Remotely viewing and controlling a PTZ camera can open up a number of incredible opportunities for your next video project. PTZOptics pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) cameras have a variety of easy ways to remotely view and control your camera from anywhere in the world. 

Here are some options for how to remotely view and control your PTZ camera.

1. Using a network-connected computer with PTZOptics Software
2. Using a network-connected computer with NDI® Tools
3. Using cloud-based software such as Zoom
4. Using a smartphone 
5. Using your favorite video production software

PTZOptics Software for Remote Viewing and Control

Remotely controlling your PTZ camera can be done in a variety of ways, but one of the most reliable and cost-effective methods is to use a network connected computer with PTZOptics software. This software allows users to take full control over their PTZ cameras from anywhere on their local area network (LAN). With this type of setup, you will be able to access all of your camera’s features as if you were physically standing in front of it with an IR remote control — including pan, tilt and zoom. 

The PTZOptics camera control software uses an IP address to communicate with the camera, as well as show you video feed, using your already existing LAN. What is a LAN? Your local area network can span many miles, but is generally set up to connect multiple computers and devices behind secure connection to the public internet. If you want to control your camera from a separate LAN, you can continue reading this blog post where you will learn about the NDI® Bridge, which can provide PTZ camera control and video viewer over the public internet.

Using NDI® to Control and View your PTZ Camera

Controlling a PTZ camera remotely can also be done with NDI® Tools, an affordable and powerful set of IP video tools available for free at NDI.tv. This software allows users to take full control of their cameras from anywhere in the world through an internet connection.

A popular NDI® tool for viewing and controlling PTZ cameras is called Studio Monitor. Studio Monitor is an application available for Mac and PC computers that can view any NDI® video feed available on your network. NDI® features auto-discovery, so applications such as Studio Monitor can automatically show you a list of all the NDI® video sources on your network. Studio Monitor also features the ability to control PTZ cameras with your keyboard and mouse or USB gamepad and joystick controller. When a PTZOptics camera is selected with Studio Monitor, you will automatically see controller options on the right-hand side of the application. 

In 2022, NDI® released a new tool called NDI® Bridge — a software solution that allows users to send and receive live video over IP networks. It is designed for use with video equipment, such as PTZ cameras and live streaming software, that supports NDI®. NDI® Bridge allows users to control their cameras remotely via an internet connection, providing them with access to all of their camera’s features such as pan, tilt and zoom. Additionally, it provides features such as PTZ presets and tally information, which can help automate complex movements without any manual adjustments. It even supports encrypted data streaming to keep your data safe from unwanted intrusions or data theft. With NDI® Bridge, you have the ability to take full advantage of your camera’s capabilities from anywhere in the world.

Using Cloud-based software such as Zoom for remote PTZ controls

With the help of cloud-based software such as Zoom, you can also control a PTZ camera remotely. By using Zoom, users can take advantage of the “Remote PTZ Control” features which can be enabled on professional accounts. This feature provides pan, tilt and zoom controls for remote users with the Zoom Meeting client. Participants can simply right-click the video feed they want to “Request Camera Control” for,  which can then be approved by the camera’s user. This is ideal for telehealth when a doctor would like to request PTZ camera control from a nurse. With the help of Zoom, you can now control your PTZ camera from anywhere in the world with ease.

Zoom requires a USB connection to the camera you’re looking to control. Also, the “Remote PTZ Camera Control” feature may need to be turned on by your company’s Zoom administrator for the feature to work. With these two boxes checked, you should have no issue getting started with PTZ camera control through Zoom. They offer this functionality in Zoom Meetings and Zoom Rooms. Zoom Rooms feature PTZ camera controls via a touch interface in the room for local PTZ camera control. Currently, the only way to gain remote PTZ camera controls is through the Zoom Meeting Client. 

For more information about PTZ camera controls in Zoom read our tutorial here.

Using a Smartphone to remotely control your PTZ camera

Smartphones are a great choice for remotely controlling your PTZOptics camera. PTZOptics offers an iOS app called PTZControl Pro 2 which allows you to view and control cameras from anywhere on your LAN. PanTiltZoom is another smartphone application option that is available for iOS, Android and Kindle. The main difference between the apps is that PTZControl Pro 2 offers the ability to view the video feed from your PTZOptics camera, while PanTiltZoom works only for control.

