Ok so vMix has dipped it's toes into the cloud with vMix Call.
I think the natural progression is towards "VMIX CLOUD"
Here are some suggested features;
(1) vMix should adopt the same bonding features as the "Teradek Bond" whereby any video going between the cloud and the vMix PC should have the capability to bond over multiple network links (eg. Multiple 4G USB sticks) to make it 100% reliable and redundant. This will improve vMix to vMix calls and other features I mention below. There should be 2 tick boxes. 1 tick box will be called "load balance" where it will load balance video over the multiple links. The second option should be called "Redundant" where all video is sent simultaneously over all links. So if a packet is dropped on 1 link it is picked up on the other link.
(2) vMix should have the functionality (like NDI) where you can see video sources from vMix machines across multiple facilities on ALL vmix instances. So if vMix machines are local, they will use NDI, but if they are across the internet, they will use vMix cloud. Again, this will be fully redundant and reliable if you use multiple USB sticks or internet connections (and yes I know NDI cloud exists but this should be inside vMix WITH redundancy). This would also allow you to switch an event from a central control centre.
(3) Allow you to stream direct from the cloud platform to multiple destinations using a drag and drop interface. This will mean you can stream to multiple destinations (exactly like TERADEK CLOUD) and also take advantage of the bonded internet system built into vMix/vMix Cloud.
(4) Allow you to record in the cloud.
(5) Social media instant sharing - vMix cloud should have functionality like "Grabyo" where you log in, have an interface that allows you to INSTANTLY share video to social media platforms using "in" and "out" marker points in a player.
(6) Redundant vMix Machines would be possible, you would simply live stream from vMix Cloud and you can link 2 machines to that live stream, if 1 machine breaks (which has happened to me) then the cloud will take a feed from the backup machine. If you have a large facility like a radio station with multiple studios, you can have a vMix PC in each studio, and can just "switch" to another studio without interrupting the stream.
(7) Cloud based IFB, talkback and intercom - this should all seamlessly work across the cloud, this will eliminate third party systems.
(8) Bring in webcams (RTSP/ONVIF) directly into the cloud, and make them available on ANY vMix machine automatically.
(9) MPEG-TS to feed videos to studio decoders.
(10) Use the WOWZA CLOUD API to bring up Wowza cloud instances so you can use a simple interface inside vMIX to live stream.
(11) People keep asking for PLAYOUT inside vMix, there could be playout built into vMix cloud. So once you finish streaming, OR if loose connection with vMIX cloud, the vMIX cloud playout can take over. This means vMIX combined with vMIX cloud can become a full online TV solution. You could schedule studio 1 between 7am and 9am. Then you could play a recording from 9am to 9:30am, then you could take studio 2 from 9:30am to 10:30am. And so on, for some inspiration on this, watch this video where a radio network created their own automated national playout and redundancy system across multiple sites.
- This could be done with vMix. The features that "Southern Cross Austereo" has shouldn't be limited to just them, it could be available to everyone on the vMix Cloud platform in the future (yes I know they are only audio, but their model should be available to the video world).
(12) Full vMix control on a webpage - You should be able to control ANY vMix machine resisted to your cloud account from a web browser anywhere in the world. You could put vMix in a data centre and control it from a hotel overseas. We really need to break down these barriers.
I could keep typing all night, but you get the idea. While vMix will remain as a PC based stand alone system, it can start blending into the cloud to make it 100% reliable and fully global.
Imagine if Martin does this, there will be no need for all this hardware in a ENG / SNG truck. Just 2 PC's for redundancy which fully interact with the cloud.
Look at the broadcast radio industry, specifically LAWO who are going on about 'Virtual Radio". They want to erase the physical console, and people can be anywhere in the world with a touch screen and can broadcast from any location and it's all cloud based.
If vMix jumps onto this early, they will be ahead. And they have already started with vMix Call in the cloud.
Of course, this would earn MARTIN a lot of money, charge for different components. This would secure the future of vMix.
The reason why I write this, is because vMix is like the iPhone, it is getting to a point where "it has everything you want as a standalone software" - so cloud adds a whole new dimension to it.
Keep going!