This case study shares a behind the scenes look at the Keys Vineyard Community Church live streaming and video production setup. This setup uses Ableton to synchronize all of the church song and performances with Pro Presenter to manage the lower thirds musical lyrics overlaid on top of the live video. Using Ableton with a touch screen control software called TouchOSC, Doug Lawes the church media coordinator is able to automate the entire church video production system which includes: Ableton, Blackmagic Video Switcher, Chauvet DJ Lights, PTZOptics Cameras, Pro Presentor and OBS. We promise to release more details on this setup because many churches are interested in learning more.

There is so much that Doug Lawes, the church media coordinator, has done to make this house of worship audio-visual system shine. We are already planning a follow up webinar for Friday July 13th, 2018 at 2PM. Doug has agreed to answer questions for our live audience and explain how his system uses OBS, Blackmagic Design Video Switchers, Behringer Audio Mixers, Projectors, PTZOptics cameras and much more.

Ableton Church Video System Automation

Let’s start by looking at the laptop running Ableton which is located on stage in the Keys Vineyard Church. As you can see, this Macbook Pro is connected to the LAN (Local Area Network). The networking in place allows the Macbook Pro running Ableton to connect to multiple control systems which can operate the lights, turn on a live stream, transition to OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) and much more. Furthermore, each song is set up in Ableton to work with ProPresenter which keeps the entire band in sync with the music but also displays the song lyrics over the live cameras that are being displayed on large projector screens inside the church.

In years past, Doug explains that keeping everything in sync with multiple software components was difficult to get the timing right on stage during the church service. Using Ableton Live provides churches with a single solution which we will explain in more detail throughout the blog post. Ableton Live has the ability to send MIDI notes to other programs. These programs can be running on the same Windows or Mac computer using Ableton or on another computer on the church LAN. Essentially you will need to use a MIDI loop or a MIDI network which can be different depending on whether you are using a Mac or a PC computer. These MIDI loops and MIDI networks are used to connect Ableton to other systems which could be running the lights, PTZ cameras, switching video on the Blackmagic Switcher or even starting a live stream on OBS.

Touch OSC Controller for Ableton

Start Live Streaming from Ableton

Ableton PTZ Camera Integration

Ableton Church System

Using TouchOSC and Blackmagic Video Switchers

An important part of this church video production system is the TouchOSC control using an iPad. This iPad is connected to the LAN over WiFi and therefore has access to the entire network. The TouchOSC system can send commands to Ableton to start and stop songs during the church service. As you can see the TouchOSC iPad has a custom interface designed for the Keys Vineyard Church which can start and stop various songs easily. The iPad also allows the church to play a welcome video and operate the Blackmagic Video Switcher. Operating the Blackmagic Video switcher from TouchOSC is done through a software called atemOSC. AtemOSC is a software bridge that allows touchOSC to switch the video sources inside the Blackmagic switcher using MIDI which is ideal since everything is being handled through Ableton Live which can output MIDI easily.

The Blackmagic Production Studio 4k shown above is rack mounted inside the church video production booth. This video switch has five HD-SDI PTZOptics cameras connected which are also controllable via MIDI. Therefore throughout the Ableton live songs being played on stage, the church can decide where they want the cameras to zoom into and which time AND decide which camera they would like to be on the output of the Blackmagic Production Studio. The Blackmagic Production Studio video switcher is connected to a computer running OBS with a capture card. This capture card takes the output of the BMD video switcher and converts it to USB 3.0 for easy video ingestion into OBS.

MIDI Camera Control & Video Switching

PTZOptics has recently designed a PTZ camera MIDI control application which will take the MIDI output notes from any DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) like Ableton and convert that into VISCA over IP for camera control.
This software allows churches to control exactly where the camera will move during a song simply by dropping up to 10 camera PTZ preset positions inside the song timeline.

Including lighting control in Ableton Live

One of the most advanced parts of this system beside the PTZ camera controls and Blackmagic video switchers is the Chauvet DJ lighting control. The Chauvet DJ lights are controlled over DMX which is a lighting control protocol. Keys Vineyard church has used multiple lighting control solutions with their Chauvet DJ lights and ultimately decided to use Vista Software by Choma-Q to control the lights and automate everything with Ableton. There are now multiple plugins for Ableton which allow easy lighting control triggered directly through the Ableton Live software timeline. This further simplifies the church video production setup because as TouchOSC starts a song it can now handle all the programmed lighting.

