From Classroom to Cloud: September StreamGeeks Newsletter

The streaming and broadcast industry is evolving rapidly, and with it, the opportunities to impact our communities and businesses. From launching our first-ever StreamGeek Academy to unveiling cutting-edge technology at major trade shows, September is a month full of exciting advancements. Here’s what’s on the horizon:

StreamGeek Academy

We’re thrilled to announce the opening of the first StreamGeek Academy on September 9th in Tilghman Island, MD. This Academy features a specialized computer lab to teach students the ins and outs of broadcasting. The hands-on experience gained here will empower students to volunteer in their communities and livestream events like worship services, school sports, and graduations. Our goal is to cultivate the next generation of broadcasters who can harness the power of live streaming to connect people and create meaningful content.

One of the first decisions we made was to select open-source software to provide students with accessible and cost-effective tools for video production. We chose OBS for production, Krita for digital media editing, OpenShot for post-production, and Audacity for audio. Next, we tested out several Windows laptops, to determine what specs we needed for the students to have a smooth experience. We tested Chromebooks and all-in-one tablets but kept coming back to good old-fashioned Windows PCs, which will provide the students with experience they can use in the job market.

Once the laptops were all set up, we upgraded the router, with a Netgear Nighthawk that supports WiFi 6. This was crucial to support fast network speeds and accommodate multiple simultaneous device connections, along with router-level security and user management. We plan to use NDI HX (High Efficiency) video on the network and WiFi 6 seems up to the task for much of what we plan to do.

We have also created a comprehensive curriculum tailored to the needs of modern broadcast clubs. The curriculum encompassed everything from basic video production techniques to advanced broadcasting tactics, ensuring participants could build a solid foundation and gradually advance their skills.

Also, I can’t forget about the two studios we built. The first is in the kitchen on the first floor of our location. The second studio is a more traditional green screen studio, where we painted the room black and put a confidence monitor on the wall. Everything has been documented and kept up to date at https://www.StreamGeeks.academy.

The first class starts September 9th, and we look forward to seeing the academy grow and adapt to the modern world!

Visit Us at IBC to See the Future

The International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2024 is right around the corner, and we couldn’t be more excited. Visit PTZOptics at Booth 11.C01 to experience our latest innovations, including the Hive Studio, the new ZCam 4K, and our voice-tracking feature for the Move 4K. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your current setup or explore new possibilities, our team is ready to show you the future of broadcasting.

In just 2 weeks, IBC will be in full swing. We are expecting to see some new technology releases, including the PTZOptics ZCam 4K cameras. The new 4K ZCams from PTZOptics will be shipping in the Q4 timeframe, and they represent our latest, most cost-effective Hive-Linked camera technology. Hive, our cloud-based remote production software, will move from a private beta to a public beta allowing more users to start testing new remote production workflows. During this time, the PTZOptics engineering team will release new beta firmware for Move SE, Move 4K, and Link 4K cameras to give them direct Hive-Linked functionality.

I expect to see quite a lot of new remote production technology at IBC so stay tuned for our October newsletter outlining all our findings. If you are in NYC in October and can’t make it to IBC, consider attending NAB NY.

Warm Regards,

Paul Richards