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	<title>teradek Archives - Mainstream | Live Video Agency</title>
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		<title>Field of Streams: Comparing 4 Remote Live Streaming Methods for 2015</title>
		<link>https://www.mainstreamchicago.com/field-of-streams-demystifying-remote-live-streaming-methods/</link>
					<comments>https://www.mainstreamchicago.com/field-of-streams-demystifying-remote-live-streaming-methods/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nick Bacon]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2015 22:08:06 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[live streaming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[broadcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cellular bonding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[field reporting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HD broadcasting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hd webcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mushroom networks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[outdoor festivals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[remote broadcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[remote broadcasting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[remote webcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[streaming via 4g modem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[streaming via satellite]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teradek]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mainstreamchicago.com/?p=801</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[In a perfect world, all live stream productions occur in a controlled environment, away from the elements, with access to an ultra-fast and ultra-reliable Internet connection. The world we live in, however, is not perfect. Broadcasters are regularly asked to stream HD content from remote locations and in less-than-ideal conditions....]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="font-size: 1.5em; padding: 2% 5% 5% 5%; color: #333333; line-height: 1.6em;">
<p>In a perfect world, all live stream productions occur in a controlled environment, away from the elements, with access to an ultra-fast and ultra-reliable Internet connection. The world we live in, however, is not perfect. Broadcasters are regularly asked to stream HD content from remote locations and in less-than-ideal conditions. Last year, we received such a request: to stream a massive parade on the Southside of Chicago. While that particular project didn&#8217;t pan out, we spent many hours researching remote broadcasting. And we would love to share that research with you!</p>
<p>Besides parades, there are numerous outdoor events that might call for special broadcasting tactics. These include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Music festivals, such as <a href="http://www.lollapalooza.com/2014/livestream/">Lollapalooza</a>;</li>
<li>Political rallies or field reporting from national events, such as the Ferguson protests;</li>
<li>Sports, including <a href="http://mlb.tv">mainstream,</a> <a href="http://new.livestream.com/ironman">alternative</a>, and <a href="http://twitch.tv">e-sports;</a></li>
<li>And many, many more!</li>
</ul>
<p>There are many methods to send a broadcast signal, and we’ve chosen to go over a few broad categories. Special thanks to Reddit’s <a href="%20http://reddit.com/r/videoengineering">/r/videoengineering</a> community and the broadcast experts mentioned below for their input!</p>
<h2 style="font-size: 1.35em;"><strong>Remote Broadcasting Options</strong></h2>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.25em;"><em>Option 1: Run a dedicated line from a local business or building</em></h3>
<p>If your event is near a friendly building, you can run an Ethernet line from their hub. The maximum distance for an Ethernet cable run is 90 meters, or roughly 295 feet.</p>
<p>This is the least expensive solution for a remote broadcast. If you’re familiar with setting up live streams inside a building, then the process is essentially the same. However, there are several issues to be aware of:<br />
<div class="col span_8" data-animation="" data-delay="0">
<ul>
<li>Internet speeds can fluctuate depending on the network pull. If you’re coming from an office with many employees, you might see your bandwidth reduce dramatically over the course of your event.</li>
<li>You will need to run a full test before the event: make sure there are no corporate Firewalls blocking your streaming platform or limiting your upstream bandwidth!</li>
<li>You will need access to the building, which might be difficult to coordinate during your event. Make sure to discuss this very clearly!</li>
<li>You will also need to secure your cable run – make sure your Ethernet cable is protected from the elements!</li>
</ul>
<p> </div>
