The slingstudio is a device for live streaming and professional multi-camera production. It connects up to 10 devices including your smartphones and professional camera. This 3.63-pound device has a robust wireless technology to allow you to monitor, record, edit and even live stream your productions on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and other sites. Besides streaming, you can capture each input for more post production work.

How Does It Work?

The Slingstudio has 3 main parts that enable it to work.

The Slingstudio Hub

This is the device that takes care of all the video, audio and control connections. It has a HDMI input (Type A connector) and output, a 1/8-inch audio, a USB-C port and SD card slot which makes the hub a storage interface as well. It supports streams of up to 1080p at 60 fps and can allow you to record up to 10 minutes full of HD content at 30 fps input. These videos can be supported in one of two ways. The first is to connect via the HDMI port on the Slingstudio. This Type A input port is great for connecting media players or stationary camera. The hub can also connect to an existing Wi-Fi network and connects with up to 10 cameras even when they are 300 feet away saving you hours of set up and teardown time. You can record from four inputs at once and store in the SD card or USB external drive while the other inputs are on standby. The hub is a relatively small, well-built and sturdy compact device and it has indicators to show you the power and connection strength. The HDMI input on the back of the Slingstudio can even be used to connect to a video game system. You might also need to install the Capture and Console apps to seamlessly manage your files from one place. The Console app can even work as your portable home studio for when you’re away from home.

The Slingstudio is an affordable video production switcher and is compatible with top camera manufacturers such as Canon, Sony, Nikon, Panasonic etc. Since most of the cameras from these companies support 4K footage, you can get up to 7 recordings on one storage device. This can save you hours in time sync with Adobe Premium and Final Cut. You can use the Capture app on Android and iOS to quickly stream your recordings in full HD from your devices. If you have a Mac or iPad, you can use it to control your feeds and easily switch between the cameras in real time.

The Slingstudio Camera Link

It comes with a micro HDMI and mini HDMI cable to take HDMI inputs from a video camera. You can equally charge this via a USB into a power pack or a wall socket. The iPad or Android tablet app, Console, can help you have a smooth experience by connecting with other Slingstudio camera links. You can also stream live on YouTube or Facebook easily by just clicking ‘Go Live’. Another great feature of the app is you can create and add texts when live-streaming. You can also easily switch between different camera angles (up to four) while monitoring your recording at the same time.

Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery

It would be a bummer to have a device such as the Slingstudio adding onto your power problems especially when you’re ready to start filming. That’s why you have a lithium-ion rechargeable battery that plugs seamlessly on the base of the Slingstudio so you can be free of power outlets when broadcasting. The battery can come to a full charge after 10 hours even when it is plugged into the hub and is in use. When plugged in and not being used, the battery can take about three to four hours to come to a complete charge. Usage, however, will vary from person to person and how long you’re using the device at a given time. To avoid being offset, it’s better to always remember to charge it after you’ve used instead of waiting till when you need it next to plug it in.

The Slingstudio comes with an optional USB-C extender. This USB allows you to connect to 2 USB 3.0 Type-A Hard Drives (Regular USB) for recording. With it, you can also connect to the Gigabit Ethernet for LAN connection. You could also easily connect to a wireless network if you lack a LAN cable. It is also worth mentioning that you can buy the Slingstudio as standalone pieces or a whole kit. If you’re able to properly follow the instructions, setting it up can take up to 30 minutes depending on how many devices you have.

Who can Use It?

This device is simple to use and can be used by people of any age who want to add some cinematic scenes to their videos. It can be used by high school students for projects such as theater performances or class presentation. They can also use them for recording graduation parties or sports events. Church institutions could also find great value in the Slingstudio as well since it reduces the number of videographers required to capture footage from different angles. This also makes it ideal for videographers who are transitioning into professionals.

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Conclusion

The Slingstudio is one of the best switchers/encoders in the market so far. Though, it may not be perfect such as experiencing time lapses during streaming, these are typically short and can be edited out by video editors. However, this normally happens when you increase your resolution higher than the accepted one in the platform you’re using. Another thing worth mentioning is that you will get a smoother experience if you use a wired LAN over a Wi-Fi connection since it may become unstable depending on the Wi-Fi receiver on your device. You should thus be keen to buy devices that have good Wi-Fi receivers. Finally, their friendly customer support will help you with any issues you might have regarding the Slingstudio.