I know poor SM was really struggling with the audio levels at WDW - one minute you're out in the open and it's fine, and the next on a noisy monorail where it was vastly oversaturated.

I think an external mic would be the best option, then (I think) the level could be controlled "on the fly" via the Windows Recording Volume Control panel, even while streaming. What streaming system were you using SM, just the standard ustream web panel, or FME?

Andre

I think there are a lot of variables when streaming that can affect both video and audio - each of these are no doubt compounded when you are out in the field moving about.

I imagine that that only way to limit those issues is through extensive testing - doing it over and over until you have a tried and proven method. This method may very well be different for each user since equipment (computer, cams, mics, connections,etc) will vary from user to user.

When I was streaming I was experiencing audio issues as well - I actually ordered an external mic online and had it delivered to my room the 3rd or 4th day of my trip to try and see if that would help - it did assist a little, but didnt solve everything. I couldnt for certain say it was the settings or if wind was getting into the balcony area and causing issues - the cam/mic were set up right off the lake so wind/breeze was constantly flowing toward the equipment.

Maybe we should set up some testing sessions where the streamer can adust each parameter on the fly until the best result is achieved - those settings could then be recorded and passed along to the next test session to see if the results can be duplicated by another streamer - then we might be able to dial in the preferred settings that will work on the greatest number of setups/situations.

I know Mike has done quite a bit of testing with his system but I havent seen his exact settings - might be good to see if those settings would also work for others.

I don't think we're ever going to get exact settings as everyone's equipment will vary. You're right about wind noise though, I had the same issue at POR and plan to take some nice fluffy foam with me next time.

Audio-wise, especially when roaming, I think the real trick is going to be to have on-the-fly volume adjustment available (SM: maybe headphones might help in setting the levels? Or perhaps there's some freeware around which will give you VU meters on-screen to help see when it's clipping?)

The biggest question that I can't seem to work out an answer to is the blocky pixelisation that happens on some feeds and not others. I'm sure you've noticed a permanent lattice of squares (about 10 pixels across) which make up some streams but not others (SM's streams are perfect, for example, no blockiness at all).

Andre

The biggest question that I can't seem to work out an answer to is the blocky pixelisation that happens on some feeds and not others. I'm sure you've noticed a permanent lattice of squares (about 10 pixels across) which make up some streams but not others (SM's streams are perfect, for example, no blockiness at all).

I have seen what you are talking about ... I think that could have to do a few different things - maybe its the camera, the computer processor/video card etc and/or the connection - could also be the ziplock baggies that some use distorting the input ... or a combination of any.

Yesterday (Saturday) was really my testing day and these are my results:

1. The integrated mic on the webcams are worthless when it comes to loud noises such as fireworks. Logitech webcams with "Right Sound" technology are great for voice but not for loud noises, the sound blows out and gargles.

2. FME + External Mic - FME is awesome when it comes to video compression, basically sends Ustream a signal ready to broadcast, it does a great job with audio also. But, once you have set the levels on FME and started it, the audio levels cannot be changed, I even tried making the changes within Windows Recording Levels Control and did not affect FME. It's ok when you are talking or streaming something with a constant audio level, but not when you are streaming fireworks with very loud momentary sounds.

3. Ustream Plug-in for IE + Vista + External Mic - For this plugin to work you have to have Vista and IE. Works great, the last two videos I streamed of the Osborne Lights came out great and with great sound. For some reason I could not get it to work yesterday, it would not let me adjust the sound level on the Ustream Broadcast window as it did during the Osborne Lights. Will have to maybe reinstall IE and see if it works.

4. Ustream Broadcast Window + External Mic - This is the normal method, the Broadcast window sends the signal to Ustream, Ustream processes it and broadcasts it. This method is supposed to give the lowest quality results. But, since the IE plugin was not working for me yesterday, this is the method I used to stream and record Wishes and SpectroMagic with great results, video looked great and I was able to adjust the audio on-the-fly through the Ustream Broadcast panel. Ustream must have made upgrades/modifications to their processing engines because it looked great. It also helps to start with a good webcam with a glass lens or a DV camcorder which sends a digital signal to the laptop.