It is possible to control PTZOptics cameras from anywhere in the world using your smartphone. If you want to control a PTZ camera on your LAN using a smartphone app, simply enter the IP address and it will connect. If you want to control a PTZ camera that is outside of your LAN, give the PTZ camera an “Public IP Address.” Public IP addresses are available to anyone and can be accessed by your smartphone to view and control your camera from anywhere in the world with internet access. 

Using video production software to remotely control PTZ cameras

PTZOptics cameras can be controlled directly through video production software such as OBS, vMix, Wirecast, Livestream Studio, Tricaster, Mimolive and many more. These software solutions have built-in PTZ camera control options. With a little networking knowledge, you can connect your cameras to a video production software and control them remotely with ease.

Adding PTZ camera controls to any workflow makes production much simpler for producers who are already familiar with their chosen live-streaming software solution. It’s important to note that all video production software solutions will require the PTZ camera’s IP address in order to send commands to it. This solution is great for small or single-producer teams who need access to every piece of the production — camera controls, on-screen graphics, audio, and more — in one place.

Conclusion

Remotely viewing and controlling a PTZ camera can open up a number of opportunities for your next video project. Whether it be through software, cloud-based services, or a smartphone app, there are a wide range of options available to choose from. Each has their own unique strengths and weaknesses, so if you need help choosing the right option, give PTZOptics a call to discuss. With the right tools and knowledge, you’ll be able to use all features that your camera has to offer.

The post Exploring Options for Remotely Controlling Your PTZ Camera appeared first on PTZOptics.

The post How to use the PTZOptics iOS app to control your PTZ camera appeared first on PTZOptics.

vMix 24 has just been announced, and there are quite a few features PTZ camera operators show know about. The first is camera focus controls which allows you to dial in the focus on your IP connected PTZOptics cameras. Another feature you should know about is tally light support for virtual PTZ camera inputs. The tally light support for PTZ cameras in vMix will be covered in an upcoming video. In this blog post, you will learn all about the fine-tune focus controls now available for PTZOptics cameras inside of vMix.

Once you upgrade your vMix to the most current version, you will notice a focus control checkbox in the PTZ tab of vMix. PTZ camera controls are only available for vMix users with 4K or Pro licenses. If you do not have a 4K or Pro license of vMix you can still gain access to focus controls in a variety of ways. One of the easiest ways to control PTZOptics cameras focus is the web-interface made available on your local area network using the camera’s static IP address. Each PTZOptics camera can be controlled over the network and the web-browser features a focus “lock” which can be very useful. You can also access fine tuning focus controls with the free PTZOptics camera control app.

Inside of vMix, assuming you have a 4K or Pro license, you can open any PTZOptics camera and access the pan, tilt, zoom and focus controls in the PTZ tab of the input. Here, you will need to connect to your camera using the IP address. You can learn how to set up a static IP address for your camera in the camera setup video or by reviewing the manual. Once connected, you will gain access to the PTZ and focus camera controls.

To access the focus controls for your PTZOptics cameras inside of vMix you need to click the focus checkbox. Once checked, you can operate the focus using the “+” and “-” buttons available inside of vMix.

Note: The Zoom controls inside of vMix will turn auto-focus back on. If you would like to lock the focus this is done with the PTZOptics camera control app or the web-browser interface. Locking the focus is ideal for some video production scenarios.

When you start to zoom the auto-focus is turned back on in PTZOptics cameras by default. Therefore, this feature in vMix 24 is nice for temporarily dialing in the focus of your camera. For example, when you start to adjust the focus of a PTZOptics camera with vMix, auto-focus is turned off. So you can choose a specific point of focus and the camera’s auto-focus will not change. The auto-focus will not turn on until you zoom to a new location. In this way, you can easily find the ideal focus and further tweak the settings with vMix on the fly.

The post New Camera Focus Controls in vMix appeared first on PTZOptics.

