In an increasingly digital world, it’s often no longer feasible for an entire technical team to be on site for a production. But as more infrastructure moves to the cloud, physical camera hardware still often stands in the way by requiring in-person setup and fine tuning. That’s where PTZ cameras come in. With their ability to be remotely panned, tilted, and zoomed, they open up a world of possibilities for remote production. So what are the best ways to utilize them? Let’s dive in!
Small Scale / 1 Camera
Ubiquitous in modern higher learning, a single PTZ camera located in the back or middle of a room can now accurately and dynamically capture presentations, lectures, and events. Many of these setups employ PTZ cameras with auto-tracking, allowing them to pan, tilt, and zoom to follow the speaker. This feature is typically more refined on higher-end models, while budget systems sometimes requiring you to log potential subjects or identify them at the start of each recording before it can properly track them. Other important features to consider are a camera’s zoom capabilities, as higher optical zoom is essential for larger spaces, and sensor size, with larger senses producing sharper video, especially in low light situations. Exact remote configuration steps will vary from camera to camera but should be explained in the manual and the manufacturer’s website.
Medium Scale / 2-4 Cameras
For multi-cam productions, look for cameras with PoE (Power over Ethernet) support so they can receive power and output data from a single cable. When building a medium scale broadcast production, don’t forget additional elements like audio and lighting. Get creative with your rigging, discreetly mounting small mics and lights with something like a Camvate Super Crab Clamp. Check out this piece about NDI workflows and case studies to learn about the specialized IP compression protocol NDI, which keeps data rates manageable without compromising video quality. Most camera brands have their own networking software that will be the easiest way to control their cameras remotely, such a PTZOptics Hive. These allow you to adjust color, framing, keyframing, streaming, recording, and more. If you’re adjusting multiple camera brands remotely, consider a third party controller with networking capabilities like the SKAARHOJ PTZ Extreme. Again, start with manuals and manufacturer tutorials for step-by-step guides. Here’s a great medium-scale remote production case study from CyanView.
Large Scale / 5+ Cameras
If you’re building out a large scale remote production, consider some sort of dedicated server or control room on-location to handle big continuous data rates. Also consider converting camera video feeds to fiber for long runs with tools like the AJA FiDO, as fiber will be far more reliable than other cabling or wireless options. With large builds, dig deeper into the different video and control methods to see which is ideal for your space and vision. Try out remote management / camera control software from both your camera’s manufacturer and third parties. If you’re mixing in non-PTZ cameras, professional software options like vMix Live and Telestream’s WireCast, or hardware options like a Vizrt TriCaster, will likely be the most dependable and expandable, even integrating PTZ camera control. Other common pro needs include playout software like Softron’s OnTheAir, as well as pre-production software like StudioBinder. For a good case study on broadcast-level production, check out this piece from Canon.
For help with basic or complex scenarios, give us a call, start a live chat, or come into the store and get personalized advice. Hardware and software options are constantly changing, with new PTZ cameras hitting the B&H shelves every month. If you’d like to learn more about PTZ cameras, check out our other guides and articles on the B&H Explora page!
