[Nfb-web] amount of RAM for Webcasting

[Peter Donahue]

Good evening everyone,

    Tonight I'm pleased to report that funding has come through to allow me
to purchase the needed equipment so I can digitally record and stream live
events such as NFB conventions and other meetings. I'm currently settling on
a laptop model, but have a question concerning the amount of on-board RAM to
ensure that audio streaming can occur with little or no interruption, and so
the machine runs efficiently. Buying a PC with a duel processor is being
considered very seriously. Some of the laptops I've examined ship with 512
MB of RAM, but are expandable to 1, 2, or 4  GB. I've gotten several quotes
one of which was on a machine expandable to 4 GB of RAM, but it put me over
budget to go to the max with it. Can I get away with 1 or 2 GB to ensure
that streams flow smoothly?

    In the hard drive department I'd like to have at least 160 GB. I'll be
curious to hear from those of you who do streaming as to how much hard drive
space is ideal for this purpose. Anything I record would not reside on the
machine for long. Perhaps I could get away with 80 GB, but would appreciate
hearing your recommendations on this subject.

    I expect to purchase the rig by the weekend. In addition to using the
laptop for streaming NFb and other events it will be good having a PC we can
take with us when we travel to allow us to work on other projects and to
remain connected to the Internet and do other things while on the road.

After I receive the laptop and get everything set up and working properly
then I'll turn to buying the mixer and other equipment. I'll be able to take
the laptop with me to Alamo Music Center, and marry it with the mixer there
and test the system in store before I make the mixer purchase, to know how
the two units will work together, and to ensure that I as a blind person can
use everything independently. I'll let y'all know how it turns out. Just
thought I would share my plan of attack with you so you can draw on my
experience if you're planning to offer streaming and digital recording of
live events in the future. Take care everyone and have a great week.

Peter Donahue