (BMD cameras of course) through the same box, have an internal audio mixer, and put a recorder in the same single RU, make it a very, very compelling solution. Especially since all this capability comes at just $999.
Also, the new ATEM's ability to also do crew communication to the cameras (BMD cameras of course) through the same box, have an internal audio mixer, and put a recorder in the same single RU, make it a very, very compelling solution. Especially since all this capability comes at just $999.
+Frisco Studios Oh that's very cool. I'm definitely impressed with this device. I know I said I wasn't sure if I'd buy this or the ATEM if I were setting up from scratch, but I'd definitely recommend this over the ATEM to a client setting up a high-end stream.
LIVE CHAT LOG FROM TODAY'S SHOW…
Sully Cortezhey joseph!
Jess SmithHi 👋
Sean Marc NipperHey yooo!
Sully Cortezhahaha yea CT is about to get hit with 2 ft of snow ;(
Hurba Provisualon time!!
Sean Marc NipperSnowboarding at mt A yesterday
Jess SmithWish we got some snow, we just got cold
Omar CarrilloHi Joseph
Ed StarkeySnow coming to Ohio
Juan PalmeroHello from Medellin Colombia
Hurba ProvisualI'm planning to get a Yamaha MG10XU, it has audio delay as an effect. I would rather get the epiphan but too expensive...
Jeffery SaddorisNo audio
Hurba ProvisualAudio
Hurba Provisualyou forgot it again ;D
Sully Cortezisnt there a way to change delay joseph?
Sully Cortezdown to 'live'?
Sully Cortezfor comments
Rowan BonserHi from Calgary.. Off topic, Jane you tried
Joseph Linaschkethe delay is on the YouTube end of things
Sully Cortezahhh ok
Sully Cortezits good to know the pearl has no delay and it's only the streaming service that delays so tech it could be used for live events i'm assuming
Hurba Provisualthere should be a way to buffer video too
Aalasady TVSupp Joseph
Rafael A. P Maduroheyyy hello from Aruba
Sully Cortezwow that is awesome
Sully Cortezlit no loss of quality, very cool
TravisMoorethat is awesome
Hurba Provisualthat's really awesome
Jess SmithWow
Hurba Provisualdid it went down?
TravisMooreit's fine for me
Xackery XtalHowdy
Xackery XtalBeen enjoying the live streams finally able to catch one
Xackery XtalIf you want fast response during live stream look into beam.pro
TravisMooreYep, delay is because the re-encode to different qualities. Microsoft is working on a streaming service without a delay but who knows if they'll pull it off
Xackery XtalDoes the Pearl have a way to broadcast to multiple endpoints?
Quality Pro ReviewsAny updates on the Webcaster X1? Have you had more time to look at it?
Gadget Guru TTHey what happened to the 400 box from epiphan did u ever get it to work.. this is the techie from your instagram live video the other day
Xackery XtalSo broadcast to beam pro and YouTube at same time. :p
Gadget Guru TT400$*
Xackery XtalRoger. Thanks for feedback! I'm planning to buy the GH 5, eager to hear your thoughts, holding off to buy until you review. I read there is a dynamic focus problem from GH 5 and 4 that still exists
Joseph LinaschkeXackery…
Sully Cortezsee you tomorrow joseph!
Sully Cortezhave a great day!
Jess SmithBye
Chip Riggs👍🏻
Hurba Provisualhave fun
Hurba Provisual!
Joseph LinaschkeWhat GH5 "dynamic focus" probem are you referring to? News to me.
AchitaLinI'm late
Xackery XtalLet me find the vid.. was on someone else's review about it
Joseph LinaschkeThanks Xachery. If this chat closes out before you find it, just post it as a comment and I'll see it
Xackery XtalNo worries thanks
Hurba ProvisualJoseph check the effects on your yamaha, one of them should be the delay
Xackery XtalIt talked about the 10 bit issues and some dynamic focusing challenges during their early testing
Xackery XtalLink is probably in your review
Xackery XtalThey took it down, from cinema5d
Hurba ProvisualXackery you mean the cinema5d review?
