Best way to implement Avipas PTZ cameras in church environment

[chriscarrollus]

I currently am using OBS for our church to livestream services. We have one computer and one camera connected to the computer. With this computer (main computer), we also use Proclaim software to display worship songs, sermon slides, etc. The sound is coming from our sound board and not the camera. We are currently using OBS to show the stage and then show the Proclaim video output in the same scene in the corner. We want to upgrade our one low-end camera to a pair of Avipas PTZ cameras. We will have a keyboard controller to manage the two cameras. My question is this: What is the easiest way to implement these two cameras? We are going to need an additional person in our booth to manage the two cameras during the service. Currently, our one operator manages the Proclaim output and really doesn't need to do anything with the camera since it remains static (which we want to change). My current thought is I would use another laptop to manage the cameras and create a scene in OBS. By doing this, our additional camera operator could see what is being displayed and manage it. We want to be able to transition between cameras, Zoom in and out, etc. We would then like to output this scene to the main computer and replace the current camera input with this input. This way, the current operator of the main computer still wouldn't have to worry about managing the cameras. I appreciate any input and thanks in advance.

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

Like so many things, especially technical..... it depends ;^)
First question to ask yourself, is how are you going to connect to the video output of the PTZ cameras?
my person preference for flexibility and future-proofing is NDI, but there is a cost to this choice
It appears some of the cameras support RTSP... I'm not sure how that compares in terms of video quality to NDI & other options

For me (I set it it up), using a single PC, dual monitor, it is a 1-person job
- understand ours is liturgically based, not evangelical, with choir/pipe organ, not band.. so different expectations around sound and lighting. Our sound setup is largely set and forget. *IF* you typically have someone constantly monitoring audio, and making adjustments, then expect that person to continue to be need, separate from livestream video operations

When we upgrade to a second PTZ camera, for our environment, I'm still expecting single person job to run livestream ...
In part, we have a complex setup now in OBS, as we don't have -in-person worship, and I am constantly going back-n-forth from live video feed to pre-recorded content (prelude, announcements, hymns, psalm, readings, postlude, etc)... my OBS scene list is almost 30.
Once we are back to in-person, indoor service (which I don't expect for many months), OBS operation gets MUCH simpler, and primary livestream operations duties becomes
- keeping Service Bulletin on right page (I'm using PowerPoint filling up ~1/3 of left side of screen)
- camera operations... I've already set up a lot of presets, I'm rarely manually control camera position outside of presets... depending on service style, this could vary. I've trained my priest (when we started with webcam) to largely stand in place. Once able to walk around, this will probably change
- keeping on an eye on livestream itself (audio levels, online comments (ie digital usher), bandwidth, video preview on streaming provider platform)

I'd say think about your worship presentation style.
If the camera is changing constantly, an operator has to manually to changing Proclaim, then maybe... for us, my PowerPoint, is 30 pages, and that includes opening slide which along with photo becomes video thumbnail, countdown page, then at ends thanks for joining, coffee hour on Zoom invite, copyright info, and more.. So not that many slide advances. During Sermon, only a single slide is presented) so PPTx and camera operations by single person is very doable

I like having this all on one PC. I've trained other volunteers, who are non-technical, who can do our more complex OBS setup now, and camera operations, etc with me watching over their shoulder. Things will get a little more complex when I take our physical sound panel/mixer, and take its digital (USB) input into streaming PC and get access to each channel individually

Final thought/consideration - I'm using software/keyboard camera control now. it is okay (and why I'm using presets). *IF* you want smooth clean camera PTZ motion, you are much more likely to get that with a physical (vs keyboard) controller... I'm too cheap, and we are getting by without... for now.. time will tell if we need to upgrade

 

[chriscarrollus]

I appreciate your reply Lawrence. It would be nice to have one operator manage the cameras and our Proclaim slides but based on what we want to do, I don't think it will be practical. During worship, the operator has to switch slides frequently because of the lyrics. During the sermon, the pastor uses quite a few slides also. Since we are going to have two PTZ cameras, we want to be able to take advantage of all they can do and this means having to do adjustments frequently during worship and the sermon. As we get more experienced with the cameras, including the presets capability, we might find it is easier than we think. For now though I would like to separate the camera function from the "main" computer function. The primary thing I would like to know at this point is can I use a separate computer to manage the cameras using OBS and then feed that camera scene to OBS on the "main" computer in place of the single camera static scene that we have now?

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

Understood, though 2 PC setup is WAY more complex...
Seriously, I'd consider
- getting a single PC, with dual monitor, and have one of them be a touch screen. Then 2nd person can handle slide movement via touchscreen (maybe? have to be careful about the mouse)
OR
- using PTZ remote control software, so OBS PC operator is handling slides, audio, etc.... but 2nd person using a tablet or similar to control cameras (and via websocket, which camera input OBS uses). So stream all handled on single PC, just offloading camera controls to other device (but camera input still directly on OBS PC)
I know other PTZ camera mfgs have such setup.. not sure about Avipas

 

[chriscarrollus]

Thanks for the additional help Lawrence. Maybe I am making it too difficult. The current computer we are streaming with already has dual monitors but neither of them is a touch screen. I know there is remote control software for the cameras but my issue is switching scenes in OBS which we currently don't do. With two cameras, we are going to have to switch scenes to transition between the two cameras. Maybe I could use your idea of having the touch screen for the person handling slides and then the mouse can be used by the person managing OBS scenes and the camera controls. They would just have to be careful and not try to use both at the same time obviously. We may just have to get everything set up and start testing it out. I was hoping to have as many questions answered as possible before dropping a couple thousand on cameras and a controller. Thanks for all your help!

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

With two cameras, we are going to have to switch scenes to transition between the two cameras.

not necessarily. that is one way, but you have have both cameras in 1 scene and toggle between them

What I found helps is having a co-pilot during a service . Only 1 of us controlling keyboard/mouse, but the other keeps an eye on things and points out needed adjustments when something overlooked. Granted there is a learning curve, which can be intimidating, but typical goal is a user-friendly simple setup. Trying to minimize the initial learning curve but making the whole system complex... counter-productive
It occurs to me that touch screen is probably a bad idea to do conflicting mouse inputs/ oops that would inevitably happen. Based on what you are described, I'd look to run slides on OBS PC, but remotely control that software
- maybe something like Touch Portal / streamdeck or similar to control slides remotely?
- really depends on the software you are using, and what remote control options it might have natively

 

[chriscarrollus]

Hey Lawrence, the remote control solution for Proclaim might be the best idea. I looked it up and there is a native remote control solution for it. This way we can have the person responsible for slides use the remote control and the OBS person can use the computer. I really appreciate you taking the time to offer help. God bless you!

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

Glad to help out. good luck