In the last year, the broadcast industry has undergone a series of changes owing to the restrictions and guidelines brought in as a result of Covid. These shifting practices require new, innovative solutions in order for broadcasters and production companies to keep moving with the changing tide. Canon’s Remote Production System is such a solution, expertly designed to accommodate the main pair of implications of the pandemic.
The first is the introduction of social distancing measures in studios and on sets to ensure the safety of film and TV crews. As a result this has imposed restrictions on the number of people allowed on set, thereby reducing the number of camera operators available on a production. To help companies adapt to this new environment, Canon has focused its 80-year heritage in imaging and optical design to create a world-class range of PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras, leveraging the company’s engineering expertise in Professional Video Cameras and Network Surveillance Cameras to deliver a seamless PTZ solution. The company’s commitment to 4K video capture extends across the entire PTZ offering, meeting new standards in broadcast workflows head on while guaranteeing the immersive viewing experience expected by modern viewers.
Canon’s PTZ cameras can be operated remotely, enabling them to be controlled, fine-tuned and adjusted from a safe distance. Furthermore a single operator is able to handle multiple cameras from one desk, while the Canon RC-IP100 remote camera controller can simultaneously control up to 100 compatible cameras. These include the CR-N500, with its industry renowned Dual Pixel CMOS AF system which delivers exceptionally accurate and quick focusing; the CR-N300, with its precise control ability to move as slowly as 0.2° per second; and the CR-X500, which features a weatherproof housing designed for rugged and robust use outdoors.
The other major change in the Covid era has been the industry’s move towards streaming, which can be narrowed down into two categories: the mass migration of viewers to streaming services such as Netflix and Disney Plus, already underway before the pandemic but accelerated by the fact of being stuck indoors in need of content on-demand; and live-streaming via Twitch, YouTube and Facebook, delivering everything from school classes and worship services to concerts and weddings for a public unable to gather in person.
Again the CR-N500, CR-N300 and CR-X500 perfectly suit these new requirements, capturing the high-quality, detailed 4K imagery required of reputable streaming platforms. For live-streaming applications, the CR-N500 and CR-N300 support RTMP/RTMPS (Real-Time Messaging Protocol and Real-Time Messaging Protocol Secure). These protocols enable content to be shared directly to platforms such as YouTube and Facebook, as well as support for NDI|HX*, the latest high-efficiency standard for live-streaming. This makes the whole range agnostic, fitting as easily into existing systems as new ones.
Altogether Canon has created an intuitive solution for an industry not only facing new challenges, but in crucially high demand. Canon’s Remote Production System allows companies to move into the future while zooming in on the changes now shaping the world of broadcasting.
To find out more please visit Canon’s website.
*NDI is a trademark or a registered trademark in the United States and other countries.
