Entry-level hardware devices provide two extremes of functionality and usability. There’s also no headphone jack on the ATEM Mini which the LivePro does provide. For example, while the LivePro provides a preview of all four inputs on the body, the ATEM Mini doesn’t, and it doesn’t provide a connector to preview all inputs. Though the price is similar, the ATEM Mini prioritizes functionality over usability while the LivePro does the opposite. Both enable switching between the various inputs with transitions and picture-in-picture capabilities so you can mix a talking head with PowerPoint input from a computer. Entry-Level Hardware MixersĮntry-level hardware products include the two shown in Figure 2, the Feelworld LivePro L1 ($329 at Amazon) and the Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini HDMI ($299.99 at Amazon) on the right. In general, this category is best for reasonably sophisticated computer users who will set up and run the live event themselves. These software tools can handle complex productions, but if you plan to produce with three or more camera inputs you’re better off buying a turnkey system like Wirecast Gear or Vmix systems that provides all the necessary inputs and a beefy enough CPU to handle the load. If you try to input four cameras via dongles on a MacBookPro, you’re almost certainly going to run into problems. The other issue is audio/video input, which you need to supply and can get problematic. The flip side of this flexibility is the ease of use while these programs don’t require a computer science degree to operate, you wouldn’t want to hand off operation to a marketing intern or church volunteer without several hours of training. Both can also accept input from computers and phones on the same network, adding significant production flexibility. Wirecast (Rendezvous) and Vmix (Call) both provide a conferencing function that allows you to record and stream remote interviews at very high quality. This simplifies adding text and graphics, and pulling together a “shot” that combines background graphics and multiple sources in a picture-in-picture. These products tend to be affordable or free, and very well featured as compared to entry-level standalone appliances. Products in this category include Telestream Wirecast (Mac/Windows), VMix (Windows), and the open-source Open Broadcaster Software (OBS, Mac/Windows/Linux). These are video mixers that you install on your computer. If your product isn’t mentioned, please feel free to add it via a comment on the web version of this article. As always, product mentions are not exhaustive but rather are representative of products in that category. Accordingly, I’ll start by identifying different categories of mixers, discuss their characteristics, and then conclude with a list of questions to ask before buying. This buyer’s guide is for newbies trying to understand the different types of mixers available and their strengths and weaknesses. They can also provide much more advanced functions like audio mixers, chromakey, scoreboards, and many other features. Click here for more detail on the course.Īt the most basic level, video mixers are hardware or software tools that allow you to switch between different video inputs or mix them together via picture-in-picture, and add effects like titles and graphics. It was derived from a lesson in my Live Streaming Bootcamp course, which teaches you the skills and techniques that optimize the quality of your webinars and live streams. This post describes how to choose a video mixer for live events and conferences.
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