Background
For Fredy Alvarez, youth baseball is a family affair. Between travel games, coaching, and raising three kids, he wanted one simple thing: to let the whole family share in the experience.
“We’d drive four hours for a game, and grandma and grandpa couldn’t go. I used to strap my iPhone to the fence just to stream for them.”
But what started as a simple way to keep family connected soon became a passion for better, more professional-looking game coverage.
The Challenge
Like many parents capturing youth sports, Fredy quickly discovered that filming reliable, high-quality footage wasn’t easy.
He experimented with action cams and competitor brands, but the quality and customer support didn’t live up to expectations.
“I bought another camera that failed the first day, and the company never got back to me. I just wanted something that worked, that looked good and didn’t cost thousands.”
He needed a setup that could deliver broadcast-quality video at a price a parent could afford — and one that didn’t require a professional production crew to operate.
The Solution
One night, while researching online, Fredy found a BirdDog MAKI Live and MAKI Studio demo on YouTube.
“I watched that video for an hour and thought, this is exactly what I need. I bought it the next day.”
In a single weekend, he transitioned from a single iPhone on a fence to a three-camera wireless setup powered by MAKI Live and MAKI Studio. He customized a small Yeti case with the original foam packaging so he could carry his entire production kit anywhere.
“Everything fits — the cameras, cables, the control surface. It’s like having a full production studio in a lunchbox.”
Using a Starlink Mini and Slate Router 7, he now streams crystal-clear 4K games straight from the field, controlling everything from his iPad.
“To stream a game, I just tap twice — go live, done. It’s that easy.”
Even when a camera took a hard fall from seven feet, it kept working.
“It popped apart, I snapped it back in, and it just kept going. The build quality is amazing.”
The Results
- Built a professional workflow in one weekend — three cameras, wireless control, and streaming.
- High-quality, reliable performance — 4K footage, optical zoom, and durable gear built for the field.
- Family and team impact — grandparents, coaches, and recruiters can all watch live or review footage later.
- Community inspiration — Freddie now helps other parents and youth teams replicate his setup.
“Most people in youth sports have no idea how easy this can be. You don’t need to be a pro — if I can do it, anyone can.”
He also appreciates BirdDog’s personal connection with customers.
“You can’t talk to anyone at Logitech or Canon, but I’ve spoken to BirdDog’s VP of Sales, marketing, and support. It feels like family.”
What’s Next
Fredy plans to expand his setup with BirdDog X4 cameras and refine his wireless workflow for 4K60 streaming and replays.
“I want to keep pushing this — better angles, better quality, better stories. MAKI Live made me realize we’re just getting started.”
