In an era where technology is transforming the way we live and work, the realm of video capture is no exception. Today, HuddleCamHD is offering two different auto-tracking cameras, that can not only record what’s happening but also intelligently follow the action. These auto-tracking cameras have become increasingly popular in many applications, from distance learning to lecture capture, live events, and educational settings. But not all auto-tracking cameras are created equal. The latest evolution in this field is the emergence of dual-sensor systems. These cameras offer a host of new features and capabilities that set them apart from their single-sensor counterparts. But what exactly are these differences, and what do they mean for users? In this blog post, we will explore single-sensor and dual sensor auto-tracking cameras, delving into their unique features, benefits, and ideal use cases.

Pictured above is the single-sensor SimplTrack Lite and the dual-sensor SimplTrack 2.

What is a dual-sensor auto-tracking camera?

You might ask yourself what a dual-sensor auto-tracking camera actually is, given that every camera must have at least one sensor in order to produce video. A dual-sensor camera has two cameras built into one intelligent system. A dual-sensor camera can perform intelligent tasks that automate the process of camera operation in ways that a single-sensor camera cannot. In most cases, one camera sensor is used to provide a wide-angle view of the area which provides intelligence to an optical zoom camera lens which can be steered based on what is happening in the room. Single-sensor cameras can perform auto-tracking capabilities but do not feature the ability to survey the entire room and make adjustments as necessary.

Feature comparison

Feature	Single Sensor	Dual Sensor
Smart Tracking	Yes	Yes
Group Tracking	Yes	Yes, superior
Zone Tracking	No	Yes
Selected Tracking	Yes	Yes, superior
Smart Blackboard Zones	No	Yes
Wide Angle Room View	No	Yes
Dynamic Framing	No	Yes

In the world of auto-tracking cameras, there’s been a lot of discussion about single-sensor versus dual-sensor systems. Both types of cameras have their strengths and offer a range of features that can enhance video capture in various settings. To better understand these two systems, let’s take a closer look at their key features:

Smart Tracking: This feature, present in both single and dual-sensor cameras, allows the camera to lock in on a single subject. Whether you’re recording a solo speaker at a conference or tracking a wildlife subject, this ability to maintain focus on one individual is critical.

Group Tracking: Both camera types also offer group tracking, but the dual-sensor camera has an edge. With its wide-angle lens, the dual-sensor camera is better equipped to frame a group of people, making it ideal for capturing classroom interactions or team sports.

Zone Tracking: This is where the dual-sensor camera really starts to shine. Unlike single-sensor cameras, the dual-sensor system has the ability to handle auto-tracking within specific zones of interest. This means it can focus on a particular area – like a stage at a concert or a designated area in a classroom – offering more flexibility in diverse filming environments.

Selected Tracking: While both camera types can identify all people in frame and select a target to track, the dual sensor camera performs superiorly. Its wide-angle lens provides a better overview of all people in the frame, making it easier to select the right target.

Smart Blackboard Zones: This is a feature unique to dual-sensor cameras, enabling them to properly frame a blackboard writing area. This is particularly useful in an educational setting, where remote students need to clearly see what’s being written on the board.

Wide Angle Room View: Another advantage of the dual sensor camera is its ability to capture a wide-angle view along with the optical zoom view. This provides a broader perspective of the scene, which can be especially valuable in large spaces like lecture halls or auditoriums.

Dynamic Framing: Lastly, the dual-sensor camera offers dynamic framing. When a lecturer interacts with students, for example, the camera can automatically widen its frame to include the interaction. This creates a more engaging and inclusive viewing experience for remote learners.

What are the use cases?

Use Cases	Single Sensor Strengths	Dual Sensor Strengths
Education	Effective at tracking a single lecturer	Superior at capturing the lecturer and the whole classroom view. Zone tracking can focus on areas where the lecturer frequently moves to.
Conference	Can effectively track the speaker	Can capture both the speaker and the audience, providing a more immersive view for remote attendees.
Sports	Can effectively track a single player	Can provide a comprehensive view of the entire field, while also focusing on specific players or a group
Live Performances	Can follow a main performer effectively	Can capture the entire stage while also focusing on individual performers, enhancing the viewing experience

Auto-tracking cameras are revolutionizing the way we capture and experience events, from classroom lectures to live performances. But depending on the situation, a single-sensor or dual-sensor camera might be more effective. Let’s break down some common use cases to see where each camera type excels:

Lecture Capture: When it comes to capturing a single lecturer, single-sensor cameras are quite effective. They can track the lecturer as they move around the room, keeping them in focus. However, dual-sensor cameras offer a superior viewing experience. Not only can they capture the lecturer, but they also provide a comprehensive view of the entire classroom. Their zone tracking feature can focus on areas where the lecturer frequently moves, ensuring that all important visual information is captured.