<div class="col span_4 col_last" data-animation="" data-delay="0"><img style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:5%;" src="http://www.getadvanced.net/images/uploads/Cabling-Cable-Drop-Cat5-Cat6.jpg" /> </div><div class="clear"></div>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.25em;"><em>Option 2: Use a 3G/4G/LTE mobile hot-spot</em></h3>
<div class="col span_4" data-animation="" data-delay="0"><img src="http://www6.pcmag.com/media/images/291511-verizon-jetpack-4g-lte-mobile-hotspot-890l.jpg"> </div><div class="col span_8 col_last" data-animation="" data-delay="0">If there are no businesses nearby, you could simply turn your phone into a mobile hotspot. (<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/how-to-turn-your-smartphone-into-a-wi-fi-hotspot/32544/">Here is a great explanation on how to do that</a>). This is by far the easiest solution, but also the least reliable.<br />
Here’s the thing about public events: a lot of people show up. With so many folks pulling signal from the same cell phone antenna, you will find it difficult to produce a steady, reliable stream. There just isn’t enough bandwidth.</p>
<p>Additionally, broadcasting uses lots of data. This can result in expensive overcharges on your cell phone bill. </p>
<p>(<em>Check out our <a href="#calculator">calculator</a> to find out how much bandwidth your event will use!</em>)<br />
 </div><div class="clear"></div>
Best advice: use with caution, only if there are no other options, and not at a well-attended event.</p>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.25em;"><em>Option 3: Cellular Bonding</em></h3>
<div class="col span_8" data-animation="" data-delay="0">Put simply: cellular bonding is when you split your broadcast signal over several cellular networks. (For a more technical explanation, check out this article over at <a href="http://www.tvtechnology.com/news-technology/0178/cellular-bonding/260051">TVTechnology</a>.</p>
<p>While technically more complicated and expensive than the previous options, cellular bonding is much more reliable. If you have mission-critical broadcasts that are going straight to the web, cellular bonding is the best solution.</p>
<p>One thing to keep in mind: you will need to get data plans with multiple cellular networks. According to Mushroom Networks’ CEO Cahit Jay Akin, “clients can use anywhere from 2 to 8 3G/4G cell cards, depending on their project requirements, but [we] recommend no fewer than 4 cell cards.” </div>
<div class="col span_4 col_last" data-animation="" data-delay="0"><img style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:5%;" src="https://pages.mushroomnetworks.com/rs/mushroomnetworks/images/TP4%20with%20wifi%20angle%20web.jpg"> </div><div class="clear"></div>
<p><a href="http://www.mushroomnetworks.com/product/Streamer-PRO">Mushroom Networks</a>, <a href="http://www.teradek.com/pages/bond">Teradek</a>, and others produce cellular bonding hardware. Again, according to Akin:</p>
<blockquote style="padding-left:10%;border-left:2px solid #0000cc;margin-left:2em;"><p><em>The Streamer by Mushroom Networks provides a transparent bonded tunnel that works seamlessly with your existing streaming setup. The solution comes pre-configured, so all you need to do is to unplug that imaginary wired Internet cable and plug the Ethernet cable from the Streamer.</p>
<p>Mushroom also has the Streamer PRO version that comes with a built-in adaptive state of the art encoder, so that you can plug a video connector directly and webcast to the CDN of your choice.</em></p></blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.25em;"><em>Option 4: Rent a Satellite Truck</em></h3>
<div class="col span_4" data-animation="" data-delay="0"><img style="vertical-align:middle;padding-right:5%;padding-top:5%;" src="http://www.satellitetechsys.com/images/truck_features/t2_st_0306.jpg" /> </div>
<div class="col span_8 col_last" data-animation="" data-delay="0">If you are delivering your live feed to broadcast networks as well as the web, you might consider going the traditional broadcast route: renting a production truck and broadcasting via satellite.<br />
To touch simply on a very complicated subject, satellite works by beaming your signal to a satellite (your “uplink”) and then back down to an ingest location (the “downlink”). Each link requires specialized equipment, which can be very expensive: a day’s truck rental in Chicago can cost anywhere from $2,500 to well over $10,000 (depending on volume, availability, and complexity of broadcast).</p>
<p>There are multiple bands from which you can broadcast, with the most common being Ku-band, C-band, and Ka-band. <a href="http://www.harriscaprock.com/downloads/HarrisCapRock_WhitePaper-Ka-Ku_Analysis.pdf">Here is a white paper that offers a full comparison of the various satellite bands.</a> </div><div class="clear"></div>
<p>Dan Biggar, Executive Vice President at <a href="http://stslivetv.com/">Satellite Technology Systems</a>, has this to say:</p>