ProPresentor and Church Lyrics Chomra Keying

Finally, we can forget about the amazing lyrics that are being displayed on the projector screens throughout the church service. ProPresenter is a great tool for controlling projectors and even chroma keying on top of the video being sent out of the Blackmagic video switcher. So as ProPresenter is triggered in sync with Ableton Live the lyrics are displayed over the live PTZOptics video cameras that are displayed on the projectors.

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In the included video above, you will get the chance to see a behind the scenes look at the new church video production system installed in the Olivet United Methodist Church. Their core live streaming and video production system was powered by the superfast Intel NUC Skull Canyon computer. As you can see, the cameras are each connected to an SDI capture card which plugs into the computer via USB 3.0. The computer is connected to three monitors. One monitor is displaying the video production software, one monitor is showing a full screen camera preview, and the third monitor is dedicated to PowerPoint.

The post Olivet Methodist Church – Case Study appeared first on PTZOptics.

Live streaming is an effective way to spread the life-changing message of Jesus beyond the walls of the church. Live stream video is a fantastic service for church members who need to be away due to travel or illness. It is also an amazing evangelism tool that allows potential guests an opportunity to experience your church before visiting in person. For some churches, the idea of starting a live streaming ministry can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, using PTZOptics equipment can reduce complexity and make it easy for any church to get started.

Victory House Church in Northern Virginia is on a mission to spread the message of Jesus. To spread that message even further, the church saw the importance of sharing their services via live stream. To make this as impactful as possible, Pastor Nick Koopalethes made the decision to use a system from PTZOptics. A creator himself with over 100 videos posted to YouTube, Pastor Koopalethes understands the importance of capturing and sharing the highest quality videos and doing it in the most efficient way possible. He chose PTZOptics for three reasons.

1. Ease of Use

Recruiting, training, and retaining volunteers is a challenge, no matter the size of the church. This is especially true in more technical ministry roles like video and live streaming. With a PTZOptics system, one volunteer can control up to four cameras from a central location, significantly reducing the amount of training and personnel needed.

2. Image Quality

When sharing such an important message through live streaming, the quality of the video image is an essential consideration. Crisp, clear video can enhance the delivery of the message. Low-quality images, on the other hand, can distract from the message and cause viewers to turn off the stream. PTZOptics cameras offer broadcast-quality video as opposed to some others that may look like webcams or show the service through a fisheye lens. They also come with 12X, 20X, and 30X optical zoom, which means high-quality close-ups even from a distance.

3. Installation Flexibility

Some live stream video installations require a lot of space for cameras. Often they need to be positioned within the worship space reducing the seating room and causing distractions. PTZOptics cameras can go nearly anywhere. They can be mounted on a tripod, a shelf, a wall, and even on the ceiling. Installation is made even easier with innovative cabling options like the ability to stream video, control the camera, and also provide power over one ethernet cable.

The post Victory House Church Chooses PTZOptics for Live Streaming appeared first on PTZOptics.

A Job for Anyone

When I need to expand the team’s capabilities, I issue a general call to the congregation to see if anyone wants to join the media team. Whatever they choose is fine. I pride myself in having a well-rounded corps of volunteers, so adding capacity anywhere helps us everywhere. I also make a point of appealing directly to the church’s youth. Over the years, the majority of our team has joined when they’re part of the youth congregation.

The important idea to hold onto is that anyone – anyone – can substantively contribute to the media production of a service if they have the interest and the will to learn. The age range of my current team is 9 to 76, but I have photo evidence of kindergarten-age kids running Pro Presenter and TriCaster during services. Children love to push buttons and making them part of the media team is about teaching them to push the right ones.

No Experience Required

I’m very clear with potential volunteers: They don’t need a technical background. They’ll be trained on everything they need to know, although not necessarily by me. After all, I’m just one man, but I’ve learned that I can rely on volunteers to train each other if they’re introduced to new duties and technologies at the right pace.

All our volunteers begin by shadowing those who are more experienced, taking the time to observe and learn about all the various gears that must mesh for a successful production. Once they’re ready to be put to work, we generally start our volunteers out on the simplest tasks, under the direct supervision of a more experienced volunteer. A good first task is running the Pro Presenter slide software. Next, we’ll transition the recruit to operating the audio board – specifically muting, unmuting, and riding the faders. These initial jobs teach volunteers to follow the technical cues of the service.

Once they’ve mastered these basics, our volunteers move on to tasks that require more judgment, and even some artistry. This is the point when we’ll get them involved in camera control, selecting shots, controlling zoom and position, and operating speed controls. I’ll admit, I do like having a failsafe for this aspect. Our camera control is network-based, and I can access our joystick’s web interface to adjust position or select a different camera or preset if I’m not happy with the stream. Some camera control devices also have a “basic mode” that can be very reassuring to novice users. In basic mode, the camera operator’s controls are limited to preset selection and position control, preventing novice users from making any egregious missteps.

