UStream - It is EASY

Roy Steffensen

Roy Steffensen

locksmith
Silver Member
I just checked how easy it is to do live-streaming, and all I can say is WOW.

My thoughts for today was to do a challenge, broadcasting me playing the 9-ball ghost if I got any takers.

I had already set up an ustream-account (free, takes few minutes), so all I needed to do was to connect my videocam to the computer, log into internet and ustream.

Tried it at home first, it worked well.

Went to broadcast the pooltable, got a few friends to visit ustream.tv to watch when testing, and it worked well. Good quality on the screen, but my problem was the internet-connection there. I got disconnected about 10 times in 30 minutes, so can't broadcast from there :(

The other major problem I had was that I couldn't figure out how to get sound. Can anyone help me with this?

Anyway, I guess we will see A LOT of tournaments and poolmatches on ustream the next months. If you have a videocamera, internet, computer it will take you less than 15 minutes before you can broadcast for FREE at ustream.tv, and the quality is good! If you haven't tried it yet, do so as soon as you can! You will be surprised how easy it is. I have absolutely NO knowledge of videocams, computers etc, but I managed to do it real quick.

2009 will be an even better year for us who loves live streaming :)
 
Roy Steffensen said:
I just checked how easy it is to do live-streaming, and all I can say is WOW.

My thoughts for today was to do a challenge, broadcasting me playing the 9-ball ghost if I got any takers.

I had already set up an ustream-account (free, takes few minutes), so all I needed to do was to connect my videocam to the computer, log into internet and ustream.

Tried it at home first, it worked well.

Went to broadcast the pooltable, got a few friends to visit ustream.tv to watch when testing, and it worked well. Good quality on the screen, but my problem was the internet-connection there. I got disconnected about 10 times in 30 minutes, so can't broadcast from there :(

The other major problem I had was that I couldn't figure out how to get sound. Can anyone help me with this?

Anyway, I guess we will see A LOT of tournaments and poolmatches on ustream the next months. If you have a videocamera, internet, computer it will take you less than 15 minutes before you can broadcast for FREE at ustream.tv, and the quality is good! If you haven't tried it yet, do so as soon as you can! You will be surprised how easy it is. I have absolutely NO knowledge of videocams, computers etc, but I managed to do it real quick.

2009 will be an even better year for us who loves live streaming :)
Click to expand...
It is not very difficult to do but when you try to make the image quality and the sound clear it can be costly,I think TAR has about $10,000 in equipment.You can use a USB mic or just plug it in a line in mic on your computer,either should work just fine.I am just about to get a camera that on the retail market is over $3,000,but the quality will go up a notch or 2. :)
 
Fast Lenny said:
It is not very difficult to do but when you try to make the image quality and the sound clear it can be costly,I think TAR has about $10,000 in equipment.You can use a USB mic or just plug it in a line in mic on your computer,either should work just fine.I am just about to get a camera that on the retail market is over $3,000,but the quality will go up a notch or 2. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks

I can imagine it is expensive to get perfect quality and sound, like TAR, but it is possible to get decent quality very cheap :)

About sound. My camera has sound when I am just recording, so why not when broadcasting?
 
Yep, it is pretty easy. Most of my family lives out of state, so I setup Ustream for Christmas morning and had the kids open presents online for all the Grandparents to see.

I would love to do some Ghost filming soon, but need a better camera like Lenny says. The one I have is built into the laptop and would be hard to put somewhere to view the table.

With how easy it is, I don't see why all pool rooms don't just have a table that is hooked up to be streamed at all times.
 
stuckart said:
Yep, it is pretty easy. Most of my family lives out of state, so I setup Ustream for Christmas morning and had the kids open presents online for all the Grandparents to see.

I would love to do some Ghost filming soon, but need a better camera like Lenny says. The one I have is built into the laptop and would be hard to put somewhere to view the table.

With how easy it is, I don't see why all pool rooms don't just have a table that is hooked up to be streamed at all times.
Click to expand...

I got a Sony videocam for Christmas, since my dad got mad since I borrowed his camera all the time :D

Yeah, there's absolutely no excuse for poolrooms to not have live-streaming available during 2009... Bad quality is still better than no streaming... If we get more places to stream I think it will gain those who make a living of broadcasting too.
 
Roy Steffensen said:
[highlight]I just checked how easy it is to do live-streaming, and all I can say is WOW.[/highlight]

My thoughts for today was to do a challenge, broadcasting me playing the 9-ball ghost if I got any takers.

I had already set up an ustream-account (free, takes few minutes), so all I needed to do was to connect my videocam to the computer, log into internet and ustream.

Tried it at home first, it worked well.

Went to broadcast the pooltable, got a few friends to visit ustream.tv to watch when testing, and it worked well. Good quality on the screen, but my problem was the internet-connection there. I got disconnected about 10 times in 30 minutes, so can't broadcast from there :(

The other major problem I had was that I couldn't figure out how to get sound. Can anyone help me with this?

Anyway, I guess we will see A LOT of tournaments and poolmatches on ustream the next months. If you have a videocamera, internet, computer it will take you less than 15 minutes before you can broadcast for FREE at ustream.tv, and the quality is good! If you haven't tried it yet, do so as soon as you can! You will be surprised how easy it is. I have absolutely NO knowledge of videocams, computers etc, but I managed to do it real quick.

2009 will be an even better year for us who loves live streaming :)
Click to expand...

Nice post. The whole streaming thing may have intimidated some -- knowing [highlight]how easy it is[/highlight] might stir some folks to say those most famous words: "Lights, camera, action." If it does, I am in hopes they will inform me (either by PM or clicking below) so I can keep our fellow AZers streaming list up to date⬇⬇⬇

AZers StreamList

[highlight]Rep!​
[/highlight]
 
Fast Lenny said:
It is not very difficult to do but when you try to make the image quality and the sound clear it can be costly,I think TAR has about $10,000 in equipment.You can use a USB mic or just plug it in a line in mic on your computer,either should work just fine.I am just about to get a camera that on the retail market is over $3,000,but the quality will go up a notch or 2. :)
Click to expand...

If anybody knows this, that would be Lenny!
 
Roy Steffensen said:
Thanks

I can imagine it is expensive to get perfect quality and sound, like TAR, but it is possible to get decent quality very cheap :)

About sound. My camera has sound when I am just recording, so why not when broadcasting?
Click to expand...
It just does not recognize the cameras mic,plug in a inline mic into your laptop or a usb mic and you will have sound. :smile:
 
Just a bump to remind people how easy it is!

And not only that, it is a perfect tool for practise also!

I am living on a small island outside Stavanger, and most of the time I practise either 14-1, drills or play the ghost. Lately I have been a bit bored, but the last 3 days I have been playing the ghost (money games and practise) live on the net.

In total I have had more than 50 unique viewers, watching me beat the 9-ball Ghost 9-1, lose 6-7 to the 10-ball Ghost (gambling), won 7-2 against the 9-ball ghost (gambling), lost 9-1 and 9-2 to the 9-ball ghost (gambling) before lost 5-4 to the 9-ball ghost when practising. (Some of the viewers posted threads on the Norwegian and British forum, so suddenly I had lots of people watching)

The last 4 sets were played after I tightened my table, and now it is as tight/tighter than the tables used for World Championships. Can't blame the big losses on that though, since I also won 7-2 with tightpockets... The last three sets I played poor position, and with tightpockets it didn't make it easier.

Anyway, my point is that practising live, only for just a handful viewers adds some extra pressure. I get real nervous when playing. Not nervous in a bad way, but the kind of nervousity that makes you focus even more.

I'll definitely play the ghost in some moneymatches live every now and then, with some friends backing the ghost.

Oh, another thing. I played one-pocket against 2 friends yesterday, just practising. They watched online and told me what to shoot on their turn. I lost 8-2 to player A and 8-0 to player B :o (They would never win if they were banking, cutting and playing those safeties themselves) ;) It was a funny way to practise one-pocket, and to "get inside" their heads. Now I know how they think when playing one-pocket, so I am better prepared for matching up against them :D
 
Last edited:
I've been looking at this with a lot of interest. I'll need to see how well my camera works and if we'll have an internet connection at the DCC, I'll try to stream some of the AZ/OP room for all those who can't make it!
 
Roy Steffensen said:
Just a bump to remind people how easy it is!

And not only that, it is a perfect tool for practise also!

I am living on a small island outside Stavanger, and most of the time I practise either 14-1, drills or play the ghost. Lately I have been a bit bored, but the last 3 days I have been playing the ghost (money games and practise) live on the net.

In total I have had more than 50 unique viewers, watching me beat the 9-ball Ghost 9-1, lose 6-7 to the 10-ball Ghost (gambling), won 7-2 against the 9-ball ghost (gambling), lost 9-1 and 9-2 to the 9-ball ghost (gambling) before lost 5-4 to the 9-ball ghost when practising. (Some of the viewers posted threads on the Norwegian and British forum, so suddenly I had lots of people watching)

The last 4 sets were played after I tightened my table, and now it is as tight/tighter than the tables used for World Championships. Can't blame the big losses on that though, since I also won 7-2 with tightpockets... The last three sets I played poor position, and with tightpockets it didn't make it easier.

Anyway, my point is that practising live, only for [highlight]just a handful viewers adds some extra pressure[/highlight]. I get real nervous when playing. Not nervous in a bad way, but the kind of nervousity that makes you focus even more.

I'll definitely play the ghost in some moneymatches live every now and then, with some friends backing the ghost.

Oh, another thing. I played one-pocket against 2 friends yesterday, just practising. They watched online and told me what to shoot on their turn. I lost 8-2 to player A and 8-0 to player B :o (They would never win if they were banking, cutting and playing those safeties themselves) ;) It was a funny way to practise one-pocket, and to "get inside" their heads. Now I know how they think when playing one-pocket, so I am better prepared for matching up against them :D
Click to expand...

Is this the stream site you are using ----->http://www.ustream.tv/RugRat? I have it on "follow" and was thinking about adding it to the AZBersLiveStreamList ⬇ -- what do you think -- do you want more pressure (audience)?

By the way, I love your blog -- that is one smart rat!
 
The concept of playing the shots for your friends is interesting. Do you think you lost because they have more knowledge of the game?.
 
cmbwsu said:
Is this the stream site you are using ----->http://www.ustream.tv/RugRat? I have it on "follow" and was thinking about adding it to the AZBersLiveStreamList ⬇ -- what do you think -- do you want more pressure (audience)?

By the way, I love your blog -- that is one smart rat!
Click to expand...

Yeah, RugRat is my username, and the link to the channel is www.ustream.tv/channel/roydfish.blogspot.com

Feel free to add the live-stream. I will do drills, play the ghost, moneymatches and stream from tournaments on that link.

Thanks for the kind words about my blog:)
 
HomeBrewer said:
The concept of playing the shots for your friends is interesting. Do you think you lost because they have more knowledge of the game?.
Click to expand...

When I lost 8-0 it was over real quick. (used lots of minutes, because we chatted about solutions, and shot by shot, but very few visits to the table). I dogged one of my shots early on, which gave an opening for the other player to take command.

In the other match I got outmoved in the beginning, but fought back. I dogged a shot for him, lol, but failed to pocket more than 2 ball on my visit and lost.

It's hard to say about knowledge of the game, but one thing for sure is that on a couple of shots they made me do things I wouldn't do. Some were smarter, some not, imo.

I also found myself rushing my shots, because I found it more fun to interact and discuss solutions with my opponent, and that might have played a part of it too.

But it was real fun, and educating. You should try it:)


Back to topic on how easy it is.

I asked my dad to test this today, and with my help he was broadcasting online within 7 minutes!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top