Geekazine Jeffrey Powers

Make a Logo on Fiverr

















I met up with Joe De Max at NAB 2024 to talk Central Control. He showed me two great new things that will improve remote workstation control from X-Keys and Central Control Link.







X-Keys Bundle















This is a multi-button unit running Central Control from inside the device. The end result makes this a stand-alone unit. Once you program the keys, you can simply take the board with you – no computer necessary.







The main device he had at the booth was a standard panel switch with buttons and a T-bar. Since X-Keys are customizable, you can create it however you need to with buttons, jog wheels, and more.







The Bundle is running an Orange Pi inside for control. You can pair it up with your ATEM Mini, vMix, Hyperdeck, and many other devices. Once paired, the keyboard will control the device via the LAN.







For more information, check out XKeys.com







Also check out some of the other X-Keys products.







Central Control Link







Joe also announced Link – a way to pair your controller via NDI within the software. What this means is you can have a switching console – from X-Keys, to Stream Deck, to another controller – on one side of the room, and through NDI, you can set up to control the devices across the room.







If you set up a portal, you could even remote control a device from another location.







Link is new, and will be out around May. For more information, check out CentralControl.io







This video will help you understand CentralControl and what it can do.

Make a Logo on Fiverr









YouTube Members get early access.







Allen & Heath showed off some great new compact digital mixers at NAB 2024. These mixers work for smaller band setups, practice rooms, conference rooms, and other smaller settings.







Allen & Heath CQ-12T















The 12T model has 10 Mic/Line inputs, a stereo line input (for 12 channels), Bluetooth input, and 6 line-outputs. The line outs are TRS, while the main outs are XLR.







96 kHz FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) so you can mix channels, add separate effects, and more. 2 FX engines to choose from.







The mixer is a 16×16 USB interface (for DAW), with 16×16 SD card recording and playback. Inside the deck is multiple functions to control the sound through the 7 inch capacitive touchscreen.







Three soft keys that can be programmed however you want. Turn on/off effects, mute channels, and more.







The unit also has Ethernet connection for tablet control.







The Allen & Heath CQ-12T is $899









Get the CQ-12T









Allen & Heath CQ-18T















Need more channels and effects, the 18T gives you 8 XLR/Line in, additional 8 XLR, and stereo line inputs. Bluetooth, Ethernet, and USB with additional 2.4/5GHz WIFI. Both SD card and USB interface allow 24×22 record/playback.







Other additions over the CQ-12T include 4 FX engines, and more on-unit controls.







The Allen & Heath CQ-18T is $1,200









Get the CQ-18T









Allen & Heath CQ-20B















First thing you notice is no screen, or onboard controls. That is because this is considered a “Stage Box”. It’s meant to be put in a corner, and controlled remotely.







The CQ-20B gives you 8 Mic/Line inputs, 8 XLR inputs, 2-Stereo inputs, and 6 XLR Line outputs (with 2 main outputs). The SD card and USB interface give you 24×24 recording/playback.







All three units also have a Foot switch option, so you can have control at your feet. Headphone jack is also available to listen to individual mixes, or the whole mix.







The 20B can also be rack-mounted, so you can put it in a hard case with other audio needs, and power conditioner.







The Allen & Heath CQ-20B is $999









Get the CQ-20B

Make a Logo on Fiverr

















Since the USB-C plug standard came into play, and we were able to plug in monitors, the portable monitor business has been booming. One of the companies that has been creating lightweight monitors is KYY. I have checked out their KYY 1080p portable monitor, the KYY portable with VESA mount, and now the KYY 90A -a portable dual monitor offering.









Get the KYY 90A Here









The KYY 90A Dual Monitor







This is 2-14 inch monitors that fold out and set behind a laptop, Android phone or tablet. The 14 inch monitors are full 1080p/60 fps, and can be run with the computer as the same monitor (for a presentation), or completely separate monitors (to get more screen space).







Different ways to Use the Monitor







You can run it for yourself, but you can also turn the monitor 90 degrees and use it in portrait mode. If you fold it into a triangle and set the monitor to mirror, people can see your screen around a table.















Running the Driver







In order for the dual monitor to work, you will need to install the Silicon Motion driver (included in box). The best part about this independent driver is it will allow you to use the USB-A port on Windows.







I did find that if I used the driver from the Silicon Motion website on Windows, it broke the connection.















Pros and Cons









* iOS and iPadOS is not supported at this time. This could change in the future, but only Windows, Mac, and Android drivers are available.







* I love the tent modes, but it would have been nice if I could’ve rotated one of the monitors so I could see either 2 monitors on one side, or two portrait monitors.







* The stand works well, but on the same token for portrait mode, there is no way to prop up the stand to raise the monitor.







* VESA mount option would have also been nice.







* No HDMI option to the monitor – If I wanted to run HDMI out from a computer or gaming console, I won’t be able to do that here.







* On the same token, the dual monitors work with only one device. The bottom USB-C is for power only.







* If you don’t fan out the monitors enough, the unit will be top-heavy and fall forward.









Overall, the dual monitor system is great for when you need to extend your screen. It connects up quick when you dock it with no flicker while you work. The KYY 90A is not going to be high-resolution monitors (for things like color-grading), but you’ll be able to put other windows within screen – Spreadsheets, web pages, email portals, etc.







