In the market, video conferences are divided into two types: hardware conferences and software conferences. These two are quite different. Since hardware video conferencing has an MCU, the video and audio effects are better, and the security and stability are also better, but the price of hardware video conferencing is relatively high. The advantage of software video conferencing is the low price, but it is difficult to guarantee the video effects and security.
Hardware video conference and software video conference
In the market, video conferences are divided into two types: hardware conferences and software conferences. These two are quite different. Since hardware video conferencing has an MCU, the video and audio effects are better, and the security and stability are also better, but the price of hardware video conferencing is relatively high. The advantage of software video conferencing is the low price, but it is difficult to guarantee the video effects and security. Therefore, it is more recommended that enterprises choose hardware video conferencing.
Hardware video conference
It means that the conference terminal is a dedicated hardware device for the special computer, and the audio and video encoding and decoding are all completed on a dedicated chip. Generally, the conference terminal used is an embedded architecture, and the terminal contains a hardware acquisition code card with a HD conference camera. The MCU completes all encoding and decoding, that is to say, it decodes the video pictures uploaded by all terminals, and then re-encodes them into a picture for distribution, which needs high performance on hardware.
The advantages of hardware video conferencing are stability with clear images, and the limitation is that it is more suitable for corporate meetings but not for individuals because of the high costs.The upstream rate downstream bandwidth of the terminal is basically equal, and the current models can basically reach 1080P, occupying a bandwidth of about 2M. The upstream and downstream bandwidths of the MCU are basically equal. How many channels of terminal images are received, and how many channels of images are delivered after the screens are combined.
Software video conference
The terminal/client basically relies on the application software of the computer windows system or the smart terminal android/ios, and the audio and video coding and decoding are completed by software, rather than the dedicated chip of dedicated hardware. Video capture relies on USB camera, PCI interface video capture card + external camera. The stability of the system is definitely inferior than that of the hardware terminal. The advantage is it is flexible and can be used anywhere as long as it can be connected to the Internet.
MCU (software is generally called server), does not encode and decode video images, but only forwards, for example, if 10 people participate in a conference and broadcast 3 images, then only upload 3 images, and then distribute these 3 channels to 10 people and 3 channels each. Therefore, the server hardware performance requirements are basically not high. The bandwidth of the software client/server fluctuates greatly, depending on how many screens are broadcasting. It is basically a multiplication method: single-channel screen stream * broadcast channels * number of participants.
Choose hardware video conference or software video conference?
Corporate user selections: the high-levels enterprises (first-level enterprise + second-level enterprise) in the industries of enterprises, government, energy, power, finance and insurance choose hardware video conference cameras, and mainstream manufacturers such as Polycom, Cisco, Huawei, and VHD are mostly. In addition, it matters a lot with the capital budget. With more emphasis on Internet security in recent years, the shares of domestic hardware video brand manufacturers are increasing, especially for government-related enterprises and institutions. If the number of enterprises below the second level of these companies is not particularly large, they may also use hardware terminals to expand. Considering the high-definition effect and cost-effectiveness, the domestic hardware video conference system of VHD brand is also very popular.
Ordinary enterprises and those with a wide distribution range and a large number of conferences use hardware conferences, and many also use software conferences. After all, the overall cost of the software is relatively low. Both purchase and lease are relatively cost-effective, especially in the past two years of lease operation, the so-called cloud video conferencing, the market is also developing well.
Whether hardware video conferences or software video conferences, in order to enhance the video picture, the conference camera supporting the conference terminal adopts a dedicated high-definition camera to achieve a realistic presentation of the facial expression and environment, so that the remote meeting has the effect of face-to-face communication. It is difficult for a security camera to have a good effect. VHD conference cameras are very professional and well-known in the audio and video field.
Choose a self-built video conferencing system or a cloud video conferencing service?
When an enterprise is building a video conference project, it also needs to choose a suitable construction mode, which can be divided into a self-built mode and a cloud service mode. The self-built mode, including the hardware system construction of MCU and GK server and the construction of proprietary lines, has a high one-time investment and guarantees self-operation. It is more used in the military and party and government agencies. Of course, there are also self-built MCU and GK hardware, and line leases are also common.
The cloud service mode refers to the cloud service leasing mode for MCU and GK server services, based on the large capacity of the MCU resource pool at the Internet sharing cloud platform, it can realize the inter-enterprise video conference interoperability among many enterprises. There is no need to invest in IT operation and maintenance personnel, and no need to build a backstage management system. As long as the network cable and power supply, it can be used easily, the video conference is as simple as making a phone call, and it is also compatible with access to multiple types of soft and hard video terminals. After the Internet and cloud services have become popular, many small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the third and fourth-level networks of governments and large vertical enterprises have also begun to use it, as it is very convenient in network construction and maintenance.
Advantages of VHD Video Conference System
1. Full real-time, full HD picture, capable of high-presence "face-to-face" eye contact with all parties in the meeting;
2. AAC broadband voice, so that participants can enjoy CD-level sound quality;
3. Multiple networking modes, cloud conference, hardware MCU conference, built-in MCU conference, and VPN private network;
4. Good interoperability and compatibility, and can communicate well with all mainstream video conferencing equipment terminals;
5. Ultra-high network adaptability, start FEC proprietary technology, packet loss within 20% has no effect on the system, and packet loss within 25% conferences can still be conducted normally.
