Someone should write a native OBS plugin for this device and it would fly off the shelves. Very simple one too, it would be a “Director Mini Source” scene object, and it would just flick scene and inputs on the mini as a configurable entry.
You don’t happen to have any higher end DSLRs or mirrorless cameras with webcamera modes to test the USB inputs with? (I apologize being so inquisitive but I really like what I’m seeing here).
I don’t mind the questions at all! I was really curious going into it and so far have really enjoyed playing with it. I do have some high end cameras although I’ve only ever used them with HDMI output, I’ll see what’s possible with USB. Do you know if the Sony A7iii would do that?
Agreed about an OBS plugin, bit above my skill level but I do think I can figure out a basic API GET request that combines the switching of a scene on device with scene change in Streamlabs and plan to test that tomorrow when I’m back at the arcade.
The A7iii has UVC functionality. You just need a USB-C Male to USB-A Male cable.
Yeah I saw the magewell device a while back at IBC - it’s similar to yololiv yolobox (which I experimented with) so I’m assuming this is muxing the video as one 1080p source? Or is it 4K? Or are you streaming multiple 1080p NDI sources?
NDI is network heavy - we used it at work for pro level broadcast (Google BT Sport) in limited low pop mobile locations but we always had to build our own WiFi / Ethernet infra because typically the host (stadiums event places) couldn’t cope with multiple 10bit 4K streams. We gave up very early trying to use it on “venue wifi/ethernet” because when the punters come in and you have dozens of devices in that infra the scheduler in use in most venue WiFi’s can’t cope with the demand of NDI and it suffers badly. This is what I like about Accsoon is that you can select the WiFi band you want to use and it clears it out. And NLOS works well with it. (The big advantage with NDI is sync is great also especially with audio!)
Also if you APs aren’t connected via an Ethernet cables each let me now how it fairs, typically anything >100M with on mesh WiFi struggles especially in busy locations and I imagine two/three 1080/60p NDI sources will be close to a 100M each unless you are using HX which would be amazing out of that little device!
Neil.
I’m pretty sure the underlying OS for these devices is android so creating a remote control should be too hard assuming the right availability of controls is present.
Neil, I can’t find anywhere a simple table that tells me what bandwidth NDI requires weighing in different performance/quality variables and NDI standards.
The Magewell Director Mini says this in the video output specs:
Bitrate:
NDI® HX3: up to 62.0Mbps, down to 1.5Mbps
Others: up to 30.0Mbps, down to 256kpbs
In an somewhat enclosed (arcade) WiFi environment 62Mbps is a piss in the Nile on WiFi6. While looking at other Magewell NDI encoders they have a quality slider that goes from 0 to 200% but no one can tell me with a straight face what a 2160p60 “good enough” NDI feed require in terms of bandwidth. Good enough meaning that the final output will be a 1080p60 6000Kbit/s stream.
I’m also curious how NDI handles congested situations. Will it be a “no signal” situation or are be back to DivX encoding in '99? I.e the stream will feed but with visual artifacts.
NDI is 100M per 1080/60p and 250M for UHD/60p
It uses NDI HX which is compressed stream still very good but compressed. See below for tech spec on NDX.
60Mb/sec on one user on an AP bandwidth wise is simple and for this use case might be fine - but if you have dozens of clients the scheduler has to manage them all and in my experience none of them cope with prioritising NDX traffic (some of which is multicast). But that has been broadcast ready 1080/60p and UHD with no compression. All my PTZ cameras (one at domino Arcade and 2 at the UK Open) use NDX. But venue WiFi quality varies hugely but with mesh as someone building networks for 20 years in the past it’s not a solution I would personally use hence why I’m interested to see if this works on a busy night full of beer drinkers 
If this does work with HX then it’s something I’d be interested in although accsoon using more or less same technology for transmission and I’ve not had any issues with accsoon transmission in weeks of video hours without issue. We have had blips where every time it’s a crap cable. (And that’s using certified HDMI cables too!).
Cheers,
Neil.
I meant to add when I looked at the yololiv I was hoping to be able to stream without needing a streaming computer at all for our club where we don’t have space for a streaming booth.
After a break I started to do some videos again and more than before I have issues with my brios.
They only work properly when I use NV12 compression. With MJPG it’s really a pain, they start flickering regularly and I have to restart them. Depending on the usb Port the NV12 option is not possible all the time. Drivers and firmware are updated. I use MacBook Pro (Win10).
Sony ZV-1 (Playfield) works well via Camlink, Tiny Osbot is also much more robust and the new Razer Kiyo Pro is okay but tends to also flicker from time to time but not as but as the brios.
Ok catching up on the conversation with a few things since I’m back at the rig. @dri Sony camera over UVC is a no go, didn’t detect at all. I do see Sony has their own Imaging Edge software drivers. I imagine for this to work a camera needs to be seen as a webcam with no drivers at all (which makes me wonder if maybe the Yolobox or Atem Mini plugged in as USB might work, I might try that next).
Speaking of the Yolobox I saw you mention that as well @neilmcrae. I have a Yolobox Pro as I really wanted that to be the solution here, but the inability to adjust the scenes beyond the default ones they provide was a deal breaker. You can’t even rotate an HDMI source for a playfield camera. As far as the network congestion goes I guess we’ll see. I have it on a private network so ideally it’s not sharing wifi with arcade guests. I haven’t gone as far as a separate dedicated network for it but I could and might do that anyway just to get it off the same network that Stern IC, point of sale, all this other stuff is running on.