Conferences: In a conference setting, single-sensor cameras can effectively track the speaker, maintaining focus on them throughout their presentation. But again, dual-sensor cameras offer an enhanced experience. They can capture both the speaker and the audience, providing a more immersive view for remote attendees. This can help recreate the feeling of being in the conference room, even for those who couldn’t attend in person.

Sports: In a sports context, single-sensor cameras can effectively track a single player, keeping them in focus during the game. Dual-sensor cameras, on the other hand, can provide a comprehensive view of the entire field. They can also focus on specific players or groups of players, offering a more dynamic and engaging viewing experience.

Live Performances: For live performances, a single-sensor camera can effectively follow the main performer. But a dual-sensor camera can enhance the viewing experience by capturing the entire stage while also focusing on individual performers. This can provide viewers with a more complete understanding of the performance, including both the main action and the broader context.

In conclusion, while single-sensor cameras offer effective tracking capabilities, dual-sensor cameras provide superior flexibility and performance in a wide range of situations. Whether it’s tracking a specific zone, framing a group of people, or automatically adjusting the frame based on the scene, the dual-sensor camera excels. So, when making your decision between single and dual sensor systems, consider your specific filming needs and the features that will most enhance your viewers’ experience.

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One prime example of lecture capture automation is the integration of hardware lecture capture solutions such as the Epiphan Pearl. The Epiphan Pearl is a lecture capture device that is able to capture audio and video and send it directly to lecture capture systems such as Panopto, Kaltura, and Yuja. This type of integration allows educators to focus on their instructions and trust that the automated system will have their lecturers delivered into the LMS system the students use on a daily basis. 

The Epiphan Pearl is just one of many lecture capture systems which can take video from sources such as an instructor’s laptop, a document camera, and even an auto-tracking camera. In many cases, it’s ideal to have an auto-tracking camera connected to the lecture capture system in order to provide a fully automated system. Auto-tracking cameras such as the SimplTrack Lite are able to be managed remotely on the network and set up for continual use without a camera operator. 

When you are setting up an auto-tracking camera in a classroom you should consider some of the auto-tracking system features which can be used to ensure flawless operation. For example, using the SimplTrack Lite you can set up a custom preset you would like to use to frame your subject. This is ideal for keeping a whiteboard in view at all times even as the camera tracks the presenter left and right during a lecture. Another feature that is great in a classroom setting is called blocking zones. The SimplTrack 2 has a feature that allows you to block certain areas in a classroom from being tracked such as a doorway or a large window. 

When you are choosing a PTZ camera with auto-tracking capabilities one of the most important features to look for is built-in tracking. Some PTZ cameras can now gain auto-tracking capabilities with the addition of software. For example, the PTZOptics Camera Management Platform (CMP) is capable of adding auto-tracking capabilities to any PTZOptics camera. While this is an awesome feature, it could be cumbersome to deploy in an educational setting because a computer would need to run the software for each classroom. Instead, many organizations look for auto-tracking cameras that have built-in auto-tracking capabilities which do not require additional computers and software running to work. 

If you are interested in setting up a live demonstration of the SimplTrack cameras you can email partners@HuddleCamHD.com.

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In this video, you can see how Shiloh Ministries in Mercer, Pennsylvania has set up and optimized the SimplTrack2 auto-tracking camera inside of their house of worship. The SimplTrack2 is an auto-tracking camera that is ideal for large spaces because it features a 20X optical zoom with the ability to automatically track a subject on stage. This allows you to mount the SimplTrack2 up to 55 feet away from the stage and still capture close up views of your pastor during live-streamed services.

