The All in One Workstation

I’ve been planning a "Hackintosh" build to handle live streaming, and today I wanted to share the logic behind the workflow. The goal? To keep gear counts low and portability high by centralizing almost every production task into one powerful machine.

Instead of hauling a rack full of dedicated hardware, I want to pack the Vision Mixer (Switcher), Graphics Generation, Streaming, and Media Server into one machine.

• Processing Power: The workstation will be equipped with dual Blackmagic Design 8K Pro Interface PCI-E Cards, providing 8 total SDI inputs/outputs.
• Software: My planned choice is Boinx MIMOlive. It handles media playback, graphics creation, and streaming natively, while also being able to output directly to the 8K Pro cards to feed venue screens. This leaves 6 inputs free for cameras and other sources.

Camera Options

I’ve weighed four different paths, ranging from budget-friendly automated setups to high-end broadcast optics:

Network & Infrastructure

Since I’m leaning toward PTZ cameras for portability, the network is the backbone of the rig.

• PoE Switch: Ubiquiti UniFi 16-Port PoE Switch (£290). This powers the cameras and data over a single cable.
• Networking Hardware: I’d pair this with a UniFi AC Lite AP (£80) and a Cloud Key Controller (£77). This allows me to isolate camera traffic from internet traffic using Virtual LANs (VLANs), ensuring a stable stream even in crowded venues.

Essential Accessories

• Audio Interface: The Tascam SERIES 208i (£385). For music events, you absolutely need discrete inputs for vocals and instruments to ensure the mix isn't ruined in post-production.
• Hardware Control: X-Keys 80-Key Programmable Keyboard (£215). MIMOlive integrates perfectly with X-Keys, letting me map specific camera angles and graphics to physical buttons.
• Communications: Hollyland Mars T100 Wireless Intercom (£1,513). A wireless comms system is non-negotiable for production flow, especially when the director needs to move around the venue.

What do you think of this "centralized" approach? Would you trust a single machine to handle everything, or do you prefer the safety net of dedicated hardware switchers? Which camera would you reach for? Let me know in the comments below!