Streaming on Ustream platform

Create an account on Ustream platform using the SIGN UP button.

In the following steps, you should provide some basic data necessary for the registration process.

Once you have set up your account you can login to it

First, on the drop-down list, click on the dashboard option.

Then, in the Create channel tab, set your own channel name.

The name of the channel, will be available to the user, i.e. this name will be commonly used as a link.

Now, your streaming channel has been successfully created. You can go back to the Reckeen3D system.
In Reckeen3D, start the 3D Production module, click on Options and then on Configuration and Streaming. Select Ustream platform from the drop-down menu and click on the Open the website icon beside it.

Log into the account you’ve created earlier, and then select Channel Settings from the drop down list.

Select the Broadcast Settings tab from the drop-down list. Then click on the View icon in the Encoder settings section.

A window: Encoder settings is displayed then. There is some data to be copied to your Reckeen3D system in the Manual Entry section.
You should copy and paste the RTMP URL and Channel Key for fields: Address and Stream.

But in Ustream platform you don’t have to do this way. Ustream website provides a ready XML File with the data. To download this file, click on the link in the Flash Media Encoder XML File section. After clicking a link on the page, save the settings file on your hard drive. Choose the location for the file in the Save file window.

Now, open the Reckeen3D Configuration window and go to the Streaming tab. Click on Import FMLE profile and open the previously saved file from the chosen location. The fields Address and Stream in the Reckeen3D Configuration window will be then filled automatically with the data from the file. Confirm by clicking on the Ok button.

Now, you can start streaming by clicking on the Stream icon located on the production screen. When a need arises, you can always load the streaming settings from a file by clicking on the Import FMLE profile. To be able to watch your production live on the Internet, you just have to provide a user with a link Channel URL . The Link is located in section Channel info under Channel name.

Clicking on this link will open a website address along with a player’s window where you can watch this production.

Video program Streaming function

Streaming function allows you to send a broadcast signal over the Internet in the form of a data stream. With this feature, the program realized live immediately reaches all its viewers, even at distant locations in the world. The Reckeen 3D Studio system is a crucial link for this type of projects, as apart from creating a broadcast signal, it makes it available in the form of a data stream. With an appropriate software you can upload the stream to a server that supports streaming. The server allows you to make the signal
available to many viewers simultaneously. Watching such broadcast is possible on any device with a web browser, e.g. a PC or a tablet.

To carry out an internet broadcast you need to:

  • have a source signal – it is provided by the 3D Production module,
  • convert the signal to a format suitable to the capabilities of your Internet connection,
  • broadcast it on the web by clicking the Stream button.

To configure the streaming, open the configuration window with the Configure Streaming gear icon located next to the STREAM button. Then, set the data stream’s video and audio parameters. With that done, you can enter the individual address and the key you had obtained after registering at the chosen service enabling streaming, that is, allowing multiple users to view the material simultaneously.

Before you start streaming your program with the Reckeen3D system, you should check your internet connection. There are two basic definitions in the specification of an Internet connection, that is download speed (receiving the data) and upload speed (sending the data). You need to have an Internet connection with an appropriately high upload parameter, which on the market is usually much lower or at maximum at the same height as the download parameter.

Different suppliers, such as Ustream and YouTube, usually provide the parameters recommended to work with the system on their websites. But you have to take care of the state of your connection. Typically, if you want a video of an acceptable quality, the minimum recommended speed of sending the data (upload) is approximately 2 Mb/s.

In our application, we used the parameters ‘bitrate’ and ‘resolution’, that together define the quality of the broadcast image. The higher the bitrate set in the Reckeen3D system, the faster the Internet will be required. This Internet connection should be used only for streaming. In the case of a shared connection, other users may interfere with your transmission.

To find out whether your connection is sufficient, it is recommended to do a couple of tries before you start streaming your live image.

