Fan2Stage Equipment Test – OBS and Stream Deck

Fan2Stage Equipment Test – OBS and Stream Deck

This test of OBS and Stream Deck is one of the series in which we test different live stream configurations. We test how well they work with Fan2Stage and the OnStage system for Live Streaming. If you want to start a live stream or live podcast check out all of our tests so you can decide which works for you. Most of our tests are done with YouTube Live Streaming at Ultra Low Latency unless otherwise noted in the show notes.

Test Rack – Macbook Air M1, 50″ HDTV screen, OBS, OBSbot Camera and Stream Deck with Thunderbolt Port Expander and external speakers.

Elgato Stream Deck

Limitations – The primary limitation is the ports. The MacBook Air only has two USB-C ports so you need to have a port expander. The OBSbot camera has a USB-A cord but didn’t like sharing the USB port with other devices. We had to dedicate one USB port for the camera.

The Stream deck, Keyboard, Mouse and 50″ screen were all plugged into a Thunderbolt Port Expander. The Stream Deck lets you quickly insert graphics, change cameras and do all kinds of quick tricks when you are running your own show. We all want a team but they get expensive quick. The stream deck from elgato makes it a lot easier.

The Benefits

One key to success with the Stream Deck is that you need some pre-show time to set up all of the buttons. I have tried just doing “scene 1”, “PIP 1” and then use a script to know when to press the buttons. It is much easier to label a button “skateboard” for the skateboard insert.

With OBS the media doesn’t always autosize the way you want it to. You may need to size all of your extra media in advance as well. For instance in the season finale for CoolToys® TV season 4, we had some 4K video from NAMM. We needed to scale it to 1080p to fit the window, otherwise we had some very odd close up’s.

The Bottom Line

Overall OBS and Stream Deck is a great starter set up on a budget. It won’t keep up with dedicated hardware integrated systems like Black Magic, but it is only one tenth the cost. OBS is essentially free and the Stream Deck is under $150 for the small one. Most live streamers will do fine with just the small OBS unit. Having the big screen to run OBS and the small screen on the Mac as the screen for the “OnStage” web application worked great. I think a second screen is almost required to make this work right.

By using the external speakers the crowd input from the Fan2Stage Virtual Audience System was loud enough to be picked up by our microphones so the fans can hear it. There isn’t a way to loop the audio directly back into OBS that we could find. It might be possible to create and audio capture out of the browser window, but you might end up with a double pickup. Also you would have no control over the volume. A second microphone and a mixer could be a cool addition but we haven’t tested that yet.

Getting Interrupted? Get a LED Sign!

Get an LED Sign for your podcast.

While Cruising NAMM we found a lot of very CoolToys for podcasters and live streamers. One essential item was these LED Signs from American Recorder. Every podcaster and live streamer has someone that interrupts them and now you can turn on your cool sign and hopefully they can read or at least get a clue. These signs are low voltage LED and easy to install.

Live Fan in Browser Crashes.

Live Fan in Browser Crashes.

1/26/24

Beginning 1/25/24 reports have been coming in that users are getting a crash exception screen with logging in to the Fan side of the F2S.Live website. This is not affecting our servers or our events, and is currently unknown. We are working on it and as soon as we think it is fixed we will post more information here. Until then please download the app to your mobile device and use the mobile device version to let them know you are watching the show.

This error appears to only occur when using social media to log in online. If you log in with your registered email address, the error does not occur that we are aware of. The fan app is intended to be used on mobile devices for ease of use.

2/22/24 Update – We have updated the servers and this issue should be resolved.

Why Do I have to Select Live after I “Start Event”.

It is a two step process to allow you to set up your systems once the graph is on screen. Some performers may have the ability to display on larger screens or do picture in picture. This allows them to set everything on screen ready to go before making the show live. When you select start event, you are telling the system you are about to go live, We plan to make an option where you can put up a timer or other card on the screen as you get your set up ready to start the show.

Low Latency Streaming And Fan2Stage

Fan2Stage gets ready for Broadcast as Apple and Microsoft play nice?

Early in the testing of Fan2Stage, a major studio thought it could work for one of their talk shows. Using conferencing platforms like Zoom, just didn’t cut it. While the system was good at preventing audio loops, it had other issues. Fan2Stage was build to solve many of those issues.

