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Video Overview

This section explains the cameras and the livestream — how we film the service and send it to YouTube. Like the audio section, it starts with the big picture and then gives step-by-step detail on each part.

If you only read one thing

The RodeCaster Video is the centre of the video system. The two cameras feed into it, the audio feeds into it, and it streams the finished picture to YouTube. You mostly control it through the StreamDeck buttons.

The big picture

flowchart LR
    CAM1[Camera 1 - RoboShot HDMI 12] --> RCV[RodeCaster Video]
    CAM2[Camera 2 - AVKANS 20X PTZ] --> RCV
    AUD[Livestream Audio Mix from QU-5D] --> RCV
    RCV --> YT[YouTube Livestream]
    JOY[AVKANS Joy Pro Controller] -. moves .-> CAM1
    JOY -. moves .-> CAM2
    SD[StreamDeck + Companion] -. switches/presets .-> RCV
    SD -. recalls camera positions .-> CAM1
    SD -. recalls camera positions .-> CAM2

The parts and what they do

Item What it is What you do with it
Camera 1 — RoboShot HDMI 12 A motorised PTZ camera at the front Usually the wide shot
Camera 2 — AVKANS 20X PTZ Camera Pro A motorised PTZ camera Usually close-ups (20× zoom)
RodeCaster Video Video switcher + livestream encoder Choose which camera is shown; start/stop the stream
AVKANS Joy Pro Controller A joystick box for the cameras Move and zoom the cameras by hand
StreamDeck XL + Companion Labelled buttons that automate jobs Switch cameras, recall camera positions, start/stop stream

What 'PTZ' means

PTZ stands for Pan, Tilt, Zoom. These cameras have motors so they can turn left/right (pan), up/down (tilt) and zoom in/out — without anyone standing behind them.

How you normally control the video

You have two ways to control the cameras:

  1. The StreamDeck (easiest) — press a button to switch to a camera or to send a camera to a saved position (a "preset"). This is what you will use most. See StreamDeck Buttons.
  2. The AVKANS Joy Pro Controller (manual) — a joystick to move a camera live by hand when you need a shot that isn't saved. See PTZ Controller.

To choose which camera the livestream shows, use the RodeCaster Video (usually via a StreamDeck button). See Camera Operation.

Which camera is which

Camera 1 Camera 2
Model RoboShot HDMI 12 AVKANS 20X PTZ Camera Pro
Typical use Wide shot of the front Close-ups (speaker, lectern)
Zoom Standard 20× (strong zoom)

Remember it this way

Camera 1 = wide, Camera 2 = close. When unsure, stay on Camera 1 (the wide shot) — it always looks acceptable.