First, launch 3D PRODUCTION module in the Reckeen3D, then click on Options and then on Configuration and Streaming. Before you start your first broadcast, you should test all the Audio and Video Settings to check with which maximum quality you can stream using your Internet connection. Streaming bitrate cannot exceed the available bandwidth of transmission. What’s more, it should not be even close to that value. After checking, you should better add further 20% bandwidth as a safety margin. For example,
when you have an internet connection with the upload parameter of 2.5 Mb/s, it is recommended to set the bitrate to 2000 kbps and so on.

Providers make available on their websites the proper tools for testing the Internet connection. You can easily find them by typing in the search engine: ‘Ustream’s Network Test Tool’.

Remember that not all the connections are of the same quality and condition. For example, a wire connection is much better and more stable than a WIFI connection, which is more prone to fluctuations in quality and can be easily interrupted. When you have a shared connection, other users can disrupt the
broadcast.

For those less experienced, we recommend contacting the IT department of their company, as it may be necessary to open the network ports needed for broadcast (port 1935).

Still Grab function

This function enables capturing single frames from the PROGRAM screen image, with a possibility to save them to a file in PNG format.

Depending on your vision mixer’s (Production switcher’s) settings, it is possible to capture frames from both live broadcast of the program and the media sent to the broadcasting output.

Captured frames can be used as a material to create programs. Still/Grab will not only save the captured frame to a file on a disc, but it will also add it (or rather a shortcut to the file) to Still 1 and Still 2 media tray. With that, a captured frame is immediately ready to be used. You can use it directly on the vision or as one of the sources. (Below, you can see a picture with captured video frames: the system writes date and time in the name of the file and puts files shortcuts in tab 5)

Capture function – 4K recording

When you are recording in 4k format, a different bitrate is needed to obtain a recording quality similar to one in HD format. When the user is going to work in FULL HD resolution and sets a Custom slider (defined by the user) to the codec’s maximum value, e.g. 25000 kbps, afterwards saves such settings in a session file and loads such a session in 4k format, then the slider will also be set to the maximum value, but this time equal to 45000 kbps for the 4k format.

Using the 4k format you cannot record a file with MPEG codec. In the case of operating the Reckeen system with 2160p format, the H.264 video / AAC audio codec is available.

By clicking on the icon Configure Capturing ( with gears, on the right side of the icon Capture) , a window with Capture function configuration opens up.

Now, in the Format box, you can choose the type of the codec. The size of the files recorded on the hard drive can be controlled by the choice of compression. You can choose low, medium or high quality, or a quality defined by the user. In the first three cases, the system will automatically adjust the bitrate. Selecting a bitrate field allows you to set the desired value of the recorded file’s bitrate. In addition, it is possible to specify the location of the recorded file on your hard drive.

When all the parameters are set, close this window. To start recording simply click the Capture button, which will then change its color. To stop the recording, press the Capture button again. After recording is finished, a shortcut to the recorded video file will be added to tab 5 of Media 1 and Media 2 tray.

Capture function

The Reckeen 3D Studio system uses Intel Quick Sync Video technology, built into some of the Intel processors. This allows for hardware acceleration of a video stream encoding.

Capture function allows you to use the Reckeen 3D Studio system as a Video Recorder. It allows you to record the signal broadcasted by the system on the internal hard drive. The produced program on the air can simultaneously be saved to a file on the disk in *.mp4 format (codec H.264) or *.mpeg format (codec MPEG-2). The resolution and frame rate is chosen depending on the mode, in which the system output operates. On the right side of the Capture button, you can see an icon with gears for configuration of this function, a light indicating the recording, a recording timer (hours/minutes/seconds) and the amount of free disk space (in GB). When you start recording, the red light lights up and the Capture button is highlighted.

