Workflow
Intuitive interface.

- LIVE DESKTOP MONITORS with integrated multi-view monitoring, let you arrange and select shots with confidence. View all switcher sources at full field rate – with advanced alpha channel preview on the EXTREME model – plus audio VU meter overlays and adjustable monitor panes.
- NETWORK INPUTS let you go wireless with breakthrough Apple® AirPlay® support. Deliver video and audio from iOS devices, such as iPad®, iPod®, or iPhone®, into your live production. Or bring in displays from your PC or Mac®, using NewTek iVGA™ technology.
- LOOK-AHEAD PREVIEW MONITOR displays your upcoming video output. Prepare multi-layered effects, preview the output as it will appear live, and then switch with confidence.
- PROGRAM MONITOR shows the current video output of your live production, and lets you see what your audience sees. Access controls for record and stream functions, configure your video output, and more.
- ONE-BUTTON RECORDING captures content from your live production at full resolution (up to 1080p). The TriCaster 850 EXTREME model records up to eight individual sources, simultaneously, in formats of your choosing, including QuickTime®, H.264, AVI and MPEG-2, using NewTek IsoCorder™ multi-track, multi-format video recording technology.
- ONE-BUTTON INTERNET STREAMING allows you to use Adobe® Flash® or Microsoft® Windows Media® to deliver a full, HD live stream directly to the Web, with simultaneous archive for later viewing, and support for multi-bitrate streaming profiles. The Streaming Profile Manager includes an integrated browser to make configuration, import and previewing of your Web streams quicker and easier than you thought possible. Save and manage all of your settings for instant access at a later date.
- LIVE PRODUCTION SWITCHER gives you control over all 24 channels, including eight external video sources, eight virtual mix/effect-style channels, five internal digital media players, two external network inputs, frame buffer and black. Custom names can be added to switcher sources.
- UTILITY ROW makes it easy to assign sources to the Effects (FX) bus, downstream key (DSK) channels, and auxiliary (AUX) output. Utility Delegate controls let you use the Utility Row to apply selections to individual or multiple delegates, simultaneously.
- UTILITY DELEGATE lets you set the Utility Row to send video and graphics to the FX bus, DSKs and/or AUX output. Delegates currently affected by Utility Row selections are highlighted, while sources currently assigned are displayed for easy reference.
- VIRTUAL INPUTS are powerful virtual mix/effect-style channels that let you assign complex switcher effects to one button. Each TriCaster 850 series system includes eight fully customizable Virtual Inputs, each with multiple presets.
- TRANSITION CONTROLS let you transition individual or multiple video layers on and off screen. Select the Transition Delegate button of the desired video layer(s), then use manual or auto controls to perform single-source transitions, or switch from one multi-source composition to another.
- TRANSITIONS allow you to use more than 200 broadcast-quality effects to add interest and impact to your live production. The EXTREME model also supports full-color, animation store transitions with embedded audio. Create your own custom animation store transitions from up to 32-bit image sequences, using the integrated Animation Store Creator 2.0.
- HD LIVE VIRTUAL SETS let you achieve the look of a network-style studio in a limited space, using innovative NewTek LiveSet™ technology. Instantly select close-up, medium, medium-wide and wide angle shots, or perform smooth, animated zooms - without touching the camera. Sets include double-box effects and options for seated or standing presentations.
- VIRTUAL INPUT CONTROLS let you select two primary switcher sources, create a mix/effect-style composition, and use an additional source as an overlay. Configure virtual sets, layer live elements, set upstream picture-in-picture effects, and more.
- DIGITAL MEDIA PLAYERS include two DDRs for video playback, a titles bin, a stills store, and a sound player, making it easy to add video clips, music, images, and more, including clips captured during a live event, for immediate playback. HD and SD resolutions are supported in a variety of popular file formats, with adjustable audio level settings for every clip.
- LIVE TITLES give your production a network-style finish. Bring in graphics, titles, and animated overlays to layer on your live video, lock a title or bug to a camera or Virtual Input, and set the in and out motion for each. Title pages can be edited, even when displayed live.
