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ADENAcademy · Only Pros Know · Lesson 4 of 6

Using videoconferencing solutions with AREC Media Stations

In this lesson, we cover various topics related to the usage of videoconferencing solutions with AREC Media Stations.

Using videoconferencing solutions with AREC Media Stations

Please be aware that this is one of the longer lessons and will require a bit more than usual.



There are two primary ways of using videoconferencing solutions with AREC Media Stations:


  • Using the Media Stations as web cameras/sources for conferencing software/hardware.

  • Using the Media Stations to record and/or stream conferencing.


Using the Media Stations as web cameras/sources for conferencing software/hardware

There are multiple advantages to using AREC Media Stations as webcams in conferencing solutions. Media Stations work with various kinds of video inputs through HDMI, USB, or network, combine them together, add visual effects to them, switch how the video looks instantly, and a lot more. These advantages allow users of the Media Stations to bypass typical limitations present in conferencing solutions, such as support for video inputs, ease of switching, image customisation and manipulation, among others. Thus, with Media Stations, computer content like presentation slides can be combined with multiple professional PTZ cameras and displayed together as a single web camera.


There are multiple ways to connect Media Stations to conferencing solutions as cameras. Some conferencing solutions, particularly hardware-based, can use the stations’ HDMI or DP outputs, while others may require using HDMI-to-USB converters or the stations’ network streams.


Connecting the stations’ HDMI or DP outputs directly to conferencing solutions


All Media Stations’ HDMI and DP outputs can be connected and work by default, and it is not necessary to apply any configurations on the Media Stations to use their outputs.


We recommend connecting Display 2 and DP outputs, since these are configurable loop-through outputs without the GUI. Set these outputs to mirror mode to display the mixed video and use any of the stations’ control methods to change how the video looks.


Using HDMI-to-USB converters – A-BR02 RADA Bridge

When using the station’s HDMI or DP output directly is not an option, such as on a standard computer running conferencing software, it is possible to use converters instead, such as the RADA A-BR02 HDMI-to-USB Bridge.


The Bridge is a perfect accessory for AREC Media Stations, converting both audio and video into USB. It supports 4K resolution at 30 frames per second and Full HD at 120 frames per second, meaning it can be used to convert a station regardless of its selected recording and streaming mode. The device does not require software installation and works in plug-and-play mode. It can be used both as a camera and a microphone on computers and is compatible with all applications that can use UVC/UAC devices, such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Cisco Webex. The Bridge’s 3.5mm line input can be used to add an additional audio layer to the converted source, whereas its HDMI loop through output can be used to duplicate the source on a local display. Another useful feature of the Bridge is its support for PD charging, allowing users to simultaneously use it for AV conversion and charging the host device.


The Bridge is a standalone product. It can be used with camcorders, gaming consoles, medical devices, and other kinds of HDMI-outputting hardware.


Bridge selected as a camera in Teams


To use the Bridge, simply plug the station’s video output into its HDMI input port. As with direct HDMI/DP connections, we recommend connecting the Display 2 output, since it is a configurable loop output that does not display the GUI. After that, select the Bridge as your camera for video or microphone for audio – both functions can be used at the same time.


Some conferencing solutions may mirror your video to you


Note that some conferencing software may mirror your camera’s video. This effect applies only to your local preview, and the video is displayed normally to all other conferencing participants.


But this is only a local effect; your video is displayed correctly to others


Some applications (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom) allow disabling this feature. To disable it, search for “mirror my video” in the application’s settings.


Using the stations’ network streams

AREC Media Stations can be used in conferencing solutions via NDI|HX and RTSP protocols. Depending on the conferencing solution, the station’s stream can be connected using the solution itself (if it supports these protocols), or through third-party software.


The process of connecting our devices via NDI to conferencing solutions has already been described in the Only Pros Know Lesson 2 "Using NDI with AREC". To sum up, if a solution supports direct NDI inputs (e.g., enterprise versions of Zoom Rooms and Microsoft Teams), then a Media Station will be a selectable input source, as long as NDI streaming is enabled on the Media Station's “Administrator” → “Video” → “Streaming” page.


In all other cases, we recommend using NDI Tools’ “Webcam Input”. It will create a virtual NDI webcam where a Media Station can be selected. The same NDI webcam device can also be selected as a microphone.


OBS – a free application that can convert RTSP into a webcam


Most software-based conferencing solutions do not support RTSP inputs, but like NDI, RTSP streams can be converted into virtual webcams by various software. To provide an example, we are going to use OBS, a free application that can be downloaded from its official website, https://obsproject.com/


After you download the application, run it and create a new "Scene" or use the one that will exist by default.


