Tutorial: Streaming and Archiving Live Events with StreamVu and the Matrox Monarch HD

Configuring the Streamed and Recorded Video with the Monarch HD

Figure 7 (below) the web page that I’ve prepared with the live video and all three add-ons (which you can see by scrolling down from the video window).

Figure 7. The web page we’ve created to present the video and add-ons. Click the image to see it at full size.

Now all we need is the video. For that, let’s go to the Monarch HD. Briefly, the Matrox Monarch HD (Figure 8, below) is a small, quiet, solid-state device with HDMI input. You configure the unit by logging in from any computer on the same networks.

Figure 8. The Matrox Monarch HD. Click the image to see it at full size.

Let’s configure the live stream first (Figure 9, below). I’m shooting in 1080i, but since this stream will be sent to all live viewers, I need a fairly compact and efficient configuration. The 640x368@800 kbps preset should work well. Click Apply to apply your selected preset.

Figure 9. Configuring the live stream in the Matrox Monarch HD Command Center. Click the image to see it at full size.

Choose Record from the Settings pull-down to enter the Record window, where you’ll configure the master-quality copy, which you can store to SD or USB storage on the Monarch HD or to a networked drive. Since this copy is for archival and on-demand production, I want a high-quality stream. I’ll use 1080p@25 mbps, saved to a USB drive on USB2 (Figure 10, below). As with the streamed version, click Apply to apply the preset.

Figure 10. Choosing Record settings for the master-quality archived copy. Click the image to see it at full size.

To start streaming and recording, click over to Control, and press Start streaming and recording (Figure 11, below). Note that I you can also start recording using buttons on the Monarch HD itself.

Figure 11. Starting the stream and record. Click the image to see it at full size.

Let’s check back on the web page; Figure 12 (below) shows the video now streaming and recording.

Figure 12. Now playing. Click the image to see it at full size.

When the broadcast is complete, click the Stop Streaming and Recording button (Figure 13, below).

Figure 13. Click here when the video is complete to stop the recording and streaming. Click the image to see it at full size.

Then, back in the StreamVu control panel, choose Reporting, then click the Get Data button (Figure 14, below) for a report showing details like how many viewers watched the broadcast and for how long.

Figure 14. Getting data on the stream. Click the image to see it at full size.

StreamVu is a simple, inexpensive and well-featured service, and Monarch HD is the only hardware encoder that can produce one stream for live distribution and the other for archiving. In combination, they make an ideal solution for your live and on-demand video production requirements.

For more information about the Matrox Monarch HD with the free 30-day trial for StreamVu, contact this video's sponsor--Videoguys.com--at 800-323-2325.