- MULTI-CHANNEL AUDIO MIXER gives you control over microphones, line inputs and clip playback levels, with audio-follows-video support and auxiliary routing to integrate an external audio setup. Included with the TriCaster 850 EXTREME is the ability to group audio sources to follow video and route sub-mixes. Every audio input and output also includes a seven-band equalizer and compressor/limiter to deliver the best possible sound, with enhanced audio crossfade.
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Switcher Channels |
24 |
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Video Input |
8 simultaneous inputs
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M/E-bus-style Virtual Inputs |
8 independent mix/effect-style channels, each with presets, dedicated upstream overlay channel with transition control, and independent source effects; positioning, scaling, cropping and 3D rotation |
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Network Inputs |
2 live sources, any combination of:
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Media Players |
5 integrated digital media players with presets, alpha channel and adjustable audio levels per clip: 2 DDRs, Stills, Titles and Sounds |
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Video Output |
3 simultaneous outputs
Output sources include Program and AUX (configurable for Program, Program clean, Preview, any input, Effects, any frame store, alpha out) |
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Recording |
TriCaster 850 EXTREME:
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Live Streaming |
Full HD live streaming in resolutions up to 720p (16:9 aspect ratio), with simultaneous archive Streaming Profile Manager with integrated Web browser to manage or view streams, and access online CDN accounts |
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Audio Input |
TriCaster 850 EXTREME:
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Audio Output |
TriCaster 850 EXTREME:
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Video Processing |
4:4:4:4 |
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Audio Processing |
4 channels, 96 kHz |
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Supported Formats |
NTSC model: 1080/30p, 1080/24p, 1080/60i, 720/60p, 720/30p, 720/24p, 480/60i |
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Source Mixing |
Mix HD/SD resolution and 16:9/4:3 aspect ratios |
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Recording Capacity |
~ 50 Hours 1080i (~200 hours EXTREME) 4 trayless SATA III removable drive bays with hot-swap support for unlimited storage and backup |
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Supported Stream Types |
TriCaster 850 EXTREME:
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Network Connection |
1 Gigabit connection for network inputs and streaming output |
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Transition Effects |
Animated transitions with full-color, embedded overlay, audio and alpha channel on all 11 effects channels |
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Virtual Input Overlay |
1 per channel, upstream with keying, transitions, and independent effects: positioning, scaling, cropping and 3D rotation TriCaster 850 EXTREME: |
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Live Virtual Sets |
20 HD live virtual sets (24 for EXTREME) with multiple camera angles, animated zoom, real-time reflections and specular highlights |
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Overlay |
Dual downstream keys (DSK) with matting, transitions, and independent effects: positioning, scaling, cropping and 3D rotation TriCaster 850 EXTREME: |
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Preview Monitors |
TriCaster 850 EXTREME:
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Multi-View Monitor Output |
Configurable for All Monitors, External Monitors, Internal Monitors, Program, Preview, Effects, Preview/Program and Waveform/Vectorscope |
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Projector Output |
16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratio, up to 1920 x 1080 resolution |
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Integrated Character Generator |
LiveText™2 |
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Integrated Nonlinear Editor |
SpeedEDIT™ 2 |
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Playback Media Formats |
Movie files: AVI, DV, DVCPro, DVCProHD, FLV, F4V, H.263, H.264, MOV, MKV, MJPEG, MPEG (1, 2 in all profiles, program or transport streams), MP4, WMV, WebM and more Image files: PSD, PNG, TGA, BMP, JPEG, EXR, RAW, TIF and more Audio files: AIFF, MP3, WAV and more Import media application for batch copying with optional transcoding of files (including Apple Pro Res) onto TriCaster |
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Export Media Formats |
Export media applications for batch copying with optional transcoding of files to compatible formats for different applications and devices Media types: AVI, DV, DVCPro, DVD, H.264, MOV, MPEG-2, MJPEG, MP4, WebM and more Presets for external NLEs: Adobe Premiere®, Avid® Media Composer®, Apple® Final Cut Pro®, and more Presets for all mobile platforms: Android®, iPad®, iPhone®, iPod Touch® and more |
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Video Ingest |
eSATA |
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Signal Monitoring |
Integrated Waveform and Vectorscope |
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Timecode |
External LTC timecode input |
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Tally |
DB 15 connector for 8 PGM row tally lights |
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Power Supply |
550W, redundant and removable |
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Fail-Safe |
Multi-tiered software fail-safe (audio and video) TriCaster 850 EXTREME: |
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Form Factor |
4U Rack Mount |
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Dimensions |
19 x 7.25 x 21.5 (in) |
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Weight |
42 lbs (19 kg) |
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Accessory Options |
TriCaster 850 CS |
Specifications subject to change without notice. Some restrictions on formats and bitrates might apply.

