Unlocking the Power of 4K60: Why It Matters and How We’re Making It Work
Written by Paul Richards on January 3, 2025
StreamGeeks January 2025 Newsletter
Happy New Year, StreamGeeks! As we dive into 2025, let’s talk about the game-changing power of 4K60 video production. The clarity, flexibility, and professional polish it provides are unmatched. Whether you’re live-streaming tutorials, coaching sports teams, or capturing unforgettable events, 4K60 is rapidly becoming the new standard. Here’s what we’ve learned and how we’re embracing this shift.
The Value of 4K60: Insights from the Central Control Team
Our friend Joe De Max at Central Control shares that every piece of content they’ve created over the past year and a half has been recorded live to tape in 4K60 using vMix. Why? Because the clarity it provides—especially for Picture-in-Picture effects—ensures every screen detail, including text, is crystal clear.
But achieving this level of production hasn’t been easy. The challenge lies in the hardware. PCI-e bandwidth limitations on consumer-grade CPUs and GPUs can cause bottlenecks, particularly when using multiple capture cards like Blackmagic Decklink. Joe’s solution? A powerhouse AMD Threadripper 7970x with 48 PCI-e lanes, paired with an NVIDIA 4080 RTX and 128GB of RAM. This setup handles multiple 4K60 inputs, ISO recordings, and program outputs without breaking a sweat.
This level of production is a testament to how far 4K60 can take your projects. Check out Central Control’s latest tutorials to see it in action—spoiler alert: they’re stunning!
PTZOptics Move 4K60 Sports Camera
Why Video is Vital for Sports Coaching
In sports, video is more than a tool—it’s a coach’s secret weapon. It enables reflection, discussion, and visualization, helping athletes turn data into actionable wisdom. From analyzing team formations with wide-angle shots to zooming in on specific plays, 4K60’s clarity elevates sports analysis to new heights.
The demand for 4K video in sports is growing, and we believe it’s a must-have for any coach looking to give their team an edge. Are you incorporating 4K video into your coaching strategy? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
Studio 4K PTZOptics
Our Journey into 4K60 Production
We’re excited to share that we’ve officially taken the plunge into 4K60 production. Our new i9 Lenovo Legion Laptop with NVIDIA 4090 graphics and 64GB of RAM has passed all our tests with flying colors. This beast of a machine lets us ISO-record up to four cameras in 4K60 while simultaneously streaming and recording programs. And yes, it’s portable enough to take on-site for live sports productions.
We’re also exploring new workflows to handle the high processing demands of 4K60. By leveraging NDI, we can distribute tasks across two computers—one for production and another for recording and streaming. This strategy mirrors the approach used by top-tier online gamers and ensures that our studio is ready for the future.
StreamGeeks 5090 Production
The Future of 4K60: Challenges and Opportunities
Producing in 4K60 has its hurdles, from hardware limitations to bandwidth requirements. But with the rapid pace of innovation—hello, NVIDIA 5090—we’re optimistic. Could cloud-based solutions further streamline 4K60 workflows? Time will tell.
Are you considering 4K60 for your productions or your clients? What challenges or successes have you experienced? Share your thoughts with us—we’d love to feature your insights in future newsletters.
2025: A Year of Stunning Clarity
At StreamGeeks, we’re committed to pushing the boundaries of live video production. With 4K60 as our goal, we’re excited to bring you sharper, more vibrant content than ever before. Here’s to a year of innovation, creativity, and community!
Let us know what you think about 4K60 and how it’s shaping your projects. Your input helps us grow together.
Until next time,
Paul and the StreamGeeks Team
