The Challenge
With the onset of Covid, a church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago needed a hybrid solution to offer their congregation. Being able to stream their services would help them stay connected to their congregation and to one another, as best as possible. The system needed to be robust but also easy to use with little to no technical expertise required. With multiple services per day and per week, along with the different service needs, the complexity of a solution that would serve all purposes increased. Additionally, the novice end user would need to understand how to run the system, and easily navigate between the various streaming needs based on the mass.
The Solution
Pentegra installed a Tricaster video production system utilizing a panel with a web-based interface that operates from a portable and easy to use iPad. Monitors were installed in the sanctuary for broadcasting the service and other messaging and video options. A separate production room using existing space allows the volunteer to not only manage the streaming mass, all associated cameras and monitors, but also observe as a participant.
The Outcome
An easy-to-use iPad can control a fully capable streaming and broadcast system for program and messaging content (song lyrics, bulletins, teaching tools). The church is now adding additional cameras to the system for future uses such as overflow rooms. This scalability will allow for additional growth in the future.