24-Channel, Multi-Camera Production.
You’re a pro with a big – and growing – show: With the 24 channel, multi-camera TriCaster 850 series, you can have up to eight cameras, plus five digital media players for video clips, graphics and titles, and two network channels for sharing computer screens and displays from wireless iOS devices. Eight M/E-style virtual inputs let you stage live virtual sets, and create custom picture effects and presets, when you need to give your big show even bigger impact.
Facility-Class.
You produce sizable events on a tight schedule: TriCaster 850 series systems glide smoothly into your control room or live truck rack—ready to rock. With redundant power supply and multi-tiered fail-safe, you have industrial-strength performance and the ability to adapt to every situation. Industry-standard SDI, extensive format compatibility, and a long list of file types allow the TriCaster 850 series to ease into your workflow and handle your most challenging needs.
High Capacity.
Your projects require massive amounts of storage: Enjoy the capacity for hundreds of hours of recorded media. Five integrated digital media players are on-hand to augment your production, on top of 10 live and 8 virtual sources. Need more? Swap out media drives for more capacity. Use the session library to save settings and assets for each production. Shift from show to show—without missing a beat.
Future Proof.
Your schedule of events is perpetually diverse: Be prepared no matter what. Go ahead and change formats you produce in; TriCaster will be a step ahead with native resolution support from SD to 1080p HD. You’ll never have to transcode or turn down content from different formats, resolutions, and file types―mix any of them natively for input, output or playback. And with instant access to free software updates, you can always count on having the latest features and constant innovation .
Limitless Creativity.
Your clients demand the highest brand standards: Is it too much to ask for network-quality visuals? The TriCaster 850 series provides a complete package of creative options, so you can accommodate the most demanding client or producer. Get multi-layered video compositing and motion effects that can be punched up with the sound you want. And virtual sets aren’t just a checkbox item: we give you fully integrated, customizable environment creation. Right out of the box.
Live Streaming Video. Simultaneously Recorded.
You deliver your program to multiple destinations: You can, when both Web streaming and program recording are built right into your production operation. Maximize online views with support for multi-bitrate streaming profiles, and even access online CDN accounts and viewstreams in real time with a built-in Web browser. Without missing a beat, record the entire program in the background for uploading, later viewing, archiving, or disk.Stunning Studio Sets and Backgrounds.
Your show calls for a premier presentation on a professionally set stage:Wow your audience, while raising eyebrows and the profile of your show. With built-in virtual sets, you can have a network-style studio environment without the high cost or heavy construction. Broadcast live from a multi-angle virtual set that sports your company logo with key elements that you can edit. Complement your presentation with double-box effects, featuring your own video and graphics.With TriCaster 850 EXTREME:
Multi-Track Iso Recording.
You have a mountain of complex content to capture and deliver:IsoCorder™ multi-track video recording technology combines the capabilities of literally racks of video capture equipment. This innovative technology saves loads of space—enhancing the EXTREME system with a powerful, built-in, real-time ISO recording system of all eight camera inputs, simultaneously, right inside the user interface. Record your entire show, select camera footage, and more, at full resolution to meet your most challenging post-production demands.Animated Video Effects.
Your production involves an array of smoothly flowing elements: You need full-color, motion video effects with alpha channel and embedded audio. Moving from shot to shot requires continuity and a style that makes an impression on your audience. Choose from a variety of animated transitions, or create your own custom effects using the included Animation Store Creator application.Market leaders know that growing and retaining viewer mindshare—and increasing ad revenue, sponsorships, subscriptions, and other opportunities—depends on delivering quality programming. Live or on-demand. On-site, at home, on the Web, or via mobile.
Right out of the box, TriCaster 850 systems are complete, integrated solution for delivering big live productions in native, full-resolution HD. With a fully loaded, 24-channel switcher, plus additional video, text, graphics, animations, and virtual sets, the TriCaster 850 series makes productions shine and meets tough demands to produce the best in a highly competitive marketplace.
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