Camera Mode is a new feature available in every meeting venue on ROOM's dashboard page.
In its current form it's a way to provide each invited participant the ability to see the meeting and fellow participants from many angles/camera views, instead of resorting to an avatar walk mode of some kind while the meeting is in progress.
After each interested participant creates several camera presets (camera view angles) and assigns them numbers, s/he can simply recall each camera display at will, without interrupting the meeting and without distracting other participants with a "floating avatar", which is typical of competitors' 3D environments' walk mode.
Naturally, each participant's camera settings are unique and private, and no one else will know that you are switching views like a newsroom editor during the meeting!
NOTE: This feature is not a universal camera switching tool for all participants to engage in a passive TV interview-type experience or podcast-type experience. This is a personal navigation (screen display) tool for each participant.
Currently, Camera mode is not available on mobile devices.
Using Camera Mode
Once you enter the meeting venue...
1. Mac & PC users: press CNTRL + B to enter CAMERA MODE
2. Move your camera using your keyboard and mouse to select your first desired angle. Press SHIFT + 1 to save your first angle, then frame another angle and continue the same preset-saving process (SHIFT + 2,3,4,5...10) for each specific camera angle. You do NOT need to set all 10 camera angles, just as many as you want!
3. Once you've selected your multiple camera angles, WHILE STILL IN CAMERA MODE, just press the desired number keys (do not press SHIFT) to toggle between the different camera views.
Since your meeting tools at the screen's bottom are removed during CAMERA MODE; if you want to text, share screen, adjust your device, report an issue, etc. you'll need to toggle off CAMERA MODE by pressing one of the following key combos (depending on your device):
- ESC
- ESC + SHIFT
You can always jump back to CAMERA MODE to return to your preset camera angle displays by pressing the CNTRL + B key combo. Your settings will be saved for the rest of the meeting regardless of how often you toggle to and from CAMERA MODE.
Setting Up Your Camera Shots
While still in CAMERA MODE use arrow keys to move around OR mouse clicks-and-drags to change views and find your camera angles. You can also Zoom in/out by using your mouse wheel. Here are some tips on ways to set up your shots.
NOTE: Once you set up the shots on your camera and assign it a number, the view will remain as you framed it, as a static shot. In other words, when you bring up one of your saved views by pressing its number on your keyboard, it will not play out as a dynamic shot. For example, it will not show the starting AND ending position of your zoom, only your end position.
Panning is accomplished by simply dragging your mouse across the screen (left to right or right to left) while holding your LEFT mouse button down. Panning too far in either direction will appear to bring the left and right walls in closer than needed.
If you drag your mouse up and down while holding the left button down, you'll be tilting the camera. If you tilt too far in either direction, you'll get a shot that's focused too much on the ceiling or the table.
If you drag your mouse up and down while holding the right button down, you'll be performing a pedestal to the camera. It's like moving the camera vertically while pointing it straight ahead (without arching it), so the effect is like the viewer is growing taller or shorter without arching your shot toward the ceiling or the table.
If you drag your mouse left or right while holding the right button down, you'll be performing a truck to the camera. It's like skating past your subject horizontally while pointing the camera straight ahead without arching the camera toward the left or right walls.
NOTE: You can Truck and Pedestal at the same time if you move your mouse diagonally while holding down the right button. Try that, then make the same motion while holding the left mouse button down (To Pan and Tilt simultaneously) - the difference is breathtaking!
Likewise, if you use the keyboard's arrow buttons, you can Dolly in/out, which is quite different from using your mouse wheel to zoom in/out. When you try these two methods sequentially, you'll really understand the difference of how changes in the field of view are handled differently; great to know when composing your shots!
Having said that, since the camera angles that you create/toggle in CAMERA MODE are static and do not move when you call them up by their assigned numbers, the only relevant thing will be how your colleagues' cutouts look in the framing. Unlike the 3D environment, attendees' cutouts aren't affected by the perspective changes via the room camera (only by their own web cameras)!
One Step at a Time
For you cinephiles out there, while it's possible to simulate a Crane In/Out shot by using your keyboard's up/down arrows while swiping your mouse vertically while pressing the right button, it's really quite ambitious, and it bears to mention (again) that the saved camera angles will all be static, so finding that perfect angle would be much easier by doing a Dolly in/out shot and a Pedestal shot separately.
To that end, the ROOM team is endeavoring to finish development on a different kind of Camera shot/switching feature that will facilitate more ambitious productions in the near future. Stay tuned!
A Final Word
Remember, camera moves/views are handled differently when you're in CAMERA MODE or in regular (normal) meeting mode. You can toggle back and forth as often as you like, but make sure that you're in CAMERA MODE before you start carefully composing shots you intend to save for camera presets switching. Happy shooting!
Related articles:
New! TV Studio (for Streaming & Recording)
Checklist for OBS Setup (for use with ROOM TV Studio streaming events)