Tutorial: Live Switching, Streaming, and Recording with the Epiphan Pearl

Choosing Streaming and Encoding Options

For each channel, you can specify streaming options. I’m streaming to Ustream (Figure 7, below), using encoding options chosen in the Encoding screen shown in Figure 8 (below Figure 7).

Figure 7. Streaming options in the Pearl web UI. Click the image to see it at full size.

Figure 8. Setting encoding parameters. Click the image to see it at full size.

Recording Your Program

You can also record the program feed that you’re streaming to the internet, with options set in the Recording screen (Figure 9, below).

Figure 9. Setting recording options. Click the image to see it at full size.

Note that Pearl has 1 TB of on-board storage, so you’ll have plenty of room for recordings. Live streaming starts as soon as you choose the channel and input your server credentials. That’s why you need the pre-show slide.

You control recording via the Start and Stop controls shown at the top of Figure 9, or using the recording control on the touchscreen itself.

Once you’re live, you can switch layouts using the web interface, or using the touchscreen control on the front panel.
Or via the touchscreen control on the front panel (Figure 10, below).

Figure 10. Switching layouts using the touchscreen. Click the image to see it at full size.

That’s a quick look at the Epiphan Pearl. You get four simultaneous HD streams at 30fps, recording and live-switching with an interface that even the most non-technical user can operate.

For more information about the Epiphan Pearl, contact this tutorial’s sponsor, Videoguys.com.