Lastly, volunteers will spend a stint learning video switching – changing inputs, adding graphics, feeding social media comments to the ticker, etc. The whole learning process can take up to a year, but at the end, I’ve got a fully trained, well-rounded volunteer. This gives my team flexibility. If someone gets sick, goes on vacation, or I need to go help a sister congregation for a few weeks, we all have the skillset to slot in where needed.

Don’t Touch That Dial

I don’t train every volunteer to do every task. There are certain jobs reserved for the media team leaders. For example, all my volunteers are trained to always decline software upgrades; those are my domain. Ideally, all updates take place on Mondays – or for serious issues, immediately after Sunday services – so that I have a full six days to test and troubleshoot before the next broadcast. I always handle anything related to our media network myself. It’s a pretty locked-down LAN, used exclusively for media control and distribution, so it’s not particularly vulnerable to outside security threats. I can afford to take my time with upgrades and patches, making sure they’ve been adequately tested in my own lab and the field at large before deploying them in the sanctuary. I often wait six months to a year before updating an operating system, just to ensure the new release is stable and compatible with all devices.

We also don’t go into a great deal of depth on settings with most of our volunteers. For instance, we teach all volunteers to operate camera speed controls, position, zoom, and preset selection, but we don’t necessarily delve into red/blue gain, iris adjustment, white balance, etc. All of that can be configured once during initial camera and preset configuration. I have four experienced video team leads who are trained and authorized to make changes to camera presets when needed. All major video and audio settings are routed through these individuals.

Raise your Right Hand

My goal is to build a media team with highly redundant expertise, tiered so that there’s still clear leadership and oversight. I include myself in that goal. There’s a member of the media team who joined when he was 15 years old – now, 15 years later, he is my right hand. He’s the exception to the “don’t touch that” rules laid out for others. When I recognized that he was seriously called to this ministry, I had him begin shadowing everything that I do.

A few years ago, I gutted and upgraded the whole AV system, and he was by my side the entire time. He had the opportunity to see the system design from the ground up. Because he knows which solutions we had to engineer ourselves when the system was built, he knows exactly how it can and should be upgraded as technology in the marketplace improves. For example, he assisted me when I transitioned our encoder types to leverage GPU acceleration, saving bandwidth and CPU cycles. This change was invisible to the other volunteers, but essential training for the person I hope will one day succeed me. At this point, he knows the I/Os, wire routing, network, and troubleshooting procedures as well as I do—and he’s begun training his own lieutenant.

Have a Little Faith

It can be hard to let go of control, but you can learn to trust your team by starting them with small tasks and giving them the space to succeed. By all means, do all the initial configuration and preset programming to allow the system to run like a well-oiled machine—but then, let your volunteers actually run it. Resist the urge to rescue them: Let them sweat through problems and decisions and learn how to handle them on their own. Through patient observation, you’ll find people with talent, bright ideas, and an eye for detail. With time, you can build a community that will support your church’s services and operate independently as your needs evolve.

The post Good Help: Training and Trusting Media Production Volunteers appeared first on PTZOptics.

Abington Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania launched a new live streaming setup just before the holidays. Abington has been running a video ministry since the late 1980s. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic created a need to enhance their offerings. They had some experience with online video in the past though it was an outdated system. They were recording to DVD, converting to MP4, and uploading the video to YouTube. They knew that to serve their congregation, they would need to enhance the online experience. There were several pieces to their upgrade, but the project began with the purchase and installation of two PTZ cameras.

The Cameras

Abington opted for a two-camera setup, and through wise placement, they cover everything they need. First, they installed a 30X PTZ camera mounted high on the back wall of the sanctuary. With 30X optical zoom, it easily covers the 135 feet to the chancel at the front of the sanctuary enabling relatively tight shots of the service. The second camera gets in even closer. A 20X PTZ camera is mounted on the side wall close to the front of the sanctuary. This allows for close up shots of musicians and speakers and creates a great looking cross-angle. Its position also allows for some additional shots some might not think of. It provides a downward view that allows for a closeup of the baptismal font. It can also get a nice view of the front row to show families during wedding ceremonies. Being close to the front of the room, it can also show the back entrance, which is especially nice when the choir is processing. During the pandemic, while the church is practicing enhanced safety protocols, the choir sings in one of the transepts (areas off to the side of the sanctuary.) Since the congregation does not have a direct view, the side-mounted PTZ camera can easily capture them.

