The Future of Video Ministry

NAB 2018 was huge for JVC. The company made what may be one of its largest product announcements in years at the event--about a group of offerings that are laser-targeted to the church market, its specifiers and end-users.

The news centered on JVC’s Connected Cam concept, so Church.Design picked the brain of National Marketing Manager Craig Yanagi with the JVC Professional Video Division of JVCKenwood USA in Wayne, N.J., to gather the details.

Church.Design: Tell us about Connected Cam, as well as the products involved as part of JVC’s family of connected systems. And explain what these products offer worship space designers and integrators and their church clients.

Yanagi: The Connected Cam concept is a complete ecosystem of video-over-IP products designed for low-cost, efficient video production workflow. One of the most compelling products for house-of-worship integration is the KA-IP4000 ProHD Studio Live Production System, a complete video production and streaming control room unit for smaller, budget-conscious facilities. The new ProHD Studio includes four professional SD/HD-SDI inputs, four IP stream inputs, and four NDI inputs. An additional HDMI/NDI input with keying can capture an external screen, so users--such as church volunteers--can mix in content from a smartphone or PowerPoint presentation. Multiple recording options provide the ability to record the program output and the streaming output, along with simultaneous ISO recording of all cameras directly to the ProHD Studio units.

The system can be operated by a single touchscreen monitor, or via mouse and keyboard, providing an agnostic interface for operation at all levels. Importantly, the ProHD Studio has Zero Config technology where streaming-capable JVC camcorders are automatically set up by the system, significantly simplifying the operation of the unit.

For high-end live production, JVC launched a new and long-awaited flagship with the GY-HC900 Connected Cam camcorder with a level of connectivity not found elsewhere. It features three 2/3-inch CMOS image sensors that deliver high sensitivity, low noise and wide dynamic range. Technologies such as 10-bit 4:2:2 signal processing and HD-HDR colorimetry is designed to provide the most compelling imaging possible for a camcorder of this caliber in its price range. It's equipped with a new powerful communications engine that truly makes Live-over-IP a reality with a streamlined workflow that's both reliable and cost effective. And it offers both IP direct connectivity via Ethernet as well as a comprehensive fiber solution for advanced EFP and studio installations for the most demanding live event productions.

“[The GY-HC900 Connected Cam camcorder] features three 2/3-inch CMOS image sensors that deliver high sensitivity, low noise and wide dynamic range.”Craig Yanagi, National Marketing Manager, JVC Professional Video Division, JVCKenwood USA, Wayne, NJ

Along with the GY-HC900 CONNECTED CAM, we also announced the SFM-CAM2 ProHD Dockable Wireless Bridge Cellular Uplink. This unit provides the power and connectivity that lets you stream from multiple cameras to HD-SDI decoders or servers at a central location. It's provided with dual cellular modems with redundant SIM slots and dual band WiFi, letting you to use up to four different providers for bandwidth bonding, data overage protection or eliminating blind spots.

[In addition,] the unit's WiFi-First feature can bond to local or public hotspots to save on data costs. In addition to live streaming, it functions as a secure hotspot for connecting computers, tablets, smartphones and other devices to the Internet or to your enterprise LAN with a secure VPN. When used with IP-capable JVC ProHD, PTZ, and 4KCAM cameras, you now have not only streaming but full remote camera control and IFB audio on select models. The SFM-CAM2 ProHD Dockable Bridge snaps onto JVC's GY-HC900, GY-HM850 and GY-HM890U cameras between the battery and camera head, and plugs into the USB port. The unit can also operate undocked and connect to other IP cameras using WiFi, USB or Ethernet. Both AC and DC battery-powered operation is possible.

On the other end of the product spectrum, the new GY-HM250U 4KCAM camcorder expands the graphic capabilities of the previous GY-HM200U by integrating lower-third and full-screen titling solutions for recorded or streamed HD video output without an external CG or production switcher. Lower-third graphic overlays are generated and controlled using a browser-equipped device such as a tablet or smartphone. JVC's software utility lets customers upload logos or icons to be displayed in the lower-third of the recorded video.

The camera also comes with several pre-installed color schemes, and the ability to add your own text bar designs also exists. The new GY-HM250 is [ideal] for streaming weddings, school, family and church events, or literally any occasion you want to share live. The GY-HM250 can also provide the streaming program from a single unit, or connect seamlessly to the ProHD Studio.

The new GY-HM250 is [ideal] for streaming weddings, school, family and church events, or literally any occasion you want to share live.

JVC has also announced the GY-HM180, which has an HD-SDI connector standard as a step-up camcorder to the GY-HM170. These provide alternatives to traditional AV-centric systems by offering the latest HD and 4K imaging and recording technology at an economical price.

Rounding out the product announcements are the new DT-G line of professional monitors with advanced features such as webserver IP remote control. Connect the monitor via LAN and read the monitor status or set menu by computer web browser, enabling administrators to control all the monitors remotely. The monitors can De-Log LUTs and convert the images to ITU-Rec. 709 directly. There is also built-in 3D-LUT calibration software, and by directly connecting a color sensor probe into the monitor’s standard USB port the monitor will calibrate itself automatically. The monitors come in 17-inch, 21-inch, 24-inch and 27-inch sized screens to address the wide range of application requirements, and they all have Waveform/Vectorscope/Histogram display and come with 4K-HDMI and 3G-SDI connectivity.

Church.Design: JVC's products always seem to demonstrate the company's understanding of the budget-sensitive needs of the church market. How does the company keep its eye on this need, as well as the need for ease of operation of gear in the market?

