Geekazine

Getting an audience engaged sometimes is not easy to do. Putting a microphone in the middle of the room for people to walk up to sometimes gets annoying, mostly because others will chime in who don’t want to walk all the way to the mic.

Enter in Catch Box

Catch Box is a throwable wireless microphone. The idea is simple – throw the foam box to the next person, they comment or ask a question, then throw it again.

The microphone itself is an ice breaker, as well as adds a level of fun to the event. People can hold onto the box, or set it on the table and talk hands free.

Inside Catch Box

Your wireless microphone pack fits easily into the styrofoam mic area. That is then placed into the foam box, held down by a magnet. The box is lightweight, and customization with your logo.

You can get the Catch Box with a wireless unit inside, or use your existing body pack. A Omni-directional microphone is already inside – simply get the adapter for your body pack unit, and slip it into the enclosure. The microphone has active automute, which will help keep the bounce noises to a minimum when you are throwing the Catch Box around.

Prices start at $399 and are available in 5 days (as they customize the box with your logo). Schools and Universities get a 15% discount, and free shipping world-wide. Get Catch Box Here.

Paul Richards came on Geekazine Live to talk about PTZOptics newest camera, the 30x. Meant for churches, or larger halls, this camera can optically zoom in closer to capture the action.

The SDI 30x is the same technology as the 20x gen2, just the optics have changed. Therefore, you can get the same resolutions, color, and brightness as the 20x, without much color correction.

You can also attach SDI, HDMI, or Ethernet – with option to install an NDI license. PoE is also available in this camera.

The 30x is priced at $1,799, and can be found here. Also, check out the website.

Amy Zhou joined me on Geekazine Live to talk about the current line of Magewell capture cards. From USB capture devices, to pro 2k and 4k capture cards.

Magewell Ultra Stream HDMI

The highlight of the show was Magewell’s new Ultra Stream HDMI – a standalone recording and streaming encoder. Bring HDMI video in, and attach a USB drive for recording. Attach a network cable to stream to your favorite RTMP service. You can make changes through the iOS or Android app on your mobile device.

This box will be available by end of year, and no price point has been set. You can check out the line of cards here.

 

 

Taking a television outside is easy, but mounting, and keeping that TV in working conditions 365 days a year becomes the challenge. The store bought TV is not intended to be used like that. Enter in Sunbrite TV – a division of Snap AV. A company that installs A/V solutions outside.

How Sunbrite TV Works

Whether residential, or commercial, Sunbrite TV comes in to create a solution for your outdoor entertainment needs. Monitors that can counter the elements – no matter where you live.

The custom monitors include casing that keeps it dry, and environmental controls to allow it to continue working when the temperature exceeds specifications. Even housing for your cable boxes, OTT units, and more.

The Veranda 4K series comes in a variety of sizes, and starts at $1,500. Worth the price to watch the game in 120 degree heat, or tundra cold.

Get a Sunbrite TV here and check out their website for more information.

As a musician, I can appreciate a good music backing track system. As a podcaster, I am always looking for new ways to enhance my audio and video podcasts. Band in a Box has been around for 28 years, making MIDI arranged music. With today’s technology, Band in a Box has become a great tool for musicians to get their ideas out.

Making My First Song in Band in a Box 2018

Coming to the interface, the song making process was not that difficult. I was able to make some 12 bar songs with a wide array of musical styles. Since Biab started in MIDI, there was a great selection of styles to choose from.

But the software also has live backing tracks – real musicians playing standard patterns that I could use to make the song sound better. The base software comes with RealBand 2018, with over 300 real tracks.

There are also ways to bring in your own 3rd party loops and sounds. That way if you have something started in another program, you can import and use to make updated, or new songs.

Adding Melodies, Lyrics

The software also has the ability to add melodic lines and lyrics so you can create fakebook style sheets for practice or performance.

Send to iOS

There is a way to send your songs to the Biab iOS app. A gigging musician will love this, as they’ll be able to take their songs on the road.

Podcasters and Video Editors Using Band in a Box

If a content creator has basic knowledge of writing music, they will be able to figure out the software to make some backing tracks for their shows. A Youtube creator also could benefit from this software to enhancing their shows. Just like I did in this episode.

Band in a Box Pricing

For $129, you are not paying a lot for a valuable tool. Get Band in a Box here, and check out PGMusic.com for more information.

I always take a battery when I’m on the road. When I’m at home, I usually don’t plan for that, since I have cables nearby. Then I go to the store, and forget my battery is at 10%. Juiced has a solution for families that need to charge their devices on the go.

What is Juiced 2.0 Wireless Group Charging Station

The name is a little misleading. The station is not wireless, the batteries (when charged) provide the wireless ability. You can plug up to 3 batteries in to charge for your device. When you need one, simply remove it from the dock, add an adapter (if needed), and be on the go.

When you need the juice, it’s no different than any other battery pack. Just plug it in, and charge. A small blue indicator on the side will tell you if it’s charging.

Add the suction cups to the battery, and you can affix to the back of your device.

