Technological development is proceeding at a fantastic pace and is bringing professional-level media equipment within the reach of almost anyone. Once upon a time, it would have cost millions of dollars to kit out a TV studio, not to mention the cost of camera operators, sound engineers and other specialists to make everything work.
With the advent of AI, we are seeing groundbreaking advancements in smart imaging technology, enabling almost anyone to set up a multi-camera TV studio for a thousand dollars, which doesn’t need an army of technicians to make it all work.
OBSBOT is an imaging brand best known for its range of smart webcams that can track subjects and respond to visual hand controls to do things like zoom, pan and tilt. Now, the company is officially launching its series of OBSBOT Tail Air. These innovative AI-powered PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) streaming cameras offer a significant development in personal video streaming. Instead of a single-camera setup, content creators and set up their own sophisticated multi-camera live-streaming studio.
The OBSBOT Tail Air range was first shown at the 2023 NAB Show. The system was initially launched on Kickstarter, where it raised over $1.11m, far more than was anticipated in the original funding goal. The positive resins from the market reassured OBSBOT that the market was ready for this next step in live streaming technology.
Unlike traditional streaming cameras, OBSBOT claims the Tail Air offers superior quality live streaming and recording, able to adapt to a range of broadcasting applications thanks to the 4K low-light image sensor. The OBSBOT Tail Air can stream 4K video at 30fps or 1080p at 60fps. At the heart of the Tail Air camera is a 1/1.8″ StarLight CMOS sensor and ƒ/1.8 aperture lens for high-quality images even in low-light conditions.
Featuring advanced AI technology, OBSBOT says the Tail Air can track humans and pets. The camera can track objects at a speed of 120°/s, delivering smooth and accurate visuals.
The AI Director Grids function is at the heart of Tail Air. It provides intuitive management of live video output, allowing creators to construct multiple scenes with minimal effort. The Tail Air’s integration with NDI|HX3 format provides high-quality, low-latency streaming ideal for single and multi-cam setups.
Regarding connectivity, Tail Air offers the options of HDMI, USB-C, Ethernet, and WI-FI capabilities, translating into plenty of compatibility that enables the system to integrate with various live streaming workflows.
Integral to the OBSBOT Tail Air ecosystem is the OBSBOT Start app. This app lets users control multi-camera streaming from a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. Featuring the AI Director Grid, the app enables dynamic segmentation and smooth transitioning between different live scenes, making studio direction simple.
This official launch of the OBSBOT Tail Air will bring the flexibility offered by more expensive PTZ camera systems from Panasonic to a more affordable level. Setting up a professional quality TV studio with the kind of creative directing tools you would usually cost significant amounts of money makes Tail Air something of a breakthrough. I haven’t been able to test the system thoroughly with iOS devices as the app is still in its final stages of testing, but if the quality is anything like OBSBOT’s range of webcams, we could be witnessing the launch of a game-changing product in the live streaming market.
Pricing & Availability: Prices for The OBSBOT Tail Air start at $499 and the system will be available from November 21.
More info: www.obsbot.com
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