LiveShot - Live Low-Latency HD Video Over IP

LiveShot Stadium


Comrex LiveShot™ delivers ultra low delay live video over a range of IP connections and is used by TV stations and networks to deliver high quality video in real time from anywhere Internet access is available. Using as a basis the technology and techniques developed for the industry-standard ACCESS IP Audio Codec that sends live audio over contended networks, LiveShot smooths out the "bumps" on the public Internet to allow broadcast-quality live video streaming with very low delay. Optimized to perform well on challenging IP networks like 3G, 4G and satellite-based links, LiveShot offers a brand new standard in IP video and audio transmission.

Video

LiveShot encodes and decodes video to the H.264 standard, which is the state-of-the art codec for high-quality video using low network bandwidth. However, not all H.264 encoders are alike; within the H.264 standard, several lesser-quality, less-efficient profiles are available to conserve processing power but for optimal video quality, LiveShot encodes with H.264 HIGH Profile. Several other options within the H.264 standard, many of which are not implemented by competing products due to complexity and cost, are there by default in LiveShot and all H.264 options that maximize quality over poor networks and decrease latency are implemented. The liveshot sends video up to 1080i/59.94, the standard for television broadcasts, while send and receive manages one 1080i and one 720p stream simultaneously.

LiveShot Portable Front


Audio

Comrex has years of experience sending live, low-latency audio over IP networks for broadcast and LiveShot shows its pedigree. In addition to standard AAC audio coding, LiveShot utilizes the HE-AAC and AAC-ELD algorithms, both reducing network bandwidth and lowering delay.

Latency

LiveShot can encode and decode an audio/video stream with less than 200ms delay, though this may increase based on the chosen encoding mode and network factors. LiveShot uses an automatic decoder buffer manager to keep delay to an absolute minimum, based on technology perfected over years of experience with the BRIC series of audio codecs including the ACCESS.

Channels

LiveShot delivers full-duplex video and stereo audio between the field Portable and studio Rackmount systems. In addition, a full-duplex cue channel is available between the two.

On the Portable, the return audio/video channel is delivered via output connectors, or streamed to a mobile device via the built-in Wi-Fi access point. The cue channel is accessible on the Portable via a 3.5mm jack or Bluetooth audio to a wireless headset.

LiveShot Portable connectors

Control

LiveShot is optimized to be controlled in two ways:

LiveShot can be "driven" from the studio via the "LiveShot Central Server", which is maintained by Comrex. LiveShot Central allows you to connect to your LiveShot in the field from any web browser, regardless of whether the system has a public or private IP connection. Once logged in, the studio side users can set up and operate LiveShot remotely, including the Store and Forward functions.
LiveShot can also be controlled locally via a web page or through the Android or iOS app and access it from its internal Wi-Fi access point. This Wi-Fi connection is independent of any media channel, and serves a web page optimized for mobile browsers.

Store and Forward

LiveShot Portable can store audio and video on an SD card in its integrated card slot. Once that video is recorded, files can be managed and uploaded to the studio via either user interface.

LiveShot also maintains a fixed-length storage buffer of the ongoing stream on the SD card. On demand, this buffer can be captured and forwarded to an FTP server in the studio for better-than-live quality.

Portable

LiveShot Portable is designed to be compact and lightweight. The unit is supplied with Anton Bauer-style Gold Mounts to sandwich between a professional video camera and a battery (adapter plates are also available for V-Mount cameras and batteries). For cameras without professional battery connectors, several other mounting options are available for LiveShot - see LiveShot Prosumer Cameras for more information. The codec can be powered from the camera's battery when attached, or from an external AC power supply. Power consumption is only 8 watts and weight is less than 1kg (945g).

LiveShot Portable and Rack

Wireless - WiFi, 3G and 4G Connectivity

Besides connection to Ethernet, LiveShot Portable supports multiple wireless modems via two USB ports, which can be used simultaneously to increase the data bandwidth available. USB connections are made via a pair of flexible 20cm gooseneck-style adapters, which serve to elevate the modems above the body of the unit and above the cameraman's head. The adapters are bendable to provide for proper physical spacing between modems and to survive hitting doorways and other obstructions when moving around. Switchboard Traversal Server allows direct connection between the rackmount and the portable. This is enabled through the LiveShot’s crosslock feature making it as easy as pressing a button to set up your connection when the rackmount and portable are paired. Crosslocked units no longer need port forwarding or firewall tampering in order to establish the connection making increasing its connectivity to anywhere with an internet connection.

