Tutorial: Dual-Stream, Multi-Destination Live Delivery with the Matrox Monarch LCS
Whether you want to rack-mount a unit in a studio or tuck it under a lectern, or you need multi-destination simultaneous streaming, the Monarch LCS from Matrox is a robust, flexible, and simple streaming appliance suitable for any application.
This tutorial is sponsored by Matrox Video.
In this tutorial I’ll introduce you to the Matrox Monarch LCS streaming appliance (Figure 1, below). There are a lot of streaming boxes in the market, so let me tell you what makes this one stand out from the crowd. The Monarch LCS is made to be a set-it-and-forget-it webcasting tool for multi-source live events. Perfectly suited for houses of worship, government, or corporate applications, the Monarch is ideal for combining and encoding both a camera and a computer with flexible connectivity.
Figure 1. The Matrox Monarch LCS. Click the image to see it at full size.
Inputs, Streaming, and Recording
The Monarch LCS can accept two HDMI sources or one SDI and one HDMI source (Figure 2, below). This flexibility really comes into play when you're asked to cover a live event but you're unsure of what sources will be present. With dual encoders, you can set up the Monarch to stream and record simultaneously.
Figure 2. HDMI and SDI I/O on the Monarch LCS rear panel. Click the image to see it at full size.
This is really where the Monarch LCS stands apart. There are other encoders that can do this but with the exact same setting for both operations--that is, you have to record the same quality as you’re streaming. Matrox allows you to individually configure each encoder separately, so you can tailor them to a specific quality setting. For example, you could stream at 5Mbps megabits and record a master-quality file at 15Mbps. Or you can set the Monarch to stream to two online video platform destinations.
Configuration
Configuring the Monarch is easily done through the Monarch LCS command center, accessible through any standard web browser (Figure 3, below). This allows you to access configuration and control from any network-connected device.
Figure 3. The Monarch LCS Command Center. Click the image to see it at full size.
Once your settings are configured and saved, anyone--including volunteers, clerks, or any non-tech savvy person--can operate this simple and easy-to-use device with a push of a button on the device (Figure 4, below) or via the webpage (Figure 5, below Figure 4). Event after event, there’s no need to reconfigure. That’s what makes the Monarch truly an appliance.
Figure 4. Push-button operation. Click the image to see it at full size.
Figure 5. Command Center operation