Also I just confirmed the API works a treat in a multiaction Stream Deck button. I can change the source on the box remotely at the same time Streamlabs transitions to a new scene allowing me to utilize all of the available sources full screen, not just the one layout, and still just have one NDI stream to the computer. I’ll be doing a bit of a dry run while the arcade is busy
Looking forward to see this! This is one handy little box. 
Thanks for testing all of this. This is peak stream nerdery to me.
I reached out to Magewell. This was there response:
Yes, Magewell USB Capture products work with USB-A of Director Mini.
Please be note that only YUYV, NV12 and MJPG can be supported.
So, in essence, yes you can have three HDMI cameras. My gripe after reveling in this is that I’ll lose my 2160p60 OBS canvas in full quality. If the Director Mini had three 1080p60 NDI streams this would be a no-brainer. Sure, you can add another Director Mini but then you just have a very expensive solution and 3 x Accsoon’s will cut the mustard way cheaper with lesser power draw at the expense of some extra cabling.
Let’s all hope there will be a big brother to the “mini” from Magewell that increases the HDMI inputs or puts a 2160p60 NDI stream on the wire.
First question with my accusoon transmitters combined with a Sony zv 1 and zv 1f.
When the cameras are turned on, their screens turn off when they are connected to the transmitters. I need these to be on to be able to change settings on the fly on the cameras.
Is this a setting on the cameras or the transmitters?
Edit. Found it. Here it is if others need it.
What are folks using for commentary mics/mixer setups?
I’ve seen the Rodecaster Pro but looking for something a bit more budget friendly tbh. For podcasts it seems like something like the Mackie Mix 8 is often recommended. I guess I’m just trying to figure out a decent commentator audio setup that won’t break the bank.
I’m a bit of a mixer fetish and been through a lot. I’d say that the Rodecasters are the Rolls-Royces and you basically just turn them on and everything sounds fantastic.
The Mackie Mix 8 is not a bad choice but understand that you’ll deal with analog audio and you need to get the sound off the mixer into OBS and from OBS to be able to hear the game audio. My preference here is to use the mic inputs of the camera with a line-to-mic level attenuation cable. This way audio is in 100% sync with the video. The Mackie 802VLZ4 has an attenuation switch so you just need 2-XLR to 3.5mm to get perfect levels into the camera.
The Mackie Mix 8 also has very neat feature called tape in. That’s where you feed the “monitor” sound from OBS via a line out, that way you can hear it on the mixer but you won’t send it to the main mix (well, you CAN, with a switch on the mixer, but you’ll get a nasty echo/feedback). However, I would recommend upgrading to 402VLZ4 to get the Onyx preamps vs their cheaper preamps in the Mix series. We ran that at Lynn’s for over a year until we upgraded to the Rodecaster Duo.
Also, USB audio interfaces are easier to deal with here. You set mix minus on the mixer and you’ll only have USB in/out to deal with on the computer. Very easy and convenient. I recommend the Yamaha’s AG06mk2 for this, very cheap lots of features (the mute buttons themselves pays for it). The Yamaha also have an app where you can fine tune the built-in compressor.
Most of these can drive two headphones with a simple splitter cable but you only have one volume knob, but I guess you figured that out.
Edit: Another favorite hack I have is using a USB microphone with monitor capability, like the AT2020USB+, it gives you a USB in/out device plus headphone out for live monitoring. It can easily be shared by two commentators. They’re really cheap these days too so you could easily get away with less than $200 for two headphones, y-splitter and the mic (ok, you will need an anti-shock mount too). Bonus: Who needs a mixer anyway?
Zoom is usually my go to for budget stuff. Maybe look at their Podtrak options? I’ve owned a few of their field recorders in the past and still use my old H6 quite a bit for music recording.
A couple dynamic mics would probably be best for noise handling but maybe an omni mic if you onlu want one, or a bit more of the venue noise.
I use the Blue Yeti nano for my mobile rig but I love Audio Technica gear too. Mics and headphones.
I’m also playing around with the Rode Video Mic Go II. I use the bigger brother for my work mic and I really like the shotgun style for reducing unwanted room noise. That also might make for a nice compact option and has USB so could just be mixed in the PC.
I can’t praise the Rode Video Mic Go II enough as well. The versatility of that tiny powerhouse is mind boggling. I have two in my mobile setup. All the “pocket streams” (example) I do are using those mics over USB with the Rode software that gives you a lot of extra features. Audio from two USB mics in perfect sync is unheard of, FYI. This impromptu conversation was shot with one of those mics, gain a tad high though.
I’m also sniffing around the Zoom recorders. The new Zoom R4 is an ideal audio interface to hang in the streaming rig. Packed to the brim with features. Just check out the preamp, limiters and compressors you can “emulate” on it: https://zoomcorp.com/media/documents/E_R4_FX-list.pdf I’m hoping find some time to get one and see what it can do.
We often stream on locations with unreliable (or saturated, in the case of a big tourney) internet. We also find ourselves in places with bad cell reception - basements, the inside of a conference center, etc.
I think the answer for us is a portable hotpot and a good antenna, but haven’t had luck finding a solution I like. My phone provider is Verizon but I’m open to anything. Anyone have this problem and solved it in a good way?
