Live streaming of UNT College of Music performances big job for small crew

Friday, February 12, 2016 - 14:55
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Director of Recording Blair Liikala, left, talks with UNT film student Ross Johnson about operation of the audio panel. Photo by Ahna Hubnik.
Director of Recording Blair Liikala, left, talks with UNT film student Ross Johnson about operation of the audio panel. Photo by Ahna Hubnik.

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- The University of North Texas College of Music presents thousands of events each year – everything from symphonies, to chamber performances, to faculty and student recitals – and many are streamed live online. Little do viewers know that it is one man's concept, and the work of just two people bringing the big, bold sounds of UNT's talented faculty, students and guest artists into their homes.

"There's me and a single student who arrive to the hall about an hour before the event to setup the cameras, and check the system," said Blair Liikala, director of recording services for the College of Music. "About 15 minutes before the event we start the broadcast."

Liikala says that every major ensemble performance in Margot and Bill Winspear Performance Hall is streamed live via YouTube. Selected events in Paul Voertman Concert Hall that do not conflict with Winspear performances are often streamed as well. Both venues have remote controlled cameras installed. They are operated by joystick from control rooms nearby.

"Winspear can have up to six robotic cameras, but we usually use four or five," Liikala said. "For Voertman, we use three. We don't attend rehearsals or plot shots ahead of time, so the shoot is done on-the-fly. We've developed some techniques and strategies over the past seven years on making the event look interesting, natural, and planned without the overhead in doing so."

The camera operator is usually a UNT film major, and Liikala says shooting the concerts live teaches them to pick shots quickly, sharpening their skills. While the student handles camera work, Liikala adjusts audio and interacts with the online audience.

"I watch the chat and the streaming rig for issues while mixing in the announcement mic or any other spot mics when needed for most classical concerts," Liikala said. "For the One O'Clock Lab Band or Jazz Singers, I'm usually doing the live mix of the 30 or 40 microphones."

Liikala enjoys the interactivity involved with the chat feature. He says it involves a wide audience that can include composers who are listening to the performance of their pieces, current and prospective students, as well as faculty. It also allows families with small children, people with special medical needs, or those with transportation issues to enjoy the performances from the comfort of their own homes. But, he says the online service tends to be most popular with parents of students who are performing.

"We love to get requests on the chat for where their children are in the ensemble and work in a dedicated shot of them," Liikala said. "Some of these parents went to every band concert, drove their kids to every lesson and listened to all the practicing. This is a way for them to still participate even if they're thousands of miles away."

Live online streaming was the brainchild of Dennis Fisher, associate director of wind studies, who says the idea came about years ago when he was approached by a company, banddirector.com, that wanted to live stream some of the college's performances.

"It was very simplistic," Fisher said. "There was one camera streaming through their server from their site. It was of very low quality. But, the response in respect to viewership was in excess of what was anticipated."

When Liikala was hired as a recording engineer in 2008, Fisher asked him if he would be interested in creating the College of Music's own live streaming process.

"He jumped all over it," Fisher said. "As they say, the rest is history. He's created a production level that others have piggybacked. It is now as good as it gets for colleges across the country."

Now one of the most popular classical and jazz streaming programs in the world, each concert averages between 500 and 600 views. Larger performances, like the Symphony Orchestra and One O'Clock Lab Band, average more than 1,500 total views. Even more unique, people from every country with internet access have viewed the live stream. The College of Music's YouTube channel is now the second most viewed music college channel behind only the Berklee School of Music.

"I never expected this kind of success," Fisher said. "We certainly wanted it to be this popular and accessible, but Blair came in and made all of this happen."

About the UNT College of Music

The College of Music is one of the largest and most respected comprehensive music schools in the world. Approximately 1,500 music students attend the college each year, participating in nearly 70 widely varied ensembles while engaged in specialized studies in performance, composition, conducting, jazz studies, music education, music history, music theory or ethnomusicology. Music students, alumni and faculty have made appearances on the world's finest stages, have produced numerous recordings with many receiving Grammy awards and nominations, and have written influential texts in a variety of areas in music scholarship. Distinguished University alumni can be found around the globe in top music ensembles, opera companies, universities, and schools.

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