During the early testing it was discovered that there was nearly two minutes of delay from the time the shows host made a comment until the fans saw it. No one ever checked it because no one ever cared. There was still a live audience in the studio for the host to work off of. Performers and entertainers of all kinds need an audience. The audience gives them the energy to go on. As an actor I will tell you that I am not a live theater actor but my favorite jobs were shows shot in front of a live studio audience.

Latency is the Delay

That 90 to 120 second delay we experienced testing with the show was due to the way streaming is handled. The technical term for it is latency delay. The delay is caused by the fact that every viewing device doesn’t decode the signal the same. When an Apple iPad logs in to see the live stream, it sends a code to the shows systems saying it is an Apple Device using x.decoder. When an Android tablet check it, it sent that it used G.decoder. The same was true for Microsoft PC’s.

Because each operating system used a different viewer for live events and live stream video, latency delay was inevitable and low latency streaming nearly impossible. The server at the host had to generate 3 or more different streams, and that accounted for the biggest chunk of the delay. Even if the server converted it to Mp4 so everyone could see it, that would take time too.

Lets Get Chunky

In the July 2022 issue of TVTech.com‘s magazine, they announced a new technology. The new tech is called Chunked CMAF. Chunked CMAF is a low latency streaming protocol. In 2016 Apple and Microsoft realized that streaming latency was a problem, and started working with the Moving Pictures Expert Group, the MPEG in Mpeg video files, to create a single standard.

In 2017 demonstrations showed the delay to be as little as 5 seconds, but that still wasn’t the same as a straight webcam which could be sub 1 second. They kept working. Everyone realizes that OTT (Internet live streaming) latency delays are a problem. In the stock market companies pay millions for faster networks, closer to the trading floor to execute trades just milliseconds ahead of the other guy.

Live sports isn’t much different. If you can bet on the outcome of a field goal, and have a 90 second head start on the outcome, that is a major advantage. Interestingly live sports is one of the first areas that Chunked CMAF is expected to be used. Because of that we are working on Fan2Field as well.

Its About a Laugh

The NFL fined teams for adding fake applause as live audiences returned. What if they could add live applause from real people? We thought it would be the right thing. Laughing at a joke 90 seconds after the talk show host delivers it, doesn’t enhance the show. Cheering for the field goal 90 seconds later doesn’t cut it either. Live streaming is about to really be “live”. Don’t be left out, download the live fan app now.

Fan2Stage – “The Audience is Here!”

Fan2Stage Logo on Pickle ball court

Live Studio Setup and Live Stream Services

One of the challenges to any live stream show is the live stream service. The next biggest challenge is the studio setup. Currently we have reached out to all of the major live stream platforms and are working with a major production studio for live streaming.

After a full season of CoolToys.TV live, we learned a lot about how to use Fan2Stage, how to set up a studio and which live stream services were live and which ones where delayed by up to three minutes. We also found that conference systems were distracting and didn’t allow enough fans in.

First Your Studio

Before we talk about live stream services, let’s talk about your studio, home, or even a closet in your apartment that will become your stage. While we are a 100% Apple based company almost all of the gear works the same with a PC, so go with whichever you are more familiar with. You will need a Mac Mini or a PC with a good processor and graphics card to make this work. We recommend at least the minimum to run OBS.

Next you need a camera. Here at our studios, we use Canon XF series ENG cameras. They are simple to use, have an HDMI output and an XF-100 series can be purchased used at a very reasonable price. One thing to keep in mind is that 4K live streaming can slow down the process. We use 1080p currently in our studios.

You can also use a very high quality webcam, or stream from a sports action camera. Those too have live outputs.

Avoid DSLR

While many DSLR cameras shoot great video, they tend to over heat in 30-60 minutes. We fried a couple of good ones before switching to the XF series. If you have the money for something like the Canon R5C which has a built in fan, then go for it.

Webcams

For starting out a webcam might work just fine but… Webcams are for video chatting mostly. The fisheye lines take a very wide shot so you may have to be uncomfortably close to get the screen you want. There are a few more expensive Pan Tilt Zoom or PTZ cameras with USB ports but we don’t recommend it.

