Vestax PBS-4 web broadcast mixer
Live streams are still difficult to implement into events. That they can make a difference you might know since the Boiler Rooom events or the Google Hangout hype. Most amateurs are still doing their personal web broadcasts with Ustream/Justin.tv/Livestream and a webcam built into their computers. Some time ago we also tried to stream visuals with a video grabber or from resolume via screen recorder to skype, but this was awefully lagging.
Now Vestax sells their new Vestax PBS-4 web broadcast „mixer“, which in fact is a switcher because lacking a time base code synchronizer to synchronizes the frame speeds of the different sources (video noise/glitches when switching channels!).
The PBS-4 is 8 inch in size, capable to grab and mix switch together four sources of HDMI, VGA and/or Composite-Video signals plus RCA/XLR-audio input. The USB output then feeds the mixed audio and video to a computer and streams the content to any live streaming online service with a standard resolution of 720×576 (PAL) or 720×480 (NTSC). So a HDMI signal will be downscaled to SD resolution. Though not capable of streaming out HighDefinition it might be enough for a good stream onto almost any streaming platform. Additionally you can find Composite jacks to stream out a master and preview video signal and it has a control room audio out.
The look of this tiny device reminds of the good old Hama Video switchers (why didnt they develop something similar, but a dj-mixer company?!) and seems to be an easy to use all-in-one solution to broadcast live audio and live video sources on the internet. The Vestax PBS-4 costs something like 450€, technical specifications and a link to the product page below the images.
AUDIO SPECIFICATIONS
INPUT
x3 LINE IN Stereo RCA
x2 Neutrik Combo Jack (Mono)
x1 HDMI IN
x1 USB IN (Loop Back)
OUTPUT
x1 Master Output Stereo RCA (Control Room)
x1 1/4″ Headphone Jack
VIDEO SPECIFICATIONS
INPUT
x4 VIDEO IN （Composite RCA）
x1 VGA IN（D-SUB15 pin）
x1 HDMI IN
OUTPUT
x2 MASTER OUT （Composite / USB）
x1 PREVIEW OUT（Composite）
VIDEO RESOLUTION
Composite: NTSC / PAL
VGA IN (NTSC) : 1024×768 (60Hz)
VGA IN (PAL) : 1024×768 (50Hz)
HDMI IN (NTSC): 720×480 (60Hz) *480p
HDMI IN (PAL) : 720×576（50Hz）*576p
SAMPLING RATE
4:2:2 (Y:R-Y:B-Y), 8-bit, 13.5 MHz (ITU-R BT.656)
INPUT/OUTPUT LEVEL
Composite: 1.0 Vp-p
Impedance: 75 ohms
USB
Class: 2.0
Video Output Resolution: 720×480 (NTSC), 720×576 (PAL)
Audio ADC: 16bit/48kHz
Power Supply DC-6V 3A (Vestax SDC-6)
Power Consumption 7W (AC100V – 230V)
Dimention 210(W) x 147(D) x 45(H)mm (excluding knobs)
210(W) x 147(D) x 54(H)mm (including knobs)
Weight 950g
http://www.vestax.com/v/products/detail.php?cate_id=195
Yochanan Rauert aka Yochee is working as a VJ in Münster, Germany since 2002 and is the editor and founder of www.visual-society.com
is it possible to stream the output to VJ software such as VDMX?
Well, the stream goes to USB and then to your computer, i guess it is possible to grab that stream just like a normal webcam. Or you could grab the composite stream with a video grabber / capture card.