LiveU LU800 All-In-One Production-Level Field Unit Introduced

LiveU LU800-HDR and LU800-PRO

LiveU, a company specialized in high-quality live video solutions, just released its latest all-in-one solution for live news and sports coverage: the LU800. At the moment, two versions are available, the LU800-HDR and the LU800-PRO.

The LU800-HDR features one 3G-SDI and one HDMI 2.0 port, while the PRO version has four 12G/3G SDI ports. The base models only accept one camera input, and you need a PRO2 or PRO4 software upgrade to unleash the LU800 capabilities fully. Below is a tab that sums up all the video resolutions and audio channels that both units can take.

Image credit: LiveU

As you can see, both units can take up to 16 audio channels, which is quite impressive for such a compact unit. Also, the built-in video encoder can create 8 or 10-bit H.264 and H.265 files.

Image credit: LiveU

Connectivity and Transmission

In terms of connectivity, the LU800 features a full-size SD card slot, an HDMI-out port, USB2.0/USB3.0/USB-C ports, Ethernet ports, and in/out audio jacks. At the back of the unit, there are 16 SIM interfaces (dual SIM) to connect the unit to a 5G network and live stream with the best possible quality and redundancy.

Image credit: LiveU

If you want extra-stability, you can connect the LiveU LU800 to WiFi. The unit supports two 4.2/5GHz networks with built-in MIMO antennas. Also, there are two ethernet ports if you want extra-speed or reliability in more “studio” conditions.

Image credit: LiveU

The LU800 is powered via an internal battery that lasts up to four hours, according to LiveU. If you want a longer run time, there is a 19V input port to connect it to a wall, as well as a dedicated 12-17V battery-input port.

At the front of the unit, there is a 7-inch touch screen that is used to control and setup the LU800, as well as monitor all your inputs/output if you don’t have an extra monitor for video return. Also, you can switch between all your sources directly on the touchscreen.

Image credit: LiveU

Compact and Lightweight

The LiveU LU800 is a rather compact (175mm x 280mm x 65mm) and lightweight unit weighing just 2.1Kg/4.4lbs with battery. Also, it fits in a backpack, which is exceptionally convenient for live news shooters.

At the moment, there is no information about pricing nor availability of the LiveU LU800. However, keep in mind that this kind of tool is usually designed for TV channels, broadcasters, or significant event companies, not independent filmmakers.