Live streaming of meetup (1 Viewer)

Mr Tree

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The idea of this came up in the Suicide Queen thread and both myself for S@P and @Trihonda for MTTD expressed possibly being interested if we can get some technical help.

Does anyone out there know what would be required in order to livestream a table during a meetup? I would need someone to hold my hand through what I needed to do but if I could logistically make it work I would consider putting a camera on the main table for the event.

Thanks!
 
Just one overhead camera, a room camera, or hole cameras?

Angles and such are a bigger challenge than the technical side. Angles that would make it interesting to watch for more than 2 minutes - even more difficult.
 
Just one overhead camera, a room camera, or hole cameras?

Angles and such are a bigger challenge than the technical side. Angles that would make it interesting to watch for more than 2 minutes - even more difficult.
I was thinking an overhead. I probably don't have a powerful enough laptop or good enough internet service now that I'm looking at it.
 
twitch.com/foxwoodspoker

If u don't get the results google twitch Foxwoods poker and look up past broadcasts, u could easily set something like that up
 
I have a pretty good vantage point over my main table, with power nearby, and a very powerful Wi-Fi signal. I looked into it last time and even went so far as to upload several different software packages that were supposed to enable broadcasting. None of these to seem simple, so I had abandoned the idea. I'm not at home right now, so I don't recall which programs I uploaded.

I'm willing to spend 100 bucks on a WebCam, if it can be hooked up simply.

Here are some of the challenges I recall off the top of my head.

we want to have something secure, that not just anyone can start watching. There is (Poker) going on in someone's house, with questionable legalities, and for security reasons, this stream cannot be Accessible to the public. I think that ruled out twitch. But I could be wrong.

We also want to have something that more than one person can log into at a time, so that it does not bogged down the system. A lot of surveillance tape camera systems allow people to login remotely, but then only allow one user at a time.

Here is the vantage point I identified from a nearby cabinet, where a camera could be mounted. I don't think we are talking about hole cams , Or using RFID to identify the hands in question. I think we were merely talking about capturing the overall banter and shenanigans.

IMG_1877.JPG
 
Great idea! I made the same suggestion during the Derby Showdown. I have Twitch streaming experience, so I could lend a hand.
 
There's a number of challenges to do this well. @Poker Zombie hit on a couple of them.

First is the video component of the event. If you went with purely overhead, that's relatively doable. The problem with a pure overhead angle for poker is getting wide enough to capture all the action, but still be able to see all the bets, up-cards, etc. Then, of course, you still don't know what folks have in the hole, and poker on TV didn't really explode until the advent of the pocket camera. That means either getting numerous pocket cams on a raised-rail table, using RFID, or just saying screw it...overhead cam only. All of them have some kind of drawback involved.

Then you have an arguably bigger issue to tackle - sound. If you go with a single condenser microphone then you'll get the volume at the table, sure, but it will also do exactly what it's supposed to do, which is pick up the sound from the entire room. There's no way to "mix" that out with a condenser mic. That means going with dynamic microphones, but the problem with those is they, too, will do exactly what they're supposed to do, and isolate the sound that's right in front of them. That then requires numerous microphones with proper position. Going with 2-3 choir-style microphones that hang from the ceiling might be a nice blend of the two, but you're still going to get ambient noise from the rest of the room. Both of the latter two options also require a mixer, and if you're streaming, it needs to have a USB out - and many don't.

And then, of course, there's the upstream bandwidth issue and other possible technical issues to getting it done. Many internet providers don't allow more than 1Mbps upstream which simply won't work. The next common tier is 5Mbps which could be feasible depending on the tool you use to broadcast. For example, I believe Twitch maxes out at 3.5Mbps, so a 5Mbps upstream should suffice provided that nobody else is uploading anything. The problem there is that folks frequently upload pics from their phone to PCF during a meet-up so you'll have upload spikes during the stream that might cut into quality. Ideally you have a 10Mbps pipe or more, but you'll surely pay a little more for that privilege.

In short, live-streaming a specific table at an event *can* be done, but it's going to be both a monetary and time investment for whoever does it.

What might be more interesting - and certainly more feasible - is to use Facebook Live or Periscope to do various live interviews or look-ins, have an on-site "correspondent" take multiple short videos throughout the event and upload/post them, or simply have a Twitch "studio" set up on the side that is indeed live-streaming, but isn't covering a specific table. You could also have Twitch set up to offer a HUD that at least shows things like chip counts/blind levels.
 
I've been trying to work on a Facebook Live stream for OFCP at SQM, but there have been issues there as well so far - namely internet connectivity.
 
I've been trying to work on a Facebook Live stream for OFCP at SQM, but there have been issues there as well so far - namely internet connectivity.
I think something like that is probably optimal, assuming connectivity isn't an issue. Maybe it's not a go at SQM, but surely something like this can be done at a meet-up somewhere.
 
There's a number of challenges to do this well. @Poker Zombie hit on a couple of them.

First is the video component of the event. If you went with purely overhead, that's relatively doable. The problem with a pure overhead angle for poker is getting wide enough to capture all the action, but still be able to see all the bets, up-cards, etc. Then, of course, you still don't know what folks have in the hole, and poker on TV didn't really explode until the advent of the pocket camera. That means either getting numerous pocket cams on a raised-rail table, using RFID, or just saying screw it...overhead cam only. All of them have some kind of drawback involved.