The Reckeen 3D Studio system supports the following image formats (codecs):

  • H.264 video / AAC audio
  • MPEG-2 video / mp3 Layer 2 audio

The list of formats supported by the aforementioned codecs:

  • 2160p30 / 29,97 / 25
  • 1080i60 / 59.94 / 50
  • 1080p60 / 59.94 / 50/30 / 29.97 / 25
  • 720p60 / 59.94 / 50

FX – VKEY-100 keyboard

We have prepared suitable buttons on the Vkey-100 keyboard. Their purpose is to indicate the transition’s type. It is possible to perform a transition in several ways using the Vkey-100 keyboard.

  • Manually using a T-bar handle.
  • By pressing TAKE button – starting an immediate transition.
  • By pressing AUTO button having MIX option button selected – starting a smooth transition with a programmed time.
  • By pressing AUTO button having FX option button selected – starting a smooth transition with a programmed time and an effect selected in the Production module.

If you press and hold FX button, 10 keys will light up in the PREVIEW section of the Vkey-100 keyboard. If, at the same time, you press one of those buttons, an effect from FAVORITES category will be selected.

FX – effect’s trigger

For your convenience, we have prepared a special trigger which allows you to choose your favorite effect without the need to search the database. Going to OPTIONS and CONFIGURATION menus, you come across TRIGGERS tab. It is possible to program 10 keys in the advanced mode there, e.g. F1 key. In the settings’ parameters you have to select whether a transition should be carried out in MIX mode (smoothly) or with FX effects. Choose a category of your interest and indicate a specific effect in the fields below.

You have to remember that this function’s purpose is to set a given effect in the Production module. After its execution, a corresponding effect’s thumbnail appears in the Production module, ready for use. In order to program both selection of the effect and immediately calling upon this transition effect, a second function under the name OUTPUT TRANSITION AUTO has to be added to the list. As a parameter, time of transition should be given, in seconds or in frames that depend on the system’s output format.

10 favorite buttons can be programmed this way. Then, by pressing one of them in the Production module, you can execute a transition between the Preview and the Program channel. Such programmed Trigger can be stored in the Production module’s session file.

FX – output transition

The Reckeen system’s production module comes with the main mixer that has buttons corresponding to full-screen views of the virtual studio VC (from 1 to 4), video content or graphic materials. Program channel is used for full-screen display of live material ready to be streamed to the end user. Preview channel serves as an aid in production and in preparation of materials before displaying them on the air. Two methods for changing these channels have been described so far, one via TAKE function – immediately – and the other
via AUTO with MIX function, which means smoothly. The following section introduces a new function called AUTO FX, that is special effects. The Reckeen system has a large database of ready-to-use effects divided into appropriate categories.

To select the desired effect, select FX button instead of MIX button in the Production module window, it will then light up in blue as in the image.

In fact, when you press AUTO button, you can execute a default transition effect displayed in the thumbnail above. The effect is depicted with two letters. Capital letter A represents a full-screen view before the start of transition, while capital letter B stands for the view after the transition is completed. To make identification of the effect easier, the thumbnails have been created for the moment the transition is halfway through. This effect can be seen when the transition’s T-bar is located half-way up its value.

In such moment, in the Program channel you can see a reflection of the currently set effect, e.g. Wipe 1.

After hovering the cursor over the thumbnail, the thumbnail’s animation starts showing an example of how the switch between the main mixer’s PROGRAM and PREVIEW channels will look like.

The effect’s reference number is displayed below the thumbnail, and its name comes after a colon. Each group of effects has its appropriate individual number range assigned. For example, WIPE effects start at 1, while SLIDE effects go from 100 and so on.

Here, you can also set a transition time between channel A and B using controls in TIME TRANSITION section. A transition time can be adjusted in seconds from 0 to 99 or in image frames that depend on the output format.

You can change the currently selected effect in several ways. The first one is by pressing a downward arrow which results in opening a new window.