In this blog post and video, you will learn how to control multiple PTZ cameras simultaneously using software and hardware solutions. A great free solution you will learn about is called OBS or Open Broadcaster Software. A paid solution that can be used to control multiple PTZ cameras at the same time is called vMix. Finally, we will look at a hardware solution from PTZOptics called the SuperJoy.

Why control multiple PTZ cameras at the same time?

More and more, video producers are also becoming camera operators. With the advent of remotely controlled PTZ cameras, a single video production person can also operate PTZ cameras with the click of a button. In many scenarios, video producers are operating two or three PTZ cameras at the same time using a video production software like OBS, Wirecast, vMix, Livestream Studio or the Tricaster. Many video production software solutions have integrated PTZ cameras controls for PTZOptics cameras which allow the software on a Mac or PC computer to connect to PTZ cameras over the local area network.

In most cases today, video production software operators are able to quickly take control of a robotic camera and move the camera’s position directly through the live streaming software they are using. This is ideal during a live production, because a production operator can simply make a few clicks, zoom in a camera, check the focus and then transition to the camera taking the video live.

Another popular way to control multiple PTZ cameras is to have a hardware joystick for the video production operator to use. Hardware joysticks are popular because a team of two can split up the tasks between live video switching and camera operation. Whether you are using hardware or software for PTZ camera controls, it’s nice to be able to move multiple PTZ cameras at the same time with the click of a button.

How to control multiple PTZ cameras in OBS at the same time

Using OBS you can control PTZOptics cameras in a couple of different ways. The most popular way is to install the free PTZOptics OBS plugin which adds some great robotic camera control features to OBS. Once installed, you can open up the plugin and control up to 8 cameras. The plugin even create specific hotkeys for calling PTZ presets and it adds the ability to control cameras with an XBox joystick. There is another way to control PTZOptics cameras with OBS called a “Dockable” interface using HTML codes available from PTZOptics. The HTML files can be used with the “Docks” feature of OBS to dock a PTZ camera controller directly into the OBS interface. You can learn more about that here. 

The third way to control PTZOptics cameras with OBS involves using HTTP commands. A document reviewing all of the HTTP commands for PTZOptics cameras can be found at the PTZOptics downloads page. These commands can be entered into OBS using the “Browser Source” input and they can be used to call a PTZ camera preset for example. In this way, you can enter multiple HTTP commands into OBS using multiple browser sources in the same scene to control various cameras. 

Pro Tip: Set up each camera in your network with sequential static IP addresses. In this way, you can easily input HTTP commands into OBS for this purpose. 

Using OBS to control multiple cameras at the same time simple involves a scene that is setup with multiple browser sources with HTTP commands. Remember to select “Refresh when active” to ensure OBS issues the HTTP commands everytime that you select the scene in OBS. 

Pro Tip: You can issue other HTTP commands besides camera presets as well. Check out the full list of HTTP commands in the PTZOptics documentation to learn more.

How to control multiple PTZ cameras with vMix

You can control multiple PTZ cameras with vMix using the Pro or 4K versions of the software. In order to take control over PTZ cameras inside of vMix you will need to know your PTZ camera’s IP address and be on the same local area network as the cameras. If you do not know your camera’s IP address, you will need to follow the instructions in the cameras set up video. Once you know your camera’s IP address, you can simply enter it into vMix to gain PTZ camera control. 

Select PTZOptics as the camera type, enter the IP address and click connect. You can use the Pan, Tilt and Zoom controls to start moving your camera around the room. As you are controlling the camera, notice the speed options available for manual pan/tilt and preset pan/tilt. These are the controls you can use to tell vMix the speed at which you want the camera to move in a manual setting and during presets. 

In order to control multiple PTZ camera movements with vMix, you will need to start by creating PTZ presets. Once connected to a PTZ camera with vMix, you are able to create presets inside of vMix using the “Create Input at this Position” button. When you click this button, vMix will create an input with a thumbnail image of the camera’s current location. When you bring this input into the vMix Preview window, vMix will recall that PTZ preset and move the camera. In this way, you can move your PTZOptics camera around your space and create multiple PTZ presets. Each preset gets a nice little PTZ input inside of vMix for easy recall. 