Hurba Provisualyep, just pushing problems to get into panasonic trousers
Xackery XtalYeah, there was another review I found too
Hurba Provisualglad they took it down
Sully Cortezhey joseph!
Jess SmithHi 👋
Sean Marc NipperHey yooo!
Sully Cortezhahaha yea CT is about to get hit with 2 ft of snow ;(
Hurba Provisualon time!!
Sean Marc NipperSnowboarding at mt A yesterday
Jess SmithWish we got some snow, we just got cold
Omar CarrilloHi Joseph
Ed StarkeySnow coming to Ohio
Juan PalmeroHello from Medellin Colombia
Hurba ProvisualI'm planning to get a Yamaha MG10XU, it has audio delay as an effect. I would rather get the epiphan but too expensive...
Jeffery SaddorisNo audio
Hurba ProvisualAudio
Hurba Provisualyou forgot it again ;D
Sully Cortezisnt there a way to change delay joseph?
Sully Cortezdown to 'live'?
Sully Cortezfor comments
Rowan BonserHi from Calgary.. Off topic, Jane you tried
Joseph Linaschkethe delay is on the YouTube end of things
Sully Cortezahhh ok
Sully Cortezits good to know the pearl has no delay and it's only the streaming service that delays so tech it could be used for live events i'm assuming
Hurba Provisualthere should be a way to buffer video too
Aalasady TVSupp Joseph
Rafael A. P Maduroheyyy hello from Aruba
Sully Cortezwow that is awesome
Sully Cortezlit no loss of quality, very cool
TravisMoorethat is awesome
Hurba Provisualthat's really awesome
Jess SmithWow
Hurba Provisualdid it went down?
TravisMooreit's fine for me
Xackery XtalHowdy
Xackery XtalBeen enjoying the live streams finally able to catch one
Xackery XtalIf you want fast response during live stream look into beam.pro
TravisMooreYep, delay is because the re-encode to different qualities. Microsoft is working on a streaming service without a delay but who knows if they'll pull it off
Xackery XtalDoes the Pearl have a way to broadcast to multiple endpoints?
Quality Pro ReviewsAny updates on the Webcaster X1? Have you had more time to look at it?
Gadget Guru TTHey what happened to the 400 box from epiphan did u ever get it to work.. this is the techie from your instagram live video the other day
Xackery XtalSo broadcast to beam pro and YouTube at same time. :p
Gadget Guru TT400$*
Xackery XtalRoger. Thanks for feedback! I'm planning to buy the GH 5, eager to hear your thoughts, holding off to buy until you review. I read there is a dynamic focus problem from GH 5 and 4 that still exists
Joseph LinaschkeXackery…
Sully Cortezsee you tomorrow joseph!
Sully Cortezhave a great day!
Jess SmithBye
Chip Riggs👍🏻
Hurba Provisualhave fun
Hurba Provisual!
Joseph LinaschkeWhat GH5 "dynamic focus" probem are you referring to? News to me.
AchitaLinI'm late
Xackery XtalLet me find the vid.. was on someone else's review about it
Joseph LinaschkeThanks Xachery. If this chat closes out before you find it, just post it as a comment and I'll see it
Xackery XtalNo worries thanks
Hurba ProvisualJoseph check the effects on your yamaha, one of them should be the delay
Xackery XtalIt talked about the 10 bit issues and some dynamic focusing challenges during their early testing
Xackery XtalLink is probably in your review
Xackery XtalThey took it down, from cinema5d
Hurba ProvisualXackery you mean the cinema5d review?
Hurba Provisualyep, just pushing problems to get into panasonic trousers
Xackery XtalYeah, there was another review I found too
Hurba Provisualglad they took it down
Another question for your next live q&a: which filters do you recommend on the gh4/gh5, like the day filter and such.
I like it; I'll add it to the list!
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