Drake Audio-Visual

Along with everyone else, Bethany Baptist has to connect with their congregation, even when they are staying at home. They first used a simple webcam to allow them to meet using Zoom but this did not present the full experience to their remote congregation.

Their brief to Drake AV asked for a very simple to use system that meant they could show a whole service to their remote congregation in their homes. Bethany were already using YouTube and Facebook for different services and groups of users. They wanted to see and hear the minister, whether he was at the lectern or at the communion table. They also needed to broadcast the words of the hymns to both the local and remote congregations.

We installed two cameras. A Pan, Tilt, Zoom camera at the rear of the church, above head height, to give a clear view of the whole church. The  second fixed camera gives a closer view of the lectern and communion table.

How does this work?

The PTZ camera can view the whole church including the congregation and also zoom into a ‘head and shoulders’ view of the reader at the lectern. The camera we used can also automatically select and track faces which saves anyone having to control it all the time.

The fixed camera gives a different perspective and makes the transmitted programme more interesting to watch.

How is it controlled?

We also supplied a YoloBox Pro – which is like a television control room in a 7″ touch screen. This takes the video feeds from the two cameras, as well as any images, hymns and PowerPoint from a laptop. At a touch you can select any of these sources and stream them directly to your congregation at home who can view using Facebook or YouTube.