Multiple PTZ cameras with Tricaster

[starmountain]

I'd like to know if anyone is shooting live events using multiple PTZ cameras and switching live with a Tricaster. If so, what cameras and controllers are you using. Primarily I'm interested in shooting conference speakers with multiple cameras and doing it all myself.

Thanks!

-Scott

[dbsnetwork]

I have a client using SONY PTZ cameras (3) for church services.

[Rmarq]

I am using Sony EVI D70 with a Sony RMBR300 controller, I think it can control up to 8 cameras, has recall positions. We use a Tricaster with 3 cameras to record hockey games. The cameras are in fixed locations in the rink. We will be using the same type of set up to record our municipal board meetings.

Works real slick and simple.

[Jim Brown]

As I read your post we have just completed an international meeting of Delta Epsilon Chi here in Orlando. This conference had 1200 or so college kids from around the country.

We used 3 Sony BRC300s with the Tricaster Pro. We have done a number of these events like this. (4 last month). They feature camera inputs as well as lots of VCR prerecorded segments, stills, and ppts. The BRC300 is Sony's 3 chip camera. We went to these PTZ to save space on the event floor. (planners call them seats). Seems a camera platform with an operator blocking the view is not acceptable with these large groups that are always trying to seat one more! We drove 2 projectors with the Tricater Pro.

We have also placed these into houses of worship where they do not want a visible camera and operator. Of course, Tricater Pro is ultimate companion.

Hope this helps. If we can help, just give us a call. Call Mike, my son. He is the owner of the company.

Jim Brown
M&M Productions USA
800 711-0140

[Jim Davis]

I have installed several of the Sony EVI D70 with a Sony RMB 300 controller for clients and they seem to wortk out good. We put together a portable case for the Tricaster and keyboard and mouse and second road case with the cameras controller and cables. A nice compact mobile setup.

[starmountain]

:thumbsup:

-Scott

[seductive media]

We plan on using this set up with the new triCaster Studio

Im trying to install 3 - Sony D70 PTZ Cameras with a Sony RM-BR300 Remote Control. Im using RS-232C cables to daisy chain the cameas together using network cables in between the RS-232C cable adapters.

I cannot get the remote to control any of the cameras. im new to this and not sure if im missing a setting or something.... you guys seem to know what your doing and have done this type of setup before.

Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you very much.

-Erick H

[Jim Brown]

First step is to power up the cameras first, then the controller. The controller must poll the cameras and set an address.

If that doesn't work, then take a single camera and using your network cable to serial adapter cable, attach a short network cable and try it one at a time.

If you can't get one working this way, you cannot get the three working.

Did you leave the dip switch settings on the bottom as they came out of the box. They should be set to rs232, 9600 baud right out of the box. Those switches are teeny tiny and hard to tell what direction they are set to. Check them carefully.

My .02 worth. If you still have problems give me a call. 865 607-7195

Jim

[seductive media]

I plugges a camera directly into the remote with a regular 232 serial cable and it worked.

Is it possible that I need to use 'crossover' network cables instead of standard ones?

[seductive media]

I plugges a camera directly into the remote with a regular 232 serial cable and it worked.

Is it possible that I need to use 'crossover' network cables instead of standard ones?

[Jim Brown]

Where did you get your adapter cables? (From rs232 (round cable) to an RJ45)

You should not have to use a crossover cable. Just plain ethernet cables. So....try plugging one of your adapter cables into the camera input and then use an eternet connector block and connect an adapter cable directly to the controller. It should work just like plugging in a standard rs232 cable. If it does not then take a look at your adapter cables.

Here is where I get mine.
http://stores.ebay.com/Wirenest-Dot-Com_VISCA-Camera-Control-Cables_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ3488125QQftidZ2QQtZk m

Jim

[Jim Brown]

Depends on how they will be used and by whom.

We provide these PTZ cameras in a lot of churches where you have volunteer users with little of no training. The objective is to keep it simple. In those cases, no question use the Sony.

If your program features a lot of predetermined shots with little or no movement during the show, then a pc approach is great because you can store so many more presets. That works great in security applications also.

