How do you use Skype with your broadcast?

I was wondering how you guys use Skype with your broadcast. I was wondering how you set up the audio and video in your broadcast?

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Originally Posted by Podnutter

I was wondering how you guys use Skype with your broadcast. I was wondering how you set up the audio and video in your broadcast?

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We have a subscription to group video. I sit in the studio doing the switching, three other hosts are each at home coming in through Skype. I capture each of them as a camera (using the great VidBlaster) and the rest is history ;-). On another pc, we have a copy of Skype for incoming calls (subscription to incoming number, and calling out), where callers can call in to ask questions or simply participate.

We have 4 dedicated Skype machines in our studio. Each Skype machine sends the video out to our switching machine ( has 4 capture cards) Each channel also has mix minus on it

Hey GFQ....thats what Im trying to do. Can you tell me what I need to set that up. I understand the audio part....I have that running directly into my mixer. But how do you handle the video. What do I need specifically?

You need 4 dedicated skype machines that have HDMI out on the video card. Then you need 4 Black Magic Intensity Pro capture cards on computer you will be using a a switcher

I'm currently using 1 skype machine with audio out going to the board and a mix minus send in, as well as using Desktop Presenter to capture the video and my cheap return video solution to send program out back to my guest. I also have a second skype machine with the same audio setup but no return video yet.

Is there a way to force skype to only do SD video even if they have HD?

I have a computer dedicated to just skypeing. I have the video going out Via HDMI from the video card into a Black Magic Card on my wirecast machine. Works great!

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Originally Posted by Podnutter

I was wondering how you guys use Skype with your broadcast. I was wondering how you set up the audio and video in your broadcast?

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Great question.

I'm a little confused about how exactly a video setup works. Maybe I'm overthinking this. For my audio podcasts today I have mix minus configured to my Skype machine. Both of my remote hosts call into this one machine. That works just fine... when Skype is not misbehaving.

But I want to add video and use Wirecast. My thought was to have each remote host call in to a separate Skype machine and then use Desktop Presenter to capture their video to a 3rd machine running Wirecast. Similarly I could use DP to capture my screen if I wanted to show something in a browser window. But this raises several questions:

1. Can I run the same Skype account on both Skype machines or does each Skype user have to call a different Skype account on my end

2. What video am I sending BACK to each remote Skype user? They're already getting mix minus audio. I don't imagine I can send them any video back from my Wirecast machine. Is there a way for them to see the video I am "producing on the fly" in the studio? Or are they just staring at nothing when we are recording?

3. Does this setup eliminate the need for video graphics cards in each machine since I am just grabbing the video with Desktop Presenter? (thinking about using a Mac Mini for each Skype host. Bad idea?)

Has anyone produced a video walking through their video workflow? I have seen many YouTube videos showcasing some very cool studios, but none have gone into the specifics of how to do this other than at a high level.

Thanks,
Mike