Biographical Information

Articles for Robert Reinhardt

How Will AI Change Your Streaming Business?

AI is the buzz term of 2024, and indeed, tech companies have put a lot of resources and commitment into adding or improving AI components in their products and services. The term AI covers a wide swath of technologies, but for this column, I'll focus mainly on generative AI, or services that can generate human-like output based on input that we humans provide.

Tutorial: Capturing Video over USB 3.0 with AJA U-TAP 3G-SDI and HDMI Devices

This tutorial explains how to capture a full HD signal up to 1920x1080 60fps with the AJA U-TAP series of devices and highlights ingest into OBS for macOS and Zoom for Windows

Glass-to-Glass Report: Comparing Low-Latency Streaming Providers

In this article, I examine low-latency services provided by streaming CDNs, removing actual vendor names and making conclusions based on delivery method. I'll start with a discussion of the basics of latency before moving on to the testing results and analysis.

Vindral: Reliable & Scalable Ultra Low Latency Video Playback

Robert Reinhardt explains why WebSockets technology is likely the best choice for your live streaming and why Vindral is well positioned as a premier CDN in the low latency market.

Tutorial: Advanced Live Streaming and Recording with the AJA HELO PLUS

Streaming engineer and strategist and Streaming Media The Video Doctor columnist Robert Reinhardt of VideoRx discusses some of his favorite features of the new AJA HELO Plus Advanced Streaming and Recording Appliance in this new tutorial video. A longtime user of the original HELO in his own professional live productions, discusses the new chassis design, new layout features for picture-in-picture and more, streaming to two destinations simultaneously, new SRT support, and more.

Nostr: The Next Step to Micropayment Video Content Monetization?

The impetus to create something like Nostr began with the Bitcoin community, which was seeking more ways to confirm known identities on the public Internet and create a path to send payments between two parties with more ease than ever before.

Why Aren’t You Streaming Your Live Event?

These days, the cost and technological barriers to live streaming are few are far between. Robert Reinhardt outlines some reasons why organizations may still hesitate to live stream their events, and he shows why these reasons are misguided. He breaks down the ways that even events with small budgets can still produce high-quality live streams.

Know Your Tech for Low-Latency Streaming

videoRx's Robert Reinhardt guides viewers through the key enabling technologies of low-latency streaming, including server ingest and client delivery protocols like WebRTC, NDI, RTMP, and HLS in this presentation from Streaming Media West 2022.

5 Ways to Future-Proof Your Streaming Role with AI on the Rise

How do you keep your skills relevant and useful regardless of developments in AI, Machine Learning (ML), or more advanced automation in any process related to your role in streaming media? Whether you are a seasoned veteran or just starting out with your career, I recommend setting five goals for the coming year.

Can Better Video Help the Metaverse?

Will the metaverse have legs? Will the headsets currently in use suffer a fate similar to the PocketPC precursors to the smartphones we know and love today? Only time—and a lot more investment in tech by a wider range of companies and individuals—will tell.

How to Best Evaluate Prospective Webcast Clients

Robert Reinhardt of VideoRx outlines essential steps for evaluating prospective webcast clients, such as determining high-value RFPs, gaining clear client expectations, evaluating the stakeholders, and identifying technology solution providers

Where Does Your Media Fit Into Web3?

Look beyond the hype and the monkeys. NFTs, blockchain, and other elements of the new decentralized web—Web3—have serious implications for video creators and publishers.

Integrating NDI Sources From Conferencing Platforms

Live-event video production during COVID has rapidly accelerated the use of NDI output from popular conferencing tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, particularly for one-to-many broadcasts in which remote contributors are the norm. This article will explain how to enable NDI in Zoom and Microsoft Teams for higher-quality input sources into your live-streaming workflow.

Webcasting, Videoconferencing, and FFmpeg in the Spotlight at Streaming Media East

Robert Reinhardt's workshops will cover the latest tips and tricks for using FFmpeg and managing inputs and outputs for videoconferencing, while presentations and panel discussions will look at taking your webcasting and event streaming efforts to the next level.

The Future Is Real Time, and It Starts Now

Where and how does "real time" fit into your workflows in this "COVID and beyond" era? Similar to global wars accelerating advan­ces in medicine such as plastic surgery, COVID has pushed all of us working in streaming media to rethink, innovate, optimise, and rebuild many components of our day-to-day responsibilities. 

