Skip to main content

External Camera Select

With a few simple steps it is easy to set up an external camera selector on your Standard or Pro Class Skaarhoj PTZ panels. This can be used to have the camera select of your PTZ panel follow along with a video router or video switcher or it could be used to set up an additional Skaarhoj panel for an expanded camera select. 

External Camera Select from External Device
  1. Make sure you have connected to all your needed devices on the Home Page

  2. On the Home Page, open the Camera Selector settings table.

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 11.53.11 AM.png

  3. Enable Show Advanced in the Camera Selector

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 11.52.36 AM.png

     

  4. Input a unique number to associate with the camera.

     It is recommended to use the same number as is used for the input on the triggering device. Example if using a BMD VideoHub and the camera is Input 5, set the Ext. Cam Number to 5 as well. 

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 11.53.51 AM.png

  5.  Navigate to the Configuration Page. 


  6. If setting up for a single panel only, click anywhere on the panel background (blue part) to open the Inspector on the configuration base layer. 

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 12.01.59 PM.png

  7. If setting up for multiple panels within the same project, open the Configuration Tree and click on the Root Layer at the bottom. 

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 1.13.02 PM.png

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 1.16.46 PM.png


  8. Create Variable called ExternalCameraSelect  Exact name is needed as it is prebuilt into a Virtual Trigger. 

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 11.19.14 AM.png

  9. Adjust the needed range of the Variable based on numbers used in the Camera Selector on the Home Page for the Ext. Cam Number. The range used should encompass all numbers you have defined. By default the range is 1-10, if that is all that is needed, then no adjustment is required.  

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 12.27.42 PM.png


  10. Create a Virtual Trigger to set the ExternalCameraSelect Variable based on desired parameter. Name the Virtual Trigger something that will allow you to easily identify what it is doing. 

    Shown is an example using a Blackmagic VideoHub, but it can be any other device.

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 11.20.10 AM.png

  11. Open the newly created Virtual Trigger. 

  12. Set the Mode to Change. 
    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 12.49.03 PM.png

  13. For the IF parameter, set the source of the trigger. In this instance a route of the VideoHub on a specific output will be used to change the ExternalCameraSelect variable. 

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 12.56.35 PM.png


    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 11.20.51 AM.png


  14. For the THEN parameter, select the ExternalCameraSelect Variable 

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 12.57.57 PM.png

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 11.21.21 AM.png


  15. The needed Template Behavior for the THEN should be auto suggested. If it is not, you will want to select SET SPECIFIC VALUE. 

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 1.00.22 PM.png


  16. For the Value, set again the same parameter you used for the IF parameter. In this example it was Output 1 of a Blackmagic VideoHub. 

    This is why it is recommended to set the Ex. Cam Number in the Camera Selector Settings Table to match the Input number from the trigger source. It can then easily be synced. 

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 1.02.01 PM.png

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 11.20.51 AM.png


  17. The trigger is now set up and can be used. Note that any change in the source trigger's status will trigger the route (within the variable range set) but you are able to freely choose a different camera to control from the camera select row without it retriggering. 
External Camera Select from Skaarhoj Panel in the Same Project
  1. Make sure you have connected to all your needed devices on the Home Page

  2. On the Home Page, open the Camera Selector settings table.

    ComingScreenshot 2025-05-26 at 11.53.11 AM.png

    soon.
  3. Enable Show Advanced in the Camera Selector

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 11.52.36 AM.png

     

  4. Input a unique number to associate with the camera.

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 11.53.51 AM.png

  5. Repeat the process for your second panel. 

    The camera select doesn't need to be in the same order, but the same number needs to be associated with each
    camera.

     
  6.  Navigate to the Configuration Page. 
  7. Open the Configuration Tree and click on the Root Layer at the bottom. 

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 1.13.02 PM.png

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 1.16.46 PM.png


  8. Create Variable called ExternalCameraSelect  Exact name is needed as it is prebuilt into a Virtual Trigger. 

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 11.19.14 AM.png

  9. Adjust the needed range of the Variable based on numbers used in the Camera Selector on the Home Page for the Ext. Cam Number. The range used should encompass all numbers you have defined. By default the range is 1-10, if that is all that is needed, then no adjustment is required.  

    Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 12.27.42 PM.png

  10. Close the Configuration Tree but remain on the configuration page. 
     
  11. Click on any of the camera select buttons for the panel you want to trigger the external camera select from. This will open the details in the Inspector. 

    Screenshot 2025-06-30 at 10.36.56 AM.png


  12. In the Inspector, click on the first Show More to expand it. 

    Screenshot 2025-06-30 at 10.41.10 AM.png


  13.  Create another Action called externalselect 

    Screenshot 2025-06-30 at 10.58.05 AM.png

  14.  Set up the action as follows:
    Screenshot 2025-06-30 at 11.02.47 AM.pngAction Type: Binary (Button)
    Type (Press/Release): ActUp
    Values to Set: Behavior:Const:ExtCamSelect 

    Screenshot 2025-06-30 at 11.02.07 AM.pngParameter: Var:ExternalCameraSelect

    Screenshot 2025-06-30 at 11.02.29 AM.png


  15. If you would like to trigger the external camera select to go both ways, repeat steps 11-14 for additional panels. 
External Camera Select from Skaarhoj Panel in a Different Project

Coming Soon.

Back to top