You can repeat the process above with each PTZ camera that you would like to use. Once done, you should organize the PTZ cameras you would like to be able to move with a single click. From here you can use the vMix Multi View feature available in the input settings of any input. Choose the input that you would like to use to trigger all the PTZ cameras. You can then add each PTZ camera input to the Multi View as you build a single input with multiple inputs attached. In this area, you can uncheck each PTZ input making it so the PTZ positions will be recalled but not overlaid on top of each other. Once done, you can transition to this vMix input and call multiple presets at once. You can do this for multiple scenes in your area and quickly call multiple PTZ presets at the exact same time with a single click. 

Pro Tip: If you are using multiple PTZ cameras with vMix, make sure to use a good graphics card. If you have an NVIDIA graphics card make sure to add vMix as a default application in the “NVIDIA Control Panel.” Once you do this, double check in the vMix settings that you have your graphics card enabled. 

How to control multiple PTZ cameras at once with a joystick

PTZOptics has a new product called the PTZOptics SuperJoy. This joystick controller has a new feature called the “SuperPreset” which allows you to use a custom joystick button to control multiple PTZ cameras. The PTZOptics SuperJoy features four custom buttons that you can set up to do all sorts of video related tasks. For example, you can set up a custom SuperJoy button to turn on IP connected lighting in a studio setting. You can control pretty much anything that accepts a TCP/UDP, or HTTP command. Luckily, PTZOptics cameras have been designed to work with this joystick and the engineers have already setup the “SuperPreset” to control up to 6 cameras at once. 

To get started, connect your PTZOptics SuperJoy to the network. You will need to connect your joystick to the cameras you which to control. The SuperJoy is able to control PTZ cameras using Serial or IP connections. The easiest way to connect your joystick to cameras is through the IP interface. You can reach this interface by entering the IP address shown on the device screen into any modern web browser. This will bring up the joystick interface which you can use to configure the unit. The first thing to do is make sure that all of your PTZ cameras are connected properly. Next you can navigate to the “custom” tab which allows you to configure the four custom buttons on the joystick. 

These custom buttons can be set up to issue HTTP, TCP, and UDP commands over your network. There is also an option to choose “SuperPreset” which allows you to issue multiple PTZOptics cameras preset commands at once plus add a single HTTP command. The idea is that for a seamless scene change you can move multiple PTZ cameras and issue an HTTP command to a software like OBS or vMix to change changes with a single command. Going down the SuperPreset list you can select multiple cameras and choose the order in which the joystick will issue the commands. At the end you can also choose an HTTP command.

Conclusion

There are now quite a few ways to control multiple PTZ cameras with a single button. Doing this is ideal for fast-paced video productions with small teams. In recent years, as video production software has allowed producers to add camera control to their workflow, more has become possible. Controlling multiple PTZ cameras at once during a production can make life easier for operators. My advice is to think about where you want your PTZ cameras to be during a given live stream. Map out the PTZ preset positions you would like cameras to move and then correlate them to other cameras you might have. Once you have mapped out where you want your cameras to move and when, create simple one-click buttons to do so. This will make scene changes in your live streams much easier to manage. 

The post Controlling Multiple PTZ Cameras in Scenes appeared first on PTZOptics.

Why control multiple PTZ cameras at the same time?

More and more, video producers are also becoming camera operators. With the advent of remotely controlled PTZ cameras, a single video production person can also operate PTZ cameras with the click of a button. In many scenarios, video producers are operating two or three PTZ cameras at the same time using a video production software like OBS, Wirecast, vMix, Livestream Studio or the Tricaster. Many video production software solutions have integrated PTZ cameras controls for PTZOptics cameras which allow the software on a Mac or PC computer to connect to PTZ cameras over the local area network. 

In most cases today, video production software operators are able to quickly take control of a robotic camera and move the camera’s position directly through the live streaming software they are using. This is ideal during a live production, because a production operator can simply make a few clicks, zoom in a camera, check the focus and then transition to the camera taking the video live.

