AV Production

I just received my Sirui 75mm F1.8 anamorphic lens, through supporting their Indiegogo campaign. This is reputed to be a great portrait lens. An Indiegogo campaign is how I also acquired the previously released Sirui 35mm F1.8 anamorphic lens. These Sirui lenses are reported to be a good color match with each other. I do not have an unlimited budget, so I did not get their 50mm and 24mm lenses.

I bought the two anamorphic lenses with the hope of truly using my BMPCC 4K as a cinema camera. The ultrawide format that anamorphic lenses allow you to shoot, the dramatic lens flares, and these new sharp manual focus cinema camera lenses will allow for a high end movie look. I use a Tilta Focus Puller (not shown here), with focus gears, but I am waiting for those to be shipped.

The camera and lens are rigged with a Smallrig cage, with a PowerEdge battery base, a Smallrig handle with SSD holder, a camera handle with monitor mount. I attach a Blackmagic Video Assist 7 inch monitor or a Feelworld 7 inch monitor on top. There is also a Rode Wireless Go II receiver, wikth two mic transmitters.

I also purchased the Sirui tripod and Sirui monopod. Both are quality support gear for my Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera with these lenses. I also use Cayer and Manfrotto tripods. I can also use these lenses with my Panasonic GH5 camera, which supports shooting with anamorphic lenses.

I am building my Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Extreme ISO Video Village with a DR Pro DJ Laptop Stand and Shelf Bundle, Feelworld Field Monitors, Elgato Stream Deck, Mac mini, etc…

The foundation is a QuikLok laptop/projector stand. Clamped to that is a DJ Studio rack that has been mounted upside down, to attach the FeelWorld P150-3HSD 15 inch broadcast monitor on the top. I just added the 7 inch Feelworld monitor as a Program Monitor, and it is clamped to the DJ Studio crossbar, and it floats right above the switcher.

I used multiple computer and camera inputs. I use a Mac mini M1, an iMac i9, and a Dell Inspiron. I use Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K as Camera 1. I use Panasonic cameras for my other video inputs. I use an Apple TV as a video input, and it can share screen from a device.

I can use the Blackmagic Design Streaming Bridge for Video Over Ethernet out to a video projector, or in from a remote video source. The Streaming Bridge can connect two different ATEM Mini series switchers.

I can send the HDMI Program Out to a Decimator MD-HX Miniature HDMI/SDI Cross Converter to pass-through the HDMI video signal, and to distribute video to projectors in the venue. I can press the Program View or MultiView buttons to switch this display.

The ATEM Mini Extreme ISO HDMI Preview Out port plugs into an HDMI Audio Extractor, then passes through to the 15 inch Feelworld monitor. The HDMI Audio Extractor allows my to use my Bose soundbar via the optical connector at home, and headphones. I use a Zoom H5 when I want to patch XLR cable inputs to an audio input on the ATEM Mini Extreme ISO.

The ATEM Mini Extreme ISO records to Samsung T5, NVE drives, SSD drives, flash drives, and hard drives.

In the home studio, the Mac mini M1 uses a 22 inch HP display, and the Mac mini HDMI video is also output to the switcher. When I take the rack for an away gig, I don’t need the external monitor for the Mac mini, since I can display it on the 15 inch monitor. The Feelgood 15 inch Field Display has 4 HDMI inputs, and 4 HDMI outputs, so it can be used with multiple device inputs.

I have just added an Elgato Stream Deck, and am learning to use that in my workflow.

I had an iPhone X that was sitting around idle, and decided to put it to good use. I just saw a good review of Filmic Pro, an app that turns the iPhone into an HD camera. Of course, the iPhone has a camera, so why do you need an app?

Filmic Pro allows you to choose which camera to use, so in the photo, the selfie camera was selected. Filmic Pro displays the image with graphic overlays for the controls. There is an Apple Lightning to HDMI connector plugged in, and there is Clean HDMI Out settings option selected in Filmic Pro.  The Apple Lightning connector allows the Lightning cable to be plugged in to continue powering the iPhone. The Apple Lightning connector allows the iPhone video to be used as another HDMI input to my Blackmagic ATEM Mini Extreme switcher.

