| Windows device records meeetings, presentations |
Sep. 29, 2008
 Qumu has announced a Windows-based appliance designed to record presentations and business meetings. The "Capture Studio" has a quad-core Intel Core 2 Q6600 processor, eight video inputs and four audio inputs, integral A/V switcher and mixer, and creates video in multiple formats simultaneously, the company says.
(Click here for a larger view of the Qumu Capture Studio)
According to Qumu, the Capture Studio is a compact device with multiple audio and video inputs, plus automatic mixing and switching capabilities. It is designed to capture a business presentation or meeting, then turn the result into video that can be streamed live or on demand in a variety of file formats, according to the company.
The Capture Studio uses Intel's quad-core Core 2 Q6600 processor, which has an 8MB second-level cache, a 1066MHz frontside bus, and is clocked at 2.4 GHz. Equipped with 2GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive, the device also possesses an internal DVD writer, says Qumu.
The 12.2 x 7.9 x 7.3 inch (310 x 200 x 185mm) box, which Qumu says can replace "racks of A/V equipment," includes a bevy of inputs. For example, it has dual S-Video inputs, four composite video inputs, and connectors that accept VGA or DVI output from another computer. Audio inputs include two unbalanced RCA connectors, XLR balanced connectors for microphone and line inputs, and an unbalanced mic input on the front panel.
The Capture Studio is designed so that a presenter can plug in his or her laptop and give a presentation normally. The device captures 1600 x 1200 pixel screens at an unspecified frame rate, or VGA-resolution screens at a full 30 frames per second. Simultaneously, it's capturing video from up to three connected cameras, and sound from any connected microphones, says Qumu.
A sample presentation as recorded by the Qumu Capture Studio
Source: Qumu
(Click to enlarge)
Software on the device is said to allow an operator to control audio/video/VGA switching, sizing, positioning, and line levels. Picture-in-picture capabilities allow mixing what's happening on a presenter's computer screen with live camera views of one or more meeting participants, as shown above, says Qumu.
In addition to capturing the video, the Capture Studio is designed to encode it into Windows Media, Silverlight, Flash, and H.264 formats, and can create multiple versions simultaneously, the company says. The device's "open API fully integrates" with a separately available Qumu Video Control Center product, capable of automating video workflow and integrating with portals such as Microsoft Sharepoint or IBM Websphere, says Qumu.
Finally, an interesting feature claimed for the Capture Studio is that all captured video is searchable. Chapters are dynamically created using both snapshots and via OCR (optical character recognition) of screen scrapes, the company says.
Features and specifications cited for the Capture Studio by Qumu include:- Processor -- Intel Core 2 Q6600 processor, with 8MB second-level cache, 1066MHz frontside bus, and 2.4GHz clock speed
- Memory -- 2GB of RAM
- Storage:
- 500GB SATA II hard disk drive
- 16X DVD/CD R/RW optical drive
- A/V inputs:
- VGA input
- DVI input
- 2 x S-Video
- 4 x composite video
- 1 x XLR balanced mic in
- 1 x unbalanced mic in (front panel)
- 2 x line in (unbalanced RCA connectors)
- 1 x XLR balanced line in
- A/V outputs:
- Dual DVI output (supports VGA, with adaptor)
- 1 x XLR balanced stereo line out
- 1 x headphone out (front panel)
- Other I/O:
- 2 x USB 2.0 ports
- IEEE 1394 (Firewire) port
- Dimensions -- 12.2 x 7.9 x 7.3 inches (310 x 200 x 185mm)
- Weight -- 12 pounds (5.5kg)
- Power requirements -- 110 to 240 VAC (250 Watts)
According to Qumu, the Capture Studio's embedded operating system is a version of Windows Server 2003. However, the device will switch from this Windows XP-based operating system to the Windows Vista-based Windows Server 2008 next year, the company adds.
Availability
Capture Studio is available now, for $22,000, including a USB keyboard, optical mouse, and a microphone. A deluxe version costs $25,000, including two Sony PTZ (pan tilt zoom) video cameras, says Qumu. More information may be available on the company's website, here.
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