Another popular way to control multiple PTZ cameras is to have a hardware joystick for the video production operator to use. Hardware joysticks are popular because a team of two can split up the tasks between live video switching and camera operation. Whether you are using hardware or software for PTZ camera controls, it’s nice to be able to move multiple PTZ cameras at the same time with the click of a button. 

How to use vMix with PTZ camera controls

You can control multiple PTZ cameras with vMix using the Pro or 4K versions of the software. In order to take control over PTZ cameras inside of vMix you will need to know your PTZ camera’s IP address and be on the same local area network as the cameras. If you do not know your camera’s IP address, you will need to follow the instructions in the cameras set up video. Once you know your camera’s IP address, you can simply enter it into vMix to gain PTZ camera control. 

Select PTZOptics as the camera type, enter the IP address and click connect. You can use the Pan, Tilt and Zoom controls to start moving your camera around the room. As you are controlling the camera, notice the speed options available for manual pan/tilt and preset pan/tilt. These are the controls you can use to tell vMix the speed at which you want the camera to move in a manual setting and during presets. 

In order to control multiple PTZ camera movements with vMix, you will need to start by creating PTZ presets. Once connected to a PTZ camera with vMix, you are able to create presets inside of vMix using the “Create Input at this Position” button. When you click this button, vMix will create an input with a thumbnail image of the camera’s current location. When you bring this input into the vMix Preview window, vMix will recall that PTZ preset and move the camera. In this way, you can move your PTZOptics camera around your space and create multiple PTZ presets. Each preset gets a nice little PTZ input inside of vMix for easy recall. 

You can repeat the process above with each PTZ camera that you would like to use. Once done, you should organize the PTZ cameras you would like to be able to move with a single click. From here you can use the vMix Multi View feature available in the input settings of any input. Choose the input that you would like to use to trigger all the PTZ cameras. You can then add each PTZ camera input to the Multi View as you build a single input with multiple inputs attached. In this area, you can uncheck each PTZ input making it so the PTZ positions will be recalled but not overlaid on top of each other. Once done, you can transition to this vMix input and call multiple presets at once. You can do this for multiple scenes in your area and quickly call multiple PTZ presets at the exact same time with a single click. 

Pro Tip:

If you are using multiple PTZ cameras with vMix, make sure to use a good graphics card. If you have an NVIDIA graphics card make sure to add vMix as a default application in the “NVIDIA Control Panel.” Once you do this, double check in the vMix settings that you have your graphics card enabled. 

Conclusion

There are now quite a few ways to control multiple PTZ cameras with a single button. Doing this is ideal for fast-paced video productions with small teams. In recent years, as video production software has allowed producers to add camera control to their workflow, more has become possible. Controlling multiple PTZ cameras at once during a production can make life easier for operators. My advice is to think about where you want your PTZ cameras to be during a given live stream. Map out the PTZ preset positions you would like cameras to move and then correlate them to other cameras you might have. Once you have mapped out where you want your cameras to move and when, create simple one-click buttons to do so. This will make scene changes in your live streams much easier to manage. 

The post How to control multiple PTZ cameras in vMix 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.

Controlling multiple cameras at the same time used to take a crew of camera operators. Today there are a variety of ways to control multiple robotic (PTZ) cameras with a single click of a button. Controlling multiple PTZ cameras at the same time is ideal for “scene changes” where you would like some or all of your PTZ cameras to move to a new location at the same time.

How to control multiple PTZ cameras in OBS at the same time

Using OBS you can control PTZOptics cameras in a couple of different ways. The most popular way is to install the free PTZOptics OBS plugin which adds some great robotic camera control features to OBS. Once installed, you can open up the plugin and control up to 8 cameras. The plugin even create specific hotkeys for calling PTZ presets and it adds the ability to control cameras with an XBox joystick. There is another way to control PTZOptics cameras with OBS called a “Dockable” interface using HTML codes available from PTZOptics. The HTML files can be used with the “Docks” feature of OBS to dock a PTZ camera controller directly into the OBS interface. You can learn more about that here.

