Building a Video Streaming Rack from Start to Finish

Livestreaming, ISO Recording, Overlays & Lower Thirds, and much more... Brandon building a video livestreaming rack for hybrid conferences.
Giveaways & consultations: www.a2z-productions.com/
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Gear used:
(As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Extreme ISO: amzn.to/3xpj5AA
Blackmagic Design Micro Converter SDI to HDMI 3G amzn.to/3fsjvOm
Blackmagic Design Micro Converter BiDirectional amzn.to/3tP6ljD
SAMSUNG T5 Portable SSD 1TB: amzn.to/2QzxTvN
1.5ft AV-Cables 3G/6G HD SDI amzn.to/3bxlC2d
3ft AV-Cables 3G/6G HD SDI BNC Cable amzn.to/3osvVKf
Cable Matters Ultra Thin HDMI Cable 15ft amzn.to/3hAGr0C
USB C Hub, uni USB Type C 8 in 1 Hub amzn.to/3bu3mqr
Tripp Lite RS1215-RA Rackmount Network-Grade PDU Power Strip: amzn.to/3vmzxzW
CAT6 Ethernet Cable 6 Pack - 3 Ft amzn.to/33k48Sq
TP-Link 16 Port Gigabit Ethernet Network Switch amzn.to/2RAinAg

[@ArdyIRL]

I had the pleasure of seeing a much bigger scale of this at Call of Duty League last year! Glad to see you build this scaled down version in real time, helps me to understand everything in full!

[@shanebrown1635]

Brandon, I am learning so much from your hard work and long hours. I'm a PA at Television Jamaica, TVJ, and thanks to you I have a much better understanding of the equipment the engineers use. The videos from you and Brian are jam packed with great info. You guys are awesome! Giv Tanks Bro

[@A2ZProductions]

Thank you for the positive feedback! Glad you're finding value from our content!

[@martythings1204]

For a video of nothing but you talking your way though this build, I must say your so thorough and specific without ever being condescending or boring! Keep up the great work mate, loving these videos. So educational and informative 10/10 !

[@iinRez]

So glad to have found this channel. Beginning the journey now, 2 weeks until showtime. Insight much appreciated.

[@rickgray5855]

Great Video! I had to see it twice cause I thought the fan on the Deck Link enclosure was blocked (I saw the light under the IP Switch rack Shelf). I see you are using 1695 cable for short runs instead of 1855 which is more flexible and takes up less space as a bundle. I'm glad to see you are also using wire labels, the one thing that, "grinds my gears" is lack or no cable labels. I do wiring schematic drawings and that makes my job a lot harder. We also use cable color code for video integration; Violet=SDI, Green =Reference, Red=ASI or Broadcast output, Black=AES, etc. Finally a trick you can use! If you use a shrink wrap heater gun on the glue for the Velcro adhesive it will have a better grip to the metal rack shelf! Keep up the good work!

[@davidjoshuaford]

Awesome build, Brandon!

[@danliao]

I’m so pumped every time you put out new contents. Thanks so much for the hard work!😆😆😆

[@A2ZProductions]

Thank you for watching and glad you enjoy the videos!

[@Augus1997]

great video. I'm new to this video world and it was great to get this insight

[@DivineLightProductions]

Just came across your channel through this video. This is a super awesome rack setup!

[@A2ZProductions]

Thank you!

[@njgroven]

Love this! Could you maybe do a video about how you use pro presenter in a corporate setting? Also would love to know if and how you use it with companion! Thanks for the great content!

[@not-bot]

Хоть вы и не поймете, парни, вы топчик 👍🏻

[@apstreaming]

I’d love to see how you mount a Streamdeck in that rack. What are you using for the monitors as they are not listed in the description? Nice work.

[@ivarmh]

Excellent. Even got the mandatory comment "that's not going anywhere" 😎👍

[@SuperINMENSO]

Hi, I'm from the Dominican Republic and in truth you are always sharing very interesting things for us who study audiovisuals, I just hope that soon you will have this same channel in Spanish since not all of us speak English at least I do not speak it or understand it but I use it a friend who translates me into Spanish every time they speak. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us and I hope that you will soon have this same channel in Spanish with all the videos already uploaded. thanks and greetings from the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

[@A2ZProductions]

turn on auto generated subtitles and then switch the language to Spanish and that might help you out in the short term. Glad you are enjoying the content and finding it helpful.

[@SuperINMENSO]

@@A2ZProductions the subtitles do not allow to make more translations than only to the English language. I think that this same channel with all the same videos would be good, but in Spanish (a channel in Spanish) it is a plan b for those of us who do not speak the English language. In order for me to understand, I have a friend who translates what they are talking about and it is really a bit tedious having to annoy him so much and believe me, his videos are very educational for those of us who study audiovisuals. The answer he gave me I had to write it in Google translator to be able to understand them and now I am writing this answer in the same Google translator in Spanish so that I can translate it into English greetings from Dominican Republic and if you are going to answer me please bring it to the language Spanish. thanks Google translator).

