NewTek announced that Cranfield University has chosen the NewTek TriCaster® video production system and NDI® to deliver professional quality live online classes.
With NDI® as the single interconnected production environment and TriCaster managing and controlling the range of production equipment, together the technology formed the perfect solution to help Cranfield University deliver professional-looking live, online broadcasts for students.
Online learning focused
Based 80 kilometers north of London, England, Cranfield University educates leaders in technology and management and is the largest UK provider of master’s-level graduates in engineering. Cranfield was relying on standard live video streaming products and laptop cameras to deliver its online lessons, but due to poor video quality, it researched new solutions to update its infrastructure and live streaming capabilities. Today, Cranfield University academics are delivering professional quality live online classes thanks to both NDI® and the NewTek TriCaster video production system.
NDI at the Foundation
NDI® is a high-performance audio/video standard that allows anyone to use real-time, ultra-low latency video on an existing IP video network. Designed to make IP-based production technology available to all, NDI® creates a single, interconnected production environment to connect any device across campus to transmit live video over IP networks.
“When scoping the studio build, we ran with the vision to live-stream to the whole campus, and looked around for technology to enable this,” says Dr. Toby Thompson, Studio Director of Cranfield University Broadcast and Record. “NDI technology was the obvious contender due to its cost-effectiveness from multiple campus locations, as well as its ease of use.”
Live stream Production Managed by NewTek
Cranfield started out with a TriCaster Mini and used it with NewTek TalkShow VS 4000, which is a multi-channel video calling system designed to simultaneously connect up to four remote guests in real-time. Due to increased demand and the success of the production studio, the University team now opted to upgrade to NewTek’s premium TriCaster 2 Elite, which provides greater functionality and capabilities.
“Just switching your camera ‘on’ is no longer sufficient: what’s shown must look professional if students are to take your online efforts seriously,” adds Thompson. “By embracing the NDI® and TriCaster approach we’ve delivered technical innovations in line with Cranfield University’s technology mission; we’ve launched a new professional standard for live-online video production, and we’ve built the foundation of a new revenue stream for live online education at Cranfield.”
NewTek has been working to support education institutions with innovative solutions for decades, bringing to market a range of products for live stream production. Including the iconic TriCaster range, and the new, award-winning, CaptureCast™, the world’s first NDI®-native, fully automated, lecture capture solution.
“With many students preferring online learning, education institutions today have an opportunity to modernize their approach to creating and delivering classes in a hybrid manner,” states Barbara Spicek, President and GM of NewTek. “At NewTek, we are dedicated to creating solutions that not only help to streamline production setups, but also help futureproof production capabilities.”
For more information about NewTek’s solutions for the education industry, visit: https://www.newtek.com/solutions/education/