When you are setting up a SimplTrack2, you have a couple video options to consider. First of all, you can connect the auto-tracking camera directly to any computer using a USB 3.0 port. This is ideal for Zoom meetings where your pastor wants to stay connected with an online audience. You can also use the USB connection for simple streams using a software like OBS for example, to live stream a sermon to Facebook. The SimplTrack2 also features an SDI connection which is better for long cable runs back to a video production area. SDI cables generally require a SDI to USB capture card or hardware video switcher to use with a live streaming software like OBS, Wirecast or vMix so that you can connect to Facebook Live, YouTube or Zoom. The camera also features a DVI/HDMI video output of the camera that can be used with HDMI based video switchers. Many churches like to use the HDMI output with a confidence monitor so that the pastor can see where the camera is at all times. The DVI output can easily be converted to HDMI and used with hardware video production systems like the ATEM which include a USB output that you can connect to your computer for live streaming and video recording.

Most churches wall mount the SimplTrack2 on a wall that is out of the way like this one here. The SimplTrack2 can be powered with the included power supply or a PoE injector, like this one from PoE Texas. Once installed, you should also connect the camera to ethernet. The ethernet connection allows you to control the camera remotely. Once everything is set up, you can easily setup the SimplTrack2 to work in your church so that you have a camera man 24/7 whenever you want to record a video to produce a live stream.

Back at your computer, you can run the HuddleCamHD SimplTrack2 software to set up the auto-tracking parameters. This is a once and done set up process, but it’s helpful to have your pastor present so you can tweak the tracking speeds to their presentation style. For example, if your pastor likes to walk around a lot, you may want to dial in the tracking sensitivity and pan speeds. When you first set up the SimplTrack2, you need to set up the tracking zone. This is used to tell the auto-tracking camera where your pastor will be walking around. If there is a projector or television on stage, you can use the blocking zones to remove those areas from the tracking area.

While you are in the software, consider the framing you would like for your camera. You can have the camera track your pastor with a close up head and shoulder shot or you can use a full body shot showing head to toes. To do this, you need to set preset 0 as your entire stage and preset 1 for your close up framing. Once this is all done, you can click the track button, and you’re all set.

Now your media volunteers can leverage an auto-tracking camera that will always follow the pastor during services. This makes video creation and live streaming easier to operate but also more engaging for viewers.

The post The SimplTrack2: An Auto-Tracking Camera for Your Church appeared first on HuddleCamHD.

On the first Friday of each month, my team and I host a live-streamed technology show to educate our viewers, while highlighting some of the interesting integrations we’ve been working on for our customers. Recently, we worked with our friends at Epiphan to showcase the Epiphan Pearl Nano, a video hardware encoder that integrates nicely with our HuddleCamHD SimplTrack2 auto-tracking camera. These two products provide valuable, easy-to-implement solutions for schools of all sizes.

Simple Solutions for Education

Today, as K-12 and higher education institutions throughout the world continue to rely on hybrid learning environments, this duo provides a simple, effective yet strong solution. For educators and hosts of live, virtual events, automation is possibly one of the most appealing selling points. These two products provide users with the ability to professionally live stream, record, schedule and deliver content. For hybrid events that will likely be here for the foreseeable future, these solutions will remain integral for production teams.

Let’s break down both and their ease of use for a variety of scenarios.

HuddleCamHD SimplTrack2

Designed to simplify lecture capture, town hall meetings, conference recordings or worship streaming, the SimplTrack2 is the most advanced and reliable auto-tracking camera on the market. SimplTrack2 is a pan, tilt, and zoom USB camera that provides robotic auto-tracking of a presenting subject. We know that solutions for the education market need to be simple, and this solution provides that simplicity. No camera operator is required for the SimplTack2 to track and follow a presenter from up to 55 feet away.

The SimplTrack2 uses 3G-SDI or IP streaming for crystal clear video. Equipped with 20X optical zoom, the camera was designed to reliably track subjects at distances up to 55 feet away. The SimplTrack2’s set-and-forget programming allows users to place and configure the camera once, and thereafter completely automates camera control. Users can easily set up zones that they don’t want the camera to track, such as entryways, televisions, or other areas where distracting motion occurs.