Both cameras are hung using standard white wall mounts allowing the white cameras to blend right into the sanctuary’s white walls. One notable part of the installation is that the cameras are both mounted upside-down. This allows the flexibility of pointing the cameras straight down to capture a shot. When cameras are mounted upside down, the image is easily flipped in the camera settings.

The Connections

The church choose to connect the cameras to the production booth computer using high-quality SDI (serial digital interface) cables. Those cables terminate into an SDI to USB capture card in the production computer. The cameras are also connected by standard serial cables connected to a HuddleCamHD PTZ joystick. The production computer is also connected to an ethernet cable connected to the church network for use with NDI, NewTek’s software for sending and receiving video over a local area network. 

Sound comes through the existing church sound system. It consists of an Allen & Heath mixer usually controlled wirelessly using an iPad. The analog audio signal is connected to a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 analog to digital converter that feeds into the production computer via USB.

The Production Booth

The production booth at the back of the sanctuary features two computers and one PTZ joystick. One PC, the production computer, runs vMix live video streaming software and is connected to the PTZ cameras. The other runs ProPresenter and links to the production computer via NDI over the church network. The HuddleCamHD PTZ joystick allows the operator to control all the PTZ functions and easily recall camera presets. These presets are listed on a printed guide posted in the production area. 

To make things easy for volunteers, each preset number represents the same basic shot on each camera. For instance, preset 0 shows a wide view of the chancel on both the back camera and the side camera. They are just at different angles due to the camera locations. Two volunteers run the entire production each week, with one running ProPresenter and the other running the cameras and vMix.

The Results

The output from a relatively simple two camera system is remarkable. The church found that some of the detail of their beautiful stained glass and woodwork couldn’t be seen with the naked eye. Once the PTZ cameras were pointed and zoomed in, the congregation was able to see the artistry in a whole new light. 

Their setup shows what can happen with the right planning and purchases. This church did their research. They started with the book Helping Your Church Live Stream. This got them up to speed on the general information and terminology and allowed them to begin the design process well informed. With their new system in place, Abington Presbyterian Church continues to serve its congregation via video ministry.

The post Abington Presbyterian Church Case Study appeared first on PTZOptics.

When the pandemic hit, many things changed for churches and pastors. When the stay-at-home orders were issued in my church’s county, we had to find a new way to do church. It was our administrative board that decided we needed to move immediately to virtual worship services.

We were fortunate to be able to get started right away. We had a crew of three plus me on Sunday morning. I ran most of the technology and was joined by a pianist, a guitar player, and a vocalist. It was just us in the building, so we were able to social distance and safely create both classic and contemporary worship experiences for the congregation.

Looking for Something More

However, we quickly realized that, while this was a great stopgap measure and response to the lockdown, this wasn’t a long-term solution. We were using just one camera pointed at the stage. It was “good enough” for now, but we quickly realized that this whole thing would be going on for a while.

The next step was to launch our “recorded live” service. I set up a studio in my basement using some outdated equipment from a recorded program my wife and I did back in 2014. Video equipment has come a long way since then, but I still had several SD cameras, SD cards, microphones, and lights. Every two weeks, I would go to the church and record two weeks’ worth of worship music with my team of three.

I would then bring it back to my home studio, where I would record the sermon. Then I would do all the post-production work and put it together in Adobe Premiere Pro.
Although it was far from perfect, it was a giant step forward. We streamed the pre-recorded service through Boxcast to YouTube, Facebook, and Roku and were pleased with the result.

The Problem

A couple of months later, we realized that virtual worship would be with us much longer than expected. Something was changing. Our congregation, which once participated in worship, had become an audience. They were sitting at home and simply watching. There was no interaction. Something had to change. We experimented with inviting members to a Zoom meeting after worship to try and bring people together. But still, we needed to do something else.

The next month, PTZOptics held The Worship Summit Live. Paul Richards of PTZOptics invited me there to speak about one of my books. While I was there, I was intrigued by all of the possibilities presented for recording and streaming worship. I was most excited about the idea of taking Zoom Video Conferencing and marrying it with worship.

Learning All I Could

After the event, I jumped onto the PTZOptics YouTube channel. I watched all the videos the team had put together. I also logged onto Udemy and took some of the courses they offer. What jumped out at me was NDI, a protocol developed by NewTek that makes it exceptionally easy to share video and control cameras over a computer network.

I asked Paul Richards at PTZOptics for equipment recommendations, and we bought what he recommended and set it up as he showed us. About a month later, we launched our first Zoom Watch Party. We used our equipment to create pre-recorded live worship, which was broadcast on Zoom, allowing people to be present and interact via the video conferencing platform. At this point, we didn’t even have an NDI camera but were using OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) on a Mac and still doing post-production in Adobe Premiere.