The Apple App Store does allow you to download the Filmic Pro app to each of your devices. I also put it on my iPad Pro, and my iPhone 11 Pro Max, which gives me a choice of four cameras to choose from. Filmic Pro also can be used with Android phones. Filmic Pro also works with other apps from the developer.

These are the cameras I use for video production: Blackmagic Design and Panasonic cameras. I also use JVC video cameras, but they are not pictured here.

Shown here on the left is a Panasonic AG-AF101E with Panasonic 100-300mm lens. In the middle is a Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K with B4 lens adapter, and Canon Broadcast Lens. On the right is a Panasonic GH5 with Panasonic 12-35mm lens, with VideoRODE shotgun mic. which is my favorite run-and-gun video camera.

Panasonic AG-AF101E with 100-300mm lens, Blackmagic Design Video Assist 3G Monitor Recorder.

Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, Fotodiox B4 lens adapter, Canon Broadcast Lens.

 

Who would like to meet on Monday evenings for Tech Talk Topics? Meetings are free until I need to monetize them. Topics will include computers and operating systems, deivices, audio and video production, live streaming and websites..

 

My new favorite video switcher just came in. I watched the Blackmagic ATEM Mini Extreme ISO product announcement with some interest, but didn’t think it was for me. I have been checking out the possibilities of this upgrade, and decided that it was time to jump on board. I am glad that I did!

Comparing this new switcher with the ATEM Mini Pro. The Blackmagic ATEM Mini Extreme ISO cost is slightly over twice as much, at $1295. Is it worth it? I say a big fat yes! There are so many new features, some surprises and some requests listened to in the new model.

Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro – I paid $595 for a switcher/video encoder with 4 inputs, and 1 recording track.

Blackmagic ATEM Mini Extreme ISO – I paid $1295 for a switcher/video encoder with 8 inputs, and 9 recording tracks. It features 201 buttons, SuperSource and many digital video features inherited from more expensive models.

Pictured here is the ATEM Mini Extreme ISO on a laptop stand, with a Feelworld 15 inch broadcast display, and Elgato Stream Deck. I am using the HP 22 inch display for the Program View. I use the Feelworld display for the Multi View.

I was an early adopter of the Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro, and am happy to see this newer product expand the limitations of the earlier models. In addition to the two Audio Inputs, there is the long-awaited Headphone Output jack. There are two USB-C ports, which allows using one as a webcam signal, and the other to record to SSD.

Hey Blackmagic Design, could you add a power switch? I use this type of in-line cable switch, but it doesn’t lock. It holds pretty snuggly and is very convenient.

I am still fine-tuning my home desktop for live stream production. On the left, a Mac mini M1 with 4K Samsung 28 inch monitor. In the middle, an iMac Intel Core i9 with 5K display is my main computer. An Apple TV 4K is also part of the mix. These three inputs, and a video camera are plugged into the Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro video switcher Smallrig frame.

The video cameras I use are Panasonic and Blackmagic gear. Each camera can also be a camera input, the Mac mini with a Logitech HD webcam, or the iMac with the built-in webcam. There is lighting, and a green screen behind me.

I have an SSD drive plugged in the ATEM Mini Pro USB-C port to be able to record the Program View at any time. I also have the Blackmagic Video Assist that can record ProRes quality, when I switch from MultiView to Program View. For some projects, I record speakers in a Skype or Zoom meeting, then edit the footage for the project. For other live meetings, I can switch live speakers, PowerPoint presentations, recorded movies, graphics and audio for a well-rounded program.

The computers, Apple TV and ATEM Mini Pro are all connected to a Netgear Gigabit 8-port Ethernet switch, and an Apple Airport Time Capsule. Sometimes I use an iPhone and iPad Pro on the network, and as potential audio or video inputs to the switcher, or to control the camera.

Audio is handled by a Bose Solo 5 soundbar, or Behringer Eurorack audio mixer and Radio Shack PA Amplifier. I route all ATEM Mini Pro audio inputs through the Behringer Eurorack audio mixer. I route all ATEM Mini Pro audio outputs to an HDMI Converter Toslink SPDIF + 3.5mm AUX Stereo Audio, then out to the Bose Solo 5 soundbar and Sony headphones.