Add a "Media" source


Add a video input under “Sources” by either right-clicking in the field or clicking “+”. Select “Media”. Give it a name and click “OK”.


Enter the RTSP URL of your Media Station

Media source configuration window will open. Untick “Local file” and type the station’s RTSP address in the “Input” line:


rtsp://IP address of the station/movie


Note that there is a known issue in OBS where regardless of its settings, the application makes only one attempt to automatically reconnect RTSP inputs if they were disconnected or their signal was lost. You can adjust the “Reconnect Delay” to postpone when this attempt happens. Otherwise, you can reconnect inputs manually by switching the current “Scene” or hiding/showing the source.


Click “OK” to apply these settings, and the station’s stream will appear in the program output window of OBS.


Start the OBS "Virtual Camera"


Click “Start Virtual Camera” to send the current program output of OBS into its virtual webcam and select it as any other camera inside conferencing or other applications.


Select the "Virtual Camera" in any conferencing application

Unlike NDI, OBS’s “Virtual Camera" does not function as a microphone. If you need to use the Media Station’s audio, you will need to connect one of the station's audio outputs or install a virtual audio cable application, such as “Voicemeeter Banana”, which we will cover later in this lesson.



Using the Media Stations to record or stream conferencing



There are several important advantages that Media Stations offer when it comes to recording or streaming conferencing. From the technical perspective, Media Stations support higher recording and streaming quality, offering configurable resolution (including 4K) and bitrates. From the user experience perspective, Media Stations support customisable video layouts, user-uploaded overlays and backgrounds, scheduling, backup, and many other features that make recording meetings easier and faster, and the recordings themselves more visually striking.


To record a conference meeting, the conferencing solution must be connected to the Media Station through any of the station’s supported AV inputs. Video of software-based conferencing solutions running on computers is captured by Media Stations like any other computer content.


Recording conferencing video and using the Media Station as a webcam simultaneously


When you are using the Media Station to record or stream a conference and also as a webcam, you should not use layouts that feature the conferencing application view. Using such layouts will create an infinite loop (the content capturing itself), while other attendees will see themselves in the station’s video.


To avoid this effect, we recommend using the individual channel recording function. Record the computer running the conferencing application as a separate video channel and only use layouts that do not feature it. You can use the conferencing application to share content such as presentation slides or connect an additional computer for that purpose.


You can use the conferencing application to share computer content and the individual video channel recording function to record it all together


Recording software conferencing audio

When using conferencing software running on Windows or other operating systems, additional configuration may be required to record its audio. As we mentioned in Basics Lesson 4, “Selecting and configuring audio sources on AREC Media Stations”, it is necessary to select “CBOX” as the speakers to record a computer’s audio. The same applies to applications with selectable audio outputs: if an application’s audio needs to be recorded, then its output must be set to “CBOX”. This audio output will contain all inbound audio (e.g., external participants).


However, “CBOX” will not contain any outbound audio (e.g., your own microphone). To capture outbound audio, its source must be connected to the Media Station through any of the supported audio inputs.


Certain applications, e.g., the enterprise version of Microsoft Teams, allow using NDI to output various elements of meetings as NDI streams, including the currently active participant, specific participants, all audio and video, or in other modes. Such streams can be connected as any other NDI inputs. If you are not sure how to connect and use an NDI stream as a source, refer to Only Pros Know Lesson 2 "Using NDI with AREC" for more information.


Alternatively, another computer can be connected as an audio input to the Media Station. Joining the same conference meetings on this computer and selecting “CBOX” as the speakers will include microphones used by the main conferencing computer. The same computer can also be used to capture all of the video content of the meeting if connected as a video source.


If none of the above options are available to you, you can use audio software like OBS or Voicemeeter Banana to manage and capture all conferencing audio. Instructions on how to use these applications are provided later in this lesson.


Listening to software conferencing audio

Typical conferencing software can only output audio to one device. This means that when a Media Station is set as the conferencing audio output, this audio will only be present on the Media Station, bypassing any other speakers available to this software. Thus, to listen to the conferencing audio on local speakers, headsets, and other such devices, these devices must be connected to the Media Station’s audio outputs: 3.5mm, HDMI, or DP. Settings related to these audio outputs can be found on the “Administrator” → “Media I/O” → “Audio” page. Under “Configuration”, toggle “Audio output loop through” on to enable or off to disable local audio output and use the sliders under “Output volume control” to adjust their volume.


