MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
We have to do a series of interviews (up to 75mins) and the client in the US wants to watch it live. In the past we've just audio recorded but this is a step up. We tend to interview people in their homes so standard of wifi connection can't be guaranteed.
Any advice on how this can be done?
And if not possible doing it in a mobile way, any advice on doing it say, in one spot with good wifi connection?
Many thanks.
3 way skype call?
you can use join.me to share your screen with the client and I think that does audio too?
Looked at skype and seems a bit laggy / not great quality? Is there a webcam type approach that'll be more 'professional'?
Looked at skype and seems a bit laggy / not great quality?
That's hugely depend on the quality of your internet connection. As a rough guide you need about 300kbs in the direction you want to send the video ([url= https://support.skype.com/en-gb/faq/FA1417/How-much-bandwidth-does-Skype-need ]Skype specs here[/url]). If you don't have that then you probably won't be able to do any sort of video nevermind Skype.
A decent webcam makes a vast difference as well. Just got a Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 for some remote training and it is way better than a regular laptop camera.
what leffeboy said - if you can't do skype video then you'll be struggling with anything else.
3 way on skype can cause problems so a 2 way with the interviewee 'looking over your shoulder' via some sort of app/screenshare would be best as you'll have a faster connection too.
thanks leffeboy. Are you using skype with the webcam?
Yep, we use the webcam with Skype. Note that the bandwidth used depends on the screen size at the receiving end as well. So if the receiving end uses a small screen Skype will decrease the image it sends to optimize bandwidth. However 640x480 will need the 300kbs I mentioned earlier.
You have another issue though which is lag and this can depend on the ISP you go with. Most will be fine but if you are using a mobile operator then they can sometimes take hugely funny routes to get back to the UK 🙁
The only solution is to test unfortunately.
For multi-cam setups, google+ hangouts are actually quite good.
So you have say 2 cams and 2 machines at your end, both in the same hangout. Viewers from the states join, and mute their audio + cams. Mute the audio on 1 of the machines at your end.
I've done this for experiment monitoring, but it was with a strong net connection, which as above, will be the limiting factor whatever the technology.
If you need to "bring your own internet" look into a three mifi (or similar. Speed will depend on reception of course however. I've had perfectly good skype calls over 3g before though, but entirely signal/bandwidth dependant.
I suggest having a backup of a decent conference phone with you, so you can always landline the audio and record video for later viewing if needs be.
This US client voyeur .....have you met them ?
[img] 
[/img]
😀
Similar bandwidth requirements for Google +
Minimum bandwidth required:Outbound from the participant: 230kbps
Inbound to the participant: 380-500kbps
Skype will run on less than 300 if you reduce the image size at the receiving end (but will not look as good of course)