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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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.

Live Streaming Worship Services

In the past few years, the ability to live stream has enhanced numerous industries, and in my life specifically, Christian churches across the United States. Before live streaming became an option for churches, any church members who missed a service wouldn’t know what the service was about unless a family member attended and took notes (such a predicament is difficult especially when the church is in the middle of a series). Sometimes, churches would be able to broadcast their services over the radio, but if the weather was terrible and the audio feed went in and out, members were essentially missing an entire service and the experience of worshipping with their faith family. Before my home church, Bridgeway Christian Church in Roseville, California, was able to live stream, we recorded the sermon part of our service and posted it online the Monday or Tuesday after the weekend (we were and still are unable to post the worship segment of our services due to copyright – another aspect our church members are missing out on should they be unable to attend a service).

Helping Her Church Live Stream

Fortunately, Bridgeway Christian Church started live streaming our weekend services across multiple platforms in 2013. By utilizing three to four cameras for normal services, the Video Director is able to edit the shots together live to create a cohesive broadcast for our viewers at home who may be sick, who may be out of town, or even for our military members serving on the other side of the world. For special events, we use three to four static cameras, one mobile camera, and one camera set up on a jib crane or dolly pan. With the numerous cameras, the Camera Operators and Video Director are allowed to be creative, produce an amazing final product, and stream to our  members online.

Teaching volunteers who to produce live video in church

In my sophomore year of high school, I found Bridgeway’s Creative Arts Department, and I was trained as the youngest camera operator at the time. We had older home video recorders with simple lenses, but since then, we have upgraded our equipment to match the quality of the live stream with the quality of the stage production. After one and a half years of serving as a Camera Operator, I was trained as a Video Director, the youngest to this date. I used a board switcher, comms box, and two to three preview monitors (one mounted to a wall directly in front of me, one off to the side for Computer Graphics, and one mini-monitor to my right to double check color and focus).

The Assistant Director is in charge of the keys that control what gets shown to the people in the sanctuary on the side projectors versus what gets live streamed online (for our members using the childcare service, the ID numbers only get shown to the parents in the congregation present in the sanctuary if their child needs to be picked up – not to the online viewers at home). A Computer Graphics (CG) Director controls the lyrics, videos, and motion graphics that we use during services.

Defining goals for the church production

As of December 2019, a new Video Switcher position has been rolled out with the goal of allowing the Video Director to focus on the full picture of the service. The Switcher’s job is to push the buttons on the switch board when the Video Director calls for a cut/fade or wants a camera prepped for the next shot. In 2020, we will be fine-tuning the communication between the Video Director and the Switcher for more efficient work. Now after having filmed two concerts and video directed three special series and dozens of Christmas/Easter services, I have been able to practice the skills I’ve learned through my major of Visual and Fine Arts at Sierra College to make the live streams as professional as possible.

Video Director and Camera Operator Roles

By improving my skills as a Video Director, I inspire and push the Camera Operators underneath me to work harder and be more creative with the shots they provide me. Especially during the Christmas and Easter services that I direct, I ask for the Camera Operators to provide me with exceptionally creative shots, and if I like them, I use them; if I don’t, I ask them to move on to something else. For such services, we utilize our regular stage set-up (with the stage in the front of the house and three cameras in a line in the back of the room in-line with the lighting/sound platforms), or we present the services “in the round,” with a circular stage in the center of the room and the congregation surrounding it, and five to six cameras set up strategically around the perimeter of the room (not an easy feat for a Camera Operator or for a Video Director). We work as a creative team because we want the final product to look as professional as
possible for the church members at home. In spite of my age, I feel confident in my directing and leadership abilities when leading my team.

Summary

The ability to livestream has deeply impacted our faith family and our volunteers. In a specific case, a member of our church has a severe auto-immune disease which keeps him isolated at his home away from potentially ill people. Because of the live streaming option we offer to our congregation, he was able to watch all of the services at his home for an entire year, and when he was able to return to church in person, he hadn’t missed a thing and picked up the series we were going through without missing a beat. In another example, one of our church’s military members was able to thank my team last Easter as he enjoyed the live stream “with my church family” from his active duty post in Iraq.