If it is like a church service where you have a preset on the pulpit, but then adjust by following the speaker then a joystick is almost mandatory. The Sony controller is essential in this environment. I also have found the Sony to have less lag time than a pc. Nothing worse than trying to follow a 'walking' preacher than to have a half second or even quarter second delay time on the pan control.

We also use the Vaddio controller which is a compromise between the two in that it provides more locally stored presets, but still provides a good quality joystick for control. Check it out at www.vaddio.com. If you think you might be interested let me know as we are a dealer for it. It is about 20% more than the Sony.

Hope this helps some.

Jim

[seductive media]

Where did you get your adapter cables? (From rs232 (round cable) to an RJ45)

You should not have to use a crossover cable. Just plain ethernet cables. So....try plugging one of your adapter cables into the camera input and then use an eternet connector block and connect an adapter cable directly to the controller. It should work just like plugging in a standard rs232 cable. If it does not then take a look at your adapter cables.

Here is where I get mine.
http://stores.ebay.com/Wirenest-Dot-Com_VISCA-Camera-Control-Cables_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ3488125QQftidZ2QQtZk m

Jim

I got those same adapters from eBay and have plain 50ft eithernet cables in between connecting the cameras. - I tryed connectingh two adapters togethwer without the eithernet cable and that still did not work.... frustrating!? :confused:

is it possible the adapters may be the problem?

[Jim Brown]

Connect the two adapter cables together through your ethernet joiner block. If they do not work then, it has to be the adapter cables.

Jim

[seductive media]

GOT IT! The adapter cables come in black and white pairs.... ha

[jfxm3]

I just shot a workshop last night as a one man band. I have a few questions about using a TriCaster 100, 3 Sony EVI-D70 cameras and a Sony RMBR300 controller package.
1. What is the best way to match your 3 Sony EVI-D70 cameras prior to shooting?
2. What is the longest connection via a) ethernet cable from PC to TriCaster b) DVI cable from TriCaster to projector being used with consistent success?
3. After recording to the internal drive, the speaker asked me to remove the panel discussions that took place at various points throughout the workshop. What is the fastest way to take a recorded program and chop it up doing a fast edit, specifically removing all of the undesirable clips on site for the customer?
Thanks for your time and advice!
John

[amospro]

Damn, You guys are going to cost me a lot of money with all these toys. Those look like nice cameras. Being only a single 1/4 CCD, how is the quality of the image? Do they work well in low light? Maybe I'll save money in the long run without having to pay extra camera ops. Not being able to slap tapes in them for back up is the only thing that worrys me.

[jfxm3]

Damn, You guys are going to cost me a lot of money with all these toys. Those look like nice cameras. Being only a single 1/4 CCD, how is the quality of the image? Do they work well in low light? Maybe I'll save money in the long run without having to pay extra camera ops. Not being able to slap tapes in them for back up is the only thing that worrys me.

The quality of these cameras is pretty good for a single chip. Since I have the TriCaster 100 (without camera auto calibrate feature) I am trying to figure out the best way to "chip" my cameras so they match. They worked well in low light, although it is tough to go into manual mode as a one man band. I noticed the focus trying to dial in when the lights were turned down for PowerPoint presentations in low light. I am not concerned with the ISO recordings of each camera since at this point my primary clients are long format workshops/seminars. In the future, I am going to consider my minimum crew two, just so the load in & out is easier and someone can make adjustments on the fly without stopping the production. In 6 shoots I have recouped the cost of my cameras and controller. Don't forget if you need better quality there are the 3 chip BRC-300 although I am considering adding Canon XH-A1 because of the gorgeous picture. I am also considering the TriCaster Studio upgrade to go beyond three cameras and the Virtual Set technology.

[billmi]

Damn, You guys are going to cost me a lot of money with all these toys. Those look like nice cameras. Being only a single 1/4 CCD, how is the quality of the image? Do they work well in low light? Maybe I'll save money in the long run without having to pay extra camera ops. Not being able to slap tapes in them for back up is the only thing that worrys me.

