About the Project
CreativeWaves was a school-wide project where students from almost all programs at the GLR collaborated to set up an event. The event was dedicated to a good cause, specifically supporting the food bank. The main attraction of the event was a "Glass House"-style radio program, complemented by smaller attractions such as laser gaming, a roller disco, and a photo booth.
The goal was not only to entertain but also to bring attention to a meaningful cause. The atmosphere was electric, with many different student groups coming together to contribute to the project, showcasing the diverse talents within our school community. The event was a huge success, both in terms of fundraising and community engagement.
Our Tasks during the Project
I was one of four individuals responsible for setting up and maintaining both the visual radio setup, Unity intercom, and a mobile unit for an external reporter. The visual radio setup consisted of 4 PTZ cameras in the radio studio, 3 cameras in the roller disco, and 1 source from the laser gaming arena. We also utilized an SRT camera for the mobile unit.
The Unity intercom system was something I primarily handled on my own, with occasional help from colleagues when I ran into settings issues. One of the most challenging aspects of the project was dealing with the mobile unit. Initially, our colleagues from the Reporting course had rented their own mobile set, but they soon encountered a problem. Their rented VOIP set wouldn't work due to network security restrictions at GLR, which block unauthorized network traffic such as VOIP mobile units.
Fortunately, my team and I had anticipated this issue and set up a backup plan. We used a mobile setup that could receive an SRT stream through the DMZ, ensuring the external reporter could broadcast live despite the network restrictions. This proactive approach was crucial to the success of this element of the radio.
Techniques & Technologies
The project relied heavily on various technologies, including PTZ cameras for video capture, SRT for secure streaming, and Unity Intercom for real-time communication with the reporter. The mobile unit was equipped with an SRT camera, an Ipad that was connected with the schoolnetwork and a microphone, in the end that allowed us to manage and broadcast from different locations almost seamlessly.
