St Nicholas Church – Harpenden

The Project

St Nicholas Church in Harpenden, a vibrant parish with a growing need to reach both in-person and online congregations, commissioned DM Music to design and install a modern streaming and video system. The project focused on high-quality live streaming, a discreet PTZ camera solution, and a custom-built AV console to house new technology while maintaining the church’s historic aesthetic.

The installation also included a video mixer for managing multiple inputs during services and bespoke cabling and integration work, ensuring reliability and ease of use by both technical and non-technical volunteers.

System Highlights

Streaming System

• Dedicated live-streaming setup for YouTube and Facebook broadcasts
• Simple one-touch control for starting and stopping streams
• Reliable encoding equipment, ensuring stable HD broadcasts

PTZ Camera

• Discreetly installed a pan-tilt-zoom camera at the rear of the nave
• Provides multiple preset angles for altar, pulpit, lectern, and choir
• Remote control via wall-mounted panel and iPad

Video Mixer

• Compact video mixer enables seamless switching between PTZ camera, laptops, and other video sources
• Allows picture-in-picture display for hymn lyrics alongside live video
• Integrated audio feed ensures synchronised sound for streaming

AV Console

• A bespoke AV console designed and installed at the rear of the church
• Provides housing for the mixer, streaming encoder, wireless mic receivers, and other equipment
• Built with future expansion capacity

Custom Work

• Careful routing of new cabling to minimise disruption to the church’s architecture
• Custom brackets and mounting solutions for discreet equipment placement
• Integration of streaming controls into a user-friendly touch interface
• DM’s design ensured that volunteers with minimal technical background could operate the system confidently