The PTZ 20X NDI Camera

We were able to take things even further when I finally got my hands on a PTZOptics 20X NDI camera. The camera can be mounted on a tripod, which is perfect for my home studio. It also comes with a power supply and remote control, but, thanks to NDI, I didn’t need it. Paul Richards suggested that we purchase a POE (power over ethernet) switch. I was able to plug the camera right into that with an ethernet cable, power the camera, control the PTZ functions, and capture video using NDI over my network. Setting that up required resetting the IP address on the camera to talk to our network. However, everything was clearly explained in the manual.

The 20X NDI camera also has an audio input jack. I have a small soundboard that plugs right into the camera to feed sound into the recording. I have the PTZOptics camera control app on my iPad. With it, I can control the camera and easily position it to any of the presets I’ve created.

Now, recording every week with OBS is a breeze. The PTZOptics 20X NDI is excellent even in low light conditions like those in my basement. I think everything looks terrific, and I still have a lot to learn. I haven’t even yet looked into the more advanced features like white balance. I am sure I will get there, but for now, everything looks great. Our next step will be to get another camera set up here in my home studio. We also want to get a camera operator who will be able to run both cameras via the iPad app and also take care of the switching in OBS.

More to Come

With the complete studio setup, we want to expand what we can offer to keep the congregation engaged. That includes virtual bible studies and bringing back a feature my wife and I did a few years ago called Church Talk TV, conversations about life, about the church, and about church life.

We are always looking for ways to take our offerings to the next level. We love our camera, and we are thrilled with our current online worship service. We get reports from our members and people worldwide who are impressed by the quality and are touched by the ministry we offer.

The post PTZOptics 20X NDI for Pre-Recorded “Live” Worship appeared first on PTZOptics.

What is OBS?

If your church is getting started with live streaming, OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is a great place to start. OBS is free software, available for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux-based computers. The software offers features that allow users to transition between multiple cameras, mix sound sources, play pre-recorded video, and even add graphics and titles. The output can be recorded or streamed to nearly any content delivery platform like YouTube, Facebook, Livestream, or Twitch.

OBS is a great software for churches to live streaming worship services because it’s totally free and fairly easy to use. You can download The Unofficial Guide to Open Broadcaster Software for free here. You can also pick up a paperback copy on Amazon here.

The best part is that it is easy to get started. Having the guide on hand really helps with volunteers, plus you can take the online course available to walk you through each step in OBS here. 

Let’s review some of the top questions worship leaders have in regards to live streaming with OBS.

Question 1: How Do I Connect a Camera to OBS?

The first step in connecting a camera to OBS is getting that camera hooked up to your computer. There are numerous ways to do that. One way is a direct USB connection using a webcam like the PTZOptics Webcam, or a broadcast quality camera with a USB connection like the PTZOptics® PTZ USB Camera. Another option is to connect a camera via HDMI or SDI using a capture device like the Blackmagic Design UltraStudio Mini Recorder or the Elgato Game Capture HD60 S. 

Once the camera is connected, add it to OBS:

1. Click on the + sign under sources. 
2. Select “Video Capture Device.” 
3. Name the source (camera one, PTZOptics 1, etc.) in the next box that appears.
4. Click on the dropdown where it says, “device.” 
5. Select the camera name (for a USB connection) or the name of the capture device (for HDMI and SDI connections.) 
6. Click OK.

If your camera is plugged in and turned on, you should see an image in the box. Click OK. 

Note that some cameras can be connected via a network and stream over RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) or NewTek’s NDI (Network Device Interface). That process is similar but has a few more steps. You can watch a quick video of this process below or read a detailed blog on this topic here.

Question 2: How Do I Connect an Audio Mixer to OBS?

Again, the process for connecting an audio mixer starts with getting the source connected to the computer. There are two main methods. One is to run a cable from your soundboard directly into your computer’s microphone jack. Two, if you have a camera with an audio input port (like PTZOptics PTZ cameras), you can plug the cable from your soundboard in there. The third option is to use a USB audio interface like the Behringer U-PHORIA UM2 2×2. This accepts an XLR feed from the soundboard and feeds it to the computer via a USB connection.

Once you have the audio mixer connected, add it to OBS:

1. Click on the + sign under sources. 
2. Select “Audio Input Capture.” 
3. Name the source (soundboard, PTZOptics 1, USB Interface, etc.) In the next box that appears.
4. Click on the dropdown where it says, “device.” 
5. Select the source you wish to use.
6. Click OK.

Question 3: How Do I Set up OBS for a Church Stream?