Note that network audio inputs (Dante, NDI|HX, SRT, and others) will be audible on the local outputs even if "Audio output loop through" is disabled. If you have network audio sources and you need to completely disable local output, make sure to mute connected outputs.


It is also possible to pull the station’s network streams to listen to its audio using the same computer running the conferencing software or any other device capable of opening network streams.


Avoiding audio echo when using software conferencing


Note that all audio inputs are mixed into a single audio output channel on AREC Media Stations. Therefore, depending on the setup, using the stations’ audio loop through outputs may lead to situations where local users will hear themselves when speaking into microphones.


To avoid this effect, we recommend using third-party audio mixers, DSPs, splitters, or other audio equipment to separate audio that needs to be recorded on Media Stations from the audio that needs to be outputted through local speakers. Follow the instructions provided by these devices to ensure proper connection.


If you do not have such equipment, you can use software like OBS and Voicemeeter Banana to achieve similar results.


Using OBS to mix all conferencing audio


OBS can be set to silently monitor all incoming and outgoing audio on a computer. This function can be used to duplicate all conferencing audio into the computer’s general sound output. The following instructions explain how to do that.


First, open OBS and create a scene.


Add the conferencing audio input


Next, add the audio input that will be used by conferencing software.


Add the conferencing audio output


Add the audio output that will be used by conferencing software.


Mute everything else


Mute all other audio devices in the “Audio Mixer” section of OBS.


Monitor only the conferencing I/O


Now, open the “Advanced Audio Properties” and set the conferencing audio input and output to “Monitor Only (mute output)”. Set all other devices here to “Monitor Off”.


Select the system and conferencing devices correctly


Select the same audio input and output devices in the conferencing software and make sure that “CBOX” is set as the computer’s speakers. This configuration makes it so that the computer’s “CBOX” output contains all incoming and outgoing conferencing audio.



Voicemeeter Banana


Using Voicemeeter Banana to split conferencing audio for Media Stations and speakers


Voicemeeter Banana is a software audio mixer for Windows that is distributed as donationware. It can be downloaded from its official website, https://voicemeeter.com/


To install Voicemeeter, run the installer in administrative mode and reboot the computer when the installation finishes. Upon restart, several virtual audio inputs and outputs will be available. These are managed from the Voicemeeter application.


Configuring Windows to use Voicemeeter


To use Voicemeeter, you must select it as the computer’s speaker and microphone. You can do that on the “System” → “Sound” page. Select “Voicemeeter Input” in the “Output” and “Voicemeeter Out B1” in the “Input”. Voicemeeter must also be selected in the conferencing application: select “Voicemeeter AUX input” in the output and “Voicemeeter Out B2” as the input.


Optionally, make Voicemeeter the default option for every audio I/O

If you plan to continue using Voicemeeter, you should also make it the computer’s default option for audio input and output, both for general and conferencing purposes. To do that, open “Properties” of “Voicemeeter Input” and in “Set as default sound device” select “Is default for audio”. Next, open “Properties” of “Voicemeeter AUX Input” and in “Set as default sound device” select “Is default for communications”.


Do the same for the computer’s “Input”: in its “Properties”, set “Voicemeeter Out B1” to “Is default for audio” and “Voicemeeter Out B2” to “Is default for communications”.


Voicemeeter interface

Voicemeeter Banana is a complex application that allows changing many parameters of audio inputs and outputs. For the purposes of this lesson, we will explain only the features necessary for capturing, managing, and splitting audio inputs and outputs for AREC Media Stations. If you want to know more about other features of this application, you can refer to the official documentation and/or video tutorials on Voicemeeter’s official website, https://voicemeeter.com/


Voicemeeter interface explained


Here is what each button and function does:


  1. Physical inputs selection: left-click on an input (“Mic”, “A2 Input”, “A3 Input”) to select an input in that slot, such as a microphone. Virtual devices, such as NDI audio devices, are also found here. Right-click on an input to rename it for easier recognition.

  2. Outputs for this input: click which outputs should receive this input.

  3. Input’s volume meter: shows if this input is capturing audio.

  4. Input control buttons: click “mono” to turn stereo input into mono, click “solo” to listen only to this input, and click “Mute” to mute this input.

  5. Input gain: click and drag the circle to adjust the input’s gain, making it louder or quieter. Double-click to reset to 0dB gain.

  6. Input name: right-click to change this input’s name for easier recognition.

  7. Primary virtual input: this shows parameters of “Voicemeeter Input”. Right-click to rename it for easier recognition. Right-click on the sample rate to change it.

