Hi, sorry if this was discussed before, but I couldn't find exactly what I need in older posts.
Basically I need advises and impressions from people who used the ATEM studio/camera converter system, before we spent money on it. I also need advises on how the system works.
First, here is what I have to do. I have to do small mobile broadcasting system with ATEM TV studio switcher, 3 cameras and other devices. The initial plan was to use 3 100 meter BELDEN coaxial cables (can't remember the model, but I have it somewhere) for SDI signal and additional cables for the intercom system. Now my bosses want longer cables, like 200 or 300 meter but I'm sure coaxial SDI won't work with such a length. The proper solution is optical fiber, but I don't have much experience with that.
- So, will this work: 3 cameras (SDI out) go to 3 camera converters. I already have some optical fiber cables with 4 LC connectors on each side. I don't know what I need them for - I see the Camera and the studio converter need only 2. On the other side of the fiber cables I will put ATEM studio converter. 3 SDI OUTs of the studio converter go to 3 SDI INs of the ATEM switcher. 3 of the program OUTs of the switcher go to 3 of the SDI INs of the studio converter. Is that right?
- Intercom and additional audio. I see I can use intercom headset on every camera (connected to the camera converter) and I can use headset connected to the studio converter. Does this mean the audio of the intercom won't interfere with the embedded audio coming from the camera? (for example the onboard microphone). I may need the audio from the camera for my broadcast and I definitely don't need the voices of the camera operators.
- Battery life. Most of the events we're doing are less than 3 hours. However, sometimes we do really long events (like 8-10 hours). Will the battery of the camera converter last for so long? And if I use the whole capacity of the battery, how long does it need to recharge after that?
- Overheating. I read review somewhere that the Camera Converter overheats after few hours and stops working until it's cool. Any experience with that? Does it happen with battery only or all the time?
- Reliability. Can I trust this system? Can I trust it won't fail me during important event?
- Reliability and safety of optical fiber cables. I think they are more sensitive than the coaxial cables, am I right? Usually, when I have to deal with optical fiber cables, it is with really short length and usually I can use cable defenders or route where no one will step on them or drive over them.
- Of course it depends what optical cable do you use. Sometimes I work for rental company (with mobile TV studio and equipment). Once we had to use long optical cable for one of the cameras - it was like 1 kilometer. The cable had to go around few streets, but there were no cars, only pedestrians. The cable looks tough, but the engineer of the company prefers to use coaxial SDI for shorter lengths. I'll tell you what I already have (not for the rental company) and maybe you can tell me if it is ok, because I'm planning to get more. We have one reel of optical cable. The guys who made it for us, made the same for most of the big TVs in my country. With the same purpose. We have one reel with 80 meter optical fiber cable 4F ARM G657 FR PVC Black (that is what's written on the bill about the cable). The cable looks tougher and harder than the ones I usually use. On one side of the cable we have 4 LC connectors. On the other side (the reel) the cable goes in small box, mounted on the reel. The box has 4 SC connectors, We also have 4 small and thin optical cables - SC connectors on one side (they go in the box) and LC on the other (they should go in the studio converter I guess).
- I still wonder why do we have 4 fibres and 4 connectors on each side. The ATEM Studio/Camera converter system needs only 2 fibers for every camera, right? One fiber sends the signal from the camera (video, embedded audio, voice of the operator) and the other sends the signal from the side of the swtcher - feedback video, intercom (voice of the director). Right?
That's all for now.
The post became quite long, so thanks for your time and thanks in advance for any information and advises.
Basically I need advises and impressions from people who used the ATEM studio/camera converter system, before we spent money on it. I also need advises on how the system works.
First, here is what I have to do. I have to do small mobile broadcasting system with ATEM TV studio switcher, 3 cameras and other devices. The initial plan was to use 3 100 meter BELDEN coaxial cables (can't remember the model, but I have it somewhere) for SDI signal and additional cables for the intercom system. Now my bosses want longer cables, like 200 or 300 meter but I'm sure coaxial SDI won't work with such a length. The proper solution is optical fiber, but I don't have much experience with that.
- So, will this work: 3 cameras (SDI out) go to 3 camera converters. I already have some optical fiber cables with 4 LC connectors on each side. I don't know what I need them for - I see the Camera and the studio converter need only 2. On the other side of the fiber cables I will put ATEM studio converter. 3 SDI OUTs of the studio converter go to 3 SDI INs of the ATEM switcher. 3 of the program OUTs of the switcher go to 3 of the SDI INs of the studio converter. Is that right?
- Intercom and additional audio. I see I can use intercom headset on every camera (connected to the camera converter) and I can use headset connected to the studio converter. Does this mean the audio of the intercom won't interfere with the embedded audio coming from the camera? (for example the onboard microphone). I may need the audio from the camera for my broadcast and I definitely don't need the voices of the camera operators.
- Battery life. Most of the events we're doing are less than 3 hours. However, sometimes we do really long events (like 8-10 hours). Will the battery of the camera converter last for so long? And if I use the whole capacity of the battery, how long does it need to recharge after that?
- Overheating. I read review somewhere that the Camera Converter overheats after few hours and stops working until it's cool. Any experience with that? Does it happen with battery only or all the time?
- Reliability. Can I trust this system? Can I trust it won't fail me during important event?
- Reliability and safety of optical fiber cables. I think they are more sensitive than the coaxial cables, am I right? Usually, when I have to deal with optical fiber cables, it is with really short length and usually I can use cable defenders or route where no one will step on them or drive over them.
- Of course it depends what optical cable do you use. Sometimes I work for rental company (with mobile TV studio and equipment). Once we had to use long optical cable for one of the cameras - it was like 1 kilometer. The cable had to go around few streets, but there were no cars, only pedestrians. The cable looks tough, but the engineer of the company prefers to use coaxial SDI for shorter lengths. I'll tell you what I already have (not for the rental company) and maybe you can tell me if it is ok, because I'm planning to get more. We have one reel of optical cable. The guys who made it for us, made the same for most of the big TVs in my country. With the same purpose. We have one reel with 80 meter optical fiber cable 4F ARM G657 FR PVC Black (that is what's written on the bill about the cable). The cable looks tougher and harder than the ones I usually use. On one side of the cable we have 4 LC connectors. On the other side (the reel) the cable goes in small box, mounted on the reel. The box has 4 SC connectors, We also have 4 small and thin optical cables - SC connectors on one side (they go in the box) and LC on the other (they should go in the studio converter I guess).
- I still wonder why do we have 4 fibres and 4 connectors on each side. The ATEM Studio/Camera converter system needs only 2 fibers for every camera, right? One fiber sends the signal from the camera (video, embedded audio, voice of the operator) and the other sends the signal from the side of the swtcher - feedback video, intercom (voice of the director). Right?
That's all for now.
The post became quite long, so thanks for your time and thanks in advance for any information and advises.