You may be a major media outfit or you may be a small team trying to make a documentary. Regardless of the reasons why you are shooting video, there are some key pieces of broadcast equipment you need to have in your truck if you want to capture broadcast-quality footage. The first and most important consideration: the camera.
What To Consider When Choosing A Camera
Today’s production trucks are often outfitted with a variety of different cameras so that each and every event can be captured in a way which best displays it. If you are shooting footage for the web, nearly anything goes – though be cautious when shooting higher resolution shots as not all computers and internet connections will have the bandwidth or power to accommodate a 4k resolution video.
For general use, a DSLR camera for a broadcast camera will work best. DSLR are not nearly as good as a broadcast camera but are more affordable and are appropriate for things like mini documentaries or basic live streaming. A broadcast-quality camera will give you superior footage, though the downside is that you will need to shell out some serious cash in order to purchase one.
Enhancing Your Camera Through Additional Tools
If you plan on live streaming from your broadcast truck, then you need to have uplink products on board. There are several different products available for different needs, but all of them need to be:
- Light weight
- Easy to use
- Usable with your camera of choice
Ideally the uplink product you choose will all connect at one central point in cloud where someone in the “control room” can then manage several different incoming video feeds and content from a number of different units which may be covering the same event or a completely different event around the globe.
Pan-tilt units are another important part of broadcasting when on the go. Pan-tilt cameras provide remote zoom and directional control, though they are most often only used by professional television studios and broadcasting outfits.
The Audio Equipment You Need
Each truck that is used for broadcasting needs to be outfitted with a variety of audio equipment including:
- Microphones (wired or wireless)
- Earphones (wired or wireless)
- Line levels
- Amplifiers
- Bodypack transmitters
- Phone jacks
- Headphones
- Audio patchbays
Depending on the type of shot and the professionalism of the video you want to shoot, you may need all or only a portion of these items.
Do You Really Need A Satellite Component?
When the right technologies are selected, anyone can live stream from virtually anywhere and at any time with the right broadcasting equipment. While larger outfits may benefit from a satellite component, the majority of individuals who are interested in shooting live stream video will do just fine by investing in a significantly less expensive uplink product.
Video encoders are a versatile and cost-effective option which can allow you to stream video for web distribution, and many products allow for multi-point distribution. For better quality video, you can choose to upgrade to an HD video uplink device.
Product Manager @ LiveU, a video streaming software provider. Visit us at: www.liveu.tv
