Ultra-low-tech video advice needed

[Lars Hansen]

Please think as far away as you can get from the pro level video demonstrations you may experience at symposia.
My need for advice is about an ultra-low-tec solution for showing the work of a woodturning instructor live.

Even when instructing only a handful of students, it's hard for them to watch details of guoge position, what part of the tool is doing the cutting etc.
I would like to position just ONE camera in ONE angle and show the result on ONE tablet.

Framework is:
- 230V power present
- Android tablet (13") as screen
- Camera (webcam? GoPro?) connection to tablet must be USB cable (NO wifi, NO bluetooth)
(Recording option: Nice to have but not need to have)


I have found a few YT videos with people connecting webcams to an android tablet, but before I go and buy a webcam, I'd be very thankful for any advice.
Club finances are very small, so I need to be as sure as I can get before buying.

Advanced features are nice, but things have to work when I'm not there. Important thing here is extreme setup simplicity or the gear will just be gathering dust.

Thanks for your help.
Lars

 

[Bill Boehme]

What do you have against Bluetooth? If you have an Android phone it could be used as the camera and you can pair the phone with the tablet. I know absolutely nothing about the video quality over Bluetooth, but here is a website with some information about screen mirroring. The link sounds interesting.

 

[Bill Boehme]

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the newer point and shoot cameras could also stream video using USB.

 

[Emiliano Achaval]

Please think as far away as you can get from the pro level video demonstrations you may experience at symposia.
My need for advice is about an ultra-low-tec solution for showing the work of a woodturning instructor live.

Even when instructing only a handful of students, it's hard for them to watch details of guoge position, what part of the tool is doing the cutting etc.
I would like to position just ONE camera in ONE angle and show the result on ONE tablet.

Framework is:
- 230V power present
- Android tablet (13") as screen
- Camera (webcam? GoPro?) connection to tablet must be USB cable (NO wifi, NO bluetooth)
(Recording option: Nice to have but not need to have)


I have found a few YT videos with people connecting webcams to an android tablet, but before I go and buy a webcam, I'd be very thankful for any advice.
Club finances are very small, so I need to be as sure as I can get before buying.

Advanced features are nice, but things have to work when I'm not there. Important thing here is extreme setup simplicity or the gear will just be gathering dust.

Thanks for your help.
Lars

I think our AAW resident high tech Guru, friend and mentor @AlanZ can answer your question. Personally, I think is nearly impossible to do all of the above with just one camera. I would not be using 5 cameras when I do my Live remote Demos if that was the case. What I would recruit a friend, put my iphone on a gimbal and have him be the cameraman, do a live Facebook or record the class using the NDI App and the free version of VMix.

 

[Bill Blasic]

This little camera on Ebay will do what you need it to do. If you need sound you can take it out of the waterproof container and use the holder that comes in the bundle to use it for good sound.. You will need a class 10 micro sd card (I would get a name brand at least 32GB). Pro 4K Action Camera WiFi Camcorder Ultra HD Camera Waterproof Accessory Bundle. You could use this for hands free recording of the video you want to show. 20" Adjustable Jaws Flex Clamp Mount Clip Gooseneck Extension with 1/4 Screw for Gopro Cameras Studio Stand Lighting Accessories (at Amazon). All this for less than $75 save the video to your computer then transfer to your pad for viewing. You will be surprised at the quality these little cameras give you. I have several different brands.

 

[Mike Johnson]

It is difficult to present wood lathe techniques from only one angle, however if you have only one option an overhead view point will provide a continuous coverage of a demonstration. If you are taking video from the side or from behind the demonstrator there are times where they get in between the camera lens and the work piece on the lathe. If the demonstrator was disciplined in camera use they could mount a camera on their head and give a turners perspective of the work being done on the lathe, they would need to be aware of the camera angle at all times as not to move their head around a lot which can be annoying to someone trying to watch the video with the camera bobbing up and down and moving left to right. Each viewer would need a paper bag or bucket next to them.

 

[John Torchick]

Our chapter has two cameras that are hooked to two TV screens. One is an overhead shot and the other is off to the side behi9nd the lathe. They don't get all the action as hand position, tool angle, etc. Good luck.

 

[Mark Jundanian]

@Lars Hansen looking at your original question my undestanding is you want to do real time video display of your tool tip, and do so on the cheap.

The cheapest solution would be to use something already at hand such as an old cell phone or point and shoot camera, if you can figure out how to output a realtime video signal to the tablet.

If you are going to the store then I think a webcam is the way to go. (Caveat, I don't know if an Android system will run a Windows webcam). These can be had relatively cheaply. They are small, and light so easy to position where they can see the action and don't block the view much.

Logitech is the brand I prefer. I would not go with their 4K models (e.g. Brio) as the video resolution is way above what you need and possibly what your system will be able to manage. Generally 720p will be enough. Webcams come with different fields of view described as camera angle (e.g. 90* 60*). Since what you're asking for is close up imaging preference a narrower field of view. The Logitech 310 cameras are a suggestion.

Note that webcam software (if it works on the Android) can electronically zoom by displaying only the central portion of the camera's field of view. But starting with a smaller FOV means a higher level of max zoom.

Another nice feature on any camera is a tripod mount (I can't remember if the 310 has this), otherwise you can cobble together some other "mount". While you may not mount the camera on a tripop you will likely mount it to something and the threaded fitting is handy.

As has been mentioned a single point of view may not be good for all the points you want to demonstrate so being able to reposition the camera for different parts of the lesson is valuable. Perhaps one of your students colud be a videographer, or do you have an assistant?

Don't forget to plan for cord management. Also be aware that USB video signals can only travel so far without being amplified.

Now you mentioned wanting to show your students where the cutting action is taking place on the tool. Here is a trick I have found useful. Use Sharpie markers in two different colors. Use one color to mark the bevel and the other to mark the flute at the cutting edge. As the tool is used the ink is quickly worn away revealing where the "action" was taking place.

 

[Mark Jundanian]

Another thought. Ask around and you may find a friend who has an old webcam you can borrow to experiment with. You may find that a single tablet screen is difficult for more than two students to view at a time.

 

[Lars Hansen]

Thanks for all the answers.
I will dig further into three ideas: The GoPro-type cam, the idea of screen mirroring between phone and tablet and the setup based on a webcam.
@Bill Blasic: Tempting to use this as an excuse for buying one of these things. I saw a few recordings from someone's diving in the The Red Sea, and quality was impressive!
@Bill Boehme: My very first attempt with the mirroring app wasn' t succesful. The app seems to support mirroring video (files or from web) but not live recordings. Will dig further into similar apps.
@mark: The 310 seems to support Android and is on sale here now.
If it doesn't work out, I know at least one Skype user who would love a better cam, so...
@Mike: Will be very aware of the seasick-issue!