Review: The Roland V-160HD Hybrid Event Video Switcher

While detailing every feature of this switcher is beyond the scope of the article, here are the top 10 features of the Roland V-160HD, peppered with some constructive criticism for good measure.

Streaming Tools for COVID and Beyond

The changes streaming producers have made in the last 18 months are going to come in handy for a future where hybrid events are the norm.

Browsers vs. Apps for Low-Latency Streaming in 2021

VideoRx CTO Robert Reinhardt discusses clients' current preferences for browser- and app-based streaming in low-latency applications in this clip from Streaming Media Connect 2021.

Managing Inputs And Outputs For Video Conferencing Platforms and Webcasts

The target audience for this article is anyone who is interested in knowing what gear and skill sets are required to produce a virtual live-stream event and experience.

In Search of Better Encoding Quality for WebRTC

Suffice it to say that Web­RTC is finally out of kindergarten and moving into the elementary grades. Which grade exactly? Well, that likely depends on which web browser you're using and which server technology or platform your Web­RTC implementation uses.

Live Production During COVID and Beyond

Lessons learned during the pandemic can provide guidance for how live producers can continue to not just survive but thrive.

Server-Side Architectures and WebRTC

VideoRx CTO Robert Reinhardt discusses how using various server-side architectures with WebRTC is like to play out, whether it's open course, commercial/licensed server, or cloud services, in this clip from Streaming Media West Connect.

Client-Side Architectures and WebRTC

VideoRx CTO Robert Reinhardt discusses client-side architecture issues and pain points unique to WebRTC in this clip from Streaming Media West Connect.

One-to-Many Broadcasts with WebRTC

VideoRx CTO Robert Reinhardt discusses WebRTC's emergence as a low-latency option for one-to-many streaming, and the challenges of scaling it in this clip from his presentation at Streaming Media West Connect.

Low-Latency Streaming Checklist

VideoRx CTO leads viewers through a checklist for prioritizing and achieving low-latency streaming in this clip from his presentation at Streaming Media West Connect 2020.

What Low Latency Is and How to Measure It

VideoRx CTO Robert Reinhardt explains what low-latency streaming means in different scenarios and how to measure it from glass to glass in this clip from Streaming Media West Connect 2020.

How to Target and Test Your Livestreams

videoRx CTO Robert Reinhardt outlines best practices for choosing and testing players and targets for client streams in this clip from Streaming Media East Connect 2020.

Best Practices for Streaming Ingest and Distribution

videoRx CTO Robert Reinhardt walks viewers through the basics of streaming ingest and distribution in this clip from Streaming Media East Connect 2020.

Best Practices for Streaming Deployment

Robert Reinhardt outlines his streaming gear and workflow from ingest to delivery in this clip from Streaming Media East Connect 2020.

The Problem with WebRTC

The good news is that desktop and mobile web browsers are now capable of using WebRTC for real-time or progressive web apps. The bad news is that we need faster progress with viable WebRTC SDKs that don't tightly tie products to a particular WebRTC offering.

Protect Yourself: Predict Your Production Costs

For your sake and your clients', spend extra time predicting and planning your production process to avoid cost overruns

Announcing Robert Reinhardt's FFmpeg Workshops at Streaming Media East Connect

Robert Reinhardt will be presenting two in-depth FFmpeg workshops--the first for novice and the second for advanced users-May 27 & 29 at Streaming Media East Connect 2020.

A/V Mixing Best Practices for Live Event Streaming

VideoRx CTO Robert Reinhardt discusses best practices for setting up audio and video mixing for live-streamed events in this clip from his presentation at Streaming Media West 2019.

Streaming Live Events to Multiple Destinations

VideoRx CTO Robert Reinhardt offers strategic and technical tips on streaming deployment for live producers looking to stream events to multiple social platforms simultaneously in this clip from his presentation at Streaming Media West 2019.

Flash's Last Hurrah

Most content publishers have already moved on from Flash, but those who need ultra-low latency have stuck with it. Now that Adobe is ending support for Flash, it's time to move to WebRTC, but it won't be easy.

6 Things Every Live Stream Needs

VideoRx CTO Robert Reinhardt outlines the essential elements of a successful live stream from capture to delivery to playback in this streaming producer's primer from Live Streaming Summit at Streaming Media East 2019.

