Live Streaming with Tricaster
Checklist for Live Streaming with Tricaster
* IMPORTANT NOTE: When using the Tricaster, DO NOT accept any prompts on screen to update or restore the device to previous versions. IGNORE THESE PROMPTS.
Needed Equipment/Resources:
- Tricaster kit.
- Monitor for directing/switching.
- A laptop for starting/ending the YouTube stream.
- A second laptop or phone if you wish to monitor the stream from a viewer's perspective.
- An external hard drive and USB-A cable for recording purposes.
-Cameras (SDI connectivity required).
- SDI cables (length is dependent on the camera positions), power strips (at least 1).
- A YouTube channel that's equipped to live stream, the Stream Key, and stream URL. For a guide on how to schedule a YouTube live-stream and obtain the Stream Key and Stream URL, click here: https://endicott.freshservice.com/a/solutions/articles/10000086387.
Plugging Everything In:
- Lay the travel case down flat before opening.
- Remove the Tricaster, control surface, keyboard/mouse, and all cables.
- You will find the cables and equipment are labeled with colored tape. Match up the colors when plugging everything in.
Color Guide
Blue: Wired mouse and keyboard into the back of the Tricaster.
Yellow: Control surface into the back of the Tricaster with a USB cable.
Pink: Power supply from an outlet into the back of the Tricaster.
Orange: HDMI cable from the monitor into the back of the Tricaster using the provided adapter.
Green: Power supply from an outlet into the back of the monitor.
- An external hard drive for recording purposes can be plugged into any of the open USB ports that aren't labeled with tape.
- A network cable will need to be plugged into any of the two open network ports on the back of the Tricaster.
- Cameras get plugged into any of the 4 Video In ports on the front side of the Tricaster with SDI cables.
- At the camera, plug the other end of the SDI cable into the SDI Out port.
- To turn the Tricaster on, press the round power button once on the front side of the device (this is located above the Video In ports).
* IMPORTANT NOTE: When using the Tricaster, DO NOT accept any prompts on screen to update or restore the device to previous versions. IGNORE THESE PROMPTS.
Launching Into a Show in the Tricaster:
- Once the Tricaster is powered on, you will be prompted with the option to launch into the Tricaster software, or to restore the device to a previous version.
* IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT accept any prompts on the screen to update or restore the device to previous versions. IGNORE THESE PROMPTS.
- Once the software opens, select Open Session.
- All pre-saved shows will now be displayed on the right side of the screen. Select the show you want to use. You will have the option to create a new show if you would like.
- Once ready, select Start Live Production.
Camera Set-up:
* The below camera settings are required to send the video feed to the Tricaster:
- On the camera press the Menu button.
- Select SYSTEM MODE and make sure the settings are as follows:
SYSTEM FREQ 59.94Hz
OUTPUT BITS 4:2:2 (8bit)
REC MODE MP4
REC FORMAT UDH 2160/59.94p 150M
- Now select OUTPUT SETUP and make sure the settings are as follows:
OUTPUT SEL SDI
RESOLUTION 1080i
Setting-up Audio on the Camera End:
- Plug the camera that will be providing the audio feed into Input 2 in the Tricaster.
- The audio source will be directed into the camera's Audio Input 1 port through an XLR cable.
* IMPORTANT NOTE: On the camera being used for audio, only Audio Input 1 will be used. Therefore, on the left side of the camera body, sing the physical switches and volume knobs:
- Set CH2 Select to INPUT 1
- Adjust both volume knobs to the same level (whenever changes are made to 1 knob, repeat those changes to the other knob).
Audio Settings in the Tricaster:
* IMPORTANT NOTE: The Tricaster will already be set up with the proper audio settings for a 2 to 3 camera shoot. So, these settings won't need to be changed unless you're using a different number of cameras.
- Once loaded into a show, select AUDIO MIXER towards the bottom left side of the screen. You will now see INPUTS 1-8 being displayed.
- Mute all inputs that are not being used by clicking the microphone image once. You will know it's muted when an X appears next to the image.
- For the inputs you're using, hover the mouse over the text that says INPUT 1, INPUT 2, etc. Once the gear icon appears, select it with the mouse.
- In the INPUT SETTINGS, underneath Connection, there will be 2 boxes with drop down arrows. Select the box on the left side.
- This is where you want to select the input for the camera that is providing the audio feed. For example: if you have a 3 camera shoot, and the audio is being fed through camera #2 which is plugged into Input 2 on the Tricaster, you want to select "Local" and then "Input 2" as your audio source. You want to do this for all inputs being used so the audio only comes from that one camera even when you switch to a different camera.
- You can then adjust audio levels as necessary.
Record Settings in the Tricaster:
- To record your show, you will need to plug in an external hard drive to any of the non-labeled USB ports in the back of the Tricaster.
- To save a copy of the Program (exactly what is seen on the viewer's end), hover the cursor over the PROGRAM box. Select the gear icon that appears in the lower right side of the box.
- Select the "Record" tab along the top of the window that appears.
- Make sure "Record MIX 1" has a check mark next to it.
- Where it says "File Name" you can enter the name you want to give your file.
- Where it says "Path," select the 3 dots to the right. This will allow you to select your external hard drive as the destination for your file.
- Once done, click the "Close" button at the bottom right of the window.
- When you're ready to begin recording your program, click the RECORD / REPLAY button along the top of the page. When it turns the color red, that indicates it is recording.
- To stop recording, press the RECORD / REPLAY button again.
* IMPORTANT NOTE: Large recordings may need more time to fully process the recording. DO NOT press the RECORD button again or immediately turn off the Tricaster. Allow the device to finish processing the recording and then the red color will eventually turn off.
Stream Settings in the Tricaster:
* IMPORTANT NOTE: If you use any of the preset stream settings, DO NOT delete any usernames or passwords that have previously been entered.
- To set-up your own stream settings, click on the gear icon to the right of where it says STREAM / ENCODE along the top of the screen.
- If you are not using one of the preset streams, you can create a new one. Just make sure that new one is selected when it comes time to go live.
- When setting this up, you will need to enter the Server Address and Stream ID that is provided by YouTube after you schedule your live stream.
- Once done, click the "Close" button at the bottom right of the window.
- When you're ready to begin sending the audio/video feed to YouTube, click the STREAM / ENCODE button. When it turns the color blue, that indicates YouTube should be receiving your feed.
- To stop sending the feed, press the STREAM / ENCODE button again.
Shutting Down the Tricaster:
- Once your production is over, make sure the RECORD and STREAM buttons along the top of the screen have been turned off.
- When ready to turn off the Tricaster, click "File" in the upper left corner of the screen.
- Then click "Exit." It'll ask "Are you sure that you want to exit?" Click "Exit" again.
- On the next screen, click the arrow on the left side of the screen to go back to the Home Screen.
- Click "Shutdown." You will then have to click "Shutdown Tricaster" 2 more times to confirm the action.
- Once the Tricaster is fully powered of, begin unplugging the cables and other pieces of equipment. Place the equipment and coiled cables back into the travel case in the appropriate locations. Make sure the latches on the case are fully shut before leaning the case upright to avoid equipment falling out.