Combining Zoom & in person meetings
This question relates to several situations involving activities in a religious congregation. I one of the "tech type" members. We have been having all of our Sunday services and many other group activities on Zoom for almost a year.
Now with more & more being vaccinated, I am trying to lead an effort to start what I will call hybrid Sunday services, meaning some in attendance in person (probably a limited number initially) and some via zoom.
The question is, can Zoom operate in a non-interactive mode (webinar style) where we have a video camera set up in our chapel recording the service (we did this already pre-pandemic) while "feeding Zoom" from the video camera output so those reluctant to attend in person can still be involved? I can see how all this would work IF we can use a video camera to feed zoom.
Now with more & more being vaccinated, I am trying to lead an effort to start what I will call hybrid Sunday services, meaning some in attendance in person (probably a limited number initially) and some via zoom.
The question is, can Zoom operate in a non-interactive mode (webinar style) where we have a video camera set up in our chapel recording the service (we did this already pre-pandemic) while "feeding Zoom" from the video camera output so those reluctant to attend in person can still be involved? I can see how all this would work IF we can use a video camera to feed zoom.
David Johnson, CD
you could carry on just as you currently are or use the zoom webinar
ASKER
We use a webinar now. One issue is we need a computer or tablet with camera trained on the stage area. A video camera would be a better choice.
I can't believe this is not a common need.
Seems obvious to me.
I can't believe this is not a common need.
Seems obvious to me.
Suggest An audio mixer, Video Capture Card, Video Camera. use OBS and its virtual camera to output to Zoom
I assumed you already had done this.
I assumed you already had done this.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FR2Q78Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glc_fabc_YG52J33RFGBZP5SK1ZC2
Get a better video camera and connect it to the computer and output its display via HDMI to a projector.
Get a better video camera and connect it to the computer and output its display via HDMI to a projector.
ASKER
Jackie Man,
I gather we could likely either ceiling mount this camera or have in on a table near the front of or chapel & it would give a wide angle view of the front. That is what we need, there is no reason the rest of the chapel be shown at all. Then a USB cable from the camera to a computer on WiFi (perhaps the computer is a laptop facing the service leader). I'm still not totally clear how the audio/video feeds into Zoom via WiFi. Does this override the laptop camera as the input device? Where does the audio come from, the computer Mic?
Thank you,
Richard
I gather we could likely either ceiling mount this camera or have in on a table near the front of or chapel & it would give a wide angle view of the front. That is what we need, there is no reason the rest of the chapel be shown at all. Then a USB cable from the camera to a computer on WiFi (perhaps the computer is a laptop facing the service leader). I'm still not totally clear how the audio/video feeds into Zoom via WiFi. Does this override the laptop camera as the input device? Where does the audio come from, the computer Mic?
Thank you,
Richard
I don't think that a webcam will really be acceptable solution. I stand by by recommendation. You can use 2 or more cameras i.e. lectern, choir, audience., add another microphone for the choir, use existing amplifier for lectern microphone into mixer, can toggle between inputs and connect zoom to the outputs.
https://youtu.be/BATquaFOkII
Apart from the traditional method as suggested by David, you can use virtual audio driver and Open Broadcaster Software (obs) to do the magic.
Apart from the traditional method as suggested by David, you can use virtual audio driver and Open Broadcaster Software (obs) to do the magic.
ASKER
I am not a techie in Audio / Video, I don't understand all the jargon you guys are using.
I'm trying to point our minister in a direction where she will see the tech way to do services to a live audience AND via zoom. She has told me "there are tech challenges". She considers herself as a techie, but I'm not sure how much of that relates to audio / visual.
So can you guys explain it more in layman's terms. I know programming, databases & building internet apps, NOT this stuff.
Thank you,
Richard
I'm trying to point our minister in a direction where she will see the tech way to do services to a live audience AND via zoom. She has told me "there are tech challenges". She considers herself as a techie, but I'm not sure how much of that relates to audio / visual.
So can you guys explain it more in layman's terms. I know programming, databases & building internet apps, NOT this stuff.
Thank you,
Richard
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My congregation has been streaming services for years, pre COVID.
Before that, a sound board for getting audio feeds has been used for decades.
All mics, wired and wireless go to the soundboard.
Camera feeds go to a computer. Soundboard goes to a computer. Prerecorded material is also available. I don't know the computer software used.
Services are streamed through Boxcast, which is also redistributing to YouTube as Facebook Live.
People can attend in person or online.
Before that, a sound board for getting audio feeds has been used for decades.
All mics, wired and wireless go to the soundboard.
Camera feeds go to a computer. Soundboard goes to a computer. Prerecorded material is also available. I don't know the computer software used.
Services are streamed through Boxcast, which is also redistributing to YouTube as Facebook Live.
People can attend in person or online.
1I neglected to add OBS and capture card to my last comment.
@Kevin probably using OBS )open broadcaster)
@Kevin probably using OBS )open broadcaster)
ASKER
I am totally confused, I sent the combination of all your responses to another congregant that was (not previously known to me) working on this. Perhaps he can make sense of it.
Richard
Richard
Doing broadcasts can be pretty complex, depending on how sophisticated you want to be. My organization has been doing it for years, and the technology and know-how has been built up over time. Going into lockdown certainly put things into overdrive. When we started many years ago, there was a sound board and one PTZ (point, tilt zoom) camera that is controlled via what looks like a joy stick, and it has pre-set points. I haven't been inside the building since February 2020, but I now see additional camera angles. Some of the service is live, some is pre-recorded. The computer has been upgraded and the stream is now in HD (at least 720, maybe 1080).
Maybe Zoom can setup zoom for webinar and take your camera and audio feed. Boxcast is likely a lot more flexible. Religious customers make up a large portion of Boxcast's business. It's also very convenient because people can stream direct from your organization's web site, and there are apps for smart TV devices and related devices. I watch my services on TV, and it is as easy as selecting Netflix or Hulu.
Maybe Zoom can setup zoom for webinar and take your camera and audio feed. Boxcast is likely a lot more flexible. Religious customers make up a large portion of Boxcast's business. It's also very convenient because people can stream direct from your organization's web site, and there are apps for smart TV devices and related devices. I watch my services on TV, and it is as easy as selecting Netflix or Hulu.
ASKER
I've turned the project over to another congregant, including all your inputs.
Thank you for them, hopefully he will be helped by them. I'm leaning towards Boxcast, based on the info about it being used by religious organizations, long before zoom.
Thank you for them, hopefully he will be helped by them. I'm leaning towards Boxcast, based on the info about it being used by religious organizations, long before zoom.