Finally, a dear friend of mine was able to worship alongside the church while in labor with her first child at the hospital! In the future, for my church specifically, we are working on upgrading our sound quality: we are putting together a sound-proofed room where a Live Stream Audio Mixer can work on mixing the live sound for the viewers; without the live stream mixer, the audio can come across badly during worship. For churches in general, live streaming is becoming more affordable, so in a few years, all churches, no matter how small, will be able to cater to those who are unable to attend services in person.

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West Chester, PA -March 9, 2020– Paul William Richards has announced that he will be giving away free copies of his book, “Helping Your Church Live Stream,” to as many houses of worship as possible during the coronavirus outbreak. Richards is Chief Streaming Officer at the StreamGeeks, located on Market Street in West Chester, PA. Anyone interested in picking up a free book can do so between 9 AM-4 PM Monday through Friday at 139 W Market Street, in downtown West Chester.

The book, which was released in 2019, is currently available on Amazon for $8.99. Richards says the effort will help houses of worship stream their weekly services in order for their congregations to avoid large gatherings during the coronavirus outbreak. Worship leaders from around the world including, Pope Francis in Rome, have announced that they will be live streaming blessing services in an effort to deter people from attending worship in person. 

“Our team has been dedicated to helping churches live stream for many years. It is my hope that “Helping Your Church Live Stream” can assist church leaders and volunteers during this crucial time,” says Richards. “The book outlines many important topics for worship leaders to consider, including how to live stream worship services, accept donations online, connect with local retirement communities, and work with volunteers.” 

Richards’ team at PTZOptics has recently released a guide for distributing worship services to retirement communities and senior living centers. That guide is now available for free, with “Helping Your Church Live Stream,” at http://143.198.120.149/church-book. 

“For many years, we have been helping churches in our local community reach members of their congregation who may be sick, shut-in, or elderly. We hosted the 2020 Worship Summit Live in January, and we had over 3,000 worship leaders in attendance,” says Richards. Along with the book, volunteers and technology team members can take a free, online training course.  The “Helping Your Church Live Stream 2.0” training course is available on Udemy at https://www.udemy.com/course/church-streaming/.

Using the link http://143.198.120.149/church-book those interested can download for free an electronic version of  “Helping Your Church Live Stream” in addition to requesting physical copies. The book is available in multiple formats, including PDF, audio, and paperback.

The post Get a Helping Your Church Live Stream Book Free! appeared first on PTZOptics.

If you are getting ready for live streaming church services, one way or another, you are going to need at least one camera. There are a lot of pieces that go into a live streaming setup, but the camera is where it all starts. By choosing the right camera, you can ensure that you have the image quality and control you need to get the most out of your entire system. For those just getting started with live streaming church services, choosing a camera can seem overwhelming.

There are thousands of video camera options from smartphones, stand-alone camcorders, to PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) cameras. In this blog post, we will review the various types of cameras churches are using today to start live streaming their services. It’s also worth noting that most churches already have audio systems in place that can be paired with a good quality camera to complete the entire live streaming system. 

Smartphones

Churches wanting to get started with live streaming sometimes have little to no budget, to begin with. Often, the simplest (and least expensive solution) is to use an iPhone or another smartphone. This works especially well if someone on your team already has one that they are willing to part with, at least on Sunday mornings. All you will need is a stable WiFi connection and a tripod and mount so that you get a steady shot. Just keep in mind that this is only less affordable if you can’t find someone to lend you or give a decent smartphone.

Purchasing one for this purpose could raise the cost high enough to consider one of the other options below. If you do decide to upgrade to a PTZ camera later you can actually use an iOS or Android phone to control the PTZ camera. This is another great way to save money on a budget. 

Learn more about PTZ camera smartphone apps here.

Pros of Using a Smartphone for Live Streaming Church Services:

• Inexpensive – Free if someone will give or lend one to your church.
• Easy to Use – Most people are already comfortable with operating a smartphone camera.

Camcorders

The obvious next step up from a smartphone for live streaming church services is a camcorder. The term covers a wide range of dedicated video cameras ranging from a couple of hundred dollars for inexpensive consumer models to tens of thousands of dollars for broadcast-quality cameras. The wide range of prices, quality, and features makes this category especially tricky for people new to live streaming. Also, to get the most out of a camcorder, it will require a dedicated operator to stay with the camera to operate the zoom and manually pan and tilt.