  8. Primary virtual output: this controls “Voicemeeter B1 Out”. Same as in (2), click which outputs should receive this input. “Voicemeeter B1 Out” consists of audio that is outputted through “Voicemeeter Input”, i.e. where “Voicemeeter Input” is selected as speakers.

  9. Primary virtual input gain: click and drag to adjust “Voicemeeter Input” gain, making it louder or quieter. Double-click to reset to 0dB gain. Since “Voicemeeter Input” is used as speakers for most applications and system audio, use this to increase or decrease overall volume.

  10. Secondary virtual input: this shows parameters of “Voicemeeter AUX Input”. Right-click to rename it for easier recognition. Right-click on the sample rate to change it.

  11. Secondary virtual output: this controls “Voicemeeter B2 Out”. Same as in (2), click which outputs should receive this input. “Voicemeeter B2 Out” consists of audio that is outputted through “Voicemeeter AUX Input”, i.e. where “Voicemeeter AUX Input” is selected as speakers.

  12. Secondary virtual input gain: click and drag to adjust “Voicemeeter AUX Input” gain, making it louder or quieter. Double-click to reset to 0dB gain. Since “Voicemeeter AUX Input” is used as speakers for conferencing applications or other applications that use communication devices, use this to increase or decrease conferencing volume.

  13. Physical audio outputs: click on buttons “A1”, “A2”, or “A3” to select physical audio outputs, such as speakers, headsets, and displays.

  14. Output control buttons: click “mono” to turn stereo output into mono, left-click “EQ” to enable equaliser and right-click to adjust it, and click “Mute” to mute the output.

  15. Output gain: click and drag the circles to adjust gain on outputs, making them louder or quieter. Right-click on an output’s name to rename it for easier recognition.

  16. Menu: click to access settings and additional features.


Configuring and using Voicemeeter – important details

When connecting physical audio input or output devices, Voicemeeter requires you to select which audio driver should be used for this device: WDM, KS, MME, or ASIO. Available options depend on the computer running Voicemeeter and the audio device itself. While there are many differences between these drivers and how they work, the practical effect of this choice is in audio latency and stability. Thanks to its design, ASIO can help achieve the smallest latency out of these drivers, followed by KS, WDM, and lastly, MME. On the other hand, while it tends to have the highest latency, MME is the most stable option.


Note that audio latency and stability depend on many factors and it is not possible to provide a one-size-fits-all configuration. If you are experiencing issues like distortion, cracking, disappearing sound, or want to achieve the best latency/stability balance, you will need to experiment with different audio drivers and buffer rates in Voicemeeter settings.


Remove disconnected devices from Voicemeeter inputs and outputs


If an input or output was disconnected, it must be removed from Voicemeeter. In default settings, Voicemeeter automatically restarts the audio engine every several seconds if an input or output is disconnected, which causes the audio to drop. To avoid this issue, remove disconnected devices or disable automatic audio engine restart in the application’s settings.


Manage all audio inside Voicemeeter

When Voicemeeter is selected as the system’s speakers and microphone, speakers and microphone volume are controlled through the Voicemeeter interface. Use the gain sliders under “Voicemeeter Input” and “Voicemeeter AUX Input” to manage system/conferencing volume and adjust output gains to manage outgoing (microphone) audio.


Note that it is still possible to mute individual audio devices through the Windows “System” → “Sound” page. If the audio input does not work and all settings are correct, double-check if it is muted through that page.


Configuring and using Voicemeeter – conferencing example


Now that Voicemeeter is installed and configured, we can start using it. Connect audio inputs to the computer running Voicemeeter and select them in physical inputs. Connect this computer to the Media Station and select “CBOX” as a physical output. Connect other audio output devices in the room to the computer and select them as physical outputs as well.


For every audio input, click on the audio outputs they should be sent to. Click on “B1” to send an input to system audio (e.g., to use this audio input in browsers and regular applications). Click “B2” to use it in the conferencing.


To record conferencing audio, enable its output to “CBOX”. If “CBOX” was selected in “A1” output, select “A1”. Enable additional outputs as needed.


That concludes the lesson. You can now test your knowledge and understanding by answering the questions on the lesson's form and watching the linked videos before moving on to the next lesson.


After you submit your answers on the form, make sure to click "View Scores" to see whether you answered correctly. You will also receive an email at the address you used when starting this lesson, containing your answers and a "View Scores" link.



Training Videos


Training Video – How to Record Video Conferencing Audio on AREC Media Stations (Basic Method)


Training Video – How to Record Video Conferencing Audio on AREC Media Stations (Voicemeeter Banana)


Training Video – How to Record Video Conferencing Audio on AREC Media Stations (OBS Studio)



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