First thing you are going to ask, what the heck is the Ohana Saurus. Well its the Skype setup I use to bring guest into my show. For the past couple of years we have been operating with a older pc based system that frankly needed to be updated. I did a lot of research and was trying to maximize the utilization of what new gear I would buy. I settled on building my new system with Mac Mini’s as they can also be used in the render farm when I am using Final Cut.
Here is the new Setup and Video / Audio Flow.
Skype Video – Out
Mac Mini – HDMI Video Out to Atlona
Atlona 1×4 HDMI Video Distribution Amp to HDMI 1 & 2
HDMI 1 – Show Monitor HP ZR2240W
HDMI 2 – Black Magic Design HDMI SDI Converter to Tricaster
SDI Video Feed to Tricaster Channel 5/6
Skype Video – In
Tricaster – Video Out to Kramer 1×5 Video Distribution Unit
Kramer 1×5 VDU to 2x Canopus ADVC 300
Canopus ADVC 300 to Mac Mini Firewire Port
Audio In/Out
Mac Mini to EBTECH Hum Eliminator
EBTech Hum Eliminator to Mackie ONYX 162oi
Note on Audio we use Aux sends on the Mackie for cross talk across the two skype channels.
There are a dozen ways to make one of these systems. But we have true 1080i video that is feeding the tricaster and the monitors. Our shakedown show today and everything went perfect. We have some light leveling to do on the monitors but this upgrade was long overdue.
Did you use the latest version of Skype on your Mac Minis? And did you have to perform any XML hacks?