The third way to control PTZOptics cameras with OBS involves using HTTP commands. A document reviewing all of the HTTP commands for PTZOptics cameras can be found at the PTZOptics downloads page. These commands can be entered into OBS using the “Browser Source” input and they can be used to call a PTZ camera preset for example. In this way, you can enter multiple HTTP commands into OBS using multiple browser sources in the same scene to control various cameras.

Pro Tip: Set up each camera in your network with sequential static IP addresses. In this way, you can easily input HTTP commands into OBS for this purpose.

Using OBS to control multiple cameras at the same time simple involves a scene that is setup with multiple browser sources with HTTP commands. Remember to select “Refresh when active” to ensure OBS issues the HTTP commands everytime that you select the scene in OBS.

Pro Tip: You can issue other HTTP commands besides camera presets as well. Check out the full list of HTTP commands in the PTZOptics documentation to learn more.

The post Controlling Multiple PTZ Cameras With OBS at the Same Time appeared first on PTZOptics.

The video above is a live demonstration of how to set up your PTZ camera on the network. PTZOptics cameras are network controllable meaning you can adjust camera settings, live stream video and audio, and much more. In this detailed tutorial video and blog post, you will learn everything you need to know about setting up your PTZ camera on the network.

You can follow this knowledge base article for a detailed step by step guide written by our support team.

Step by step process:

1. Step one: Connect your camera to the network
2. Step two: Either set a static IP address or set the camera to DHCP
3. Step three: Use the IR remote shortcuts to verify your cameras IP address
4. Step four: Use a web browser to connect to your camera to verify that you do indeed have network control between you computer and your camera
5. Step five: Next try connecting to your camera using the PTZOptics camera control application
6. Step six: Next try connecting to your camera wirelessly using the iOS or Android PanTiltZoom app

Networking for PTZ Camera Controls

First of all the presentation above starts out by recognizing that PTZOptics camera owners can always reach out to our support team. They are available via chat, email, and phone. The PTZOptics support team also manages a detailed knowledge base that can be used to quickly locate solutions to common issues.

Networking at a High Level

If IP networks are a totally new idea for you, don’t worry. Above you can see a high-level picture of an IP network. You can see there is a network router which is like the brains behind the network. The router is generally purchased from an ISP (Internet Service Provider) and it provides internet to the devices on your network. You can see there is a firewall device thatis used to protect your network from the outside world. Firewalls are often included in your router. You can then see the next layer in the network is your network switch. Network switches are used connect multiple devices together so that they can communicate. Finally, you can see WiFi access points which area connected to the network to provide devices with wireless connectivity to your LAN (Local Area Network).

To further illustrate this networking layout you can see computers and cameras have been connected to this diagram. You can see that the router has the very first IP address in the network. In this example, that is 192.168.1.1. You can see that each device on the network has it’s own unique IP address. This means that each computer, camera, and even an IP joystick has it’s own unique IP address. It’s important to notice that the first three sets of numbers in the IP address are the same. Therefore each IP address is 192.168.1.xx. The final two numbers are the unique numbers that show their IP address within the large “IP Range.”

PTZ camera control options

Now let’s start by understanding your PTZ camera control options. At a high level, you will have software and hardware choices for controlling your PTZ camera. Regarding your network connection, generally, you have two options as well: ethernet connections or WiFi connections. You can control your camera with video production software such as Wirecast, xSplit, OBS, vMix, and LiveStream Studio to have PTZ camera controls built directly into your software interface. You can also use hardware-based video production switchers such as the NewTek TriCaster and Roland video switcher which also support networked PTZ camera controls. Finally, a popular method of wireless camera controls includes the iOS and Android applications for PTZOptics cameras called PanTiltZoom.

IR Remote Shortcuts

There are a few helpful IR remote control shortcuts that can make your life easier when dealing with networking for PTZ cameras. The first is #*4 which will set your camera to DHCP mode. DHCP mode will allow your PTZ camera to assign itself an IP address based on the information your router is sending. *#4 is another shortcut that can always be used to display the IP address information that the camera currently has. So, in this way, you can use your IR remote control to quickly set up the camera for DHCP and display the IP address the camera has for use.

