ClearOne Aura® Cameras and Mics Help Styx’ Bassist Ricky Phillips Maximize Online Engagement and Collaboration
February 02 2021 - 9:10AM
When the live music industry ground to a halt in early 2020,
legendary rockers Styx quickly pivoted away from their planned tour
to focus on direct engagement with their more than one million fans
who are members of the online Styx Lounge. As the band increasingly
made remote collaboration and fan outreach a daily practice,
bassist and self-described gearhead Ricky Phillips noticed that one
component in his Austin, Texas home studio was limiting the
experience: a barebones webcam.
“Music is my life, and video
communication has brought artists and fans closer together than
ever before” Phillips said. “From websites where we can share or
post videos, music ‘magazines’ that host performances, online video
fan clubs, the ability to record Master Classes and more, video has
become a crucial tool for musicians to connect with fans and create
new opportunities. My $100 store-bought webcam seemed good enough
when we first began working from home, but when I recognized that
video would be my main mode of visibility for the foreseeable
future, I knew a more professional solution would make the
experience far better.”
After speaking with fellow gearheads
and industry partners, Phillips discovered the industry-leading
ClearOne family of Aura videoconferencing cameras and microphones
for a monumental upgrade in quality, functionality and ease of use.
Now, using a UNITE® 200 PTZ that features programmable movement
presets for automated filming, a UNITE 50 4K ePTZ camera that
provides full room coverage, and a CHAT® 150 speakerphone, Phillips
has a truly professional-grade, multi-angle home office
videoconferencing solution with endless possibilities.
ClearOne Aura offers a comprehensive
range of Good, Better, Best packages of enterprise quality audio,
video, audio-video home office solutions options and a free
COLLABORATE® Space lifetime subscription, the award-winning video
collaboration app.
“Once I saw the quality and special
features ClearOne’s Aura cameras and microphones offer, my decision
was basically made,” Phillips said. “Not only does the true HD
image blow away my past cameras, but it’s a huge advantage to have
point-tilt-zoom (PTZ) models that can be adjusted on-the-fly with a
remote, or even be programmed to automatically move as video
records. I’ve used this to film short clips where I’m talking or
playing, but the camera can move or refocus to highlight records on
my wall, the neck of my guitar, or anything else I want to focus
on.”
With two cameras, Phillips can
instantly switch which camera view is presented, and can direct
each camera to focus on whatever he wants using the remote control.
Zooming in on something specific is smooth and easy, and introduces
new creative opportunities for recording, collaborating and
creating content - and that’s something the band and their
management can appreciate.
Staying active and visible during 2020
was vital for the band, as was taking effort to support crew
members who were out also of work. To that end, the band held a
live Q&A Masterclass in December, with proceeds benefiting the
crew. Other support for crew included proceeds from additional
merchandise such as a cookbook and T-shirts.
“When we do something like a Q&A
Masterclass, it’s all about the fans,” Phillips said. “Especially
now, when the funds are going to support our crew, our family,
making sure that we put on the best show we can is priority number
one. The video has to be crystal- clear, the audio has to be
excellent, and any steps I can take to make the experience better
for fans is worth it. With the Aura cameras and microphone that I’m
using, I no longer wonder if the experience is the best it can be.
I know it is.”
The 1080p UNITE 200 and UNITE 50 4K
ePTZ cameras aren’t the only showstoppers here, however. The CHAT
150 speakerphone delivers superior audio capture for both
conversation and recording, thanks to its built-in HDConference™
audio technology. What’s more, the plug-and-play simplicity of the
entire system means that Phillips can and does take this superior
video and audio solution on the road when necessary.
“Now whether I’m staying in a hotel on
tour, working in a studio or otherwise away from home, I can bring
the professional-level experience with me and provide partners and
fans with reliably excellent quality for all types of remote
collaboration and communication,” Phillips said.
In the future, Phillips hopes to
expand digital interactions even further and has considered the
potential for new revenue streams possible through recordings,
lessons, more involved fan offerings and more.
About ClearOneClearOne is a global market
leader enabling conferencing, collaboration, and network streaming
solutions. The performance and simplicity of its advanced,
comprehensive solutions offer unprecedented levels of
functionality, reliability, and scalability. Visit ClearOne at
www.clearone.com.
###
- Styx Lounge
- Ricky Phillips
Contact:
Bob Griffin
Griffin360
2212 481 3456 x16
bob@griffin360.com
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