The portable unit is supplied with a high-gain Wi-Fi USB adapter and can support a wide range of 3G and 4G USB modems which are available from mobile providers; we can also supply unlocked Dongles, usually from stock. For use with Satellite, connections can be made to Inmarsat satellite terminals via the built-in Ethernet port. The LiveShot now supports multiple modems via the LiveShot Hub, the LiveShot Hub is capable of using WiFi and 3G/4G LTE allowing multiple streams at once to achieve more stable bandwidth in less reliable areas.

LiveShot Tripod Adapter

Camera Mounting

The Comrex LiveShot Portable incorporates an Anton Bauer-style "Gold Mount" (also known as 3-stud) battery arrangement that allows the device to be "sandwiched" at the back of a Broadcast or Professional video camera between the camera body and the battery. However, there are many good HD cameras built in the "prosumer" format - including Action Cameras - and these are now being adopted by customers. These cameras are easy to connect to LiveShot Portable via the HDMI input but they typically don’t have pro-style battery mounts, which can make mounting the LiveShot a bit difficult. We are able to offer a variety of inexpensive options to convert these cameras into a form factor that allows the LiveShot (and an accompanying battery) to be mounted conveniently onto them.


LiveShot On-the-Shoulder Camera Adapter

For Tripod mounting for steady, fixed locations a special mounting plate goes between the camera and the tripod which supports standard 15mm rod arms onto which an adapter plate and the LiveShot and Battery Assembly is attached. This can be rotated to the rear or side of the camera to allow access to the Viewfinder/Preview Screen.

When the camera needs to be mobile, an on-the-shoulder mount holds the camera to the front of the user while the Battery and LiveShot are mounted behind, thus maintaining a balanced arrangement. Contact us for more information or the supply of compatible mounting for the LiveShot Portable.


LiveShot Pouch

Other Options

Designed by Porta-Brace for the LiveShot Portable, the LiveShot Portable Pouch keeps the codec and its battery secure while on the move.

It has a padded shoulder strap and adjustable waist belt plus a Velcroed cover to protect the codec with its battery and a transparent window to see codec status and allow control.


V-Mount Battery Adapters

V-Mount Adapter Kits are available to use the LiveShot with V-Mount cameras & batteries - adapts from Gold Mount/Anton Bauer/3-stud type connectors.

We are also able to supply unlocked 3G and 4G USB Dongles as well as associated Pre-Paid Data Packages.

LiveShot Rack Rear Panel

Rackmount

The LiveShot-R Rackmount is designed for studio use and for situations where a rack-mountable enclosure is more convenient such as in an Outside Broadcast vehicle or Satellite Truck. LiveShots connect to each other in any - Portable-Portable, Portable-Rackmount and Rackmount-Rackmount - and both offer the same codec connectivity. Data connectivity is via a Network ethernet connection and using USB. Connecting a USB Hub to the LiveShot-R allows multi-path connectivity with bonding and diversity by combining multiple data connections, implemented in a similar way to the LiveShot-P Portable unit.

LiveShot-R is housed in a 1-U rack enclosure and is genlockable (Composite Video) and has the following Video and Audio connectivity:

LiveShot Expansion Slot

RETURN VIDEO (to the far end)

PROGRAMME VIDEO (from the far end)

RETURN AUDIO (to the far end)

PROGRAMME AUDIO (from the far end)

AUDIO CUE / COMMS (2-way audio)

LiveShot Portable
Input Video: HD-SDI (BNC), HDMI and Composite (BNC)
Audio: HD-SDI embedded (BNC), HDMI embedded and analogue stereo (XLR-5F)
HD/SDI loop-through provided
Output Video: Composite (RCA)
Audio: Analogue stereo (RCA)
Cue 4 position 3.5mm jack for wired headset
Bluetooth
LiveShot Rackmount
Input Video: HD-SDI (BNC) and Composite (BNC)
Audio: HD-SDI embedded (BNC) and analogue stereo / AES (XLR-3F)
Output Video: HD-SDI (BNC), HDMI and Composite (BNC)
Audio: HD-SDI embedded (BNC) and analogue stereo / AES (XLR-3M)
Cue XLR-3F in
XLR-3M out
H264, LiveShot, LiveU, StreamBox, Avenir, StreamBox ME, Teradek, Brik, Cube, VidiU, Bond, Bolt, LiveView, Live View, LU-Lite, LU40, LU50, LU60, LU, LU-Smart, LiveU Total

Product descriptions and specifications are subject to improvement or change without notice.
Not all features are supported in current firmware.