NDI.TV Goes Live

NewTek launched anew NDI web site a few days ago. This looks to be a central location for all things NDI.

Get general NDI info, access NDI Tools downloads and even get the various NDI Developer Kits all in one place.

NewTek Announces New 4K TriCaster Mini

Today NewTek announced the latest version of the TriCaster Mini:

New TriCaster Mini 4k NDI

TriCaster Mini 4KUHD Basic Specs:

• Supports up to 4k UHD!
• NDI I/O for audio and video
• Analog audio like current Mini
• Up to Eight NDI inputs
• Dual Gigabit Ethernet Ports
• Four Additional POE+ Ethernet Ports for cameras or input modules
• Two input modules included 

More on NewTek's site

TriCaster Mini 4k & 2 NDI Input Modules $8,995

Travel Bundle $11,995
TriCaster Mini 4k
Mini CS Controller
2 NDI Input Modules
Travel Case

Complete Production Bundle $19,995
TriCaster Mini 4k
TriCaster TC1SP Controller
2 Input Modules
2 PTZ1 Cameras

AVAILABLE NOW from Digital Arts 1-800-692-6442

TriCaster Mini Refresh

I didn't post this when it was news but NewTek has done a refresh on the TriCaster Mini.

They now ship with Advanced Edition 3.0 and Windows 10. The HD-4i (HDMI inpurts two hard drives and the 7" internal preview monitor has been discontinued. The HD-4 (HDMI, single drive) and the HD-SDI (SDI, dual drive, internal monitor) models continue. There was no change in list prices and the bundles are still available.

Contact Digital Arts (www.digitalarts.tv, sales(a)digarts.com or 1-800-692-6442) for more info.

NDI 4.0 Released

Lots of cool new capabilities including better support for cross-subnet connections, unlimited recording, better quality, lower bandwidth and more.

Press release - Get the official line.

General info and news at NDI.tv

Downloads - NDI Tools for both Mac and PC along with the new NDI Analysis Tool.

Software Developer Kit - Make your own stuff!

New Wireless Mics Might Be A Mistake in 2019

"Only use a wireless microphone when there is no other choice". I've said this for years and no one ever listens to me. But the problem is getting worse. The FCC in 2017 sold off a big chunk of frequencies that were popular with wireless mic users (the 600MHz band) to T-Mobile. As soon as T-Mobile starts using the band in your area it becomes illegal to use your expensive wireless mics. 

This is not the first time this sort of has happened.

A big part of the problem is that many wireless systems are not 'frequency agile' that is they work on one fixed frequency and cannot be changed this is especially true of VHF band mics. Even systems that can be set to multiple channels only work in a narrow range of frequencies so if the band you're using get sold off or over run you can't tune it to a different band.

There are several bands where unlicensed wireless mics can be used but these bands are becoming more and more crowded as other users of various wireless devices (not just microphones) get condensed into a smaller and smaller piece of the airwaves. Most unlicensed wireless mics are in either the TV band or in the same bands that are used for WiFi.

Anything in the 2.4GHZ or 5GHz bands are subject to interference by WiFi signals. Keep in mind that most cell phones can be setup as a WiFi hotspot. Pop up a list of available WiFi networks in any crowded area and you will see dozens of them, every single one of which could clobber your wireless mic signal.

It gets worse. The TV band looks safe because TV stations don't move around from one frequency to another; they are at fixed, well known spots in the band. Choose a wireless mic system that avoids those frequencies and you'd think you were good to go. But wait, the FCC has mandated a 'repack' of the TV bands. 

The transition to digital TV caused a big shuffle of channel assignments to make room for both analog and digital versions of TV stations. Now that the analog channels have been shut down they are going to re-shuffle the existing digital stations to final locations in the band. Most of the repack takes place this year. So your carefully chosen wireless mic frequencies may or may not work after the repack.

So to bottom line it either take your best shot and buy a good, frequency agile wireless mic system that you think will work now and hope for the future or buy something cheap and replace it as necessary as the situation changes.

Here's a good resource to find what TV channels are in use in your city now and after the repack

See which frequencies are used by each TV channel

New TriCaster 410 Plus

The newly announced mid-range TriCaster is positioned pretty much exactly as the original TC410 vs TC460 was. It more or less the same hardware as the TC1 with a slightly condensed feature set. The list of reduced features is pretty short and depending on your needs may make it the perfect TriCaster.

Main Differences vs the TC1:

• No 4K Support
• Eight external inputs on switcher vs sixteen
• Single Skype input vs two
• Two Down Stream Keys vs four
• M/Es have two keyers vs four
• Two SDI Outputs vs four
• Single 3TB Internal Hard Drive

List Price of the TC410 Plus Ala Carte $9,995

TC410 Plus/TC1SP controller bundle $14,995

NDi Converter Comparison

A couple other things re: NAB announcements

NewTek's press release

A little more info, VMC subscriptions start at $795 per month. Live Story Creator lets you go directly from script to prompter to TriCaster automation in one step. It's included in Premium Access.