[@emmanuelfrancis]

Great video as usual. What are the 2 monitors models you are using(the double and single one)? Thanks

[@podcaster_msk]

Nice build! What monitor did you used?

[@AskAW]

Another great video. What did the client pay for your service? How long were you on-site?

[@YeshuDarbarAllahabad]

What type of HDMI Cable I need to get for this?

[@MarkCheret]

Your elegant hack of strapping together those Bi-SDI/HDMI 3G buddies is amazing. I'm just wondering what happens if one unit dies? Put it out of service but keep it in and add another one to the chain? This hack should totally be a 2 Rack unit product offered by BMD. Also: Wow for your concern of overheating... Wouldn't have spotted that for one of my upcoming rack builds.

[@krishnansrinivasan830]

Nice & Thanks :)

[@nekotherion7317]

Wouldve went with PoE switch with a few 10gig uplinks, and NAS(footage archival, PoE PTZ cams, Pi based DMX lighting or other things) lots of options, but overall, awesome setup

[@SonicHawker]

What setup are you using for the decklink in the enclosure? You used a usb-c cable rather than a thunderbolt?

[@SportFlow]

This rack will be very very heavy! And I do not thing using so much velcro is a good idea. And so many converters to and from SDI just for using a prosumer mixer. I would not have done it that way, but thanks anyway for your effort of sharing it.

[@computerjantje]

What is the total carry-around weight of this setup if I may ask? My back already hurts watching this one :) I hope you never have to carry it alone. Thank you for the great video. Always great to see how others build their mobile studio.

[@fightofdestiny]

Hey Brandon, I've seen so many rigs and setups in 19" Rack cases but without any rolls at all. In my mind any part of a setup should be possible to be set up and carried around by one person. I hope you can somehow add some rolls to it and may split the weight into two stackable racks. Cheers and happy holidays!

[@computerjantje]

The carry around weight is the main thing I had in mind when building my rig. I have 20 years on the road experience and in all these videos the weight is underestimated. Rollers under these cases is nor recommended. It would simply bump too much and todays equipment is not build anymore for bumpy travels. Especially the short bumps you get with cases on wheels.

[@clank400]

I've done a 42u rack case before. Those things were insane, weighed 300kg each when full, needed 4 people minimum to tip and broke floorboards if moved wrong. We shipped 12 of them to Qatar for the World Cup. 10/10 would do again

[@freddymiguelponce]

Great video! Do you have a link to buy the sliding shelf that holds the ATEM Mini Extreme? I'm making my shopping list Thanks in advance and sorry for my Egnlish; i;m still learning Have a Productive and Healthy Day!

[@damienrusseil]

How can You do all of that in such short Time ? Very impressive ! You have Nice ideas to bring all in one box, and it give me ideas too for my Atem switcher ;) 👍

[@A2ZProductions]

Thank you so much 😀

[@JohnKagu]

Hi Brandon, I would like to know the rack you used for this setup, drawer for the Atem and the monitor.

[@wilsonbatuyong1147]

great video. whats the rack name. do u have amazon link to it? thx in advance

[@GaricsPeter]

16:11 You also didn't mention that the 2 M/E has no format conversion on the inputs so unless you use only professional cameras you have to add a bmd cross converter or a decimator for each input which has a different frame rate.

[@A2ZProductions]

Also true. Good point. Yet another reason to have a switcher with built in scalers.

[@livestreamtt9283]

Fantastic share, will be curious to see the final set up on site. What about sound latency?

[@A2ZProductions]

Sound latency is not an issue as we run audio through out cameras so the audio comes in sync over sdi/HDMI. We pretty much always run an outboard audio console and send a single mix into our camera for the live stream mix.

[@jasontwitchell6329]

Can you use the Streamdeck to control videos from the Hyperdeck mini HD? Not just the one queued up, but any one of say 20 videos?

[@edwavalencia]

Can you make one explaining how to configure and connect the cameras?

[@emiliaventura6693]

Hi Brandon, how do you know all that stuff you know? Are you an IT engineer? Did you make a college to know that, or a specific course? Thanks!!

[@jdstudioranpur5248]

You have sid mixer whay you use sdi converter

[@southunion6210]

Question about the USB hub? It's not the same as the affiliate link you have below. Which one is in the video? Also does it actually power ALL of the converters.

[@JovaughnStephensFilms]

lol. I’m watching this at 2:14AM 😂

[@adriangreen1444]

SmartScope Duo 4K is what people are asking what the dual screen 3ru product is. I would like to know more about the decklink box that you installed into the rack.