Once you have all of your sources connected, it is time to get everything set up and ready. To be sure you have the right video and audio sources available, you will want to add scenes. If you are only using one camera and don’t want to add any additional graphics or pre-recorded video, you could have only one scene. However, if you want to switch between different sources, you will want more than one scene. Switching scenes may involve changing from one camera to another, from a camera to your presentation software, or to titles or graphics you have created or imported into OBS.

To Add a Scene in OBS:

1. Click on the + sign under scenes.
2. Name your scene. (You can name it whatever you want as long as it helps you identify it.)
3. Now click on the plus under “sources.”
4. Choose the type of source you wish to add. For instance, if you want to create a scene with the camera you added earlier, choose “Video Capture Device.”
5. In the next dialog box choose “Add Existing” and select the device you want.
6. Click OK

You can add as many sources as you want and control their visibility using the little eyeball icon to the right of each source. 

Question 4: How Do I Retrieve RTMP Steaming Information and Put It Inside OBS?

Now you are almost ready to stream. RTMP streaming information is a crucial connection between OBS and your live streaming destination. When you schedule your live stream on either YouTube or Facebook for example, they will give you an RTMP sever URL and secret key. You will need to enter this information into OBS in order for OBS to live stream to your scheduled content. 

Pro Tip: You can skip this step entirely by logging into your streaming destination with your login credentials inside of the OBS streaming tab found in the settings areas. OBS supports this feature for most popular streaming services.

Add your stream key to OBS:

1. Go to your streaming provider, Facebook Live, YouTube, Vimeo, etc. and find the stream key for the event you desire to stream.
2. Copy the key.
3. In OBS, click on settings.
4. Choose the “Stream” tab on the left.
5. Choose your streaming provider from the “Service” dropdown menu.
6. Paste your stream key into the Stream Key field.
7. Click OK.

You are now ready to stream a church service with OBS.

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The post How to live stream a church service with OBS appeared first on PTZOptics.

The problem with one fixed camera is that it becomes challenging to get anything but a wide shot. With a wide shot, the camera needs to be far enough away or zoomed out far enough to capture everything happening on the stage or chancel. This means no closeup shots. With nothing but wide shots, it can be challenging for viewers to feel intimately connected to the worship service elements. Especially if they are viewing on a smaller display, they miss out on the nuances like the expression on the preacher’s face.

Single-camera setups can also make it difficult for your live stream church services to keep viewers’ attention. People have grown accustomed to watching programs shot with multiple cameras. The frequent camera angle changes and quick transitions keep viewers engaged. Multiple cameras also make it easier to get closeup shots connecting the audience and drawing them into the worship service.

You may have thought that multiple cameras for a live stream church service were reserved for massive churches with big budgets. However, with a little planning, it is possible to put together an affordable, high-quality multi-camera setup for your church.

Cameras

There seem to be endless options for cameras on the market in all price ranges. But before you start buying cameras, there are a couple of things to think about: control and connections

Camera Control

The real beauty of a multi-camera setup is the ability to zoom in and out, pan side to side, and tilt up and down to get the camera focused in on the action. With multiple cameras, one camera can be adjusted while another is live making for smooth, seamless transitions. The question is, how will you operate that camera? One option is to purchase larger format cameras and tripods and train volunteers to run them. You will usually need some kind of headset communications system so that your camera operators can be given instructions.

Another option, growing in popularity is the use of PTZ cameras. These cameras are much more compact and can be installed just about anywhere. The pan, tilt, and zoom features can then be controlled from nearly anywhere via a physical controller, app, or software. This can eliminate the need for additional volunteer camera operators and be less disruptive to the worship service. One operator from a central location can control all of the cameras. Thanks to the built-in camera presets, it is easy to train staff and volunteers. They don’t need to understand the intricacies of shot composition or the technical side of pan, tilt, or zoom. All they need to know is what button to push when.

Volunteers who have little experience as a camera operator tend to gravitate towards joystick controllers for PTZ cameras. PTZOptics for example offers an IP joystick controller that can be connected to your network with an ethernet cable. Once connected to your network it can control all of the PTZOptics cameras in your church. Another popular option is the iOS and Android applications for PTZOptics cameras. The app is very affordable and it allows you to control your cameras from anywhere including the pews since it’s wireless. Finally, a favorite control method for many is built directly into the live streaming software they are using. PTZOptics cameras support vMix, Wirecast, OBS, Livestream Studio, Mimolive, Twitch, Touchdesigner, StreamDeck, NewTek Tricaster, and Roland. 