Quick Note

Just a quick note after the dealer meeting. Much of it was covered in the Dr. cross interview I previously linked to.

Big improvements in NDI 4. Record any/all NDI streams. Related to this is that that record function will be harnessed by TriCasters for easy instant replay. The replay function may be a premium access feature.

Any NDI streams you record will be synchronized and there will  be an Adobe CC plugin so you can easily do multi-cam edits in Premier.

The new mid range machine will be called the TriCaster 410 Plus. It's sort of a TC1 with only eight inputs rather than 16 and limited to 1080p with no 4k. The price remains under 10k.

If you have Advanced Edition 3 you can get a free one year subscription to Premium Access. If you don't have AE3 and you buy a one year Premium Access subscription you get a free copy of AE3.

NetWork also announced the Spark Plus HD full NDI converter for $495 and the 4k Spark Plus will now be $595.

Another big announcement was that Sony will now be supporting NDI in a new line of PTZ cameras.

 The meeting was light on details and shipping dates so watch this space.

More Pre-NAB from NewTek - Dr. Cross Interview

Interview with Andrew Cross

TL;DR:

• More on the merger. Building the IP Production Monster.
• NDI 4.0 - Bigger, better, faster, lower overhead, with synchronization and unlimited recording plus even more, more.
• Unreal Engine plugin for NDI. Easy E-Sports?
• IP Series as a scaleable cloud service. All ghost, no machine.
• New Innovative NDI Converter boxes. So you can get video into your virtualized machine.
• Super-auto script to teleprompter to switcher automation technology?!
• Even more stuff after NAB

VizRT buys NewTek! - I didn't see that coming...

...and no, it's not an April Fools gag.

RedShark has the best take on this I've seen so far.

The press release is here

VizRT real time motion 3D graphics + NewTek real time everything else. On the face of it the merger looks like a winner to me.

I'll update as necessary. Check back for more info after Sunday's dealer meeting.

Update: In case you have no idea what VizRT does:

Update 2: Links fixed.

Big Changes

This is kind of an 'Inside Baseball' post but I always do a pre-NAB speculative thing so here's this year's. And as always I have no actual inside knowledge I've  just have been observing NewTek for 29 years but they often surprise me so don't make any life-altering decisions based on anything here.

There have been big changes to the NewTek TriCaster and 3Play lineup and as we run up to this year's NAB show I'm predicting even more.

NewTek has over the last few months discontinued (they call it end-of-sales) the TC410, TC460, TC8000, 3Play 440 and 3Play Mini. This leaves three variants of the TC Mini Advanced and two versions (and several bundles) of the TC1 along with the 3P1, 3P 4800 and the 3P 425. NewTek also still has the IP Series VMC1 and associated modules at the high end.

The TC-1 (2U) easily replaces both the TC460 and the TC8000 in the lineup. A TC1 has four inputs like the 460 and a TC1 plus an NC1 I/O module has up to twelve. Both configurations are at the exact same price points as the two older models. So I'm pretty sure there won't be any big changes with the TC1.

I think NewTek will continue the 'rationalization' of their product line with the introduction of a new mid-range machine to replace the TC410. Probably, like the 410, it will have fewer overlays and probably a maximum of eight NDI inputs rather than the 3P1's sixteen. And possibly less analog audio I/O.

I figure there's about a 50% chance we will see either a replacement for the Mini or an even less expensive machine. Complete speculation/wishful thinking follows:

A way for NewTek to hit a lower price point would be to completely 'virtualize' the low end machine. They could have just a small processing box with no I/O and move all the video inputs and outputs to pure NDI. If you have non-NDI cameras you could use any of the various NDI conversion boxes that NewTek and other vendors sell. Let's call this the TriCaster Micro.

Heck the machine could be completely controlled with a web interface ala LivePanel and eliminate the need for anything but a power connector and an Ethernet port on the box.

As a reseller I'd like to see a 1U half rack form factor along with an optional 1U half rack, four input/ two output plus stereo audio to NDI I/O box. This combo could both replace the current Minis and offer a new lower cost entry level machine. This TC Micro could also be used as an M/E in a box as an add-on to larger TriCasters.

On the 3Play front I'd like to see new replacements for both the 3P4800 (eight inputs) and the lower end 3P 425 with full NDI I/O like the 3P1. The lower end machine could be cost reduced using the same virtualized I/O as my proposed TC Micro.

So bottom line I think we'll see a new mid-range TriCaster and maybe some sort of entry level machine at NAB. New 3Plays will happen, I think, but possibly not at NAB, those may have to wait until IBC.

I guess we will find out if I'm right and if my fevered dreams come true on April 7th at the NewTek event in Vegas.

Let me know what you think in the comments!

2019 NAB Code & NewTek Event

Digital Arts is going to NAB Show, Las Vegas Convention Center, April 6-11.

If you're interested in coming along, here's a code for a free exhibits pass: JOINME  Register here: https://invt.io/1edipb17ijn

Also register for the NewTek Community Event Sunday April 7:
https://www.newtek.com/nab2019/community-event/