After pressing the button, a new window opens showing the available database of transition effects. The last selected category opens as a first one. By default, this is FAVORITES category. You can find 10 items there that can be modified by assigning other effects at any time. As mentioned earlier, when you hover the mouse cursor over any thumbnail, an animation will start showing how the transition will behave, but not only that. After a while, a tooltip appears with a number and, after a colon, a name of the effect. With
a single click of the left mouse button you select an effect which will immediately replace the one in the Production module. All you need now is to press CLOSE button and close the window. Another way to choose an effect is simply to double click on the effect’s icon. The window will close automatically then.

Each effect has its own unique number, which can also be used for selecting the effect without the need to search the list. You need to enter the appropriate number (e.g. 258) in the EFFECT INDEX control field,
and press Enter to confirm the choice. Entering a value “000258” will confirm selection of the effect with a number 258.

In the Group drop-down list you can find a database of categories corresponding to individual effects (WIPES, SLIDES, ALPHA WIPES, ALPHA SLIDES, etc.). To select an effect, just press the left mouse button.
To add the selected effect to FAVORITES group, you have to bring up a menu with a right-click and indicate a target position in the category.

In the Reckeen 3D Studio system, you can adjust the following input channels:

  • Cam 1 Input, the signal received from the first card input,
  • Cam 2 Input, the signal received from the second card input,
  • Cam 3 Input, the signal received from the third card input,
  • Cam 4 Input, the signal received from the fourth card input,
  • Line In 1 (XLR); the signal received from the front audio panel,
  • Line In 2 ( Jack 6,3 mm); the signal received from the front audio panel,
  • MIC – signal from microphone ( Jack 6,3mm ) the signal received from the front audio panel,
  • Media 1 – input channel of video files played back by a virtual player supported by a media tray – Media 1 tab
  • Media 2 – input channel of video files played back by a virtual player supported by a media tray -Media 2 tab
  • Sound – input channel coming from sound files played back by a virtual player and being placed in the Sound tab,
  • Master Out – adjusting the main signal level for audio output. For better operation, the Master Out indicator is also included in the audio input tab.

Sound mixer – sound tab

In the Sound tab, you can store shortcuts to audio files previously added to the hard drive, just as in the media tray.

Click on the icon Add (with small plus sign) to browse your local hard drive and add sound files.

Supported audio file formats: .wav and .mp3

In the mixer, you can add music played in the player to an audio track and adjust its volume with a Soundslider.

Sound mixer – AUDIO BOX ADB-100

If you connect an additional ADB-100 device to Audio Link connector, you can expand the Reckeen system adding additional inputs and outputs:

  • two digital inputs on XLR connector (AB Digital 1, AB Digital 2)
  • two analog inputs on XLR connector (AB Line In 1 stereo, AB Line In 2 stereo)
  • microphone input for dynamic and condenser microphone
  • two digital outputs on XLR connector
  • two analog outputs on XLR connector (stereo output 1, stereo output 2)
  • stereo headphone output

Warning ! It is recommended not to connect or disconnect a microphone to the ADB-100 during the time the red LED is lit up. You can safely connect a microphone only in None mode.

An additional ADB-100 tab appears automatically after connecting the device to power supply and communication cable.

A sound from system’s MASTER OUT is always supported on the digital outputs: AB Digital 1 and AB Digital 2 and on the analogue outputs: AB Line 1 and AB Line 1.

When you set a headphone source with a drop down list, you set it jointly for AUDIO Panel and AUDIO BOX headphone outputs.

You can adjust the sound in the range of -40 to +10 dB, where the 0 level (AB Line In 1, AB Line In 2) corresponds to -10 dBV (-7.8 dBu or 0.316 V RMS) in the case of a consumer level, or 4dBu (1.78 dBV or =1.23 volts RMS) in the case of a professional level analog inputs/outputs on ADB -100 panel. It depends on audio level settings in Configuration Window: Audio Tab.

In the case of digital Audio input /output (AB Digital 1,2), 0 level corresponds to -20dBFs.

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