Live-Stream/Video Tech

For our live-streaming and video recording, we use a variety of different pieces of equipment, including hard-wired cameras routed with HDMI cables to our "Atem Mini Extreme" video switcher, and a separate video encoder called the "Boxcaster Pro." The Atem Mini serves as a video switcher, allowing us to switch views from camera to camera, including our projector's video feed for the worship lyrics projected during service. Think of the main output of the Atem Mini as the program that viewers are watching online or on the large screen TV on the patio. 


The "Boxcaster Pro"  takes the program from the Atem Mini and encodes it so it can be uploaded to the internet.  The Boxcaster Pro has a touchscreen that allows you to monitor the video and audio of the live program as it's being uploaded to the internet via an iPhone hotspot.


To assist in the set-up of cameras, we've incorporated a wireless display output from the Atem Mini to an iPad. This allows you to see all of the camera views on the iPad to help compare camera angles, focus, and settings. The wireless out is sent via a "Hollyland" transmitter.  


Below you will find tutorials for specific equipment and operating instructions. Any of the "101" tutorials are intended to teach you the absolute basics of what you need to know in a pinch, such as when you're asked to fill in at the live-stream desk. These are a great place to start.  The additional tutorials will give you greater understanding and confidence in operating the systems that are in place. 


The bold video titles below are our own tutorials with specific information on how we use the following equipment. Think of bold titles as essential tutorials. The non-bold titles are manufacturer videos that are helpful in understanding the bigger picture of how the equipment works, but not necessary for operating our equipment. 


With our 2023 video equipment upgrade, some of the videos below may have references to our older equipment. Look at the tutorial descriptions for any references to older equipment you can now ignore. This will mostly apply to the Boxcaster Pro videos. 

These videos go over the specific procedures and equipment used by the video tech. 


Boxcaster Pro

We use the Boxcaster Pro as our encoder to upload the livestream program to the internet. This encoder allows us to encode using HEVC compression which requires half as much data as other encoders while providing superior audio and video quality.  We connect the Boxcaster online via a wi-fi connection to one of our two iPhones (Rich's iPhone, or Anne's iPhone). Below are links to tutorials for the Boxcaster Pro.


Overview video of the Boxcaster Pro


Boxcaster Pro User Interface


Understanding the Color Ring Lights


Configuring Wi-Fi for an iPhone (1x only)


Using Boxcaster Pro (a CCFP tutorial)


Connecting to Wi-Fi (a CCFP tutorial)


Troubleshooting the orange "lost HDMI signal" error. (a CCFP tutorial)


A few tips: 

The Boxcaster does not have an on/off feature. When it's plugged in, it's on. To turn it off, you need to unplug it. The power plug is a threaded cable to prevent it from accidentally being pulled out.


Wi-fi connections (in our case, iPhone hot  spots) must be preconfigured. Both iPhones have been pre-configured to work.


The easiest way to connect an iPhone to the Boxcaster is to have the unit powered off/unplugged. Turn on the iPhone hotspot. Plug in the Boxcaster. It will typically recognize a preconfigured IPhone hotspot upon start up.


The Boxcaster Pro can not start or end a broadcast, but will show the countdown of a prescheduled broadcast. To stop a broadcast before it's scheduled end time, the broadcast must be ended using the Broadcaster app on the other iPhone (not being  used as a hot spot.) 

Broadcaster App

The Broadcaster app allows a scheduled broadcast to be stopped, using the app on the iPhone that is not being used as a hot spot.


The Broadcaster app can also start a broadcast "on the fly" should it be needed. 

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