In the previous issue, we carefully discussed course recording as a future trend in schools for online and video teaching. Schools at all levels have been gradually planning classrooms for course recording, placing teachers' course content in the school system for student review, and even providing content for parent-guided reading.

In this issue, Datavideo focuses on course recording solutions. We have created product information and applications specifically for course recording. We present the solutions we have observed and developed, seeking feedback for collaborative research on the future development of schools.

Course recording involves five main equipment components, combining to form a comprehensive plan for future teaching:

1. Camera System: Early on, only webcams were used to capture the teacher's head during lectures, resulting in relatively monotonous and less engaging content. With technological advancements, course recording systems now use ceiling-mounted cameras in classrooms, directly capturing teachers' lectures. The system occasionally switches to computer course materials or presents split-screen views, aligning more with traditional classroom teaching and improving viewer engagement.

2. Switching and Recording System: A single camera can only capture the teacher's lecture from the podium and lacks the ability to facilitate interactive discussions with students in the classroom. To address this, multiple cameras are used in conjunction with a switching and recording system. This setup allows for dynamic recording by switching between different perspectives based on the course content and teacher-student interactions, creating more lively and engaging course content.

3. Audio System: Originally, only the teacher's voice was recorded. However, by associating audio with the corresponding video positions, the system ensures that the sound matches the location on the screen. For instance, when the camera switches to capture a student asking a question, the system records only the student's voice, creating a more interactive and realistic course content.

4. Tracking System: Previous methods often used infrared tracking for capturing the teacher's position during lectures. However, infrared tracking could result in rapid and shaky movements, leading to discomfort for viewers. Modern systems use slow-tracking camera techniques to smoothly capture the teacher's movements, even when interacting with students, ensuring high-quality video content that is comfortable for viewers.

5. Playback System: The playback system supports both online live streaming and Video On Demand (VOD) post-production playback. The ideal approach is to directly import course content into the school's playback system, allowing for live streaming or post-production editing before importing into the system. This enables students to review the content after class and share it with students from other schools.

These five components together form a comprehensive solution for educational content production, aligning with the primary direction of various system planning companies in the market. However, the specific products and applications may vary, resulting in different outcomes in terms of content effectiveness, smoothness, and resource utilization.

Datavideo has been observing and researching course recording applications for approximately 3-4 years. Through observations of various systems, real experiences, school visits, and substantial investments in designing products and application models, Datavideo aims to introduce the most suitable course recording method. This method ensures that course content closely resembles broadcast-program-style visuals while optimizing resource utilization for the maximum benefit of course recording solutions.

Why is Datavideo's course recording system unique? It stands out because it is designed from the perspective of schools and teachers, ensuring alignment with their needs. The following analyses highlight Datavideo's thoughtful approach:

1. Minimal Staffing for School Operations: Typically, course recording requires dedicated personnel in a separate control room to operate cameras capturing classroom activities. With Datavideo's system, control signals and live video feeds can be transmitted over the network, allowing multiple classrooms to be controlled centrally. The RMC-180 controller can manage up to 4 PTC-150 cameras, eliminating the need for manual tracking of subjects. A single operator can control 3-5 classrooms simultaneously, resulting in significant manpower savings for schools.

2. Simulating Broadcast EFP Multi-Camera Operations: Course recording, being similar to producing a television program, benefits from a multi-camera setup to make the content more dynamic and interesting. Datavideo's system incorporates unmanned cameras and television broadcast directing equipment, treating the classroom as a studio to produce high-quality educational programs. The system supports 12 shooting positions, allowing for the smooth production of content comparable to television programs.

3. Synchronized Switching of Video and Audio: As the cameras capture different perspectives, audio recording must also follow the location of the video capture. Datavideo's system includes a unique linked mixer, the AM-100, which synchronizes with the directing system. This enables controlled switching of audio sources based on the camera's position, ensuring that only the relevant audio is captured for a given location, enhancing the overall learning experience.

4. Post-Production Capabilities for Recorded Videos: Recognizing that not all recorded content is perfect in the first attempt, Datavideo's course recording system includes the HDR-70, a hard disk recording device. This device records in MXF-OP1 or MOV formats, allowing recorded videos to undergo post-production modifications, edits, or the addition of subtitles. The edited content can then be imported into the school's playback system, delivering a polished and high-quality educational program.

5. Integration with School Playback Systems: The fastest and broadest way to share and deliver videos is through online streaming. Datavideo includes a video-to-IP network converter, enabling real-time transmission of classroom videos over the network to the school's playback system. This facilitates live broadcasting, archiving, and sharing of high-quality teaching content across schools, creating a borderless learning environment.

After a thorough analysis, it is evident that Datavideo's system planning is not only unique but also highly efficient for school applications. The system designs are illustrated in the following diagrams for reference, providing different perspectives for planning:

System Diagram (1): Small Classroom Setup Three cameras and a matrix microphone are synchronized through remote computer control. The RMC-180 controls PTC-150 cameras, while the SE-1200MU switcher is controlled remotely by a computer. Video monitoring is directly transmitted to the control computer over the network, eliminating the need for on-site control, thus not disrupting the teaching activities in the classroom. The backend includes a hard disk recorder and network conversion for live broadcasting or backup recording.

These system planning diagrams serve as references for those involved in course recording planning, offering various perspectives and potential ideas.

System Diagram (2): Small Classroom Usage

The structure and system diagram are the same as in (1), with the only difference being that both the PTC-150 cameras and the SE-1200MU switcher are centrally controlled by a computer. Operators only need to remotely control the computer, setting up interfaces for three PTC-150 cameras, SE-1200MU switcher, and video segmentation monitoring screen. This setup allows for remote dominance over course recording in the classroom.

System Diagram (3): Medium Classroom Usage

Five cameras can be used in medium-sized classrooms, with both audio and video being fed into the SE-1200MU switcher. Remote control via a computer is used for course recording operations. The camera controller RMC-180 signals can be transmitted via USB to the SE-1200MU control computer. The computer then transmits signals to the PTC-150 cameras, and the video is monitored collectively using the segmentation monitoring signals from SE-1200MU. Control personnel can operate course recording remotely, eliminating the need to be physically present in the classroom to operate the equipment.