Setting a Manual IP Address

Most professional video users like to set up manual static IP addresses for their camera because they control exactly what IP address the camera will have. If you have multiple cameras, it is ideal to keep each IP address sequential for organizational purposes. The PTZOptics IP Address Settings tool pictured above can be found on the downloads page. This application can be used to search your network for PTZOptics cameras. Once you search and find PTZOptics cameras on your network you can click the “config” button to set a cameras IP address to a static one.

Conclusion

Take a moment to read through the presentation and this blog post to gain a better understanding of IP networking for PTZ cameras. The above video “PTZOptics SDI Camera Setup Video” does a great job walking you through the important steps regarding IP camera control. Remember if you have any questions along the way you can always reach out to our support team. Cheers!

The post Networking Help: Setting up a PTZ Camera on your Network appeared first on PTZOptics.

Churches across the country are scrambling to find ways to stay connected with their congregations and share the opportunity to worship together. Live streaming worship services is one way to stay connected. While the experience isn’t the same as having everyone together in the same place, it can still be a worshipful experience. While some churches have been streaming for years and have professional-grade equipment, others are just wondering where to start. For many, the fastest and easiest way to get online is by using Facebook Live.

The Smartphone Method: The Easiest Way to Get Started

If you want the absolute most straightforward and fastest way to get started with a live stream of your church’s worship service, you can share some pretty impressive videos via Facebook Live with just a smartphone. Here is what you will need:

A Smartphone – Anything from the last couple of years will do. It just needs to have a built-in video camera and the ability to run the Facebook app.

A Tripod – Having someone hold the camera will likely make the video unstable and hard to watch. Tripod mounts for smartphones are easy to find, and you can use an inexpensive tripod. If you can’t get a tripod and mount, get creative. You may be able to prop the phone up on a table or music stand.

Lights – Many churches already have decent lighting so people can see the pastor preaching. However, if you have a dimly lit sanctuary or are recording in an alternate location, be sure there is plenty of light. This is always important, but with the often small sensors on phones, you will need to be sure your subject is well lit. There are many inexpensive video lights available online, and big-box hardware stores often have options that will work in a pinch.

Sound – If you are in a small room and your pastor is close to the camera, you may be able to get away with capturing audio with the internal microphone. To improve sound, there are external microphones available for iPhones and Android devices. Depending on your setup, you may also be able to capture sound right from the church soundboard and feed it into the phone.

The Advanced Method: Higher Quality and More Options

If you want to improve quality and have more options, you may want to look into some more advanced setups. Don’t worry, while these options are more advanced, they don’t require any specialized training and can often be quite affordable. Here is what you will need:

A Camera – This can either be a camera that plugs directly into your computer using a USB connection or one that has an HDMI or SDI output. Unless you choose the USB option, you will also need a video capture device.

A Tripod – You can skip this if you purchase a PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) camera which can be mounted on the ceiling or wall. If you do need a tripod, you might want to spend a little more and get a video tripod with a fluid head. This will allow for smoother panning and tilting.

A Computer – Be sure you have something relatively new and powerful. Older computers or machines with little memory can cause problems.

Sound – If your church has a sound console, you will want to get an audio interface. This will allow you to capture high-quality sound and feed it into your computer.

Software – If you want, you can go live right from the Facebook website. However, if you’re going to use multiple cameras, capture a signal from your presentation software, or include transitions, you will want to use software like vMix, eCam Live, OBS, or Wirecast.

Get Ready to Stream

Starting your actual stream on Facebook is as easy as posting a status update. From a smartphone, log into the app, click where it says, “What’s on your mind?” And scroll down to “Go Live.” On a computer, go to Facebook.com, login and click on “What’s on your mind?” Then click on the three dots to see all of the options and click on “Live Video.” If it’s your first time, you may be asked to give permission to Facebook to access your camera.