Camera Connections

With a single camera setup, sometimes connections aren’t really an issue. Some churches use a smartphone over WiFi to stream directly to YouTube or Facebook Live. With multiple cameras for your live stream church service, you will need something to connect them with a physical or software-based switcher to switch between cameras and other multimedia features like lyrics, images, and videos. Cameras can be connected via USB, SDI, HDMI, and even ethernet. Some cameras, including those from PTZOptics, have multiple, simultaneous outputs giving you multiple connection options on one camera. Before you decide what connections you will need, you will need to consider what type of switcher you will be using.

Hardware vs. Software Switchers

When using multiple cameras for a live stream church service, you need some way to switch from camera to camera or to any other media you wish to be part of the stream. There are two main options for this: hardware switchers and software switchers. 

A hardware switcher is, basically, a console that connects to all of your cameras and other media sources. It uses physical switches, buttons, and control arms. The type of connection required depends on the device. Broadcast quality consoles usually have standard SDI connections, while some of the new “prosumer” models have connections for HDMI and even older composite or component standards. It is important to remember that a hardware switcher only handles the switching. With only a few exceptions, you will still need a computer or other device to handle the encoding of the video and to connect it to your streaming service.

Software switchers are installed on a PC or Mac computer and handle the switching and encoding in one place. Instead of connecting cameras and other media inputs to a physical switcher, you connect them to your computer. This requires a capture card installed in the computer or a capture device plugged into the computer via USB or Thunderbolt. You will need one capture card or device for each camera. The types of connections required will depend on your capture device. They are available to connect via SDI, HDMI, and even composite or component. If you wish to bypass the capture card or device, PTZOptics now offers cameras that connect directly to a computer via USB 3.0.

Putting it All Together

Once you have all of the pieces for your multi-camera live stream church service, it just becomes a matter of putting it all together and testing it out. Whether you are using a hardware switcher or software, live camera operators or remote-controlled PTZ cameras, it will take some trial and error to get everything right. You will need to experiment with camera angles and zoom levels and get a feel for the right timing on switching from one camera to another. Once you get it all together, your congregation will experience a much more intimate, engaging live stream church service.

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The post How to Live Stream Your Church Service With Multiple Cameras appeared first on PTZOptics.

By Pastor Will Rice

I tend to spend more time these days writing about church technology than installing it. However, when my friends at First UMC, Boerne, Texas, asked for some help, I decided to lend a hand. Like many churches, when the pandemic forced them to move services online, they were looking to upgrade their live streaming capabilities. Previously, they were streaming to Facebook Live from an iPod. It worked, but it wasn’t enough when suddenly everyone would be joining worship online. They moved to pre-recording services with a camcorder but wanted a long-term, scalable solution that would allow for live streaming and recording.

Making the Shift – Online Worship + In Person Worship https://t.co/TzxlqOvAeF pic.twitter.com/gpEIxktXsY

— Will Rice (@pastorwill) July 2, 2020

Assessing the Need

They didn’t really know where to start, so I asked a number of questions about what they were trying to achieve, what they had in mind for the budget, and what concerns they had. They shared some examples of what other churches were doing and explained what they liked and didn’t like. 

I could tell that they wanted something broadcast quality with multiple cameras. They had a reasonable budget in mind, but like with most churches, they needed to keep costs down. 

Their main concern was about volunteers. We still have no idea how long it will be before people are in the building on Sunday morning, so they need something that can be run with as few people as possible. They also needed me to know that most of their volunteers weren’t technologically savvy, so simplicity was key.

Another concern was aesthetics. They have a beautiful sanctuary and have done an excellent job over the years of installing projectors, screens, and speakers in ways that don’t detract from the aesthetics of the room. 

The Obvious Choice

I have worked with many different setups for church live streaming, from single-camera rigs to three-camera installations with live operators and wireless headsets for communicating with the director. Their vision, budget, and concerns actually made the camera decision pretty clear. They wanted it to look great, be affordable, be easy to operate with as little as one operator, and not detract from the beauty of the space. 

PTZ cameras seemed like an obvious choice. They are small enough to be easily kept out of view and can be operated remotely, eliminating the need for multiple camera operators.

Once I had settled on a form factor, my next thought was choosing the right PTZ cameras. There were three issues at play in my decision, zoom level, connections, and price.

Zoom Level

This church has a balcony that is 60 feet away from most of the worship activities on their chancel. I did the math to determine that it would take 20X zoom to get head and shoulders shots from cameras mounted at the front of the balcony. Fully zoomed out, these cameras would still be able to get a nice wide shot of the entire sanctuary.

