– June 01, 2022 – By Carolyn Heinze ( SCN )
The pandemic drove churches to prioritize their digital presence.
Volunteer-Friendly Solutions
Sometimes, AV integrators can over-engineer live streaming solutions, according to Graham Sharp, CEO at Broadcast Pix, a broadcast and streaming technology developer in Tyngsboro, MA. In churches with limited technical resources, this is problematic because the people operating the systems don’t have the expertise to take full advantage of the technology.
While Broadcast Pix sells high-end streaming solutions, its ChurchPix solution—an out-of-the-box live streaming system specifically for churches—is designed for facilities where ease of use is a top priority. “Most churches are volunteer-run and volunteer-operated, and those that have [overly sophisticated technology] have ended up with a system that they just don’t know how to operate,” Sharp said. “They end up only using five percent of the functionality of the system, and they find it really hard to use.”
Cameras are another important consideration. Jordan said some churches will invest in a high-quality 4K camera but outfit it with a small lens, only to discover that close-up shots are dark and grainy. One workaround is to put less expensive cameras closer to the stage, with higher-end models—equipped with higher quality lenses and better optics—positioned further away. “That allows us to then balance out our different cameras and shots, and make sure that no matter what we’re using, we’ve got a good, clean image,” he said.