One of the best feelings in tech arts ministry is that feeling of completely exceeding people's hopes and expectations on a project. Adding real value to Kingdom experiences is why most of us got into ministry in the first place. Any time a new tool or technology comes along that allows us to raise the excellence bar, without breaking the bank, it's always worth a good look.
In April of this year TelVue announced the release of GoToAir, a new video production application that could open up a number of new creative possibilities for small or mobile live streaming setups. Designed with solo operators in mind, GoToAir makes it easy to turn your USB or IP cameras and a laptop into a complete multi-cam video system. Throw in real-time camera control and media playback and you're looking at software that could redefine what's possible at this investment level.
Behind the Curtain
We're scheduled to get a review unit in the coming weeks, but here's what we do know: GoToAir is designed to create a simulated multi-cam experience by allowing the operator to create smaller “regions of interest” within a full HD or Ultra HD image, then live-switch between those regions during the live event. For instance, if you set up a 4K camera as a wide shot covering the entire stage, then configure your streaming output to 720p, you'd easily have more than enough resolution to set three different cropped areas within that larger frame, all without losing output quality. Once those cropped areas are defined, the software itself allows the user to ‘switch' between those areas as though they were three different cameras.
"Our system's very simple and intuitive to use,” says Paul Andrews, head of PR at TelVue. “Videographer can pick it up and be ready to use it within a few minutes."
By utilizing a USB joystick it's even possible to take control of one of these cropped regions to track a subject's motion via pan, title and zoom, all in real-time. GoToAir is able to incorporate up to three camera feeds simultaneously, provided the cameras utilize USB or IP protocols and support H.264 or MJPEG encoding. Utilizing additional cameras allows for up to 10 different regions of interest for switching between.
Setting Up for Success
Currently GoToAir runs natively on Windows 10 machines with a minimum Intel i7 2.4GHZ processor and 8GB RAM. (TelVue is hoping to bring a Mac version to market next year) Mobile users planning to run off of a laptop will want to carefully consider how many USB connections your setup will need for the cameras and optional joystick.
Right out of the gate GoToAir is set up to work with popular streaming services like Wowza, TelVue's CloudCast or YouTube. (Facebook Live will be coming later this fall). In addition, GoToAir is capable of creating a simultaneous real-time capture of your output mix into resolutions up to 4K, allowing for secondary post-production and video-on-demand products.
GoToAir also features a host of production capabilities essential to live broadcasts, such as graphic overlays for lower thirds and logos. It includes robust media playback for incorporating pre-made videos, graphics, and animated transitions, as well as the ability to utilize picture-in-picture during the live feed. These are the features we most look forward to evaluating when our review unit arrives. Instant replay functionality is also available as an optional add-on, although you'll need a second laptop to take advantage of that feature.
Initial Impressions
Right away it seems clear that GoToAir could be extremely useful in a number of different ministry settings. It opens up the possibility of multi-cam streaming to small and midsize churches in a way that's both cost-effective and doesn't require recruiting and training an entirely new ministry team. The simple camera/laptop setup and tear down also makes it ideal for mobile churches that don't utilize permanent installed systems.
Another advantage of the GoToAir system is the fact that its tech “footprint” within the sanctuary itself is extremely small, making it unlikely to prove much of a distraction to those worshiping live. In fact, the ability to run off a single laptop and small USB camera means it might take weeks or months for many in your congregation to realize anything changed, if they notice at all. “A backpack would be more space than you would need to transport the system," says Anderson.
For churches with more established tech teams, GoToAir could significantly increase your ability to create high-quality multi-cam streams of secondary events such as concerts, conference meetings and even intramural sporting events. No matter how large your team is it's always easier to say “yes” to a request if the event can be covered by a single trained operator instead of a larger team.
Conclusion
At first blush GoToAir certainly seems to offer an extremely elegant solution for creating a high-quality multi-cam, multimedia live streams without investing a ton of cash upfront. It's not much of a stretch to imagine this software finding a home in a number churches across the country within the next year or so.
As a great tip of the hat to experienced tech directors, TelVue offers a free 30-day trial of the software, allowing users to put it through its paces risk-free. This trial also allows directors to test out their current computer and camera hardware, which are crucial components to assess when running this level of professional software.
Look for a full review of Telvue GoToAir IP Video Production System later this fall.
GoToAir is currently priced at $950, with the additional instant replay add-on costing $450, and is available directly from TelVue. To learn more about GoToAir, or to request a free consultation, visit http://telvue.com.
