Popular Post Kit_L Posted October 4, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted October 4, 2017 I have a deeply exciting announcement today: the technology has matured, and Liv and I now have the capacity to stream live from the Monkey Gym. We are implementing this tech in two stages: the first is a technology called "live to disk" (used to be called 'live to tape' in the old days when I was a television director); it means that you do a single take of a program, mix it live, and no stopping/starting—this is as close as you can get to 'live-live'; more on this below; and perhaps its significance is not immediately apparent, so let me step you through the standard workflows we have had to use up to now: Record video on one or more cameras (we have used three; now four), and record sound on a separate recorder (sometimes two recorders); transcode footage (the reasons why transcoding is necessary would take 30' to explain); transcoding an hour of footage from one camera takes about 15'; pull all three/four streams of video into my editing timeline (I use Final Cut Pro X), bring the sound track(s) in after checking levels/reducing noise in another program; synchronise the sound and all the vision; cut in FCPX using something called "multicam editing"; put titles on the ends; add the fades to black and and 'supers' ("superimpositions"; people names, arrows, etc.); have a second person watch the program and give comments back; incorporate the edits; then compress the whole program (separate program and process to do this); and finally use a high-speed wi-fi modem to upload to Vimeo... So, an hour program, as you watch it, usually takes a day or two to make. And, frankly, I do not enjoy watching myself back, and because I operate the cameras, I have already seen any program that Liv presents already. Now (please hear trumpets sounding): The new setup: four cameras recording at 1080p/30 (this quality, "full" HD, is future-proofing; we compress to 720p/30 for Vimeo), feeding into a switcher controlled by my MacBook Pro, and the output is recorded live onto a pair of mirrored solid state drives (so automatic backup, too). We also have a completely new, invisible micing system; we will be testing today. The last technical problem was solved yesterday: consumer and prosumer cameras take a finite time to output video, so in the testing I realised that the audio was arriving about five frames (~150ms) ahead of the video into the switcher—which meant that the recorded program was out of sync (sound not perfectly aligned with video) and you all know how annoying that is! So I researched this and found a little device that allows the precise programming of delay for audio, and now the programs are perfectly in sync as we record them. Noice! So, on any given day from now on, we fire the system up, Liv or I present a program for an hour (for example); we stop recording. The footage loaded of the whole program is loaded into FCPX, we add opening and closing titles (a few minute's work) and send the complete program to Compressor while we have lunch (Compressor, a magic bit of software from Apple, changes the frame size from 1080 x 1920 to 720 x 1280, and compresses both sound and vision; you cannot see the difference between the original and the compressed program). Then the final version of the program is loaded to Vimeo (setting up a new series to sell does involve making a graphic or two, and annotating the settings and doing things like setting the price), but that's it! We send you all the URL. Done and dusted. Once we have proofed this complete system, I will be able to take a version of it on the road, too, in two hard cases: we will be making this production service available to other Stretch Therapy teachers who want to develop their own names, brand, and programs. The last step is live streaming, where the whole process is one. Right now, we do not feel that has any particular attraction (mainly because of the time differences between Australia and the rest of the world, and we do not want to work at 03:00a.m.), but Vimeo and other platforms are coming on line that will facilitate this. In time, when we add a simple last component, the master 1080p/30 program will be fed into the "Web Presenter" (which also compresses it live) as well as being recorded for backup and the program can be uploaded live to the Vimeo LIVE platform and may be watched then and there; and Vimeo automatically immediately archives the same program when it's ended, so that it is then available like any of our other programs. The key point is though that this is a single process: Liv or I presenting, and you watching, live, anywhere in the world. This opens up a huge number of new possibilities. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkTN Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Fantastic! So many possibilities Sounds like the time is near for a subscription service of worldwide remote workshops. You'll need to train some techs so you can stay in front of the camera for demonstrations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit_L Posted October 4, 2017 Author Share Posted October 4, 2017 We are thinking along very similar lines: the Web Presenter (the last bit of tech in a long line!) can feed straight into Skype, too; and Skype treats the Web Presenter as a web cam. This opens up the possibility of real live interaction, too (like a consultation, or live presentation to an audience). Please add your ideas/hopes/dreams below. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat (pogo69) Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 3 hours ago, Kit_L said: Please add your ideas/hopes/dreams below. You already covered one: ago, Kit_L said: This opens up the possibility of real live interaction, too (like a consultation, or live presentation to an audience). This is a fantastic idea. I'm yet to fully - OK, barely - take advantage of everything you've already made available. But one big missing link for me - apart from time - is feedback from an experienced practitioner. I've been to a couple of short workshops with Craig Rackemann from Brisbane Stretch Therapy - which were invaluable - but he's not particularly geographically convenient for regular access. I hope to find the time and funds to attend a full weekend ST workshop at some point. Nothing will compare to hands-on. But a "quick consult" could provide a useful path to progress for those who are stuck due for one reason or another. While I intend to post some "form check"/feedback videos, it would be great to have access to real-time feedback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkusO Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 Sounds like a great setup Kit. Looking forward to these future releases. There are plenty of new opportunities with the advent of such technology. 11 hours ago, Kit_L said: we will be making this production service available to other Stretch Therapy teachers who want to develop their own names, brand, and programs. Taking time differences and language barriers into account I see many opportunities for other ST teachers across the globe (think live streams in certain time zones and products in different languages). I was recently thinking about providing some ST videos in German. This would be a great addition to already existing products for people not so fluent in English and promote ST in general. Happy to cooperate! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit_L Posted October 5, 2017 Author Share Posted October 5, 2017 @MarkusO: definitely, my friend. It would be much easier to remake particular programs than try to translate existing ones and add an additional audio track or sub-titles to existing programs, I believe. I will write up a description of the tech. we will use once I have bedded it down, so no one will have to start from scratch if they want to do similar things. The other lovely thing as you mention in addition to building your own German ST presence is how it will widen our traction. I definitely want a Spanish version of our programs, too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwissDanny Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 On 10/4/2017 at 10:59 PM, Kit_L said: invisible micing system Very exciting. Does Suu Kyi know her rodent control duties are going to be redundant though?! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkusO Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 13 hours ago, Kit_L said: It would be much easier to remake particular programs than try to translate existing ones and add an additional audio track or sub-titles to existing programs, I believe. Fully agree. Count me in! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oliviaa Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Hey SwissDanny! Very sadly, Suu Kyi is now chasing mice in her next life: we miss her presence every day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwissDanny Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 So I managed a real foot in mouth moment there.... Im so sorry to hear that! Im sure you do, she had very loving cat-parents! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit_L Posted October 17, 2017 Author Share Posted October 17, 2017 All things pass, SD, even great things, and you are a friend—so no foot-in-mouth is possible for you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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