Showing posts with label skype video audio dv. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skype video audio dv. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Using Skype with DV cameras for JCC and GLIVE

Many of us know Skype as the software product that allows us to do a phone conversation or a chat (video or audio) session with our friends and in particular with friends abroad - all via the internet. When my friend George was overseas we used Skype for a video conference with him and some of our friends. 

Most recently, we've taken Skype to a new level - when we broadcasted JCC and then GLIVE. We've even "skyped" people for meetings and such as well.  So let me explain some basics here.  This is delving a little into the video world but you need to understand both to see how this works. 

Here's the flow:
Mixer Board (xlr) --> DV Video Camera (dv) --> Video Switcher (dv) --> dv repeater (dv into computer and dv deck*) --> Computer with Skype (audio input from Dv Deck) --> Recipient Computer with Skype

Flow for this setup is relatively simple.  But this is a much larger setup. We use the video switcher b/c we have multiple cameras and inputs coming into the switcher.  Usually we have 3 cameras and an S-Video (pro-presenter/slides).

For a single camera setup, it's similar:
Mixer Board (xlr) --> DV Video Camera (dv) --> dv repeater (dv into computer and DV deck*) --> Computer with Skype (audio input from Dv Deck) --> Recipient Computer with Skype

* the reason that we need the dv repeater and the deck is b/c Skype cannot handle the video and audio stream in the dv input.  i don't know why but it will not accept the audio input, so we need to grab the audio from another dv device, hence the repeater. I'm sure i've confused a few of you by this point.  that's b/c it is confusing.  hopefully skype will resolve this issue and then we could just plug the dv camera right into the laptop and we'll be good. 

So this is a rough presentation.  If you have more questions i can try to fill in the gaps.