SMW '19: Tim Siglin and Friends Wrap Up Streaming Media West

Streaming Media Contributing Editor Tim Siglin is joined by fellow contributing editor Robert Reinhardt and Editor-in-Chief and VP Eric Schumacher-Rasmussen as he wraps up 2 days of interviews at Streaming Media West 2019.

How to Budget Live Event Streaming

VideoRx CTO Robert Reinhardt discusses the key elements of budgeting and bidding live event streams for clients--from labor to equipment to deployment--in this clip from his presentation at Streaming Media West 2019.

Streaming Analytics Demo: Datazoom

VideoRx CTO Robert Reinhardt demos Datazoom analytics in his Video Engineering Summit presentation at Streaming Media East 2019.

Streaming Analytics Demo: MuxData

VideoRx CTO Robert Reinhardt demos MuxData analytics in his Video Engineering Summit presentation at Streaming Media East 2019.

Squashing the Bugs: 6 Steps for Solving Video Streaming Problems

As a video solutions architect, our columnist has a lot of experience dealing with streaming issues that others created. Here's how he goes about solving them.

Streaming Analytics Demo: SnowPlow

VideoRx CTO Robert Reinhardt demos SnowPlow Analytics in his Video Engineering Summit presentation at Streaming Media East 2019.

Which Streaming Metrics Do Stakeholders Care About?

VideoRx CTO Robert Reinhardt identifying the key streaming data points stakeholders care about in this clip from his Video Engineering Summit presentation at Streaming Media East 2019.

Review: Roland V-02HD Multi-Format Video Mixer

The new, extremely compact Roland V-02HD can be used to mix multiple sources for live event streaming and/or to output audio/video to in-house projection systems.

5 Low-Cost Ways to Provide Closed Captions for VOD Streams

Attaching captions to on-demand videos can be simple and low-cost, but doing the same for live video is a little more involved. Here are the options.

Video: Pros and Cons of RTSP for Live Streaming Playback

videoRX CTO Robert Reinhardt discusses the benefits and drawbacks of RTSP compared to other protocols for mobile app development in this clip from his presentation at Streaming Media East 2019.

Video: Pros and Cons of HLS for Live Streaming Playback

videoRX CTO Robert Reinhardt demonstrates the benefits and drawbacks of HLS and DASH in this clip from his presentation at Streaming Media East 2019.

Project Managers Are Essential for Any Video Development Project

It's a thankless job, but PMs keep projects moving forward in a thousand ways. When projects don't have a PM, things can get seriously out of whack.

Review: Videon’s Shavano 4K HEVC Video Encoder

If you're looking to add the capabilities of HEVC to your live streams, we recommend giving the Videon Shavano a test drive.

Video: Pros & Cons of WebRTC for Live Streaming Playback

VideoRx CTO Robert Reinhardt discusses the benefits and drawbacks of WebRTC in this clip from his presentation in the Video Engineering Summit at Streaming Media West.

Finding a Video Player That Works for You and Your Budget

The video player landscape has changed tremendously since Streaming Media examined it four years back. Here are the questions to ask when choosing a player and the features to watch for.

Developers Pay the Pioneer Tax for WebRTC Live Streaming

There's a cost to being cutting-edge, and for low-latency live video streaming that involves learning WebRTC and accepting limited browser support.

The Time to Prepare for Recovery Is Before Video Files Go Missing

Accidentally deleted a crucial video file? The good news is it might still be recoverable. Here are steps to take for recovery and to prevent loss from happening in the future.

The Hazards of Streaming Live Video: If It Can Fail, It Will Fail

Redundancy and advanced testing are essential for any live video event. Here are five rules for live streaming that can help save the day.

Review: Roland V-60HD Multi-Format HD Video Switcher

After testing Roland's new multi-format A/V switcher, the V-60HD, on three live events, I'll be switching over to the V-60HD as my main video switcher for live event production.

6 More Expert Tips for Successful Streaming With Facebook Live

Facebook Live was the hot platform in 2017, and it's only going to grow in 2018. Here's helpful advice on how organizations can create perfect live video events.

Review: AJA HELO Streaming & Recording Device

The AJA HELO H.264 Encoder is an excellent entry into the existing AJA line of products. Don't let the small form factor fool you--this device packs advanced compression control, streaming, recording, and scheduling features for a reasonable price.

