Applying Automation to High Quality/Low Cost Orchestra Live Streaming

Many publicly funded orchestras are looking to engage new audiences via live streaming but this approach has always been expensive and complicated, and limited budgets prevent it from being a regular occurrence. The use of robotic pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras can reduce the cost. These cameras, however, require a large number of different shots to avoid becoming too static and boring for the viewer. This then requires more PTZ operators, which then starts to negate the original savings. This article outlines some experiments that we have conducted with the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) Scottish Symphony Orchestra (SSO) to repurpose and adapt an existing multicamera automation tool designed for capturing pop music performances to a different genre and style of music. We will consider if this approach can help bring costs down while maintaining the visual interest and complexity of a high-shot-count orchestral capture.