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 They had some experience with online video in the past though it was an outdated system.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

The Cameras

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

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

The Connections

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

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

The Production Booth

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

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

The Results

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

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

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

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

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

Looking for Something More

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

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

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

The Problem

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

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

Learning All I Could

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

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

The PTZ 20X NDI Camera

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

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

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

More to Come

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

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

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The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in a new era for churches. Even churches that were slow to adopt new technology have found themselves embracing tech tools to keep their congregations connected. While this may have eventually been a shift that occurred over several years, many churches were forced to enter into a new reality in weeks or even days. Fortunately, there are many easy to use tools that were already available and made getting started faster and easier than was possible even a few years ago. Churches flocked to services like Facebook Live, Skype, and Zoom to connect with congregation members forced to stay away by fears of spreading the virus and state and local “shelter in place” ordinances. 

Going to church from home is now the new normal. A small percentage of churchgoers have done this for years. This was thanks to televangelists and churches that broadcast services on television. Others were early adopters of live stream options. Churches have been adopting broadcasting and streaming technologies at different rates. Some are still experimenting while others have robust streaming church ministries. But, all of a sudden, church at home is all we have.

While we have reached a point where restrictions on gathering are beginning to lessen, it is going to be some time before everyone comes back. Those who are at a higher risk from the effects of COVID-19 may wait much longer before they feel safe returning. So, even as things begin to return to some form of normal, we are faced with a question. How are we going to include everyone in our worship and learning experiences?

Live streaming was a significant first step, but eventually, the church will need to think about ways to make experiences more interactive. How can we use the tools we have to offer more than just a one-way broadcast? How can we offer something that does more to replicate the interactive experience of the gathered body of the church? One option to begin to rebuild this sense of community in the online world is through the use of tools that allow for two-way video communication. One very popular example is Zoom.

Zoom: Meeting vs. Webinar

An important distinction to understand when working with Zoom is the difference between Zoom meetings and Zoom webinars. Most users of Zoom or other video conferencing software are likely familiar with the meeting format. In most cases, everyone shows up on the screen, and anyone can talk whenever they want. These are perfect for when the interaction is an essential element of the meeting. 

The meeting format is what comes standard with Zoom. The webinar feature, on the other hand, is an available upgrade. The webinar is designed to be more of a one-way experience. The host can add several panelists but, by default, the rest of the participants are not connected to audio and video. They can see and hear but not be heard or seen. The host can elevate any participant to become part of the panel and share their audio, video, and screen. Still, the webinar is designed for one or more people speaking to an audience.

In the picture above you can see this church is using Zoom video conferencing on one laptop and OBS on a second laptop. The laptop running Zoom video conferencing is using a PTZOptics 20X-USB camera in order to bring in video and audio from their audio mixer. The OBS laptop is connected over the LAN (local area network). This laptop is used to capture the video from the PTZOptics camera over the network using RTSP. Using RTSP the OBS laptop can capture 1080p video with embedded audio. The church has noticed that the recordings are much higher quality then zoom when they are recorded with OBS (Open Broadcaster Software). It is possible to run OBS and Zoom on the same computer but for this scenario, the church decided to have to volunteers helping and using two computers really helped.

Part of the discussion for churches trying to create a more interactive environment in this new normal is deciding how much interaction is desired for different types of activities. For example, a worship service may be a situation where it is best to limit interaction. This is especially true with large congregations where the endless rows of small video thumbnails may be distracting. And there won’t likely be an opportunity for most people to speak anyway. The webinar format may be the best choice in this situation. It still does allow for the possibility of elevating a participant to share audio and video for such things as scripture reading or prayer.

Most churches have actives that, in a live format, are more interactive, like small group meetings and Sunday school classes. Inviting people to be seen and heard online may be the key to recreating the gathering experience. This is where the Zoom meeting may be a better option. Everyone can see and hear and be seen and heard. 

Limiting Distraction and Keeping Things Secure

Quite a few churches have run into the issue of having their meetings disrupted through a process that has become known as Zoom bombing. This is where a nefarious actor gets ahold of the meeting information and purposely disrupts the meeting often through inappropriate screen sharing. But even well-intentioned church members can disrupt a meeting without the use of good meeting security and moderation. 

Here are some Zoom best practices to keep your meetings safe and distraction-free:

1. If there is no reason to have all the participants on screen or able to speak, consider using a webinar. Webinars can be publicly listed, and there is no risk of anyone disturbing the meeting. Only the host and select panelists have the login information that enables them to share audio, video, and their screen.
2. When using the meeting format, when possible, consider using the password and waiting room feature. This limits who can enter the meeting.
3. Set your meeting settings to mute participants on entry and don’t allow people to unmute themselves. This way, the moderator can control who is speaking when.
4. Use the “raise hand” feature so that the moderator will know when someone wishes to speak.
5. In the meeting settings, disable participants ability to share their screen.
6. Consider using a meeting moderator in addition to the host to help with these tasks such as granting access, watching for raised hands, and unmuting participants who wish to speak.

Once you get comfortable with Zoom, there are even more features to explore. These include built-in chat and break out rooms that allow smaller groups to meet within the same larger meeting.

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The post Using Zoom to Create Interactive Church Experiences appeared first on PTZOptics.

Streaming your church Sunday services live on Youtube can prove to be extremely rewarding. Social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube enable churches to reach members of their community. Many times live streams can accommodate people who may not be able to attend service in person. Through live streaming, your organization has the opportunity to empower community members to share live mass and services with family and friends online. As a result, the process helps with church communications. Live streaming can help tighten your communities connection with your congregation. This blog post shares key tips that can guide you in the creation of a live streaming system. You can use a system like this to live stream to YouTube, Facebook or your church’s website.

