Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with videoconferencing

Video K. Corral

ostranenie — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:20:49 -0800

Videoconferencing gurus: Software-based MCU/phone bridge instead of hardware-based? Is there PC software (free or otherwise) that acts like an MCU in that it:

1) Runs on a dedicated (preferably a Windows) PC
2) Routes video so the active speaker is the one shown on everyone's (remote) screen
3) Bridges audio to the regular public switched telephone network by way of a voice modem installed in the PC

All of my (futile) Googling leads to stuff I don't understand about ISDN, or $100K whole-room hardware-based solutions. I have the cameras and software I want to use for all this, and they connect very well using point-to-point or over our existing bridges/MCUs--but I am looking into the idea of buying our own dedicated bridge/MCU for this purpose so I don't have to rely on the guys who maintain those bridges. (Yes, it's political.) Is it worth it? Does this function have to be done with dedicated hardware?

I have a dedicated phone line and all network traffic will be contained within my company's network. Video conferences will typically be limited to 4-5 nodes across the conference.

Thanks!

Video Conferencing Solutions

simplethings — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:21:37 -0800

Help me learn more about video conferencing and the equipment I'll need. I was recently assigned the project of creating a video conference solution for 3 separate locations in the Midwest (2 in Illinois 1 in Wisconsin).
The rooms are all about the same size, large enough for a rectangle table that seats 10. Each room also is equipped with a video projector and telephone.
A preferred service provider had already been chosen; it looks like a web-based system. You log-in to their website, create a conference, and invite other locations. Pretty simple. Also provides a “see my desktop” service.
In order to use this I know I’ll need:
a PC at each location with an Internet connection – done
equipment to capture and output both audio and video – no idea.

The only specifications given to me are that we need a PTZ camera and it must be wall or ceiling mounted, which means no desktop web cams. We already have contractors who can install the cameras but don’t know enough to give hardware recommendations.
As for a microphone/speaker system they want to make sure it is “open audio.” I don’t know what that means. I tried searching google but couldn’t come up with anything. Would that be considered speaker phone-like technology?
I’m assuming the speakers in the PC wouldn’t be loud enough... but would a microphone connected to the PC be alright for a table of 10?

Any extra information I need or am missing, recommendations for equipment, or even recommendations for companies you’ve used that can provide estimates or assessments would really help.

*I've checked out some of the similar threads 1|2|3 but none have really awesome applicable answers.

Can my heterogenously equipped family video chat with each other?

pharm — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:40:29 -0800

Cross-platform video conferencing: Linux/OSX/Windows. Is it possible? My geographically spread family covers the gamut of modern operating systems. Is there a video chat application (or inter-operable set of applications) that we can all use to talk to each other online?

Last time I looked, video conferencing only really seemed to work if both ends were using the same application & there was certainly nothing available that covered Linux, Mac and Windows. Even Mac & Windows seemed problematic. Have things improved? Can I just get everyone to install Skype?

Can't see the blackboard, so the camera needs glasses.

whycurious — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:11:55 -0800

What (pro)consumer-level webcam should I get that will let me read the marker board my coworkers are using to brainstorm? I've recently moved across the country and am telecommuting with the ol' firm. Collaboration with my friends and coworkers tends towards brainstorming on marker-boards. Being used to the intimacy of in-person participation, the built-in webcams on our laptops just aren't up to snuff.

Sound isn't a problem on either end (thanks to Blue's Snowball), but I can't see anything unless it's right in front of the laptop. We're big ideas, not big org, and so full fledged dedicated rooms are too large and too pricy.

Any suggestions? What's worked for you collaborating in a creative environment?

Sorta, kinda, previously.

Help me conceive / design / implement a videoconferencing solution for a medium-sized business with three offices.

aydeejones — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:34:43 -0800

Help me conceive / design / implement a videoconferencing solution for a medium-sized business with three offices. Our requirements are numerous and may need to be reined in based on budgetary constraints... Our offices are connected via 54Mbps LSS circuits. Our primary requirement is that the offices be able to conference with each other from their respective board / conference rooms. Our main office board room table is 20" x 4" and this is where most of the big meetings take place, so it'll probably need the best wide-angle PTZ camera out of the three, and decent sound pickup.

We also have a relatively large, open waiting area where meetings take place, and want to be able to use videoconferencing for these meetings so that our staff don't have to travel so much.

These larger staff meetings involve lots of back-and-forth discussion so we're debating how best to address the A/V needs here -- wire the room for sound, use a good condenser mic from the center of the room, pass around a dynamic microphone as people talk, etc.

Oh, and we want to be able to record these meetings for future reference, and want to be able to log in and witness these videoconferences through a web browser. Sure would be nice if you could *participate* in the conferences via web browser, but that's probably pushing it; we want anyone to be able to see what's going on but aren't interested in ensuring that every workstation has a camera installed.

Our current budget is sub-10K and I don't think that's realistic when looking at some of the tightly-bundled setups a la Polycom. I'm debating how far to go with a piecemeal solution; I have some audio experience and would love to get my hands dirty, but do not want something that is cobbled together, requiring my intervention at every turn to keep it running smoothly. I am more of a software guy and I love to write code more than anything else, so if that factors into how slick this could be (Sharepoint?) I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

Someone suggested that I might be able to use this rig which has a decent DVR, but this is clearly a security-only solution and does not include sound functionality. I think I've successfully convinced them that trying to use such a contraption would be quite difficult and would involve MUXing and would be like forcing a square peg into a round hole.