<blockquote style="padding-left:10%;border-left:2px solid #0000cc;margin-left:2em;"><p><em>Ku-band is 99% reliable. Once in a great while if you have a strong storm cell with heavy rain it could wipe out your signal either at the uplink or downlink location. Rain fade usually clears within 10 minutes&#8230; Also for a few days in the Spring and Fall you can get a solar outage when the rays of the sun line up directly with the receiver dish.</p>
<p>C Band is 99.9% reliable. There is no rain fade with C Band. If there was a catastrophic failure with the truck you could lose the feed but that is rare. On some big money major sporting events aired on Broadcast TV the network will book a second satellite truck as backup.”</em></p></blockquote>
<p>
It’s also important to book your satellite time well in advance. Biggar notes, “on a major news day like the US Presidential election, all the KU satellite space gets booked up a month in advance.”</p>
<p>Satellite rental is recommended for mission-critical events.</p>
<h2 style="font-size: 1.35em;"><strong>Ranking your Remote Broadcasting Options</strong></h2>
<p>Every crew and every production is different. As such, the method you choose for your remote broadcast will depend on a variety of factors. In an effort to help you streamline your decision-making process, here are our rankings for each method, according to cost, complexity, and reliability.</p>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.25em;"><em>Cost</em></h3>
<p>Your options can range from under $100 to into the tens of thousands. Choose the option right for your budget!</p>
<ol>
<li><em>Dedicated line from local building – </em>under $100. Just convince someone nearby to let you top into their high-speed Internet, grab for your 90m Ethernet cable, and you’re all set!</li>
<li><em>4G modem –</em> under $100 depending on total data broadcast. (Verizon charges $15/GB – be careful!)</li>
<li><em>Cellular bonding –</em> around $3,000 for the hardware, plus data plans with 2-8 mobile networks. The hardware is a one-time cost.</li>
<li><em>Satellite truck – </em>starts around $2,500 per link (and you’ll likely need an uplink and downlink), plus satellite rental time (upwards of $450/hour).</li>
</ol>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.25em;"><em>Complexity</em></h3>
<p>To understand the complexity of a given solution, you must have knowledge of that solution’s failure points. While initial set up for each solution is straightforward, being able to troubleshoot on the fly can be difficult. Keep that in mind when using new technology!</p>
<ol>
<li><em>4G modem – </em>Simply turn your smartphone into a wi-fi hotspot and you’re all set! (Just don’t expect to have reliable, consistent bandwidth.)</li>
<li><em>Dedicated line –</em> You’ll need to coordinate with the building’s IT department, but this is quotidian for live stream producers.</li>
<li><em>Satellite truck –</em> Sat trucks can become complicated, but the engineering side is pretty straightforward – and some include an engineer/operator for the day!</li>
<li><em>Cellular bonding –</em> Pre-configured out of the box, cellular bonding hardware is simple to navigate. What’s difficult and annoying is setting up data plans with multiple networks. Furthermore, some cellular bonding solutions require setting up server software, such as Teradek’s Sputnik Server.</li>
</ol>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.25em;"><em>Reliability</em></h3>
<p>It does not matter how cost-friendly or easy-to-setup your solution is if it doesn’t produce good results. For mission-critical events with hundreds or thousands of anticipated viewers, reliability is the most important factor!</p>
<ol>
<li><em>Satellite truck – </em>If your pockets are deep, then satellite trucks are the way to go. Trust the solution that’s been trusted by giants of industry for decades.</li>
<li><em>Cellular bonding –</em> While 4G/LTE bonding is comparatively new, the technology is mature and reliable.</li>
<li><em>Dedicated line –</em> It works great if you have unfettered access to the host, but there are many failure points – long cable runs, potential inaccessibility, and network fluctuations, to name a few.</li>
<li><em>4G modem –</em> It’s almost guaranteed that your signal will drop out at some point – and broadcasting in full HD is completely out of the question.</li>
</ol>
<h2 style="font-size: 1.35em;">Conclusion – and a bonus gift!</h2>
<p>Hopefully, we have been able to take some of the mystery out of remote broadcasting for you. Have more questions? Feel free to e-mail us (<a href="mailto:info@mainstreamchicago.com">info@mainstreamchicago.com</a>) and we will do our best to respond right away!</p>
<p>As a bonus, we’ve created this bandwidth cost calculator to help you determine your budget. This is meant more as an estimate that an exact amount, but hopefully it helps!</p>
<p><a name="calculator" style="text-decoration:none;"></p>
<div style="margin:auto;width:80%;padding:10%;border:1px solid black;">[CP_CALCULATED_FIELDS id=&#8221;6&#8243;]</div>
<p></a></p>
<div style="margin: auto; width: 80%; padding: 2% 5%; border: 1px solid black;">