[@A2ZProductions]

Here it is! www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1312723-REG/sonnet_echo_exp_se1_t3_echo_express_se_i.html with the deck link card inside

[@greybirdmedia]

This video is great! I do have a question. How are you getting signal from the BMPCC for control? Are you running an hdmi cable from the camera to the bi-directional boxes then converting, or converting to sdi at the camera then hit the bi-directional? I am trying to build something similar and do not want to loose control of the BMPCC camera if I convert it's hdmi output to sdi at the camera itself.

[@A2ZProductions]

Bidirectional converters can do pass through control via hdmi or convert to two SDIs, do your longer run and then convert back. Or go with middle things APRC module and get camera control through third party software/hardware that integrates with black magic camera control on atem software. All options would work.

[@greybirdmedia]

@@A2ZProductions Thank you so much for this!!

[@pierrejeanjean9355]

Waouw... great set up... I'm curious about the Decklink card and the set up you're using? What's that box? :-) Have fun and thanks for sharing your knowlegdes... :-) Tx!

[@A2ZProductions]

This is the USB-C enclosure for the Decklink card

[@A2ZProductions]

www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1312723-REG/sonnet_echo_exp_se1_t3_echo_express_se_i.html

[@pierrejeanjean9355]

Tx !

[@jacobcook3548]

What was the video monitor you mounted to the front of the vented panel?

[@streamitsports]

Looking for this answer as well

[@EVONTV1]

Hey Brandon, Where can I buy the Rack used. I am based in Uk

[@stupiduser6646]

can you give link or information to travel rack

[@sir_fatal]

What model and make is the rack?

[@EVONTV1]

Hey Brandon, I have managed to buy the Rack but I am looking for a Drawer to buy

[@Gitago]

What is the USB HUB you used? The one you used in video doesnt appear to look anything like the USBc Hub you linked.

[@A2ZProductions]

I used a 10 port usb A charging hub from anker to power the converters. My go to usb c dongle is the USB C Hub, uni USB Type C 8 in 1 Hub with Detachable Connector, 4K HDMI, Ethernet, SD/MicroSD Card Reader, Up to 100W, Compatible for MacBook Pro 2018, iPad Pro 2018, Galaxy S10/S9 & More www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q6YS7W2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_G4NN9H63BPMN3NP9616Y?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

[@user-wk1ji5uy4m]

I realized maybe a BDS will save the pdu for a better look

[@AskAW]

I don't see the link to the Anker USB hub.

[@ZachSwena]

You should really consider putting some thermal pads or thermal dissipation on all of those mini converters.

[@JSJSJS181]

Any recommendations on what to use?

[@ZachSwena]

@@JSJSJS181 For that high of packing density, I would mount them horizontally on a heat sink assembly with thermal adhesive tape. For the heat sink, I would thermal epoxy two 3" wide pieces of 1/16" aluminum sheet using 1/8" aluminum square tubing as spacers for strength. The stack would have 3 converters on the bottom with gaps for air. Thermal adhesive tape would hold the the heat sink assembly on top. Repeat this for the next set of 3 and put 3 more on the top. Connect the 9th spare converter to ports on the videohub and patch panel.

[@jezzathenugget]

here we go!

[@A2ZProductions]

!!

[@chadhxc]

Do you build your own SDI long runs?

[@A2ZProductions]

For installs yes but for our own events and gigs we tend to buy factory built cables as they can be made a bit better then we could do by hand. A bit more reliable when constantly plugged and unplugged and handled by so my crew.

[@cahir85]

wasen't easier to buy a PC workstation with vmix?

[@joaofbr92]

For sure! I was confused in a certain point and did not realise how this setup works…

[@joprimacio7850]

they make slider drawers for the monitors lol

[@DasArmageddonTV]

How good is the Atem on a rack drawer? Thinking about doing that too but I’m not sure if it bends and I wasn’t able to find drawers that can be locked while pulled out

[@A2ZProductions]

Works great! Just depends on the drawer you get. don't extend it all way out. you could always put something under the drawer when extended to add stability.

[@a.n.burdin]

[@CanesFan65]

Ha. Thats only HALF the battle. Now for AUDIO. It Almost NEVER goes as planned when taking connection to and from the HOUSE into consideration.

[@A2ZProductions]

True that why we do all of our own audio with QLXD or ULXD wireless mics, antenna boosters, QSC Touchmix or Allen and Heath mixers ussually, and a dedicated sound engineer to ring out all mics. That’s consistent for something as small as wedding or private party all the way up to corporate and concerts.

[@esra_erimez]

Let's go Brandon!

[@timwasko847]

Let’s go Brandon!

[@bluegizmo1983]

I literally have no idea what your talking about or what any of that equipment is. Can you game on it? 🤣

[@hardkombucha]

Lets go Brandon!!!

[@0121doone]

what a mess

[@letsplaychronicles9483]

sorry but you sound as if you were very board to show all of that. Where is the enthusiasm?