Biggest place I notice an issue is on high contrast lines that are slightly angled off of horizontal. There is some color artifacting to them - pretty typical for a smaller chip single-CCD camera. Since we (my church) distribute primarily on the web, which gets scaled down, it's a non-issue. Their zoom has a surprising amount of reach.

[billmi]

3. After recording to the internal drive, the speaker asked me to remove the panel discussions that took place at various points throughout the workshop. What is the fastest way to take a recorded program and chop it up doing a fast edit, specifically removing all of the undesirable clips on site for the customer?
Thanks for your time and advice!
John

See the "Edit" tab on the Tricaster interface? Click it, and it will open up the editor. You can follow through the Tricaster manual for instructions on how to use it. It's got a rather fast interface for quick-cutting a project.

[jfxm3]

I have the TriCaster 100 (without camera auto calibrate feature) and I am trying to figure out the best way to "chip" or match my 3 Sony EVI-D70 cameras so they match. I am using the Sony RM BR300 controller if that makes any difference. Any suggestions besides upgrading to one of the models with auto calibrate? I am sure someone out there has figured out a quick and clever way to do this.
Thanks for your time and advice!

[jfxm3]

See the "Edit" tab on the Tricaster interface? Click it, and it will open up the editor. You can follow through the Tricaster manual for instructions on how to use it. It's got a rather fast interface for quick-cutting a project.

Do I have to move the entire program into the edit bin? I didn't come across a "split video/audio at playhead" feature in the editing options. If I am removing a 3 minute discussion out of a 60 minute workshop what would you recommend? I have never had an occasion to use the edit features on my Tricaster. All editing has been done on FCP and imported.
Thanks for your time and advice!

[SBowie]

If you recorded the entire program in one continuous pass, it will be one file.

There are several ways to do this, but the easiest is to load the full program clip into the editor, click Render, use the Start Frame/End Frame controls on the right in the Render panel to set i/o points for the render, pick a suitable format in "Render to", set a file name an path, and click Render.

[D3Cast]

If you recorded the entire program in one continuous pass, it will be one file.

There are several ways to do this, but the easiest is to load the full program clip into the editor, click Render, use the Start Frame/End Frame controls on the right in the Render panel to set i/o points for the render, pick a suitable format in "Render to", set a file name an path, and click Render.I think jfxm3 has the TC-100, which doesn't have the "Render" i/o points -- just a "Prepare For VCR" button. 8~

-s

[SBowie]

I think jfxm3 has the TC-100, which doesn't have the "Render" i/o points -- just a "Prepare For VCR" button. 8~Oops, sorry - I'm not much help with the older UI. :(

[D3Cast]

5. With the Prepare for VCR button, render out the new edit.Which will, of course, take a while -- I think that's what John was trying to avoid. But yeah, that's it, unless you bring the original AVI to another editing platform (which, of course, needs the NT25 codec) and do it there.

John -- once the offending :D footage is removed, what's the final destination of the material? Windows Media archive? DVD? The ultimate formatting of the end content may help suggest where and how to edit it. But with the TC-100, you're pretty much going to wind up hitting that "Prepare for VCR" button at some point.

And since it'll take a while, PeterG will undoubtedly counsel you on the sagacity of having a sturdy UPS system in place... :neener:

-s

[SBowie]

Again, not well-versed in the 'classic' TC, but maybe you could trim the clip in a DDR, then Capture the Program stream while playing it - but that's kind of a desperate act. ;)

[jfxm3]

Which will, of course, take a while -- I think that's what John was trying to avoid. But yeah, that's it, unless you bring the original AVI to another editing platform (which, of course, needs the NT25 codec) and do it there.

John -- once the offending :D footage is removed, what's the final destination of the material? Windows Media archive? DVD? The ultimate formatting of the end content may help suggest where and how to edit it. But with the TC-100, you're pretty much going to wind up hitting that "Prepare for VCR" button at some point.

And since it'll take a while, PeterG will undoubtedly counsel you on the sagacity of having a sturdy UPS system in place... :neener:

-s

The final destination changes, however, this recent example was to DVD. Thanks for your thoughts and ideas!