Central America. Cocatel, a media and broadcasting producer, offers audiovisual solutions for churches or temples that want to provide immersive experiences to their parishioners in face-to-face and remote formats.
In the last two years, many religious congregations migrated their meetings to virtual formats and, although there are now more face-to-face events, this format is still preserved, characterized by a higher quality of production and more innovative visual experiences. In a way it can be said that there is an audience that demands the continuity of this format, either for health, distance or comfort.
So while religious TV channels are also not new and when the pandemic began many churches were already broadcasting their Masses, the big change came when many churches that had never used those tools began to do so, in many cases using tools as simple as a smartphone.
In that sense, Cocatel offer solutions that allow small churches to make more professional productions, moving from the use of Smartphone to a PTZ camera that gives them more control over production. According to the company, "These cameras also offer greater flexibility because, unlike staffed cameras, they take up space and often run the risk of compromising the line of sight within the center of the church. PTZ cameras can be mounted virtually anywhere and provide high-quality video."
Advantages of PTZ cameras
Cocatel indicated that previously PTZ were not used in professional Broadcast production, but that technological advances have led to PTZ cameras providing images of exceptional quality. In addition, since these devices provide flexibility in their location and operation, it is possible for a single person to handle several cameras, an especially important issue in churches, which occupy volunteers for this type of work.
In that order of idea, since there are PTZ controllers that have presets, it helps that whoever operates the device does not have to have specific technical knowledge, to correct a shot or make a transition, because all this could be left programmed. Cocatel highlights among the qualities offered by PTZ camera systems, automatic tracking as a function that more and more churches are exploring, as it allows to overcome the shortage of volunteers or qualified personnel, a common issue in them.
Recommendations and services of Cocatel
Cocatel also offers within its solutions to integrate new systems of studio cameras or cinematographic cameras adapted to Broadcast, all in the same system. To more easily achieve control, calibration and the ideal color scheme for transmission, even if different cameras are used, as long as they are in the same configuration.
Live signals
For Cocatel the audiovisual experience must be complete, so it raises the importance of transporting and sending video signals, to external viewers, worse also to internal screens. The company's recommendation is to locate projectors with long, short or ultra-short shot lenses, with different lumen capacities, as well as Led screens of different pitch and refresh rate, to be able to exhibit the notes of sermons and didactic material in greater detail.
Now, IP video is another must for many churches, because it allows church technicians to deliver productions from home during closures. In addition, IP video plays an important role in multi-site production. For this case, Cocatel's suggestion is to use video encoder and decoder, from point to point in high quality, as well as portable units, which allow the distribution of content through IP.
However, a major problem faced by churches that produce in this way is the management of content and the distribution of this within the internal video circuit of the building. In this sense, digital signage applications, such as multiple screens around the church to connect multiple spaces within the facilities, allow the transmission of content, such as advertisements or important information for people.
Finally, Cocatel added that, within the solutions they offer for immersive religious celebrations, their digital signage package stands out, which "offers a portfolio of products and services, from high-end projectors and professional screens, accessories and content management to design, installation, logistics and guarantees."