My conclusions:
- I will continue using an external mic.
- Continue using the Ustream Broadcast panel until I can figure out what is wrong with my IE plugin, once I figure it out I will start using it.
- If I can figure out how to manipulate the audio levels with FME on-the-fly after FME is started, I will start using it when convenient.

Lots of great info there.

The camcorder/firewire option has been intriguing me for a while, as even a fairly basic camcorder will probably walk all over the quality of even the best of the domestic webcams around - plus it will have a decent zoom, auto exposure and auto audio level. The only downside is the cheaper (non-HD) ones will only output interlaced (PAL/NTSC) images rather than progressive, which might cause issues. Might be worth an experiment sometime, anyway - and it also might look less obvious to security, as they are used to people walking around with camcorders.

Andre

Very good point Andre. I bought a mesh backpack (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4304293) a few months ago, I could put the laptop there and not worry about it heating up and just have the camcorder in hand with the firewire or usb cable. Good thought.


Might be worth an experiment sometime, anyway - and it also might look less obvious to security, as they are used to people walking around with camcorders.

Andre

Very good point Andre. I bought a mesh backpack (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4304293) a few months ago, I could put the laptop there and not worry about it heating up and just have the camcorder in hand with the firewire or usb cable. Good thought.

You might even get away with some of the stage shows that way - any of the ones where videoing is allowed, anyway. Will the laptop object to being carried around in a backpack while switched on?

Andre

As long as you change the settings in the Power Options for it to stay on when you close the lid and provide air circulation, hence the mesh backpack or leaving the top open, it will be fine.

Will the laptop object to being carried around in a backpack while switched on?

Andre

As long as you change the settings in the Power Options for it to stay on when you close the lid.

I always prefer laptops that way - I figure that there's this nice little 'power' button (and a 'sleep' button too) so I can pretty easily press those if I want to turn it off. Most laptops will still automatically screen-off-on-lidshut to save power though, which is fine.

In your case, best to turn auto-hibernate-after 5mins-inactivity off too. :)

Andre

We had the same issues with audio and found an external mic does work best, though we haven't been able to test it at WDW yet. We got a UMPC with a touch screen for two reasons - size/portability and the fact that we can adjust settings quickly and put it away without having to open lids and such. We also found a bag with an extra pocket that allows us to put in a frozen pad behind the machine. The UMPC is on the outside with air circ, and the frozen pad provides enough cooling on the other side to keep it within functioning range. Even with air circ, we found it got hot quickly, especially in summer, to the point we were concerned.

We also found a bag with an extra pocket that allows us to put in a frozen pad behind the machine.

You just have to tell me where you found it! I have a Dell 13 that would like to be able to find a more convenient bag to carry around on my back while walking around and streaming.

TivoGirl What type of UMPC did you go with. This is also what I'm looking at right now as I want to be mobile and think a flip open will not work for me.

TIA

Disney World is a audio nightmare. And indeed, most built in mics are not designed to deal with loud noises. Here are a few things to keep in mind while attempting to resolve this issue.

A. A microphone's ability to handle loud noises ( also known as "sound pressure" ) is directly proportional to the diaphram of the microphone. The larger the mic diaphram, the better it will handle loud noises and pops ( like fireworks ).

B. Sound pressure means just that. It's physical pressure and can be handled by minimizeing the amount of pressure reaching the mic. This can be done by putting a piece of accustic foam over the front of the mic to reduce the pressure reaching it.

I think the bottom line is that a larger pro mic could solve these problems. Most pro mics will also have the foam built into the head of the mic to stop wind pop.
The problem with a pro mic will be the plug size ( 1/4 inch jack ) that will need to be adapted to a 1/8 inch jack for PC. Then the size of the mic will be MUCH larger and not so easy to hide. Also the cost will be much higher than a PC mic.