Price and Availability







The KYY 90A is $429.99. You can get the KYY 90A here

Make a Logo on Fiverr













RØDE has given content creators a new wireless microphone for interviews, podcasts, and more. The Rode Interview Pro Handheld microphone replaces the old system (the Go and a handle) to give creators a true handheld microphone.









Get the Rode Interview Pro

























The Interview Pro is an omnidirectional microphone that can be paired with a Series IV Wireless Go, or Rodecaster Pro II, Steamer, and Rodecaster Duo models. The 2.4 GHz wifi will give the host a 200 meter area to move within (line of sight).







But you don’t need to pair the interview pro microphone to get that interview, because with the onboard recording function, you can use this as a standalone microphone. The onboard stoage records up to 40 hours of audio, with a 32-bit float.







Along with Gain Assist, if you are in the worst situation for a recording, the rode interview pro can handle it. You can then transfer it to an audio editor to clean up your recordings.







The microphone is an Electret Condenser with a frequency range of 20Hz – 20kHz. and a dynamic range of 102dB. This means you can record everything from a Bass drum, to a high pitched piccolo flute.







Add a wind screen for outdoor conditions, and a mic flag for promotion, and you have a reporter mic that runs for 25 hours.







The Rode Interview Pro is $249 and available now.

Make a Logo on Fiverr

















At NAB, I got to check out the Elgato Prompter, along with other items in Corsair’s and Elgato’s line. The Prompter is a great way to read scripts, or look at teammates in conference calls eye-to-eye as you are really staring into a camera.









Get the Elgato Prompter









Design and Features















Compact and ready to go, the Elgato Prompter fits snugly in front of most cameras, turning it into a broadcast-ready teleprompter setup. The beamsplitter glass reflects the scrolling text from the monitor underneath, allowing you to maintain eye contact with your audience and stay on script.







The prompter comes with the 7 inch monitor for easy setup. The back can hold most cameras – webcams to pro cameras – so you can be ready for a call or give a great lecture with your notes right in front of you.







Integrate with Existing Setups







One of Elgato hallmark traits is its focus on products that integrate seamlessly into your ecosystem. The screen is small enough to fit next to your computer monitor, and if it’s on a moveable arm, you can adjust it wherever you need the camera to go.







If you are building your studio, then Elgato has more than just the prompter – You can use their FaceCam for a camera, and I’ve been using Elgato Stream Decks for years with my studio setups. Elgato has lights, stands, and more for the perfect setup.







And their parent company, Corsair, focuses on gear for the gamers, that work just as well for the streamer or podcaster. I use the K55 keyboard, which has 6 programmable buttons that work with Stream Deck software.







The Elgato Prompter is $279 and available now. Get the Elgato Prompter here

Make a Logo on Fiverr













While at NABShow 2024, I talked with Kyle Gesuelli about the announcements Adobe made right before the show started. Adobe has always been at the forefront of video innovation, while millions use the software to create photos, video, presentations, and more. Their Generative AI feature in Photoshop alone has given creators the ability to build upon photos.







Adobe announced two updates at the show this week. – their next-generation of Frame.io, and the expansion of AI to Premiere Pro and After Effects.







Frame.io Streamlined Workflow







The new Frame.io is emphasizing streamlining workflows. As remote production is growing out of infancy, Frame.io needed to change to support creators for their workflows. With the improved integration of Frame.io into Adobe’s ecosystem, users can seamlessly collaborate on projects directly within their favorite Adobe Creative Cloud applications – while eliminating the need to switch between multiple platforms.







The program (which Adobe acquired in August 2021) is changing from a review/approval format, to a full collaborative tool. v4 will have a new Metadata system. This could customize your dynamic workflows, and allow 3rd party support.







Camera to Cloud







The editor could be in another country and with Camera to Cloud, they could get video while you are streaming so they can start editing right away.







Premiere Pro, After Effects get AI Upgrade







Premiere Pro is getting AI enabled audio workflows. You can see this in their public beta already. With the new AI enabled audio features, you can bring it all into the timeline without having to open a program like Audition.







The category tagging will help you identify what type of clip you have. Automatic fade handles will allow you to do it within the timeline.







Finally, Generative AI will be coming into video. Photoshop’s Generate AI brings in single items into a shot, but Video Generative AI (vGenAI) will allow scripts to animate the spots your create.







This could mean changing the shirt off an actor’s body, but it could also mean animating a tiger within a video, or extending video to match up with time.







Usually, I would match B-roll by speeding up or slowing down the clip. vGenAI Generative Extend would simply add more to the clip so I don’t have to stretch it out and match to the beat of music, or the next clip.







Better masking for object removal will be coming to Premiere Pro. License plates, logos, errant faces, and more could be blurred or changed. If a boom mic gets into the shot, the new Firefly generative video model will







And it’s all Safe Content







This is any content that is in public domain, doesn’t have IP or is commercially safe. You’ll have a library to create your content from that will have true copyright free use.







And Third Party Plugins







Adobe is committed to allowing 3rd party plugins bring in more functionality into your production. Working with companies like OpenAI or Pica to bring in their possible workflow to make the content you are happy to create.







Content Authenticity Initiative







This adds Content credentials to your video.