Using a USB Capture Card

Most camcorders do not live stream directly to places such as Facebook and YouTube. Therefore, you do need to purchase a USB capture card that can convert the HDMI or HD-SDI video cable into a USB output that can be plugged into a computer. From here you can use free live streaming software such as OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) or other paid streaming software such as vMix or Wirecast with the USB input.

Camcorders vs PTZ Cameras

The great thing about Camcorders is that they do feature optical zoom which can be used to zoom in from the back of the church. The drawback when compared with PTZ cameras is the lack of useable controls to actually pan, tilt and zoom remotely. Camcorders generally run off a battery and therefore need to be plugged in for use during most church services. PTZ cameras generally are powered over ethernet or a power source. Either way, most churches do not install a camcorder in a location such as a balcony or a wall permanently. PTZ cameras have the ability to mounted in multiple discreet locations in the church (learn more about that here). 

Pros of Using a Camcorder for Live Streaming Church Services:

• Wide Range of Prices – Some are less expensive than smartphones.
• Wide Range of Features – Models are available with optical telephoto lenses, image stabilization, and other helpful features.

PTZ Cameras

Churches new to live streaming often fail to consider the type of camera that may be the best option for the short and long term. PTZ cameras are more affordable and offer features that make them perfect for church applications. With a PTZ camera, you get the broadcast-quality optics and features of higher-end camcorders and the ability to control each unit remotely. That means you don’t need a dedicated camera operator at each camera to control pan, tilt, and zoom. Controls for one or multiple cameras can be handled remotely using a joystick controller, software, or even a smart device. PTZ cameras also offer numerous options for installation, power, control, and sending the video signal.

Pros of Using PTZ Cameras for Live Streaming Church Services:

High-Quality Optics – For a crisp, clear picture.

Remote Control – Operate the pan, tilt, and zoom on multiple cameras from a physical controller, software, or smart device.

Multiple Installation Options – Can be mounted on a tripod, wall, ceiling, or pole.

Multiple Cabling Options – Video signal can be sent via HDMI, SDI, USB, or IP.

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I have always found it a little strange that, in our digital world, attending a conference still involves purchasing plane tickets and reserving a hotel room. Yes, I understand that it is good to get together with colleagues from around the country and world. I know that nothing replaces face to face conversations and breaking bread together in person. However, most of us don’t have the personal or church budget for registration fees and travel. Additionally, rarely can we afford to take our whole worship team. To grow as a team, it is vital to be exposed to the same teaching and ideas. It is great to be able to learn together and have time to dream and plan based on what we have experienced.

This is why I was so excited when I learned about Worship Summit Live, a free, online summit for church streaming production. My team and I were exposed to the expertise of several leaders who know church production and work to leverage it to spread the message of God. Without even leaving the church, we experienced top-quality teaching on the latest technology and best practices for modern worship.

My team and I were joined by over 3,000 of our colleagues, and we all took away more than we could have anticipated. Here are some of my biggest takeaways.

Live Streaming is an Essential Part of the Future of the Church

This wasn’t a new insight for me, but it sure was amazing to hear the sentiment echoed by leaders and other professionals. Sometimes it feels like a constant struggle to get the budget and resources for a robust streaming ministry. There are always detractors who claim that is it just a fad or not “real church.” The summit kicked off with a real affirmation for those of us who work so hard to make live streaming happen. Tess Protesto and Paul Richards opened up with a conversation with the President and Chief Creative Officer of JeffinHighDef.tv, Jeff Fitgerald. They all reminded us of how important it is to go to where people are, and today, those people are often on their computer or smart device. This was a great reminder and a fantastic takeaway to start the day.

Sound is Essential for Streaming

Some of us put a lot of thought into getting the perfect camera shots for streaming. But sound is just as, if not more, important. If people can’t hear or if the sound quality detracts from the service, they are going to tune out and miss the vital message we are sharing. Dr. Barry Hill, author of “Mixing for God,” gave an in-depth look at the tools and techniques to make a drastic improvement in sound on both the live stream and in the worship space. Dr. Hill is the director of the Audio and Music Production program at Lebanon Valley College of Pennsylvania. He is an expert, and he was able to speak in a way that connected to those of us who are not audio pros but just trying to do our best. I walked away with a reminder of the importance of audio and a lot more confidence in my ability to make things sound great.