As a side note, many sound cards in laptops have settings and filters you can enable. Filters like "Noise reduction" and "auto volume leveling" can help a great deal !

As a side note, many sound cards in laptops have settings and filters you can enable. Filters like "Noise reduction" and "auto volume leveling" can help a great deal !

I agree with everything, but one note about the "auto volume leveling". I tried to use it during the afternoon parade at MK, and since there are so many changes in volume level during the parade, the audio came out "wobbly", every few seconds there was an adjustment and it distorted too much.

Agree with the mic size recommendation, I will look for a larger mic and see the results.

If you use a mic with a 1/4" jack plug, I'd suggest using a short adaptor CABLE rather than an in-line adaptor plug (or just rewire the plug). Having a double-stacked plug hanging out of the 3.5mm jack port on a laptop is just asking for trouble. Watch out for stereo vs. mono connectors too.

Andre

Sorry it took so long to respond! I have to set up subscriptions to my threads here.

You just have to tell me where you found it! I have a Dell 13 that would like to be able to find a more convenient bag to carry around on my back while walking around and streaming.

We found our bag at Shapiro. It's about 10 inches tall and 8 wide with tons of pockets and flaps. I believe it was about $30.


TivoGirl What type of UMPC did you go with. This is also what I'm looking at right now as I want to be mobile and think a flip open will not work for me.

TIA


We tried a few different ones but eventually settled on a Samsung Q1U. It's one of the older models with more button controls, but we do sorely miss the keyboard when attempting to chat back to the viewers. It does have an on-screen tap typing app that works OK and it has an extra USB so we can plug in a keyboard if we're stationary for a while.

We made sure to get one with beefed up RAM and XP rather than Vista - our first machine had Vista and it was SO dog slow on its own that it was practically unusable when we started video. We also needed at least two USB ports as we tether to DH's phone for our internet connection and use the Logitech 9000 cam. We use the OrbitCam in the room.

DH did just get a Dell Mini 9 that we may play with on our next trip. It does have a lid, which we were trying to avoid, but it's so small, light and has a full keyboard.

I think the bottom line is that a larger pro mic could solve these problems. Most pro mics will also have the foam built into the head of the mic to stop wind pop.
The problem with a pro mic will be the plug size ( 1/4 inch jack ) that will need to be adapted to a 1/8 inch jack for PC. Then the size of the mic will be MUCH larger and not so easy to hide. Also the cost will be much higher than a PC mic.


I deal with video and audio in my daily job - just finished a week and a half filming Sundance interviews and atmosphere stuff very much on the go. A pro mic doesn't have to be large, it just has to be built well. The problem is, small + crappy = cheap; large + good = cheap; small + good = not cheap. After going through several types of mics in our operation and dealing with essentially zero budget, we found that the minimum threshold for our use is about a $200 microphone. Now we use those with a 1/8 or full audio board plug and use adapters when we need to. We also use a lot of wireless mics.

The good news is, for this application, if you have enough USB ports you can get a really nice sounding USB mic that is small enough to be clipped to a laptop, a bag/case or even a lapel for not too much money. Thanks to the podcasting market, these are now readily available. Problem is, once you use one USB for a cam and one for the cell connection, most small laptops or UMPCs are tapped out on ports. And no, you can't use a hub for a mic unless you have a powered hub - which you can't use on the go.

Thanks TivoG

I ended up going with the Sony ux280p . I see what you mean by the only one Usb Port for mobile. This does limit me from tethering. But I tested it tonight with using Bluetooth for the connection and it went well.

I also agree with the XP that was a must for me I really dislike Vista and only have it on one of our 5 computers now. Thats DDs computer so she can deal with it lol

I haven't even got into the Mics yet but have one that seems OK on my Desktop that I never use , one built into the UMPC and then the one on the 9000 so I do have options right now.

Thanks for getting back

I had nothing personal against Vista (though I'm a Mac user, so I kind of do), it's just a resource hog! Any machine beefed up enough to run it didn't have anything left over for anything else.