Streaming Events
Why Use Titles?
Titling your stream is an easy way to convey essential information to your audience. The most simple way to do this is by using a presentation programme like Openoffices 'Impress' (similar to Powerpoint). You can credit speakers, give event titles, use logos and if there's an interval between speakers you can let people know when the next stream will be online.
Equipment and Set-up
In the ideal set-up you would use:
- A machine dedicated to titles - it's possible to make the titles on the same machine as your main computer (running the whole stream from one machine) but having a separate title machine reduces the risk of overloading the system which can result in stream breakage.
- A vision mixer - If you have access to one, this makes titling with presentation really easy. Take the feed from the text machine and run it through a PC to TV converter (aka Scan converter). The way we're subtitling here is by using the mixer setting that cuts the screen horizontally.
- A scan converter - This is used to convert the digital signal from the titles computer output (VGA) to composite video for the vision mixer.
- A preview screen from the mixer - this will allow you to see what the outgoing stream will look like.
Making a Slideshow in Openoffice
Changing the background Colour
To change the background colour of the subtitle/slide background
1.Choose Format / Page, and then click on the Background tab.
2.In the Fill area, choose a Colour, and then click a color in the list - black is a a good one because it's less distracting.
Inserting and Moving Text and Pictures
Either, click on the lilac 'T' icon in the bottom toolbar, or choose View / Toolbars, and then click on the Text. You should really use text that's at least 48pt so that it can easily be read in a small viewing window.
To move the text use the select tool, either grab and drop or use the arrow keys on your keyboard.Make a simple slide presentation with all your event titles, speakers names, logos, etc... and imput the signal in to your mixer.
Inserting pictures and logos works in exactly the same way - Insert, Picture, from file. To resizeCrediting speakers
To do this it's essential that you have the names of all of those speaking at the conference and the order in which they appear. This may sound obvious but there may be last minute changes, like speakers being late so you must always ensure you have the most up-to-date production schedule.
Example Slideshow
1. For a first slide, you could create a hold screen, this could also carry information that lets audiences know when the stream will begin.
screenshot "Next Event Title 18:00 GMT Full screen"
2. As the event starts you can move to a slide which could be the title of the event
screen shot "Event Title Full screen"
3. slide three could have the name of the first speaker/event. Take the imput from the Go to a full screen to credit the first speaker/event you can take one imput from screen shot "First Name Bottom screen"
screen shot "Second Name Bottom screen"
Live Subtitling with a Vision Mixer
Here we assume that you have access to a vision mixer, a separate computer running the slide show presentation and a monitor screen connected to the preview output of the mixer. For the purposes of this manual we will assume that your text computer is going in to imput one of your mixer, the signal from camera one is going in to imput two, the signal from a possible projector is going in to imput three. you can have aditional camears in to your last imput, four.
photograph of the V-4
Because you are doing a slide presentation the same rules apply
1. Keep the mouse pointer right to the edge of the screen, to avoid it being seen on the stream.
2. Keep your presentation on Full screen at screen resolution .......... (unless you not streaming any inputs from your text machine) If you forget to keep it full screen the audience will be able to see your presentation desktop.
shot of desktop
Full Screen of Titles from your Presentation
If you take both imputs from your text computer (one and one) your stream will be a full screen from your presentation. This can be used to show event titles, announcements about the time of the next stream, or hold screens that can be used when there is an unexpected break in the event.
screen shot of the full screen of presentation eg screen shot "Next Event Title 20:00 GMT full screen"
Full Screen of Video from Cameras
If you have your camera feed going in to the second input of your mixer, pressing two and two will give you a full screen from your cameras.
N.B. When you are streaming images from the camera you can move through your slide show without the audience seeing - as the slide show is on another imput.
Streaming Video with Subtiles
If you just want a subtitle to appear below your speaker - just take one imput from the text computer and make sure that the horizontal split is as low as it can go without cutting the top off your text (remember where your imputs are coming from so that you don't give an image of your event on the bottom of your screen and the blank middle part from the subtitle machine)
* screen shot "presentation with the name on bottom" - how it should look screen shot of the stream on bottom and subtitle in the middle -
* screen shot of how it shouldn't look