<h4 style="margin: auto; font-size: .75em;"><em>Want to see more posts like this? Subscribe to our newsletter and we&#8217;ll let you know as soon as they&#8217;re published!</em></h4>
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		<title>The Must-Use Tools for Live Stream Production</title>
		<link>https://www.mainstreamchicago.com/must-use-tools-live-stream-production/</link>
					<comments>https://www.mainstreamchicago.com/must-use-tools-live-stream-production/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nick Bacon]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 10 Jan 2015 00:05:43 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[live streaming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blackmagic design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[broadcasting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dacast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[event videography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[live streaming guide]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[livestream]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Panasonic GH2]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teradek]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[video production]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[videography tools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[webcasts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wirecast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[youtube]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mainstreamchicago.com/?p=380</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[With innovative products and platforms in the field of live streaming emerging at an exponential rate, it&#8217;s tough to keep up with what works, what doesn&#8217;t, and what might if it got a little bit more love. With that in mind, we compiled this review of some of our favorite...]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="font-size: 1.5em; padding: 2% 5% 5% 5%; color: #333333; line-height: 1.6em;">With innovative products and platforms in the field of live streaming emerging at an exponential rate, it&#8217;s tough to keep up with what works, what doesn&#8217;t, and what <em>might if it got a little bit more love</em>. With that in mind, we compiled this review of some of our favorite tools of the trade!</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 style="font-size: 1.35em;"><strong>Hardware</strong></h2>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.25em;"><em>Blackmagic Decklink Mini Recorder</em></h3>
<p><a href="https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/decklink"><img class="" style="margin: auto;" src="https://images.blackmagicdesign.com/media/products/decklink/main2/intro.jpg" alt="" width="651" height="198" /></a></p>
<p><em>Why?</em> Over the last few years, the cost of live stream production has plummeted, largely thanks to technical innovations from companies such as Blackmagic. Gone are the days where complicated switcher setups are required just to perform a simple 2- or 3-camera stream. With HD-SDI and HDMI inputs, the Blackmagic Decklink Mini Recorder is a powerful tool &#8211; and at under $150, the price is hard to beat!</p>
<p><em>Best for:</em> Custom-built live streaming computers (you need to plug it into the PCIe slot on your motherboard)</p>
<p><em>Not recommended for:</em> Folks streaming from laptops, or who require an output feed from their capture card.</p>
<p><em>Worth mentioning:</em> Don&#8217;t have a PCIe slot? Just get a <a href="https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/intensity">Blackmagic Intensity Shuttle (USB3 or Thunderbolt)!</a></p>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.25em;"><em>Runner up: Teradek Bolt Pro</em></h3>
<p><a href="http://www.teradek.com/pages/bolt"><img class="" style="margin: auto; width: 650; height: 279;" src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0095/4332/files/bolts_37de48b8-d693-4b2b-9a1d-1fa905690a55.jpg?7897" alt="" /></a><br />
<em>Why?</em> Oftentimes, the most time-consuming and frustrating aspect of live production is running, hiding, and securing the miles and miles of cable necessary to connect all your components. The Teradek Bolt Pro removes the need for big cable runs, and at a reasonable cost (under $2,000) it&#8217;s affordable for most production companies.</p>
<p><em>Best for:</em> events where running cable might be problematic, like live music events; events that require lots of camera movement within a compact space</p>
<p><em>Not recommended for:</em> long events (the internal battery on the Bolt Pro lasts about an hour, although it has a 0B 302 series LEMO connector for external power); events where line-of-sight between receiver and transmitter may be compromised by structural elements</p>
<p><em>Worth mentioning:</em> Teradek makes three models of the Bolt Pro: the 300, 600, and 2000 &#8211; with the number corresponding to the total range (in feet) of the device.</p>
