Is 4K Video Worth it for Churches?
Updated: Oct 12
Today we’re talking about 4K Video. Is it really worth it?
Before we can answer that question we need to categorize out the 3 main types of video used in churches
Live Production (iMag)
Online Streaming
Produced Content
In live production most pro environments (at the time of writing) are in 1080i 59.94fps or even 720p 30fps most switchers and projectors are natively in one of these 2 resolutions. While the cameras are starting to be capable of capturing in 4K, the overall workflow won’t yield a massive noticeable improvement for live video. By the time it is down scaled and re-processed multiple times, the subtle benefits of the higher resolution can get lost. Additionally its worth considering that the less times the signal passes through conversion the lower the latency will be which is a big deal in iMag situations where the subject being videoed is in the same field of view as the screen it’s being shown on.
When streaming live video to the internet the majority of the time it’s coming off the live capture rig then on top of that you’re sending it out for people across the internet to view. This adds some additional complexity in that the higher resolution of the video, the larger the file and even though home internet speeds are constantly improving, it’s easier to have consistency on a smaller file. The more consistent your video feed the better experience your viewers will have.
Now at this point you’re probably thinking “ well why do 4K cameras and TVs even exist if it’s not practical to use?”. Just like with HD it will take time before distribution and playback technology is at a place where it can reliably handle higher resolutions, and at the time of writing we’re not quite there yet.
So, finally that brings us to produced content. As I mentioned, at the time of shooting, 4K cameras have become pretty prevalent and most pro and prosumer cameras shoot in 4k and where this is most advantageous is when it comes to recording an interview and being able to have a couple different frame sizes or being able to reframe after shooting. While typically as part of a service or online, afterward most people wont be consuming the video in 4k, it is still extremely helpful to have options during editing. You can even add in "camera motion" in post if you are able to push in without loosing clairity or sharpness.
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About the author
Chris Eslinger is a founder and partner at Ignite Sound + Stage and Creative Production Director at Greenwood Christian Church. A contributor to Technologies for Worship Magazine, he helps churches improve audio, video, lighting and volunteer workflows through practical, hands-on training.
Read Chris's Yamaha DM7 mixing console review in Technologies for Worship Magazine.
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