Offered at $2,999, the HuddleCamHD SimplTrack2 comes with a one-year warranty, an IR Remote, USB 3.0 cable, RS232 control cable, power supply and User Manual.

Epiphan Pearl Nano

The Epiphan Pearl Nano is a full HD encoder with professional audio support via dual XLR, RCA, and USB inputs. The Epiphan Pearl Nano, offered at $1,495, is the most compact of the Pearl family, providing:

• Professional video and audio inputs (HMDI, SDI) and (XLR, embedded audio)
• A two-inch touch screen on the device to use for confidence monitoring
• Flexible storage options for recording (SD slot: storage)
• Power over PoE Plus (power over Ethernet)

Record and stream with the Pearl Nano, while scheduling lecture capture through popular lecture capture systems, Panopto or Kaltura. This creates a nearly automated experience. Once configured, commands can be triggered, making it an easy set-and-forget solution. This provides professors with the best capabilities to deliver their lectures to either in-class or remote students.

To learn more about live streaming and recording classes, sign up for SimplTrack2 demo here.

The post Hybrid Learning Gets Leg Up with HuddleCamHD & Epiphan appeared first on HuddleCamHD.

In this video, we are going to set up an Epiphan Pearl Nano with a HuddleCamHD SimplTrack2 camera to show it can be used as a lecture capture solution. The Epiphan Pearl is the ideal lecture capture recording device that can be easily integrated into popular learning management systems such as Panopto and Kaltura. The HuddleCamHD SimplTrack2 is an auto-tracking camera that can automatically follow a presenter from up to 55’ away when installed in a classroom. By using the Pearl Nano with the SimplTrack2 we can schedule lecture recordings directly through Panopto or Kaltura while also recording and streaming with the Pearl Nano whenever a lecture is being given. We will also use the Pearl Nano to create a few different layouts to show presentations and camera video together.

To get started, we will plug in the Epiphan Pearl Nano to power. For today’s demo we will use the ethernet port, allowing us to power the Epiphan Pearl Nano over PoE (using our PoE+ networking equipment). Next, we will make sure our SimplTrack2 camera is set up and ready to track the lecturer. To do this we already have our SimplTrack2 camera on and connected to the network. Using the HuddleCamHD SimplTrack2 software we can check in on the auto-tracking camera parameters to ensure reliable subject tracking for our video recordings. Once we have confirmed the tracking areas, and fine-tuned the cameras auto-operation parameters everything should be set for 24/4 camera operations.

Next, we will plug in our video sources to the Epiphan Pearl. Let’s start with the HDMI port to connect our presentation laptop. Next, we can connect the SDI port to the SimplTrack2’s video output connection. Because we also have an LCD monitor to show our presentation in the room, we will also connect the HDMI loop through port from the Epiphan Pearl Nano into the display. This allows the Pearl Nano to capture the HDMI for recording and streaming, while also allowing us to display the video on a local monitor.

From here, we can configure the Pearl using the IP address found on the Nano display. We can type this IP address into a web-browser to start laying out our recordings. Let’s start by checking our HDMI input. Yup, it’s working and it’s set to 1920×1080. That’s fine for this video recording. Let’s label it “Presentation PC” and move on to our SDI input. Next let’s label our SDI input “SimplTrack2”. Let’s check to make sure it’s set to 1920×1080 as well. From here, let’s configure a channel to show the auto-tracking camera next to the HDMI presentation feed. You can click Channel the open up the layout area. Here we can crop the video feed and optimize the layout, even adding a picture. You can set up this channel with a variety of layouts to make sure you are always capturing the most important content for your recorded lecturers.

Once connected to the Epiphan Pearl Nano the HuddleCamHD SimplTrack2 does not require a camera operator to follow presenters. Similarly the Epiphan Pearl Nano can easily be used with learn management software to automatically schedule recordings through the learning management system you are already using. Together we believe these solutions will create affordable and easily manageable lecture capture solutions for many organizations.

This has been a quick video showing how easy it is to set up the Epiphan Pearl Nano with the SimplTrack2. By combining the hands-off auto-tracking capabilities of the SimplTrack2 with the powerful LMS integrations of the Pearl, we believe this is a lecture capture solution many organizations will enjoy. Until next time, don’t forget to subscribe.

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