System Overview

Every tier uses the same basic signal path. Cameras and audio sources feed a streaming computer running OBS Studio. OBS combines them into a single program feed and sends it to the streaming platform. The same program feed can also be shown on a projector in the venue.

flowchart LR subgraph Capture fieldCamera[Field camera] awardsCamera[Awards camera] ptz[PTZ cameras over NDI] venue[Venue sound system] mic[Your own microphones] end subgraph Processing usb[USB audio adapter] interface[USB audio interface] mixer[Audio mixer] ftclive[FTC Live] automation[Automation tool] computer[Streaming computer<br/>running OBS Studio] end subgraph Output platform[YouTube] projector[Venue projector] recording[Local recording] end fieldCamera --> computer awardsCamera --> computer ptz --> computer venue --> usb --> computer mic --> interface --> computer mic --> mixer --> computer ftclive -- audience display --> computer ftclive -- match events --> automation automation -- scene changes --> computer computer --> platform computer --> projector computer --> recording classDef bronze fill:#e8c39e,stroke:#8c5a2b,stroke-width:2px,color:#000 classDef silver fill:#e6e6e6,stroke:#5f5f5f,stroke-width:2px,stroke-dasharray:6 3,color:#000 classDef gold fill:#ffe08a,stroke:#9a7400,stroke-width:4px,color:#000 class fieldCamera,venue,usb,computer,ftclive,platform,projector,recording bronze class awardsCamera,mic,interface silver class ptz,mixer,automation gold

The style of each box shows the tier where that piece is first added. Every tier uses the Bronze path, and the higher tiers add to it:

  • Bronze (tan boxes, solid border), for qualifiers: one field camera, audio from the venue’s sound system through a USB adapter cable, and OBS running on the scoring computer.

  • Silver (grey boxes, dashed border), for larger and multi-division events: a second camera on the awards area, your own microphones through a USB audio interface, and one dedicated streaming computer for the event.

  • Gold (yellow boxes, thick border), for regional championships, Premier Events, and the FIRST Championship: several PTZ cameras on the network using NDI, a mixer combining all of the audio sources, and an automation tool connected to FTC Live that switches scenes and records each match.

Plan the Layout Before Event Day

Sketch the venue and mark where the field, scoring table, audience, projector, and awards area will be. Then measure, or estimate generously, these distances:

  • From each camera position to the streaming computer or network switch.

  • From the streaming computer to the projector.

  • From the venue’s sound system, or your mixer, to the streaming computer.

A cable that is ten feet too short is one of the most common setup-day problems, and it’s easy to avoid with a tape measure and a site visit.