Progressive Web Apps: What They Are and How to Get Started

With mobile viewing on the rise, developers need to know about progressive web apps which offer an app-like experience through the browser.

Roundup Review: Looking at Sub-$2,000 Hardware H.264 Encoders

Is there one single encoder that stands apart when live streaming a range of content in H.264? This roundup looks at the best equipment for lower-budget productions.

Expert Tips for Creating a Better Facebook Live Experience

A little planning beforehand will ensure that a Facebook Live broadcast goes smoothly. Here are tips from an experienced live event producer.

The 9 Starter Questions to Answer Before Creating a Live Stream

Creating a live stream for an event has gotten easier, but doing it right still requires advanced planning. Here's a roadmap for the first-timers.

The Questions Clients Need to Answer Before Asking for a Quote

Looking for a vendor to create a video solution for a website? Do the vendor and yourself a favor by answering these questions upfront. They're guaranteed to save a few steps.

5 Quick Tips for More Professional Live Online Broadcasts

An experienced online producer shares tips learned in the field for improving the look, lighting, and audio of live events both large and small.

Gone in a Flash: Migrating Videos to a Flash-Less World

For all its strengths, the clock has run out for Flash. Now is the time say goodbye and migrate to HTML5. Here's everything companies still relying on Flash need to know.

4 Ways Companies Can Lock Down Their Premium Video Catalogs

Piracy doesn't have to be a routine cost of business, and streamed videos can be secured. Learn which of these methods is best for your business.

Thinking About Load Testing: It’s Not Just for the Enterprise

Even SMBs need to think about load testing these days to ensure they can serve audience demand. Here are three questions to consider.

Build or Buy? When Choosing an OVP, Ask Lots of Questions

Should your company go with an online video platform or create a custom solution? OVPs make upload and distribution easy, but aren't right for all use cases.

Do Off-the-Shelf Video Solutions Make the Grade for Elearning?

When smaller educational organizations look for affordable online video systems, they don't find the features that come standard in advanced elearning platforms.

The HEVC Holding Pattern: Will '16 Be the Year for H.265 Support?

While the x265 codec is making big strides in quality and file size, the major browsers are in no rush to support H.265. With interest in 4K growing, maybe it's up to Flash to save the day.

PCI Compliance: Website Essentials for Processing Credit Cards

Sites that plan to sell video online through credit card payments need to know about payment card industry (PCI) requirements, which can be stringent.

VideoRx's 2015 View From The Top

Robert Reinhardt, CTO VideoRx

Is Flash Undead? What Will it Take to Finally Kill the Beast?

Everybody's using HTML5 and MPEG-DASH these days, right? Not so fast. Reports of Flash's death have been greatly exaggerated.

Is it Time Yet for 4K, H.265, and VP9 Adoption? Not So Fast

While it's fun to be on the cutting-edge of new video codecs and formats, H.264 should be every publishers' primary focus for the time being.

YouTube's 'HTML5 First, Flash Second' Position Is Marketing Hype

Videos on YouTube now default to HTML5 playback first, a decision that seems designed to attract headlines rather than solve problems.

Younger Viewers Are Far More Likely to Cut the Cord, Survey Finds

TV viewing is changing at a frantic pace, with younger viewers leaving pay TV and advertisers looking for a way to get their attention.

Video Rx: 2015 Online Video Industry Prediction

Robert Reinhardt, CTO of Video Rx, predicts what's coming in 2015 for the Online Video Industry

RTMP in the Age of HTTP Video Streaming: Don't Count it Out

Think RTMP is out of date? Despite the ubiquity of HTTP video streaming, there are still use cases where RTMP is the standard.

Creative Cloud Snubs FLV and F4V, But Flash Video Use Continues

Was Adobe's decision to remove FLV and F4V export from Creative Cloud the last gasp for Flash? No, and there are better tools around, anyway.

How to Create Interactive HTML5 Video

Turning a basic HTML5 video player into one with enhanced playback features is surprisingly simple. Here's the code to add chapter markers, captions, and more.

Choosing a Video Player: Features and Specs for the Top Five

We examine off-the-shelf video players MediaElement.js, Video.js, jPlayer, Flowplayer, and JW Player to show which of these five favorites is the best for any situation.