Just outside Las Vegas, in the small city of Henderson, Nevada, sits Victory Road Church of Christ. This tight-knit community gathers for four weekly services, all of which are live-streamed for remote viewers. Until a few months ago, the church's streaming was done using a tablet, resulting in unclear video and audio quality. Viewers struggled to follow along with scriptures displayed on the screens during the service.

Challenges Faced

Micky, the tech manager at Victory Road, wanted a more effective streaming setup. He needed an easy-to-operate PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera solution with video output sent to OBS software for the church's volunteers. Additionally, incorporating the presentation laptop into the live stream was essential, so that viewers could follow along with the songs and prayers. Managing the audio mixing control for high-quality sound during the broadcast was another priority.

The Solution: Datavideo PTC-305T & iCAST Mini

To meet these needs, the church decided to invest in the Datavideo PTC-305T 4K Tracking PTZ Camera with HDBaseT and the iCAST Mini Dual Channel Presentation Switcher. 

Streamlined Setup

When asked about the setup experience, Micky noted that it was straightforward:

"I found it very easy to run everything and to get everything to a central location for us to work. The church's structure allowed us to run everything from the camera to the control room seamlessly."

The simplicity of the iCAST Mini and its one-cable HDBaseT solution of the camera, made it easy to organize the church’s streaming setup, bringing everything to one place and simplifying operations.

Improved Visuals with PTZ Camera Tracking

Previously, the church was streaming with a tablet, and the difference with the new PTZ camera was noticeable:

"We use the camera’s tracking feature the most because we move around the sanctuary a lot. We have different members, some quite tall, and the tracking adjusts well to everyone's height. The camera has made it much easier to follow speakers and members as they move during the service."

The ability to adjust camera presets and track movements has improved the viewing experience, making services more dynamic for online participants.

Enhanced Streaming Quality

The new setup has significantly upgraded the church’s live-streaming quality:

"We stream through our YouTube and Facebook accounts using OBS, and the camera quality is amazing. The sound quality has also improved, and I couldn’t be happier with it at this point. The iCAST Mini is very user-friendly."

The improved visuals and audio, fine-tuned with the iCAST Mini, have delivered a much better experience for both viewers and stream operators.

Interactive Presentations and Picture-in-Picture

One of the most appreciated features of the iCAST Mini is its ability to seamlessly integrate the presentation slides into the stream:

"We can put up scriptures and supporting slides on the two monitors in the church, and both the in-person congregation and online viewers can see them clearly. The picture-in-picture feature is also great, allowing online viewers to see scriptures larger than the presenter when needed. It’s been a valuable addition to our services."

This feature has enhanced the service’s engagement by helping remote viewers follow along with scriptures and songs just as easily as those attending in person.

Improved Audio

A unique addition to the setup involved improving the audio of congregational singing. Since the church does not use instruments, Micky wanted to ensure that the voices of the congregation were clearly heard on the stream:

"We added a microphone to the PTZ camera to capture the singing. It was easy to set up and has been a blessing. The iCAST Mini allows us to control the audio levels, both for the stream and in-house, separately, which has helped fine-tune the sound quality."

The feedback from remote members has been overwhelmingly positive, especially regarding the clear audio of the worship songs.

Easy Learning Curve and Positive Reception

When discussing the ease of use, Micky expressed that any initial apprehensions quickly disappeared:

"New technology always comes with some hesitation, but with the instructions and support we’ve received, it has been very easy to learn. We’re now training several others in the congregation on how to use the setup. I’ve even recommended it to another congregation about 60 miles away."

The church’s volunteers have found the iCAST Mini intuitive, making it simple to manage and operate the entire workflow.

The Datavideo PTC-305T and iCAST Mini have completely transformed the way Victory Road Church of Christ streams its services. The setup was easy to implement, the video and audio quality have significantly improved, and the overall experience for both in-person attendees and online viewers has been elevated. With the congregation now fully embracing the new workflow, Victory Road Church continues to grow its community, both near and far, through enhanced live streaming.