You’ll need a camera, a computer with Life Tributes Personalization Software installed, and a way to connect the camera to the computer.   For live Webcasts, you will also need an internet connection with at least 256 Kbps (.25 Mbps) upload speed. (Tip: To determine your upload speed and recommended video quality, check out this helpful article, “What internet connection do I need to stream live Webcasts?” )   Camera:

• Life Tributes Webcasting is compatible with any camera.
• Webcams can also be used, but consider the following to determine if using a webcam is the right solution for you:
  • Webcams may not offer the zoom level you need for an impactful webcast.
  • It may be impractical (or impossible depending on your setup) to place the webcam close enough to connect to your computer (USB cables have a limit of about 16 feet - 5 meters).

  Computer:

• Power: Webcasting is a CPU intensive activity, so you should have a computer that is powerful enough to handle it. Any quad-core PC from 2012 or better should work.
• Computer Type: Notebook and desktop computers are both supported.
  • Notebooks are more portable, and desktop computers give more options on how to connect the camera to the computer.
  • If you are using a notebook, ensure it is plugged in to a charger while webcasting.
• Internet Connection: For best results, the computer should be connected to the internet via an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi, but if your Wi-Fi is stable (doesn’t drop and doesn’t lose packets) you should not have issues with it as well.

  How To Connect the Camera to the Computer:

• Webcams: If you are using a webcam then you should be all set: just plug the webcam into the computer with the included USB cable.
• Other Cameras: you will need a capture device.
  • If your camera offers HDMI output you can use an HDMI capture device:
    • Blackmagicdesign DeckLink Mini Recorder if you have a desktop computer.
    • Cable Matters USB Video Game Capture Card for any computer with a USB 3.0 port.
    • Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2 for any computer with a USB 3.0 port.
    • AGPTEK USB 3.0 HDMI HD Video Capture Card for most PCs with a Intel chipset and USB 3.0 host controller.
    • Other HDMI capture devices are available on the market and should work as long as they present themselves as Directshow sources and offer raw access to the video and audio streams. Check with the manufacturer to verify how the device operates.
  • If your camera offers AV output you can use a Composite capture device:
    • Hauppauge USB-Live2 Analog Video Digitizer is a great choice since it is plug&play without requiring any drivers. You might also need to use a specialized cable, such as the STV-250N or AVC-DC400 ST from Canon. Check your camera manual for more info.
  • If your camera offers both HDMI and AV output you can choose either one.
    • HDMI will give you the best picture quality but its capture devices are more expensive.
    • AV output is much less expensive but offers a lower picture quality (blurrier picture and less vibrant colors).
  • If your camera is a network camera you'll need a virtual capture device:
    • Install the NDI^® Tools for Windows if your camera is part of a NDI camera system. NOTE: we have received mixed reports on Life Tributes compatibility with the NDI system for live streaming.
    • For other IP cameras you can install SplitCam, add your RTSP or MJPEG camera there, and select SplitCam as the video source inside Life Tributes.

  Audio Considerations: Audio will automatically record from the camera, but it may be suboptimal depending on the size of the room and its acoustics.   If you desire high-quality audio, we recommend contacting an Audio & Video installer specialist, who will be able to recommend the best equipment for your specific needs, and set it up for you. We recommend Advanced Audio Systems.