Networking Note: if at all possible, we recommend a wired Cat5e or better connection to your cable modem or router. WiFi works but has had issues with some of our test studios.

The Basic Setups

Phone + Tablet Only:
With the Phone + Tablet only setup, you literally set your phone in front of you and live stream from your phone. The Tablet runs the OnStage app so you can get audience feedback. If you don’t want to use speakers, you can use ear buds to hear the audience, but they won’t hear themselves. You show stays clean this way, and isn’t as much fun for the audience. Add some computer speakers with the headset jack on the tablet and viola, live sound for you and the audience.

Tech Notes: There are very cool auto face tracking mounts for phones if you are able to keep it this simple.

The Webcam

The most basic setup is a single camera with a USB connection to your Mac or PC. While this works well and has about the lowest delay, it is very limiting.

Web Cam
PC or Mac with OBS loaded
High Speed 40MbS or better internet access
Good Speakers or headphones to hear the audience.

Just like the Phone + Tablet setup, if you use headphones, the audience won’t hear themselves cheering.

The Mini Studio

This is how the CoolToys TV studio is set up. We have three Canon XF series cameras that connect to a Black Magic ATEM Mini. This set up requires an on site “producer”. Someone has to choose which camera to play. We also have high quality wireless microphones. This setup also has an HDMI out from the ATEM mini so we can see what the audience sees. It also can be remotely controlled by a laptop or if you have enough power the PC or Mac running the show.

Black Magic ATEM Mini

Mac Mini M1 (Or PC meets OBS with a High speed USB port and network port available.)
1 to 4 Canon XF or similar video cameras with HDMI out
Black Magic ATEM mini
Wireless microphones as needed for performers and instruments.

Tech Notes:
The black magic software can control black magic cameras remotely. We chose Canon for budget and face tracking focus.
If you have a band in the studio we recommend an audio panel with output to the Black Magic ATEM so that you can control the input levels of each performer and instrument.

The Sports Field

Essentially this is a hybrid system that can be set up very easily. One livestream camera, a tablet and a PA system is all that is needed. We had one team that used a very inexpensive security camera for a while. The problem is they couldn’t allow enough fans to see the stream at the same time.

Live stream cameras have almost zero delay making this one of the best systems to use for outdoor events.

Live Camera
Tablet with Audio Connection to PA System
On Field PA system or portable speaker.

Canon XF-100

Tech Notes: The Live Camera can be a sports webcam or an ENG Camera like the XF-100 connected to a PC running OBS. Multi cam setups with OBS or The Black Magic ATEM series work great too.

The tablet runs the OnStage (Soon the OnField) app with the feedback audio going out to the PA system.

Live Stream Services:

Live Webcams – With most providers there is a .02-.2 second delay, almost un noticeable.
Vimeo Live – Requires Pro Account .5 – 1.0 second delay
YouTube Live – 2.0-12 second delay
YouTube Live Pro with reduced delay set – 1.0-4.0 second delay
Facebook Live – 30-90 second delay
Samsung Studio – 90-300 second delay

Other tests to follow.

Fan2Stage

Is Your Network Ready For Fan2Stage

Getting your network ready for Fan2Stage isn’t very hard, but it is important.

Having a computer that can handle video streaming is just the first step to hosting live shows from anywhere. If you want to have a great looking show, not only does the computer play a big part in making sure you put on a quality show, the network does too. In this video Scott talks about a good solid set up for live streaming.

Scott is the host of CoolToys® TV and he will talk about the exact network set up that he uses, the computers and the gear. He’ll also talk about options that he has set up for others and how you can start live-streaming on a budget.

Live streaming is a big thing and trying to manage and understand your audience is an even bigger challenge. That is why we created the Fan2Stage Virtual Audience Server. You get real feedback from real people when you are hosting live shows.

Those that do will get the audience, those that wait will be fighting for the scraps. Get your network ready for Fan2Stage. CoolToys hosts Scott and Josh also put out The Easy Guide to Internet and Network Stuff to help you keep track of all this stuff the easy way.

The Gear We use in the Studio and the Easy Guide Book: