VidBlaster Home & Pro beyond v0.40

[Mike]

Last Thursday we had a live discussion over at Ustream to talk about what VidBlaster Home and Pro will look like now you've seen the new VidBlaster Studio. Discussions like this will be announced both to the beta tester email list and my twitter account (http://twitter.com/MikeVersteeg). Unfortunately not everyone could make it, so if you want to contribute feel free to do so here. The original subject of the discussion is below.

As you know VidBlaster has changed a lot in the recent months, something you've been able to see in the last 2 VidBlaster Studio releases. The big question is where to go with the next VidBlaster Home and Pro. Will they be modular as well, or do you prefer the simplicity of a fixed layout? What limitations will they have to distinguish them from other editions, limit resolution, the number of modules?

PS: I don't want this to turn out into a "I want all for nothing" discussion, I need to make a living too. So to keep this thread relevant and to the point, anything non-constructive or off topic will be removed. Anything else is very much appreciated!

[abouvette]

Hi Mike,
We use VidBlaster Pro v.39 as the video input to Flash Media Encoder 2.5.

I haven't looked at the Studio version but here are 3 things off the top of my head I'd like to see in the Pro version:
(1) different resolution for streaming and recording: I don't see us streaming beyond 320x240 in the near future. Setting the resolution higher than 320x240 seems to really bog down our encoding system plus as I mentioned, we're only encoding at 320x240 in FME. However, I'd like to archive a better quality signal for media (television) distribution. I work in the law courts and we want to let the (internet) public see what someone would see as if they were in a courtroom. Media companies aren't allowed to bring cameras in the courtrooms here. We've streamed a hearing already and the media did pick up our weblink but requested a broadcast quality source for our future webcasts so that they could take snippets for their newscasts.

(2)I'd like to be able to select the # of players the same way I do for effects and cameras. There will probably never be a need for us to have 8 or more players for a webcast (but you never know). If I have 3 cameras, 2 players, and one effect, that's all I'd like to see on the screen (along with the overlay, program,recorder and stream windows, of course). That gives me all I need to use for my webcast and nothing else. Perhaps then the modules displayed could take up more application space as a result (and therefore be easier to see)?

(3) support for IP-cameras (like network cameras, security cameras, videoconferencing equipment, etc). I haven't been able to select an IP based camera as a camera source yet even though my FME does it just fine.

That's it for now. Keep up the great work Mike!

[blueridgebruce]

Hi Mike and thanks for the opportunity to continue to the future development to Vidblaster.

I'll reserve my comments to the Home version, since that is what I currently purchased and use on a regular basis.

1. First, I would of course like the enhanced CPU management of the .41 studio version. I think that all of the products should at least have the optimum resource management features.

2. I've been very happy with the Home version as is. I like the simplicity of the setup and would be OK whether as is or modular.

3. I would like the effects that are currently in Home for the cameras to be in play for the players. I think that's a reasonable requests.

4. As far as any real extra at all (and I can live without it for sure) I'd like to see more video resolution options, i.e. 640 by 480 for example.

Thanks again for an absolutely awesome product and one that I love doing a little "show and tell" on a regular basis. Sorry that I wasn't able to make the live meeting. We were in the middle of a 12 hour drive from Virginia to Melbourne, FL

Blessings!

Bruce

[Mike]

Thanks. Let me stress again this thread is not about feature requests, there is a dedicated forum for that alone. This is only about what, if any, functionality currently in VidBlaster Studio you'd like to see migrating to Home & Pro. Keeping in mind of course that there has to be a reason for existence for the Studio version as well. Bruce's reply is exactly how I'd like to see them.

I have one major concern of introducing higher resolutions to a lower end edition, and that's the huge amount of support this will generate by people immediately setting resolution to a high setting (like 640*480) and then come to the forum (or email me) to ask why their machine locks up. Or worse, uninstall and move on. As Bruce can confirm, the average laptop/PC is not (yet) capable of doing these kind of resolutions. For me, support is one of the pillars of a commercial project.

[blueridgebruce]

I have one major concern of introducing higher resolutions to a lower end edition, and that's the huge amount of support this will generate by people immediately setting resolution to a high setting (like 640*480) and then come to the forum (or email me) to ask why their machine locks up. Or worse, uninstall and move on. As Bruce can confirm, the average laptop/PC is not (yet) capable of doing these kind of resolutions. For me, support is one of the pillars of a commercial project.


While I understand the concern, I would share my thoughts that catering to the novice user for a program as pro as Vidblaster would not be good. I recently upgraded by RAM to 4 GB in my Dell Latitude, Core 2 Duo and have had no problems streaming 640 by 480 using just the FME and standard Ustream broadcaster. Also, since the memory upgrade, I'm able stay consistenly in the 65% CPU range when using FME and Vidblaster in combination on Ustream. (One helpful tip is to disable the server monitor in the Ustream broadcaster while streaming). I think if the choice where available for 640 x 480 that I'd still be able to stream effectively.

Of course, if that combo were to present a problem, and I don't believe it would, I could always go back to a lower resolution. I think simply directing people to FAQ and the Help section should be sufficient to let people now of the optimum settings, based on their current PC configuration. Let's put some responsibility on the end user to learn the program and it's possibilities and limitations.

One more thing, when testing the Studio version, I was able to successfully stream the 640 x 480 in combo with FME.

[i208khonsu]

Just downloaded .42 and played around with it a bit. Saw this thread and thought I'd post a few thoughts.

On the modular feature and how I'm using it I feel that it's a little silly that I'll have to spend MORE money to use LESS of the program. Limiting the number of available modules you can add as well as the preview video switching and increased support for resolutions makes sense for a premium version. However requiring me to spend more money to scale back the features that I'm using makes me wish that there was a torrent available.

One final note on the visual appearance I wish that there was a more "vanilla" theme. Often when I'm pushing the limits of VidBlaster it has a tough time redrawing all the fancy graphics for the buttons and borders that really isn't necessary for it to get the job done that I need it to do. I could really care less if I was looking at stock windows/jdk/etc... buttons and windows. Especially if it means I'll be able to push VidBlaster just a little bit further before bogging everything down.

On a closing note as this is my first post I just want to say thanks for crafting such a terrific utility. Something I wish we all had years ago. Looking forward to your continued development issues!

[Tony]

So when will there be a new pro version? ;)

[i208khonsu]

...On a closing note as this is my first post I just want to say thanks for crafting such a terrific utility. Something I wish we all had years ago. Looking forward to your continued development issues!
I just re-read this. I think issues was not the word I wanted to use, but rather releases =D

[IAMRIC]

I Would like deck control, so if i am recording and have to stop i can assemble on the fly and not either start over or go to Finnish post.

2- I would like more info on what i can and cannot do in studio version.

Input from various sources like decks, dvd, pen drives....

Example
Can I import files from photoshop or gimp?
Can I use it wit a software CG like the title composer from data video?
Can I run studio alone record in standard definition and stream at another resolution simultaneously?
Can I have multiple overlays at a time?

By the way I would like to see the upstream program can you give me a link and let me know of future programs?

Thanks

Ric Marty