Setting up your churches accounts

Your church obviously needs a Youtube channel and/or a Facebook page to live stream to. If you are just getting your accounts set up ask your church leadership for your non-profit status information. You are not required to set up the accounts using a non-profit status. But if you do, Facebook and YouTube will give you tools for fundraising. Adding a non-profit status essentially means that Facebook and YouTube will allow viewers and creators to send donations on your behalf. Creators can actually select your non-profit organization as the recipient of donations on their channels as well.

Building a live streaming system

After setting up the accounts, you will need to ensure that you have a user-friendly system for your volunteers to operate. We highly recommend PTZOptics Producer Kits, as these are designed to suit small or large church spaces. These systems come with PTZ cameras that can be easily be controlled remotely. This means volunteers can use a smartphone or an iPad to zoom into the pastor. PTZOptics camera are installed in churches frequently because they are small and discreet. The camera size is ideal for keeping with the aesthetic of a church environment.  Many churches choose to install white cameras with white mounting hardware. These cameras allow volunteer live stream producers and camera operators the ability to control optical zoom using a joystick controller. 

The PTZ Producer Kits are complete live streaming camera systems built around the Intel NUC. These computers feature a Windows 10 professional license. Instead of using a dedicated hardware system like many other streaming systems, this is a open Windows platform. The computer includes a suitable processor for handling live streams and has the ability to use almost any software your church may want. The system allows for easy integration with software that you may be using to display lyric on projectors or record content for social media. In this way, you can use the system in combination with software such as EasyWorship, Powerpoint, or ProPresentor to manage content on a projector as well as any live-streaming software concurrently. This makes the system an ideal choice for any church having the desire to start using a free live stream software (such as OBS – Open Broadcaster Software). With an open Windows system, churches can then later upgrade to paid software such as LiveStream Studio, Wirecast, or vMix if they choose.

A church case study

The Olivet United Methodist Church of Coatesville, PA has mastered the use of PTZOptics Producer Kit that incorporates three screens:

1. Screen one – Used for handling PowerPoint presentation controls, which the volunteer uses to determine the slide that will show next.
2. Screen two – For sending video link to the church system, which then distributes video content to four LCD displays and two projectors.
3.  Screen three – Dedicated for use with vMix, which provides live streaming as well as the controls for video production.

After live streaming for only two months, the Olivet United Methodist Church of Coatesville, PA has connected with their church members watching from different parts of the world, including those on vacation or temporarily home-bound. This system enables live streaming of content to YouTube and Facebook simultaneously while recording a copy of the video. The Olivet United Methodist Church of Coatesville, PA relies on PTZOptics cameras linked to the system via Magewell SDI USB capture cards. A PTZ joystick supplied with the Producer Kit is used to control the cameras.

You can get more insights into the churches live streaming their sermons in this Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/churchstreamers.

If you would like to know more, you can simply download the book titled ‘Helping Your Church Live Stream’ written by Paul Richards (PTZOptics Chief Streaming Officer) here.

The post Live streaming your church services to YouTube appeared first on PTZOptics.

It is almost time for Worship Summit Live, Friday, January 24, 2020. This is a high-quality learning opportunity that is offered for free thanks in part to the main sponsor, PTZOptics. Learn about the latest technologies for worship production, including live streaming, video production, audio production, and modern worship. You will have the opportunity to hear from 10 nationally known speakers and attend breakout sessions to dive even deeper into state-of-the-art worship technology.

Learn the Latest

Worship Conferences are a great way to learn about the latest technology, best practices, and innovative ideas. This is a chance to learn from experts and collaborate with other churches, exchange ideas, and make connections. The best way to attend a worship conference is with your entire media team. When only one person attends, it can be difficult to translate all of the learning and excitement to the team back home. Unfortunately, not many churches have the budget to pay for registration, airfare, hotels, and meals for an entire media team. Fortunately, in the virtual realm, there is a way to attend a full day church production conference for free without ever leaving your church. Worship Summit Live makes this possible with this free online event.

Keeping Up in the Digital Age

The digital age we live in makes it more critical than ever to stay up to date with the latest technologies for worship. This why Worship Summit Live is offering the opportunity to hear from and engage with some of the best minds in church audiovisual and production technologies via live stream. Learn from the experts with presentations and breakout sessions from some of the best thinkers and leaders in the world of church production. With over ten nationally known speakers confirmed already, you and your team will have a chance to learn about multiple dimensions of church production, all without the expense of registrations, flights, or hotels.

Speakers include:

Fred Callicoat, Tech Guru, EasyWorship

Dan Willard, Training Specialist, Easy Worship

Jake Gosselin, Pastor, and Leader of ChurchFront

Will Doggett, Certified Ableton Trainer

Dave Dolphin, Worship Pastor, Cherokee Hills Baptist Church, Oklahoma City Area

Seth Haberman, The Digital Pastor

Dr. Barry Hill, Professor of Audio Engineering, Lebanon Valley College of Pennsylvania

Sessions Include:

• Top 10 Issues with Church Sound
• Technology Tools for the Modern Church
• Ableton Live from Studio to Stage
• Online Streaming Technology
• Worship Presentation Software
• Volunteers and Tech Gear

Get Your Tickets Today!

Virtual tickets are free and available at worshipsummit.live. A limited number of in-person full-day passes are also still available for $25. This will give you a behind the scenes experience with the Worship Summit Live team. Participants will have the opportunity to watch the live stream and take part in hands-on workshops and breakout sessions. In-person attendees will also receive a catered lunch, t-shirt, and a copy of Helping Your Church Live Stream and Mixing for God.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to learn from some of the best in the business without breaking your church budget. As church production moves further into the digital realm, this is a fantastic opportunity to gather in an online space with your peers from across the country. Get your free tickets today at worshipsummit.live.

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