Summary: The latest studio-in-a-box offers six video inputs, more audio capability, chromakeying and virtual sets in a sub-$10K box
Target Apps Multicamera productions that need to output to broadcast, the Web or a projector
What It Costs You
$9,995
What's Cool A million dollars of switching, effects, graphics, audio and video playback goodness in a production tool the size of a breadbox. Virtual sets are a great new addition. You can also broadcast, project and stream simultaneously.
What's Missing HD support; dual-monitor support for the incredibly dense interface; hard-switching surface is a $1K add-on
Specs
Video Inputs: 6 Y/C, 6 composite (BNC), 6 component (BNC) Video Outputs: 2 Y/C, 2 composite (BNC), 2 component (BNC) Video Ingest: 1, 4-pin IEEE FireWire, 1, 6-pin IEEE FireWire Tally: 6 tally light connections Audio Input: 4 balanced mic/line inputs (XLR or phone) Audio Output: 2 balanced line outs (phone), 2 unbalanced line outs (RCA), 1 stereo headphone out IVGA Input: Shift between 3 iVGA client displays
Smart Advice
The virtual sets included in LiveSet are all designed with LightWave 3D. It’s also possible to create your own background art or photography using LiveSet Conductor, a free download for owners of any of the TriCasters.
A Web streaming function will send live stream directly to the Web, with simultaneous archive for on-demand viewing, while a recording function automatically saves the production to the internal hard drive as a full-resolution video file.
This Much Updated "Studio-in-a-Box" Now Includes Virtual Sets
Bruce A. Johnson
May 1, 2008 Source: Studio Monthly
It is hard to overestimate the impact the original NewTek TriCaster made when it was released in 2005. Quite simply put, this $5,000 shoebox-shaped computer gave anyone wanting to do multi-camera video production most of the tools they needed. Sure, there were limitations. Only three video inputs? No chromakey? But still, the TriCaster defined its own market. And there was so much good stuff to play with— the ability to stream, feed a projector and output video all at once, an onboard digital disc recorder, video editing, graphics and more— that you’d almost feel guilty complaining about any shortcomings.
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All those connectors on the front of the TriCaster STUDIO add up to lots connection options. You’d be well-advised to put the TriCaster STUDIO under a table or in a rack, though, unless you are willing to wade through an unsightly waterfall of cabling.
This screen capture shows off the TriCaster STUDIO’s impressive virtual set capabilities. Unfortunately, it also displays the intensely cluttered interface.
Comments (9) for "NewTek TriCaster Studio"
1.
I really like the Tricaster VM--when it works, which is for about 6 weeks. I've had mine in three times in the last 6 months ... and I don't have a lemon. A neighbor has had theirs in 4 times for repair. Newtek has had serious problems with the unit, which they say they've fixed. Maybe 3 will be the charm.
Posted by Daun Korkow on Saturday, May 10, 2008 @ 08:21 PM
2.
I've got three of them, a TriCaster, a Tricaster Pro and a Tricaster Studio and haven't had a failure yet.
Posted by Jeff Cupp on Monday, May 12, 2008 @ 01:08 PM
3.
What I like to see yet in Tricaster is a bigger video overlays for every inputs like in AvTake CutFour mixer software.
Posted by James Antero on Thursday, May 15, 2008 @ 09:55 AM
4.
Ha anyone used or like the Tricaster broadcast unit? What do you think of it? Please respond.
Posted by Tony Tadeo on Friday, August 8, 2008 @ 11:18 AM
5.
James, Tricaster Studio does support overlays for every input.
Tony, I've poked at one during a demo, feature wise it's pretty much the same as TC Studio, except there's SDI in and out.
One note about this review - the original Tricaster does have Chromakey, it's next to the Lumakey control under the Keyer tab.
Posted by Bill Mills on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 @ 09:13 AM
6.
The Tricaster Pro that we overheats, freezes items on the screen, sometimes blacks out live cameras in the window that shows each input, and periodically just plain reboots itself. It does all these things on a regular basis. The machine has had three visits to NewTek and still is problematic. Is there anyone else out there who has had an these problems which I think may come from overheating. If so, did you get them fixed and how?
Posted by Felonise on Saturday, August 30, 2008 @ 10:28 AM
7.
I had some occasional odd freeze/lockup problems with VT[4] (same I/O card and software core as Tricaster with a different interface) which were due to overheating even though the CPU wasn't too hot to operate, I think it caused timing problems. I added a window air conditioner in the room near the CPU, and the problems vanished.
Also, a UPS is a must for a Tricaster. It seems more sentitive to small voltage drops than a lot of other equipment.
Posted by Bill Mills on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 @ 11:48 AM
8.
Does anyone know if there is a way to freeze a computer input image on the output screen so that audience doesn't see the computer being worked on?
Posted by Karen Carver on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 @ 01:30 PM
9.
There seem to be tow types of Tricaster users: Number 1 is the user who has had numerous problems along with several times sending machines back to NewTek to have them fixed only to discover the same problems or others creeping back in when they get them back. OR, user number 2 who has no problems loves their machine, and has never had to send it back to NewTek. I wish I knew how to get from the user number 1 category to user number 2 category, and fast. We loved our Tricasters, starting out, and then ran into a storm of problems from freezing up to trying to get an upgrade registered. We love what the Tricaster can do when it is working. Now the question is; how do we keep ours working. Ours get quite a workout with live production and are turned on for at least 8 hours every day. We have three machines now and were getting ready to purchase another Studio but we have put that on hold for now. It is frustrating because all we want is for it to work like you would expect any type of TV production gear to work; reliably. Getting NewTek to listen and solve problems is not the easiest thing either. They listen, but things don't seem to get fixed as a result. We may be faced with going back to the old standard for doing TV production with a stand alone switcher, character generator/graphics station and audio board and all the other bits and pieces.
Posted by Robert Piekarski on Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 07:25 PM