Connections

In traditional church buildings, cabling can be the trickiest part of a live stream setup. With any camera, you need to think about getting power to the camera, and video from the camera. With PTZ cameras, you also need a connection for controlling the pan, tilt, zoom, and focus. For this installation, I chose PTZOptics SDI cameras due to the flexibility they offer in terms of connections. 

My original plan was to use SDI cables for video, and ethernet for power and camera control. The PTZOptics SDI cameras offer three simultaneous video outputs, SDI, HDMI, and RTSP/RTMP over ethernet. I felt a lot better with cameras with that type of flexibility since things at church are always changing. Once I received and set up the cameras, I decided to go with a single cable installation to handle video, control, and power over ethernet. But still, if things change, I can power these cameras from the included power adapter and control them using the included remote or app. I can also still connect them to my streaming computer via SDI or HDMI.

Price

It is a strange time for many churches. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused so many churches to move to online only. For a lot of them, this has negatively impacted giving at the same time that they need to invest in new resources for online worship. I am really thankful for the PTZOptics cameras. You really can’t find the broadcast quality and versatility anywhere else in this price range.

Next Steps

Once the two PTZOptics SDI 20X cameras were in place, it was time to set up the rest of the system. I will talk about some of the next steps, including the choice of OBS and the integration of RSTP and camera control in the next post.

Testing a new live stream setup with two @ptzoptics cameras and @OBSProject pic.twitter.com/fz6nQLIhyy

— Will Rice (@pastorwill) July 9, 2020

The post How I Choose Cameras for Live Streaming at my Church [Guest Post – by Will Rice] appeared first on PTZOptics.

Due, in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, more churches than ever are using video to share worship. However, with the fact that it will be some time before we are able to gather like in the past, many churches are also finding other ways to use video to stay connected. One of the most essential parts of the Christian life is prayer. 

While prayer is often done privately or with our families, prayer is also something church members do together. Sometimes it is one-on-one prayer time with a pastor or other leader of the church. Other times, it might be a group gathering for intercession – where the faithful join their hearts and voices in praying for members of the congregation, community, and world. So, during this time, when churches’ ability to gather is limited, how can video help people pray together? And, how might these innovations continue to enrich the church experience into the future?

Why Video?

Spiritually and theologically, video is not a necessary component of prayer. People could pray together by merely agreeing to pray at a specific time. They could also connect via phone with as many people as can dial into a conference call line. But many of us have already discovered that video adds another layer to our connection when we cannot be physically present. Whether that is seeing a pastor preach on Sunday morning or talking to our grandkids, video adds so much depth. So here again, video has the potential to enhance our life of prayer.

The PrayerCam

PrayerCam is simply a catch-all description of cameras we might use to stay connected for one-on-one or group prayer. It doesn’t have to be any specific type of camera or use any one piece of software. It is just about using video in another way to stay connected when we can’t be physically present. Here are a few ways a PrayerCam might be used in your church.

One on One Prayer Time

Sometimes church members desire an opportunity to have a pastor or other leader in the church pray for them and with them. There many options for this, including using a smartphone with Facetime, Skype, Google Meet, or Zoom. However, many of our pastors are not technically savvy or may need some additional help making the experience as natural and high-quality as possible. Through the use of PTZOptics cameras, the entire system can be set up, tuned, and automated for the pastor. 

With a proper configuration, the pastor or other leader could simply initiate or answer the video call and stream picture-perfect video and audio to the person on the other end. This way, the PrayerCam setup takes care of the technical side, and everyone can focus on prayer.

Intercessory Sessions

Before gathering in groups became an issue, some church groups would gather, often weekly, for a time of prayer for others. Often led by a pastor or other church leader, the group would lift up prayer requests submitted by members as well as prayers for the world in general. In our current setting, this is the perfect place for a PrayerCam. The experience can be streamed using PTZOptics cameras and software like vMix, eCamm Live, OBS, or Wirecast. People can join in prayer for anywhere.

For a more personal experience, video conferencing software like Zoom could be used, allowing the participants to interact and be present to one another. With Zoom, there is even an option for attendees to move into smaller breakout rooms for a more personal experience.

How Else Will the PrayerCam Become Part of Church Life?

Long after the COVID-19 crisis has passed, video will continue to be an essential part of the life of the church. Many of the things we have discovered and implemented during this time will continue to hold value for churches, especially as congregation members continue to get older, and others continue to be more mobile. Once people are back in the pews, live video streaming of services will continue for those who are still unable to come. Gatherings like Sunday school or small groups will also always likely find it useful to have video options for those who may have trouble getting to the church or other gathering space. And once churches see what video can add to the experience of prayer, the PrayerCam may become a permanent fixture.

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The post Does Your Church Need a PrayerCam? appeared first on PTZOptics.