Seeing what other churches are doing

There are two great videos that will give you an idea about what other churches are doing to live stream to Facbeook. The first vidoe shows you what the Olivet United Methodist Church is doing in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. There is a complete write up about this worship streaming system available here. After just two months of live streaming, the Olivet United Methodist Church in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, has been able to connect with church members from all around the world, including some who have moved away, some who were temporarily home-bound, and others who were on vacation. The new live streaming system was in place just before Christmas in 2018. In that time, the church media team has been able to live stream a candlelight service, the 2018 Christmas service, and a special baptism. The live streaming system has connected housebound parishioners like Tori Parker who commented “Glad I can be here, even from my couch as I recover from surgery.”

Always improving your system

Our team went back out to the Olivet Church about six months after the system was installed. This was a great way to check-in and make sure everything was running smoothly for their Facebook live streams. We went out and test the streaming system. Our team labled some of the devices and tuned the streaming system to help them display lyrics on their live production software. Here is the video walk through below.

Test, Test, Test

Too many churches set everything up for Sunday and forget an essential thing: testing. Even professionals who stream regularly know the importance of testing. One wrong setting, disconnected cable, or bad luck can put an end to your streaming debut. Set up, get everything ready and then give it a try. There is nothing wrong with going live on Facebook with a test. Done correctly, it will raise interest in your Sunday service. You might want to make your test interesting. Have your pastor offer words of encouragement or have one of your musicians give a preview of some of the music they are preparing for Sunday. If it works, you will know you are ready. If not, you still have some time to work out the kinks before Sunday.

Get the free book!

Paul Richards is actually the author of Helping Your Church Live Stream. For a limited time our company will mail you a copy of Helping Your Church Live stream 100% for free! Isn’t that awesome? So you can request a free copy here – http://143.198.120.149/church-book/ . You can also download a PDF copy to start reading right away.

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How Far End Camera Controls work with Zoom

A little known feature inside of Zoom Video Conferencing is called “Far End Camera” controls. This feature allows users to give other meeting participants control of their cameras. This is ideal for remote presentations where a co-host or trusted individual can help out with the camera work. Remote PTZ camera controls are often difficult to obtain because of public versus private area networking issues. But with Zoom, you only need a USB PTZOptics camera connected to your computer and the ability to host a meeting.

Who is using remote PTZ camera controls in Zoom?

Here is a list of Zoom video conferencing users who enjoy remote PTZ camera controls. A prime use case example is in Healthcare. Doctors who are delivering their services via Telemedicine may need the ability to see the patient more clearly. Giving doctors the ability to view patients with optical zoom and pan/tilt capabilities allows doctors to do their work better. Optical zoom allows doctors to zoom into specific areas with loss-less viewing quality. Other use-cases include business presentations, worship broadcasts, and private performances.

1. Business Presentations 
2. Worship Broadcasts
3. Telemedicine
4. Private Performances

How do remote PTZ camera controls work inside of Zoom?

Zoom video conference has the ability to give meeting participants advanced PTZ (pan, tilt and zoom) camera controls to anyone in the world who has joined a private Zoom meeting. These camera controls must be first enabled on the Zoom meeting dashboard by an admin. Once enabled the feature will allow users to request camera controls from meeting participants. If a Zoom user has a PTZOptics USB connected camera on the far end of the video conference call, they will be able to remotely operate that camera. This functionality is provided by the PTZOptics USB cameras which support a PTZ camera control protocol called UVC. PTZOptics USB cameras can be controlled with Zoom video conference through the USB 3.0 connection to any Mac or PC computer. This same USB 3.0 connection can also be used for an HD video with Zoom.

Step by step guide

1. Enable Far End Camera Controls in your Zoom Dashboard
2. Start a Zoom Meeting with a PTZOptics camera connected to a Mac or PC computer
3. Have a meeting participant from the “far end” right click the meeting participants video with the PTZOptics camera
4. This “far end” meeting participant will select an option called “Request Camera Control”
5. The meeting participant with the PTZOptics camera will have to approve this request
6. Once approved the far end meeting participant will gain PTZ camera controls

Conclusion

The Slideshare presentation above walks you through each step of this process. Zoom video conferencing’s remote PTZ camera control functionality allows meetings to be more dynamic and productive. PTZOptics has worked directly with engineers at Zoom to make this integration possible. If you have any questions regarding this feature please email support@ptzoptics.com.

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