Then you have an arguably bigger issue to tackle - sound. If you go with a single condenser microphone then you'll get the volume at the table, sure, but it will also do exactly what it's supposed to do, which is pick up the sound from the entire room. There's no way to "mix" that out with a condenser mic. That means going with dynamic microphones, but the problem with those is they, too, will do exactly what they're supposed to do, and isolate the sound that's right in front of them. That then requires numerous microphones with proper position. Going with 2-3 choir-style microphones that hang from the ceiling might be a nice blend of the two, but you're still going to get ambient noise from the rest of the room. Both of the latter two options also require a mixer, and if you're streaming, it needs to have a USB out - and many don't.

And then, of course, there's the upstream bandwidth issue and other possible technical issues to getting it done. Many internet providers don't allow more than 1Mbps upstream which simply won't work. The next common tier is 5Mbps which could be feasible depending on the tool you use to broadcast. For example, I believe Twitch maxes out at 3.5Mbps, so a 5Mbps upstream should suffice provided that nobody else is uploading anything. The problem there is that folks frequently upload pics from their phone to PCF during a meet-up so you'll have upload spikes during the stream that might cut into quality. Ideally you have a 10Mbps pipe or more, but you'll surely pay a little more for that privilege.

In short, live-streaming a specific table at an event *can* be done, but it's going to be both a monetary and time investment for whoever does it.

What might be more interesting - and certainly more feasible - is to use Facebook Live or Periscope to do various live interviews or look-ins, have an on-site "correspondent" take multiple short videos throughout the event and upload/post them, or simply have a Twitch "studio" set up on the side that is indeed live-streaming, but isn't covering a specific table. You could also have Twitch set up to offer a HUD that at least shows things like chip counts/blind levels.
Well....crud
 
Honestly the easiest and probably most interesting way to do it would be for one of the players to just take video from their seat and upload it later, a la some of the poker vlogs that have recently hit Youtube. Then you might at least be able to see that player's hole cards (either hole card cams around the table or RFID would be completely un-feasible for circus games, not to mention expensive) and you probably would be able to track at least the majority of the action from that particular player's perspective.

At least at the main table at S@P, I wouldn't expect too much issue with ambient noise - there are only two tables in the room, and the other is far enough away to not interfere unless people start yelling. :LOL: :laugh:
 
Psypher made some excellent points about using some quick videos to broadcast interviews, display specific hands, etc

I think an overhead shot only is just going to be boring from an action standpoint
 
At least at the main table at S@P, I wouldn't expect too much issue with ambient noise
This is a good point - I have very little knowledge of the setup of most places, but having seen pics of Tom's place it's likely that condenser mics would be a reasonable option there.

the easiest and probably most interesting way to do it would be for one of the players to just take video from their seat and upload it later, a la some of the poker vlogs that have recently hit Youtube.
Not a terrible option at all. I could do it and call it, "Watch me donk my stack off at the Suicide Rumble Shootout!"
 
You guys have been eavesdropping on my setup lol? I have 2 action cameras and a camcorder, 2 overhead condenser mics feeding to a mixer and intend to do Live at Club Courage. Really though, it's far easier to record and edit some footage than try to stream.
 
Some will recall i vlogged the WCB last year. I posted a dozen or so short videos from the action. I then uploaded these vids to YouTube, then linked to them in the event blog. Check out the WCB blog from last year to See if this is something like what you're talking about.
 
You guys have been eavesdropping on my setup lol? I have 2 action cameras and a camcorder, 2 overhead condenser mics feeding to a mixer and intend to do Live at Club Courage. Really though, it's far easier to record and edit some footage than try to stream.
Yeah, but i think they plan to use those discussed setups for more than just remote perv shots...... :D
 
FB live would be cool. However it assumes everyone you want to see it is s friend, right?
 
I don't use it much, but doesn't PCF have its own Facebook page?
 
You can post live on your own page, but not on someone else's. You can set up groups to limit access, but that would require letting everyone know well in advance and confirming friends etc.

I found it easier to create a pseudonym. This way, my normal friends don't see the degeneracy of a meet-up. This is particularly important to me, because my job has a "morality" clause which makes gambling a terminable offence.

Thus, the Ted Downs moniker.

I was going to stream the final table at SQM, but you know how meet-ups go...
 
You can post live on your own page, but not on someone else's. You can set up groups to limit access, but that would require letting everyone know well in advance and confirming friends etc.

I found it easier to create a pseudonym. This way, my normal friends don't see the degeneracy of a meet-up. This is particularly important to me, because my job has a "morality" clause which makes gambling a terminable offence.

Thus, the Ted Downs moniker.

I was going to stream the final table at SQM, but you know how meet-ups go...

I was fairly careful in my video blogging to not mention gambling, or say anything incriminating. I too have issues at work that prevent me from putting A live stream on my Facebook wall
 

I'll try to link a few if the vlogs here.




This does not include all of the videos from the series. Kind of cheesy, but also kind a cool.

I think I protected people's privacy by making the videos unlisted, so you can only access it if you have the link which I embedded in the event blog on PCF.

I am pretty sure I will be doing something similar for this year's mad town throwdown, and again at the Windy City blowout, if I get Jeff's permission.

My only regret was not taking more videos. To be honest, I felt kind of cheesy at the time walking around talking to the camera. I also felt kind of weird talking and interrupting the action. In hindsight, I think I just needed a few more drinks to loosen up and not give a shit. ;)
 
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I'm seriously looking into this....
Has anyone used OBS? It has built-in Delay timers, probably not as important for live play vs online (used mainly for Twitch streaming)

Also, someone mentioned Youtube Live as well as FB live..for those of us not active on Facebook, the YT option may be better....?
But I haven't looked into it...
nitzilla
 
All these morality clauses. Jeebus.

My boss once tried to stake me into a tournament with the department holiday party money to try and have a bigger party.
 

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