[Wikimedia-l] WMCH resolution about providing a web conferencing system for the Wikimedia Movement

Mon Feb 25 12:22:02 UTC 2013

Thank you Manuel, this is precisely the kind of information I was hoping
for and will be very useful. I hope you've recovered from the flu!

Regards,
Richard Nevell

On 25 February 2013 12:14, Manuel Schneider
<manuel.schneider at wikimedia.ch>wrote:

> Hi Fæ and all,
>
> Richard already contacted me offlist concerning A/V equipment for
> conferences, so I thought it makes sense to reply on-list (Richard's in
> CC) to make this information available broadly.
>
> Anyway, I am not claiming that I have the best solution nor the best
> knowledge on this topic but some experience. Others please add their
> solutions and experiences.
>
> For an inexpensive audio and / or video conference we need components
> which we can easily connect to a PC and will be recognized by the
> operating system as simple audio or video inputs, like a webcam and a
> soundcard. If we stick to these standards we can use any conferencing
> software we want - be it Skype, Google Hangout or Big Blue Button (which
> uses simply Flash).
>
> == Video ==
> === Webcams ===
> Built-ins are always inferior to USB webcams, especially the angle due
> to their fixed position on the screen is bad.
>
> When buying a USB webcam make sure that it can be used as a standard USB
> imaging device. Don't buy webcams with a too high resolution! They have
> small lenses catching only a little light and higher resolutions
> typically mean darker / noisier images. 720p is good. You can't stream
> in HD anyway.
> Logitech C310 and C510 are good models.
>
> === Camcorder ===
> Camcorder have much bigger lenses and are much more flexible in their use:
> ** use a small tripod
> ** you can set whitebalance, manual focus, shutter...
> ** optical zoom
> ** tilting LC-display - turn around so people can see how the camera
> image looks like
> ** they can record simultaneously (on tape or SD card)
> Make sure your camcorder as a DV output (Firewire). Plug it into your
> computer and you can use the camcorder as a standard imaging device.
> Again, you don't need HD for a video conference. At least with the
> bigger lense and sensor or a camcorder it doesn't hurt too much.
>
> I use a Panasonic camcorder, a recommendation (and gift) from the
> Austrian Broadcaster (ORF): Panasonic NV-GS500.
>
> This little tripod can be expanded up to 1m but fits perfectly in a
> small bag and gets through hand-baggage on an airplane:
> http://www.amazon.de/Cullmann-50008-Stativ-Digi-Pod-long/dp/B000AM4N10
>
> == Audio ==
> === Microphones ===
> Built-in microphones are always inferior. This is true for camcorder
> mics, notebook mics... For most applications they are also way too far
> away from the audio source (your mouth).
>
> ==== Table / Conference Mics ====
> Get extra mics. For a conference get a boundary layer microphone.
> * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PZM_%28microphone%29
> I got this one: http://www.thomann.de/gb/superlux_e304b.htm
> Like most professional mics it needs phanton power and comes with a
> simmetrical connection (XLR). Symmetrical connections are less prone to
> noise and other negative impact on the cabling.
>
> ==== Gooseneck Mics ====
> If you need better audio quality then you need to get individual mics
> for each participant. Goosenecks are best here, especially when you get
> them with on-off switches, so they participants can switch themselves to
> avoid disturbances.
> Bundle, not switchable: http://www.thomann.de/gb/samson_cm_20_p_bundle.htm
> Mic stand w/ switch: http://www.thomann.de/gb/km_29375.htm
>
> === Soundcards ===
> Built-in soundcards don't work for professional audio equipment. They
> have noise and the line input / mic input jacks don't have the right
> impedances. Their power supply for condenser mics is mostly incompatible
> to what we want to use.
>
> There are great mixers which have a soundcard integrated. So you can
> just plug all audio equipment together in your mixer, check the quality
> via headset, plug it into your computer and get the sound right their on
> its own audio channels. Just make sure before you buy a mixer that it
> supports the USB 1.1 standard! USB 2.0 only means that you need special
> drivers and might end up not having a generic sound interface available
> in your OS.
>
> For only two mics (eg. PZM / boundary layer) I got myself this little
> sound card. It even has a small VU meter, so you can check the volume
> without a headset.
> http://www.thomann.de/gb/alesis_io2_express.htm
> Big advantage is that this device is USB-powered. No additional cables
> on you table and no additional source of noise in your audio system!
>
> For bigger setups I got me this:
> http://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_xenyx_x1832_usb.htm
> This one also supports 2-track-input so you can do more complicated
> things like sound routing - this was needed to handle live translation
> of Sue Gardners visit at Wikimedia Deutschlands General Assembly. I
> streamed / recorded on two different back planes and switched the input
> planes between translation and original audio so we had english always
> on one back plane and german on the other.
>
> These soundcards work fine under Linux with the generic USB audio driver.
>
> === Speakers ====
> Better in virtual conferences would be headphones. Everyone knows the
> negative effects in Skype meetings if somebody doesn't use a headset.
> Echos and other disturbances.
>
> Put the speakers far away from the mics but so you can still hear well
> to avoid feedback. Again, individual gooseneck mics make it easier.
>
> You can use standard speakers which can be plugged into the line-out of
> your notebook.
>
> == Conlusion ==
> * USB soundard w/ 2 mic inputs and phantom power:       100 EUR
> * 2x boundary layer mics (60 EUR each)                  120 EUR
> * pair of speakers                                       10 EUR
> * small tripod                                           30 EUR
> * Panasonic camcorder w/ DV out                         300 EUR
>
> For 560 EUR you can get yourself a decent video conferencing equipment.
>
> Once you have everything connected to the PC make sure it has installed
> all the drivers for camera and soundcards and make a restart to be sure
> all devices work before you start the conference.
> Once you start Skype, Hangout, whatever, make sure the application uses
> the right video device (DV camera), audio input device (USB soundcard)
> and audio output device (internal soundcard). Check "Settings".
>
>
> /Manuel
> --
> Wikimedia CH - Verein zur Förderung Freien Wissens
> Lausanne, +41 (21) 34066-22 - www.wikimedia.ch
>

-- 
Richard Nevell
Wikimedia UK
+44 (0) 20 7065 0753

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