<hr />
<h2 style="font-size: 1.35em;"><strong>Software</strong></h2>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.25em;"><em>Wirecast 5</em></h3>
<p><a href="http://www.telestream.net/wirecast/overview.htm"><img class="" style="margin: auto;" src="http://www.telestream.net/wirecast/images/Wirecast-MainImage.jpg" alt="" width="652" height="223" /></a><br />
<em>Why?</em> Wirecast is the de facto standard for live streaming software, and has been in the game for a very long time. Wirecast 5 can stream to any live encoding platform with the exception of New Livestream, and offers fully manual control over everything from the resolution to the bit-rate and everything in between. With up to 5 layers of elements, you can create rich, engaging broadcasts very intuitively. You can even pull other RTMP feeds as an input!</p>
<p><em> Best for:</em> Anyone who wants to produce a live stream on any platform other than New Livestream.</p>
<p><em> Not recommended for:</em> New Livestream users.</p>
<p><em> Worth mentioning:</em> 5 had a good run, but was lacking in some key features. Wirecast 6, which came out in November 2014, added pretty much everything Wirecast 5 was missing: playlists, instant replay, a Twitter feed, and better hot keying!</p>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.25em;"><em>Runner up: Livestream Studio</em></h3>
<p><a href="https://new.livestream.com/studio/software"><img class="" style="margin: auto;" src="http://freytag-film.com/assets/img/blog/NewLivestream_nab_software1.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="433" /></a><br />
<em>Why?</em> Okay, we&#8217;ll admit it. Livestream Studio is really great live streaming software. Its interface feels like a sexy control room, you can output to any platform you want, and it comes standard with everything that Wirecast was lacking. While it&#8217;s a bit of a resource-hog, it&#8217;s a fully capable live streaming solution and would make for a smooth transition for anyone coming from the analog broadcast world.</p>
<p><em> Best for:</em> New Livestream users, broadcast engineers</p>
<p><em> Not recommended for:</em> Mac users (there&#8217;s no Mac version), any computers that aren&#8217;t top-of-the-line or custom-built.</p>
<p><em> Worth mentioning:</em> Unlike Wirecast, Livestream Studio does NOT give you fine control over resolution and bit-rates of your stream. Rather, it comes with several output profiles from which you can choose. Annoyingly, you can&#8217;t output a single HD stream.</p>
<hr />
<h2 style="font-size: 1.35em;"><strong>Camera</strong></h2>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.25em;"><em>Sony EX-1r</em></h3>
<p><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/758895-REG/Sony_PMW_EX1R_2_PMW_EX1R_XDCAM_EX_Full.html"><img class="center aligncenter" style="margin: auto; width: 650; height: 392;" src="http://sp.sony-europe.com/da/797/246843.jpeg" alt="" /></a><br />
<em>Why?</em> This camera is a workhorse. Arriving on the scene in 2009, you still find these cameras in the field everywhere, and for good reason. Its low light capabilities are top-notch, the zoom is nice and smooth, and we&#8217;ve never experienced any back focus issues as with other similarly priced camcorders. One of the first cameras to feature dual-slot recording, you could record for an entire day and never even have to switch out cards!</p>
<p><em> Best for:</em> ENG production, camera rental facilities, press conferences, back-of-the-room event videography</p>
<p><em> Not recommended for:</em> cinematic production</p>
<p><em> Worth mentioning:</em> While the EX-1r uses annoying expensive SxS cards, a simple SxS-&gt;SDHC adapter allows you to use SD cards! It also pairs well with the Teradek Bolt Pro, as both can run off the <a href="http://www.teradek.com/products/bit_649">same battery</a> for around 3 hours.</p>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.25em;"><em>Runner up: Panasonic GH2/GH3</em></h3>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-GH2-Interchangeable-Free-Angle-Black/dp/B0043VE26U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1420849730&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=gh2"><img class=" aligncenter" style="margin: auto;" src="http://shop.panasonic.com/images/product/2013/dmc-gh2k-body-only/DMC-GH2KBOD_400.png" alt="" width="495" height="371" /></a><br />
<em>Why?</em> The Panasonic GH2 is a phenomenally versatile camera with an excellent community of support, but one of its best features is probably its most overlooked: clean HDMI output. With the ability to give crystal-clear, 1080p, menu-free video from its mini HDMI port, the GH2 is a great camera for folks looking for a simple one-camera HD live streaming setup. The only downside: it won&#8217;t output audio, so you&#8217;ll need to figure out an alternative method to run audio into your computer.</p>
<p><em> Best for:</em> Folks looking to upgrade from webcams or consumer camcorders like the Canon Vixia HFS200; b- or c-cam shots.</p>
