Our Work

OCTFME: FaceTime

Our client, the D.C. Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME), broadcasts live and on-demand OTT streaming programming by way of the District’s public, educational and government cable channels. Having a studio-based show, OCTFME wanted an easy way to interview guests located remote to the studio. They determined that FaceTime would meet their needs as a lightweight and cost effective tool for streaming interviews. However, broadcast environments like theirs traditionally require a large infrastructure and commercial grade equipment for remote interviews.  FaceTime is a commercially available piece of software so integrating the two seamlessly was the objective of this project.

Human Circuit created a workflow incorporating a Mac Mini in the client’s technical core using COTS (Commercial Off the Shelf) products to provide audio and video to and from the FaceTime application.  Audio and video are routed through the production switcher and audio console for use in the studio control room allowing feeds to be independently managed and broadcast.

The solution developed for this project can be incorporated in broadcast or studio environments where FaceTime is of acceptable quality, especially for Public Education Government (PEG) channels and citizen journalism. This solution can be used for any content that would have previously required a production/broadcast truck to capture, produce, store and distribute, but for whom the costs are prohibitive. Broadcast and studio environments may find this useful, but for PEG and citizen journalism this is a game changer. Using FaceTime and a COTS backend solution, end users can stream for immediate distribution, and directly stream to their editing storage for easy post-production use.

Another recent project Human Circuit completed for OCTFME was the design and installation of a Centralized and Remote Control System to Operate Seven Venues.