What is the tricaster mini s good for?

---

What is the new Vizrt TriCaster Mini S software good for?

With the (impending) release of the Vizrt TriCaster Mini S software, end-users may be asking, how will I use this new software? Can I use it to replace an existing TriCaster? Does it offer all of the capabilities of other TriCasters? Can I use it in conjunction with other TriCasters?

These are all very good questions and deserve answering.

In the past, the TriCaster was a combination hardware and software solution for performing live video production, recording and streaming. In addition to a host PC running Windows along with an nVidia graphics card, NewTek (now Vizrt) also included proprietary hardware to perform video and audio processing, either in the form of a main board (such as the TriCaster 460, TC Mini or TC1, etc.) or a massive rear panel (TriCaster 860 or 8000, etc.) That proprietary hardware, working hand-in-hand with the graphics card, computer memory and TriCaster software, allowed the end-user to perform all of the magic that a TriCaster is capable of. The TriCaster software was only available as part of the TriCaster system and never sold separately.

That changed with the introduction of the TriCaster Mini S.

The Mini S is software only. You still need a Windows PC to run the software, but it is a software-only solution now being sold by Vizrt. Systems requirements are pretty straightforward. As long as the host PC meets these requirements, you should be able to run the TriCaster Mini S software. Alternatively, you can purchase a Vizrt-certified PC to run the Mini S software with.

We have been working with the TriCaster Mini S software since November 12th, 2024. We received a highly-polished beta version of the software and successfully installed the software on a locally-built Windows 11 PC. We extensively worked with the software for the next week and presented the TriCaster Mini S to an enthusiastic group of TriCaster users at our open-house event in Wake Forest, NC on November 19th, 2024. Check out our report at this website.

The TriCaster Mini S performs and operates just like a “regular” TriCaster. Despite the lack of any proprietary hardware (main board or rear panel) the Mini S allows you to perform real-time video switching, recording and streaming. In its current form, the TriCaster Mini S works with up to eight NDI, USB and network video sources. There is no support for working with SDI or HDMI video input/output cards. 

So, what is the TriCaster Mini S good for?

As an affordable standalone system, you can connect up to 7 PTZ NDI video cameras plus bring in ProPresenter to feed graphics to the TriCaster Mini S for streaming house of worship services . . . or combine NDI PTZ cameras and NDI-capable camcorders for streaming high-school football or basketball games . . . or stream a monthly town-council meeting.

On a shared NDI-network, a TriCaster Mini S system can work with a TriCaster 410 Plus, TC1 or any other NDI-capable TriCaster for bringing in additional NDI sources. Select the program output of the Mini S as an input on the 410 Plus or TC1. Punch up camera one, two or three, etc. on the program row of the Mini S and those cameras become additional sources to the other TriCaster.

Maybe you have an older TriCaster system that needs to be retired but you have a perfectly-good TC1SP (or other) control surface with that system. Build a new TriCaster Mini S system and use the TC1SP as its external control panel.

The functionality of the TriCaster Mini S is essentially the same as the TriCaster Mini 4K . . .minus the analog audio inputs and outputs and the four NDI ports of the Mini 4K. Add a Netgear PoE switch and a Mackie audio mixer with USB output and you are covered. If you need an SDI or HDMI input or output with your Mini S system, add an NDI encoder/decoder.

Located in Wake Forest, NC, DigiTek Systems has been selling the TriCaster since 2005. We are very excited about the TriCaster Mini S and all that it brings to the video production and streaming world. We are selling both the TriCaster Mini S software and TriCaster Mini S systems. For more information including pricing feel free to email us at mdrabick@mindspring.com or call 919 810 9457.