This seems to be a pretty big undertaking, eh? "Call a consultant" is certainly a passable answer but I'm hoping to tap into some past experience and make this a great resource for other souls like myself who are tasked with bringing a medium-sized business into the wonderful world of videoconferencing without shelling out crazy cash.

How do I deliver live training video online with interactive Q&A?

nicknd23 — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:57:50 -0800

How do I broadcast live (video) training online? Most webinar solutions focus on sharing slides + webcam + teleconference. I need streaming video (primarily) + interactivity... not slides. I provide live training. Trying to figure out what it would take to build/buy a way to deliver live training to 20-30 attendees in various locations. Would also like to archive the session for on demand viewing.

My biggest challenge is navigating through the jargon/technology... googling is an endless loop of mystery.

Most solutions (webex, yugma, gotomeeting, etc) tend to focus on sharing powerpoint with audio and a webcam. My primary content is me with a flipchart. Seems like I would need to stream live video + incorporate a way for people to ask questions + record for viewers to watch at a later time.

People really enjoy the Q&A part of the training -- which is why I don't want to just film for on-demand viewing.

Really need help getting started in the right direction.

Thanks!

Other than an iSight, what would you buy?

Wild_Eep — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 07:29:25 -0800

What USB2/FireWire video camera would you get for an iBook whose owner wants to video chat? Now that Apple's iSight is out of production, and the units are selling for up to $200 at eBay, I'm looking for the 'next best thing' for a client of mine. Ideally it would perch at the top of her iBook G4 (14-inch screen, if that matters) and be completely compatible with iChat video conferencing. Their ideal budget is $50 or less, but could go higher for an especially strong contender. Connection must be USB2 or FireWire.

iCan't See with iSight.

squink — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 18:45:56 -0800

Having problems with iSight on a Powerbook. It worked well up until recently. Now I get a spinning beachball anytime I use a program that uses the iSight as a video source. The camera LED comes on bright when I first plug it in, and I can hear the autofocus click. Then the LED dims.

Usually twisting the shutter calls up iChat, but that no longer works. In iChat, there is an option to preview video, but selecting it gets me the beachball. I tried a couple other programs, and get similar results (VideoCue, iGlasses).

This might be related: under System Preferences > Accounts > Picture, I can not edit the pictures anymore.

I also have a Mac mini, and the iSight works fine on it. I can use the iSight's firewire to connect my Powerbook to my mini in target mode, so I don't think it's the cable. Also, System Profiler > Firewire shows that the iSight is connected. I updated it to the latest firmware.

Finally, I updated to Quicktime Pro recently. I also downloaded and installed VLC. Coincidences?

Thanks.

Not a Hilton-wannabe, I swear

schroedinger — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 22:06:49 -0800

I'm looking for a workable, not-too-pricey (< $40) windows-compatible webcam to use for casual chatting. the price can go up a little bit of the webcam is awesome. i've looked at other askmefi threads, but the advice there seems to be get an isight (don't have $150) or logictech and creative labs cameras are good. but does anyone have any specific model recommendations? i was thinking the Creative Labs NX Pro, the Labtech Webcam Pro, or maybe the Creative Labs Webcame Live!, based solely on Amazon reviews as there doesn't seem to be much in webcam review sites out there.

OS X Videoconferencing with USB Camera?

louigi — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 09:31:21 -0800

Anyone have experience with iChatUSBCam and iChat? I'd like to get video instant messaging working on my computer, but I have a USB Logitech Quickcam. Do I really need to spend the ten bucks on iChatUSBCam? Is there any freeware out there that will do the trick?

Alternately, are there any reasonable alternatives to iChat, that work with a USB Logitech Quickcam? Yahoo's messenger program seemed intolerably buggy to me ... I haven't tried any others.

Videoconferencing

cgk — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 17:54:23 -0800

Can anyone suggest good (and preferably free) video conferencing software? I need to run at 320x240 (min) at close to full motion and XP breaks NetMeeting. I have done some searching around and most of what turns up looks like it is designed for teenage-talking-heads types of chat applications, so I was hoping someone might be able to point me to something a little more industrial strength. Thanks, and the Game Cube suggestion for Christmas was right on.

Recommend a free videoconferencing client that would work from behind a firewall.

Krrrlson — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 15:23:17 -0800

Looking for a free videoconferencing client that would work from behind a firewall, if any exist. Also, can you recommend a decent webcam? Thanks.

Mac and PC Videoconferencing

rubin421 — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 12:56:12 -0800

What's the best solution for videoconferencing between a Mac with iSight and a PC with an USB webcam? I've read that the new iChat can work with AIM 5.5, but I haven't been able to try it. Does anybody have?
I really need to hear from people with experience with this whole issue...

Is there a camcorder arm that clamps on to a desk and swivels around?

josh — Thu, 05 Aug 2004 18:48:32 -0800

I want to use my regular camcorder for videoconferencing, and for magnifying small print on my computer screen. Do any of the videographers out there know of a camcorder arm that clamps on to a desk and swivels around?

VideoChat with WebCam

zia — Mon, 19 Jul 2004 08:48:12 -0800

I have a webcam and want to do video chat... Is MSN my only alternative? I've been VERY impressed with the quality of the VOIP calls I can make using Skype; is there something similiar for video conferencing with a webcam?