<p><em>Worth mentioning:</em> Because quality degrades rapidly over HDMI, you shouldn&#8217;t use an HDMI cable longer than 10 feet for any HD broadcast.</p>
<hr />
<h2 style="font-size: 1.35em;"><strong>Video Streaming Platform</strong></h2>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.25em;"><em>YouTube Live</em></h3>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/my_live_events"><img class=" aligncenter" style="margin: auto;" src="http://www.youtube.com/yt/brand/media/image/YouTube-logo-full_color.png" alt="" width="416" height="259" /></a><br />
<em>Why?</em> Another major contributor to the decrease in cost of live streaming, YouTube is the first major platform to offer its services completely free. As of December 2013, any YouTube account in good standing is eligible for live streaming. And it&#8217;s free to embed!</p>
<p><em> Best for:</em> Branding your live content and embedding in your website</p>
<p><em> Worth mentioning:</em> As discussed in this previous post, be VERY CAREFUL if your broadcast contains any copyrighted music. You might get yanked from the air!</p>
<p><em> Also worth mentioning:</em> Like other platforms, YouTube Live occasionally struggles with audio and video sync issues if you&#8217;re using the x264 codec. We recommend sticking with h.264 for now.</p>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.25em;"><em>Runner up: DaCast</em></h3>
<p><a href="http://dacast.com"><img class="" style="margin: auto;" src="https://www.mainstreamchicago.com/wp-content/webpc-passthru.php?src=http://static.www.dacast.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/home-slider_iphone_1270x519-1265x517.jpg&amp;nocache=1" alt="" width="651" height="266" /></a></p>
<p><em>Why?</em> DaCast is a true white-labelled platform. For an incredibly low cost (about 5-10% of what other platforms charge), you can embed ad-free streams directly into your website. While the analytics are still questionable at best, DaCast is a truly powerful platform at a very attractive price point.</p>
<p><em> Best for:</em> Regular production of live events with audiences &lt;100</p>
<p><em> Worth mentioning:</em> While DaCast does have the ability to create multi-bitrate streams, your computer has to output each stream separately. This puts a greater burden on your computer &#8211; so be careful!</p>
<p><em> Also worth mentioning:</em> We really, really would love to see DaCast implement DVR sometime in the near future. Everyone else does it! C&#8217;mon, DaCast!</p>
<hr />
<h2 style="font-size: 1.35em;"><strong>Communication Platform</strong></h2>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.25em;"><em>Twitter</em></h3>
<p><em>Why?</em> Because of this:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Got a shoutout on <a href="https://twitter.com/Toontrack">@Toontrack</a> live stream of Devin Townsend&#8217;s concert today. Indeeeeeed <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ziltoid?src=hash">#Ziltoid</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/toontrackmetalmonth?src=hash">#toontrackmetalmonth</a> <a href="http://t.co/F6nU5JqhIf">pic.twitter.com/F6nU5JqhIf</a></p>
<p>— Storyboard Concept (@storybconcept) <a href="https://twitter.com/storybconcept/status/537912787784069120">November 27, 2014</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script>With more platforms adopting Twitter APIs to allow for broadcast integration, Twitter is the go-to way to have a live discussion with a global audience about your event. Bonus points if you&#8217;re able to show their tweets on screen! </p>
<p><em>Best for:</em> Quick interactions with fans, media, or interested parties <em>Worth mentioning:</em> Hashtagging your event and building up a conversation takes time &#8211; make sure to engage with your audience regularly before, during, and after your event! </p>
<h3 style="font-size: 1.25em;"><em>Runner up: Instagram</em></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"></div>
<p><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" href="https://instagram.com/p/u31sz6zX7-/" target="_top">Ozzie Guillen and his wife on the red carpet. #Emmys2014 #EmmyChicago</a> A photo posted by TV Academy (@chi_natas) on <time style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;" datetime="2014-11-01T21:38:37+00:00">Nov 1, 2014 at 2:38pm PDT</time>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p><script src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js" async="" defer="defer"></script><br />
<em>Why?</em> Conversation flows freely on Instagram, where people love to give love. While it might not be the best platform for live audience interaction, it&#8217;s a great platform for your fans to interact with one another!</p>
<p><em> Best for:</em> #Hashtags. #Lots #Of #Hashtags.</p>
<p><em> Worth mentioning:</em> Don&#8217;t forget &#8211; you need a smart phone to sign up for Instagram!</p>
<hr />
<p>So, did we miss anything? Let us know what you think!
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