The Streaming Media Producer 25
The inaugural Streaming Media Producer 25 highlights companies that make gear that not only demonstrates promise or prowess in a single stage in the process, but fits well in a kit that makes your live production workflow work.
NICK MA, CEO & CTO
Magewell’s Pro Capture and USB Capture Plus lines are go-to devices for a vast range of video producers to get video out of their cameras and ready to stream and record. Magewell’s latest forays into stream encoding with the Ultra Stream HDMI and IP video with the Pro Convert NDI encoder promise to keep Magewell in the thick of things for some time to come.
LORNE TROTTIER, CO-FOUNDER & President
While Matrox has been producing rock-solid and cost-efficient A/V I/O cards for years, its trio of compact streaming and recording devices—the Monarch HD and the dual-channel Monarch HDX and LCS—command a secure spot in the mobile producer’s wheelhouse.
TODOR FAY, CO-FOUNDER & CEO
True to its name, NewBlueFX is, of course, in the effects business, offering up a range of curative and creative plug-ins to professional post-producers in densely populated packages like TotalFX. But what sets NewBlueFX apart from the pack in live streaming is the innovative, 3D/4K/NDI-capable live graphics package TitlerLive 4.
JIM PLANT, CEO
It’s hard to think of anything that’s made broadcast-worthy live production accessible to more people that NewTek hasn’t at one time been “synonymous with” over the last few decades, from the VideoToaster up through the many incarnations of the TriCaster. NewTek’s latest innovation is, of course, Network Device Interface (NDI), which is ushering in a new Video over IP era in agile live production that’s rocking our world (and showing its influence in a number of companies on this list) yet again.
KAZUHIRO TSUGA, CEO
The presence of a technology giant like Panasonic on a list like this isn’t so much about acknowledging everything it does as it is about identifying specific things it does for streaming media producers. With its switchers, its popular PTZ cams, its forays into NDI, and its branded iOS multicam integration with Cinamaker (also on this list), as Anthony Burokas says, “They seem to be trying to integrate their gear further into the streaming world than the others.”
JOSEPH MULCAHY, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
True to its name, PTZOptics is a company with a laser-like focus on Pan-Tilt-Zoom camera systems and remote-controlled, live-switched streaming production, targeting churches, sports streaming, and more. With USB, SDI, and NDI models, PTZOptics has something for just about anyone working in this thriving and growing live production niche.
JUN-ICHI MIKI, CEO
Roland’s mixer/switcher line proved a unanimous choice on this year’s inaugural SMP 25 ballots. These well-designed, compact switchers distinguish themselves in a crowded field with a welcome emphasis on audio mixing that reflects the company’s deep roots in audio technology and the music industry.
ANDREAS SENNHEISER, CEO
Streaming Media Producer evolved out of a print magazine for live event video producers called EventDV. In its debut issue, one of our columnists declared unequivocally that “Sennheiser makes the best wireless mic systems in the business. Hands-down. There’s nobody else.” A bit hyperbolic, to be sure, but it wouldn’t be too outrageous to say that Sennheiser’s gear inspires that kind of loyalty from many live producers who still swear by it today.
KENICHIRO YOSHIDA, CEO
Sony earns its standing on this particular list by supplying a handful of cameras that have become the sine qua non of many a live producer’s traveling kit, including the popular A7 series of mirrorless full-frame cameras and associated lenses, as well as its PL-mount S35 and all-purpose 1" lens models.
RUDY J. ELLIS, CO-FOUNDER & CEO
Switchboard Cloud—the multichannel, social-streaming software solution formerly known as Joicaster—works with a range of encoders and “makes it quite simple and even inexpensive” to send a single stream to disparate destinations, according to Streaming Media contributing editor and SMP 25 panelist Jan Ozer.
NICK MATTINGLY, CO-FOUNDER & CEO
Switcher Studio gets the nod here for enabling multicam live streaming of up to 9 iOS devices with titles and other graphics and Microsoft Stream support at manageable monthly pricing levels. Another successful innovator in livestreaming’s burgeoning how-mobile-can-you-get scene.
SCOTT PUOPOLO, CEO
Telestream has made its mark in numerous areas of the streaming world with workflow automation, live linear, transcoding, and QA solutions, but for the SMP crowd it’s all about Wirecast, the venerable professional streaming production tool that continues to break new ground with handy virtual camera features, Facebook Live polling, and PTZ control, to name a few.
NICOL VERHEEM, FOUNDER & CEO
Few companies have made the grade more notably in mobile, ultra-mobile, and even-more-mobile streaming than Teradek, with its path-breaking bonding solutions, IP devices, and compact streaming encoders. The new VidiU Go, reviewed in this issue, packs a particularly powerful punch.
MARTIN SINCLAIR, CEO
“Pushing hard in the software spectrum, constantly adding great features and capabilities,” as one member of our judging panel commented, vMix earned high marks across the board for its powerful live streaming, mixing, and recording software, with cool HD virtual sets, animated graphics and scoreboards, instant replay, and acclaimed vMix Call conferencing solution.
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The second annual StreamingMediaProducer 25 is here! We chose the most innovative companies that enabled, enhanced, and streamlined the workflows of live video producers—particularly those who need the mobility, agility, and versatility to deliver great work, regardless of the venue or production conditions.