If you had to run the Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro using only battery power, could you do it? 

I have the ATEM Mini Pro on a Smallrig rack with accessories to attach a display, a Samsung T5 SSD drive, and a plate that I mounted a battery power attachment. Using one Kastar brand Sony-style NP-F980 battery will power the ATEM Mini Pro, the Lilliput monitor, and record to SSD drive – but only for about thirty minutes or so. By using the battery with just the ATEM Mini Pro, it would power just that devie for almost an hour. I will start experimenting with adding a couple of additional batteries to this setup. The Lilliput 7 inch display has a battery receptacle for Kastar battery. It should power the display for several hours. I also alternately use the Blackmagic Design Video Assist 7 inch monitor/recorder, and it has battery receptacles for two Kastar batteries.

I am using the Kastar Magic NP-F980Exp Battery: It can be charged with Micro USB with 5Volt 2A adapter. It has 5Volt 2.1A Output and can be used as a Power Bank. Also you can see the battery status any time with 4 LED lights on the battery. I was able to place Kastar Magic Batteries in parallel, with the USB cable from one sending power to the other. I also tried two Kastar batteries in a modified V Lock battery rig, which worked well. The batteries are not hot-swappable though.

Battery Type: Lithium-Ion;
Battery Voltage: 7.2V;
Battery High Capacity: 8700mAh.

Safe to Use: Kastar lithium-ion battery cells meets UL1642 & CE safety standards to ensure that your battery pack will be safe to use as a replacement for your unit. Comes with built-in over-charge, over-discharge, over-voltage, over-current, and over-heating protection circuit.

For most people, I would recommend using a larger rechargeable power source with inverter. Something like a RAVPOWER battery/inverter unit would last longer and be more reliable than this Kastar battery setup. This RAVPOWER power source will give you about three hours time with all your streaming gear plugged in.

I use the Blackmagic Design ATEM Software Control app with my Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro via Ethernet cable to a Netgear Gigabit Ethernet 8-port switch. The Blackmagic Design ATEM Streaming Bridge also is connected to the Ethernet switch.

You can use a Mac or a PC to run the Blackmagic ATEM Setup and ATEM Software Control apps. After installing the software, use a USB-C cable from the computer to the USB-C port in the back of the ATEM Mini Pro. The ATEM Software Control app lets you set the IP addresses of the ATEM Mini Pro and the ATEM Streaming Bridge. After you have set up the IP number for ATEM Mini Pro, you can set up the IP number for the ATEM Streaming Bridge. After both devices are seen correctly over the Ethernet network, the USB-C cable can be removed, and you can just use the network for device control. The ATEM Setup app lets you manage ATEM Mini Pro and the ATEM Streaming Bridge device settings over Ethernet,.

I have two Macs connected to the Netgear Ethernet switch, and they output video to HDMI Input 1 and Input 2 of the ATEM Mini Pro switcher. I use Input 3 and 4 for BMPCC and Panasonic camera inputs.

The ATEM Mini Pro switcher HDMI Output Port enables MultiView or Program View to the monitor, through buttons on the right. The ATEM Streaming Bridge can be used to display the Program View from the ATEM Mini Pro to a separate display.

I can make a local recording by pressing the Record button on the ATEM Mini Pro. The Program view can be recorded to various media options. The ATEM Mini Pro records to a 1TB Samsung T5 SSD, or a 1TB Sabrent Rocket NVMe drive, and other storage sizes too. I have also used 1TB Crucial, Samsung, and other brand SATA SSD drives with a SATA to USB-C connector. The SanDisk 256GB Ultra Dual Drive Luxe USB-C also works, and may be the smallest form-factor available. Even while watching your display in MultiView mode, the full-frame Program View is recorded to SSD.

Do you remember that saying, “All dressed up and nowhere to go…”?

I recently got fitted for a new suit, because I usually work conferences and corporate events this time of year. I worked one gig, then there was no more work because the venues closed.Because so many shows and conferences got cancelled, and we are all wondering when the lights get turned on again…