Yanagi: We are very fortunate to have an established base of technologically savvy as well as resourceful end-user customers and a long-standing relationship with our key integrating resellers. They provide us with essential feedback on product trends as well as features that will help in addressing needs and challenges in their operation.

Another source is our third-party partners that provide complementary and cutting edge technologies that we collaborate with to provide smart, simple, yet sophisticated solutions. A third major pillar is our internal engineering team, which gathers all of the information from our customers and collaborations to produce these products and system solutions.

Church.Design: Live streaming adds a whole new dimension to the video needs of churches. What products or elements of JVC products are geared toward helping churches stream more effectively and efficiently?

Yanagi: The key element of JVC products is its commitment to the streaming technology. It can be considered that JVC was the first manufacturer to bring to market a professional camcorder with streaming capability in 2002. Even at that time, an entire network package including a web server was developed and delivered based on live streaming technology; however, the Internet simply was not able to handle the bandwidth output of the system. Fifteen years later a much more powerful and user-friendly infrastructure is now in existence and live streaming is a reality, providing broadcast-quality images in HD and beyond.

JVC’s streaming solutions make it easier than ever to connect to [a variety of online video platforms] with minimal effort by providing RTMP streams from the camcorders to the new ProHD Studio’s direct integration to the most common platforms such as Facebook Live, YouTube and Ustream.

JVC honed its streaming prowess by working directly with service and technology companies such as Verizon and ZiXi to provide the best user experience possible. Today, churches can take advantage of a variety of online video platforms [(OVP), that] enable a greater number of parishes to distribute content they create, whether it is local or global. JVC’s streaming solutions make it easier than ever to connect to these with minimal effort by providing RTMP streams from the camcorders to the new ProHD Studio’s direct integration to the most common platforms such as Facebook Live, YouTube and Ustream.

Church.Design: For designers and integrators, what are the top 1-2 things that make JVC's gear stand out from another company's? How do you support the specifier to make their jobs easier in the long run?

Yanagi: The first and foremost technology integration of JVC’s streaming products is that they all have an encoder in each device. Along with that, they also have ZiXi technology which maximizes available bandwidth to deliver error-free broadcast-quality video, specifically the implementation of SMPTE 2022 Forward Error Correction and Automatic Repeat Request.

The first and foremost technology integration of JVC’s streaming products is that they all have an encoder in each device.

Next, the streaming camcorders come standard with a host USB connector [that] enables both wired and wireless IP connectivity for streaming content and controlling the camcorder. The connection can be established by using low-cost adapters which can be readily purchased. Regarding third-party integration, JVC has collaborated with Roland to enable the tally signal of [its] V-1SDI and V-60HD Video Mixers with the JVC RM-LP100 Remote Camera Controller, enabling seamless integration in traditional multiple-camera AV systems with an upgrade path to streaming if desired. This enables a church to start their systems with the essential components and grow with the parish, providing a system solution that is economical yet without compromise on content delivery.

To assist system integrators and specifiers, JVC provides full product operation documentation of its products online so that they can be accessed 24/7. We have started to provide schematics of our products to assist in the integration of our products online, as well. Our district sales and support engineering teams work hand-in-hand with our resellers and integrators … to ensure that they have all the necessary information to be successful in the installation and operation of our products. We have professional video personnel coast-to-coast providing support through our website (http://pro.jvc.com/prof/support/index.jsp) and our toll-free number: 800-582-5825.

To assist system integrators and specifiers, JVC provides full product operation documentation of its products online so that they can be accessed 24/7. We have started to provide schematics of our products to assist in the integration of our products online, as well.

Church.Design: When it comes to video capture in houses of worship, is there any piece of gear or trend overall that you think will make a large impact over the next year or two?

Yanagi: While we hear much about cloud computing, ISO recording on SD media in our camcorders is one of our key and sought-after features, especially in the case of our PTZ models. All of our IP-enabled camcorders have the ability to record the live content they are capturing. Once the content is recorded, the video files can then be transported via FTP to a computer or server, eliminating the need to physically remove and replace the media. This is extremely key especially if the camcorders are installed permanently in difficult-to-reach locations.

All of our IP-enabled camcorders have the ability to record the live content they are capturing. Once the content is recorded, the video files can then be transported via FTP to a computer or server, eliminating the need to physically remove and replace the media.

In addition to our camcorders, our SR-HD2700 Blu-Ray HDD Combo Deck Recorder has been quite popular in system integrations as they provide a tangible and ubiquitous asset at the end of the program. The unit is capable of recording live to a DVD or Blu-Ray disk and can be directly connected via SDI. No special software is required and the finalizing process is minimal. The on-board HDD also enables copies to be created afterwards.

Church.Design: Is there anything else you'd like to share that's important for the church market specifier to know?

Yanagi: Never in the history of JVC has there been [such] a selection of offerings to support the integration of system solutions as the current lineup of JVC professional video products, whether it be traditional video switching or the latest implementation of IP technology enabling high-resolution low latency content delivery to the worldwide web. Churches can now have their own identity with graphics they can personalize to deliver their unique message, from a single operation camcorder to a multiple camera system incorporating sophisticated graphics--with a single operator.

JVC’s professional camcorders and production systems empower not only the operators but also the integrators to provide an ideal solution to churches of all sizes to spread their word utilizing the technology of today with the foundation for tomorrow.

Learn more about JVC and its products here: pro.jvc.com.