NEWTEK INTRODUCES THE NEW TRICASTER MINI

NewTek has released a new TriCaster, the TriCaster Mini

While the name may be a little confusing (it really should be called the TriCaster Mini NDI) this new system is a game changer for doing live portable and studio video production. All of the features that you love about the TriCaster that makes it the ultimate system for doing live video switching and streaming … easily switching between multiple video cameras, graphics, video clips and other media, the ability to record multiple files plus two separate streams and upload to social media … are found in the Mini. What’s missing are the traditional HDMI, SDI or analog video inputs and outputs for connecting your video cameras, playback devices or video confidence monitors. This new TriCaster Mini is a leap forward in using IP video.

Ok . . . I’m sure you’re thinking, how do I connect my video cameras to do a live show?

Answer . . . either use a video camera that has an NDI port like the Panasonic AG-CX350 or use NDI encoders from NewTek, BirdDog or other developers for bringing in HDMI or SDI and converting it to an NDI/IP video source. The new TriCaster Mini has four plug-n-play NDI ports that allow you to directly connect an NDI camera like the Panasonic AG-CX350 to the new Mini using a standard CAT-6 cable. If your camera doesn’t have an NDI port built into it, then you take the HDMI (or SDI) video output from your video camera, plug that signal into the NDI encoder and run a CAT-6 cable from the NDI encoder to the TriCaster. Because it is plug-n-play you don’t have to be an IT wizard and set up a computer network with IP addresses for your video cameras and other sources.

Another question . . . why would I want to do that?

Answer: Because it is the future of doing video production. More and more companies are developing products for the NDI marketplace including portable video cameras, graphics software and storage devices. Another reason … you can run a CAT-6 cable a lot longer than you can run an HDMI cable, say 300 feet versus 100 feet. And the CAT-6 cable connectors lock into place unlike an HDMI cable.

Did we mention that the new TriCaster Mini supports 4K resolutions up to 2160p60? This means you can take the 4K HDMI output from your video camera, plug it into a NewTek NDI encoder and send a 4K signal into the TriCaster Mini. NewTek gives you two of their 4K NDI encoders with each TriCaster Mini.

How much does the new TriCaster Mini cost?

Answer: $8,995.00 … and that includes two NDI encoders that work with 4K HDMI video sources. Bundles are available that include the TriCaster Mini along with either a TriCaster Mini control surface or the larger TC1SP control surface, a custom travel case for the Mini plus two NDI encoders.

Have more questions? Need more info? Fill out the form below or call Matt Drabick with DigiTek Systems at 919 810 9457.