Live Streaming Equipment Has Come A Long Way

Not all of us are happy with our current live streaming setup. It was a fantastic experience to see and hear what other churches are using. Tom Bunt from Good Shepherd Lutheran in Wisconsin shared his church’s live streaming setup. It was great to see it in action. This was the first time I saw PTZOptics cameras in operation. It made me rethink some of the possibilities of remote cameras. The most impressive part was seeing how he uses a PTZOptics 20X NDI camera to send a video feed across the campus via their local area network. We were also able to see vMix in action as production software. I will be taking a closer look at PTZOptics cameras and vMix.

Even Small Churches with Small Budgets Can Do Great Things with Technology

Sometimes when I attend conferences, everything seems aimed at churches with multi-million dollar budgets. That can make it hard to relate and translate what I learn for the smaller church. Fortunately, there was an entire session on using technology in a church with a small budget. Jake Gosselin from Churchfront offered a lot of insight into how to make some pretty drastic improvements without spending a lot of money. He also laid out a helpful sequence of adding technology as money comes available. I can’t wait to spend time with his YouTube channel to learn more.

That is Just a Small Piece!

My team and I are still unpacking everything we learned at Worship Summit 2020. Our biggest question is, “When is Worship Summit 2021?”

The post Our Takeaways from Worship Summit Live appeared first on PTZOptics.

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. In this video, you can see a single operating is using the Wirecast software to live stream and record the Sunday service. It’s very easy for the operator to also control the PTZOptics cameras because Wirecast has PTZ camera control for PTZOptics built into the software. Therefore, without having to leave the Wirecast software interface the video production operator can simply click a button to have the PTZ cameras move where they want them to go during the service.

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. Many churches actually use the non-zoom PTZOptics cameras which are called ZCams for on-stage camera angles. Many churches have drummers and even drum cages that they like to capture video for during live streams.

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.

If your church is considering adding live streaming or looking to upgrade a video system, consider PTZOptics. Their cameras and controllers can provide an easy to use, high quality, flexible video system. PTZOptics Producer Kits make things even simpler by including cameras, a controller, and even a PC. You get everything you need to get started right away. For these reasons and more, PTZOptics is the right choice for your church’s live streaming system.

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The post Three Reasons Victory House Church Choose PTZOptics for Live Streaming appeared first on PTZOptics.

If your church is capturing video either for live image magnification (IMAG), live streaming or to record services, you are eventually going to need a video switcher. Yes, there are situations where, with just one camera, you can get by without one. However, once you want to add a second camera, or include slides from a computer, you will need some way to switch between sources. That is where the video switcher comes in. Video switchers come in many shapes, sizes, and prices. Professional 4K broadcast-quality switchers cost tens of thousands of dollars. Most churches can’t afford and honestly don’t need anything that powerful. So, instead, we are going to look at some affordable options that will still offer churches everything they need to produce a professional-quality video.

Hardware vs. Software Switchers

There are two basic types of video switchers for church applications, hardware, and software. Hardware switchers are dedicated, freestanding devices with simple buttons that perform video switching functions. Whereas software switchers run on a laptop or desktop PC or Mac. Neither one is necessarily better than the other, so it mostly depends on your preferences, budget, and the equipment you already have. Hardware switchers offer incredible reliability because they are purpose-built to provide video switching between HDMI or HD-SDI sources. Many churches rely of hardware video switchers because they also offer the lowest possible latency for image magnification when sending video sources to a projection screen or network of LCD TVs. When you are thinking about image magnification you always want to have the least amount of video devices between the source and the destination in order to reduce latency. Nothing is worse than a video production system that creates too much latency when projected up on a large screen. It can be confusing for church members to see the images on the screen happen after the sounds that they are hearing in the room.

Getting the Right Connections

No matter what route you choose, you will need to pay attention to your video connections. Cameras used for church applications tend to connect using HDMI, SDI, or USB. There are also a few that still connect using analog composite and component connections and some newer models that can connect via ethernet using a standard called NDI. The only trick here is making sure that you can plug your cameras into whatever you get, whether that be a capture card attached to a computer or a hardware switcher. Some switchers and capture cards can connect to more than one type of cable, usually HDMI and SDI. Also, keep in mind there are several quality converters on the market that can convert HDMI to SDI and vice versa. There are even some available that will convert old analog connections to HDMI.

Here is a shortlist of some of our favorite hardware switchers:

1. Blackmagic ATEM Television Studio 4K Live Production Switcher
2. Roland V1-HD
3. Blackmagic Design ATEM Television Studio Pro HD Live Production Switcher
4. Blackmagic ATEM Mini HDMI Live Stream Switcher
5. Roland V-02HD Video Mixer Bundle
6. Epiphan Pearl Mini

Relevant reviews we have done in the past:

• Roland V-1HD and V-1SDI video switcher review
• Blackmagic ATEM Television Studio switcher review

Pros of Hardware Switchers

Fortunately, hardware switchers have gotten very affordable in the last few years. Blackmagic Design has just released a four-input mini HDMI switcher for under $300, and their eight-channel switcher offers both HDMI and SDI connections for under $1000. Roland also sells a four-input HDMI switcher for under $100.

The advantage of hardware switchers is that they are usually easier to set up since there is no software to install. There is also less that can go wrong. Switchers don’t often crash like computers and rarely need to be updated. Another advantage is that in many cases, it is easier to train volunteers on a hardware switcher. Most transitions can be handled with just a couple of buttons.

Pros of Software Switchers

A significant advantage of software switchers is that, if you already have a computer, there is some excellent software that is free or very affordable. OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is free. Another popular option, vMix, can be purchased for as little as $60. Wirecast is another popular option that is available for Mac users. If you need to buy a computer, the cost goes up significantly but computers are generally needed to perform many important tasks that accompany video production and live streaming. For example, if you would like to use a presentation software such as MediaShout, EasyWorship or Powerpoint a computer will be needed. Computers are also important for monitoring your churches live stream on either YouTube or Facebook to make sure everything is going smoothly. You should also use a computer to monitor the chat room for comments and prayer requests. There are so many reasons to have a computer or tablet on hand the list goes on and on. Most importantly is perhaps the ability to actually encode your video and audio sources in order to live stream them. Encoding is just a complicated word for mixing together all of your audiovisual sources and live streaming them. Most churches use a computer to automatically login to Facebook or YouTube and live stream their services with software like OBS, even if they are using a hardware switcher to manage all of their video sources.

Also, depending on exactly how you use it, you may need to purchase one or more video capture cards. Another advantage of a software switcher is that they do more than switch video sources. These packages can also take care of recording and streaming your services all in the same piece of software.

Software versus Hardware PTZ Camera Control options

Many of the same philosophies are true when it comes to hardware versus software camera control solutions for a church production. Hardware-based joystick controllers are easy to use and do not require any additional software on an already complicated computer set up. Volunteers can easily operate a hardware video switch and hardware PTZ camera joystick controller without the need for any additional software windows. There is generally only one mouse and keyboard that can operate a computer at one time and if that computer is being used for powerpoint and a video production software, forget about using it for camera control. That is unless the camera control is built directly into the video production software you are using. If you are using a software like Wirecast, vMix, LiveStream Studio or MimoLive who all have PTZ camera support for PTZOptics cameras, you can integrate camera control into the video production workflow. These types of time-saving and cost-saving integration are what make modern video production solutions easier for churches with limited staff to control multiple PTZ cameras located around the church sanctuary.

Conclusion

Most church production systems are managed by a few dedicated volunteers. Sometimes these volunteers change and trying to maintain a seamless “dummy-proof” system is important. Some mix of hardware and software switching for video production will likely be required to create a complete live streaming setup. It is possible to completely do away with all software and use a dedicated hardware encoder for streaming your content that is connected to your video switcher. This is perhaps the easiest way to live stream a service but it’s also the least flexible. Most churches that I have worked with do enjoy the flexibility a software such as Wirecast or vMix can offer when it comes to software powered video production. Many churches are building customer live streaming computers with built-in PCIe capture card devices that allow the computer to become a hardware and software-based video switching hybrid if you will. To learn more check out some of the other blog posts we have on church production technology below. And please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask us some questions on our facebook page here https://facebook.com/ptzoptics.

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