What camera setup matches my workflow?

Which Setup Works Best for Me?

Over the last few months, I’ve developed several video production setups as an exercise to see what gear I would actually need to utilize Blackmagic Design's latest technology. It got me thinking: what gear would truly suit my workflow and the work I plan to do in the future?

I want a 4K live streaming setup suitable for a variety of events that can also provide video to local screens, handle video playback, and manage a live sound mix for the stream. Using the information gathered from my previous posts, I’ve come up with a solution that is powerful, professional, and remains within the realms of affordability.

The Heart of the Setup

I’ve chosen the ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K as the center of this setup. It’s an incredibly capable piece of kit that covers a large chunk of my requirements, including built-in communications and audio control.

For cameras, I’ve opted for the 4K versions of the Blackmagic Studio Cameras. I’ve paired these with my Dante audio multicore setup and six HyperDeck Studio 4Ks (four to record individual camera feeds, one for the main program feed, and one for video playback).

Infrastructure and Routing

I am running a custom multicore to each camera, consisting of a 2-core single-mode fiber cable and a Cat5e cable, both 100 meters long. The fiber carries the video, and the Cat5 carries audio to the cameras from the venue's sound desk.

The rack includes:

• Ubiquiti USW-16-POE-Gen2 network switch.
• Two Mac minis: One for streaming/recording and one for live video graphics.
• Two UltraStudio 4Ks: Paired with the Mac minis.
• Six HyperDeck Studio 4Ks.
• Four Optical-to-SDI converters.
• Two SmartView 4Ks: One for multiview and one to monitor the Mac mini screens.
• Fieldcast Fiberbrik Panel: To accept the optical feeds from the cameras.

Audio Integration

I’ve done some troubleshooting to ensure the sound engineer—operating the Mackie DAW interface—can actually hear what is going out on the stream. I’ve added an extra Dante audio output adapter connected to a pair of headphones via an XLR-to-jack adapter. Additionally, each Mac has an audio interface: one handles audio for on-screen graphics, and the other allows for a separate audio source for recording or streaming via internet radio.

The Breakdown

All together, the setup comes to £53,504.70.

What do you think of this setup for streaming live events in 4K? Would you change anything? Let me know in the comments below!