Live broadcast system for services

The Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua at Sveti Duh in Zagreb wanted to make its services available to those unable to attend in person. We designed and delivered a complete live broadcast system for them, built to serve social media streaming, radio transmission, and television broadcast alike, including the Laudato TV programme.

We installed four PTZ cameras covering the altar, the ambo, and the nave. They are fitted on wall and ceiling mounts, positioned so that they are as unobtrusive as possible. They are operated from a single controller, which means that during the liturgy there is no camera operator and no equipment in the space to draw attention.

The most delicate part of the job was the installation itself. In a place of worship every visible cable spoils the impression, so the video and network cable runs were routed to be as unobtrusive as possible, following the existing lines of the architecture.

At the heart of the system is a production workstation running live production and streaming software. All camera signals are fed into it through capture cards, so a single operator can switch shots live, add graphics and titles, and send the stream to several destinations at once. Everything connects through a network switch that also powers the cameras, which kept the amount of cabling down.

Audio is taken directly from the church’s existing sound system. An audio interface and galvanic isolation separate the signal from the PA and bring it into the production clean and free of noise, so the microphones at the altar, the ambo, and the choir come through clearly on the stream.

Alongside internet streaming, the system includes a unit for wireless transmission over mobile networks. It allows broadcast quality signal to be sent to television even where there is no dedicated fixed line, so the basilica can join a television programme live for major feasts and celebrations.

Finally, we installed four LED fixtures with adjustable colour temperature. They light the altar area sufficiently for the cameras without harsh light and without altering the atmosphere of the space. The whole system was designed so the basilica can run it independently, after brief training and with no need for permanent technical support.