Thoughts on Juiced 2.0

It’s nice to have around, but I am concerned the lack of LED lights indicating how charged the battery is in the dock is going to frustrate people. After all, you don’t want to pull a battery that is not fully charged.

I also don’t see larger devices get much charge from a 1530 mAh battery. My iPod Touch (1020 mAh) got filled, but the Android device (2,000 mAh) was only at 15% after draining the battery.

For the price, it looks like something a family can use to get by when planning a day at the beach, camping, or other trips.

The size and suction cup option are really useful – making it one with your phone. I really want a more powerful battery, though. Something 2,300 mAh or better.

The company does not have a website I’ve seen, but you can check out their Kickstarter page.

Summer is approaching fast, and with it, you’re gonna want to be outside more than in. You also want to have your music with you, inside and out. There are many options to choose from, but one speaker is standing out for it’s versatility. The Riva Wand – Part of the Riva Audio system – can add that functionality for you. But does it sound good, is it priced right, and will I love it?

The Riva Wand

This is not a smart-speaker, so you cannot ask it to turn off the lights or change the thermostat. You can connect it to your phone for an IP based (or other) connection for music, and more.

This 3 lb speaker is able to connect to your iOS or Android device. With the Wand software, you can connect to Google Home, or your home media server. The device can also run off Bluetooth, USB, and AUX inputs.

Inside the Speaker

This 50 Watt Amp contains ADX Trillium Drivers, and three passive radiators. This allows for a splay of sound from 3 directions. The Wand supports many music formats, up to 24 bit/192 kHz.

The Additional Battery

This is a great option for anyone that moves from room to room. That way, you can take the speaker into the kitchen, basement, bedroom, or wherever, and not have to plug in and re-set up. The battery allows for 20 hours of audio before recharge.

Price

The Riva Wand will set you back $249 (MSRP). The additional battery is $99. Compared to a Sonos One, the base unit matches, and the battery is a great addition. Especially if you are moving your speaker around a lot.

Get the Riva Wand Here – Riva Audio Website.

Rarely do I get time to go see an attraction in Las Vegas. This trip, I stayed at Treasure Island Hotel, and since it was right down the hall (really, it was less than 1,000 steps), I checked out Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.

About Treasure Island Hotel

This hotel/casino is placed toward the north end of the strip. Check out the Treasure Island Room Walkthrough. The casino is plentiful, and with Gilley’s, Seafood Shack, and Senor Frog’s you have a lot of great dining opportunities. A CVS is also adjoined so you can get snacks and needs for your stay.

Most people know that a walk between two hotel/casinos can mean 30 minute miles. This is not the case with Treasure Island. Easily accessible to Mirage, Venetian, Wynn, and Harrah’s, most under 10 minutes (and a skybridge)

Prices on a non-conference day can start at $100/night (or $49 through Hotels.com).

About Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.

Scientific Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network (or S.T.A.T.I.O.N.) is a fun was to become an Agent of Shield – part of the Marvel Universe, and part of the Avengers. The displays are built around the Age of Ultron, so as you step through each station, you learn more about the members at that time.

Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America, and even characters such as Ant Man and Falcon are all a part of this attraction. With some interactive areas, you can test your strength, go through target practice, try to pick up Thor’s hammer, and even fly in the Iron Man suit.

But the ultimate goal is to make you an official agent, so you can help in any upcoming battles.

Prices and Overall Thoughts

This 90 minute excursion will cost you $55, but there are many ways to get discounts (including staying at Treasure Island). Overall, the attraction was fun, but is already starting to date itself. I’m not sure if they will update for Infinity war, but eventually it will need a new coat of paint.

It’s cool to see some of the movie props up close, including all the Iron Man outfits, and alien weaponry. Of course, your children are going to be begging for some Captain America bed sheets after this…

Find out more at StationAttraction.com

This week I’m in Vegas for InteropITX. This Enterprise tech conference is focused for those looking to deep dive in multiple areas. Sessions that deal in IoT, Future of Wireless (802.11ax), Server technologies, and more.

The show floor contained multiple vendors with IT hardware and software to help you build and maintain your Data center. I talked to people at Oracle Dyn, Logicube, VMWare, Monoprice, DisplayLink, and more.

I stop by the NewTek Booth and talk with Will Waters about not only NDI, but also the new TC1 Tricaster, and NewTek’s initiative to telling stories.

NewTek Wants to Tell Stories

Their newest initiative is to give creators the proper tools to tell their stories, whether they have a Tricaster, or not. For those who do have Tricasters, they changed the price models so people can get the tools to tell their stories. They also plan to update all units as best as possible so you can get behind any machine and have the same experience.

Tricaster TC1

The newest box is a rack-mount style box that will give you complete production, and streams up to UHD 4k60fps. 16 external inputs, 16 external audio inputs, 30 clip pool, 10 animations, 2 graphic channels, and 2 video servers to send the mix.

This machine can turn your studio into a system as powerful as any TV studio.

NewTek NDI

Of course, this is the IP protocol that I am excited for. You don’t need a Tricaster to use this, and it allows you to keep other hardware at home. Cameras with NDI use a single network cable to send video – up to 4k in some cases.

More in the Video

Check out the interview about what’s going on at NewTek.