Smyle take live events online amid COVID-19 with the help of Quicklink Studio for remote contributions

Smyle take live events online amid COVID-19 with the help of Quicklink Studio for remote contributions posted: 15/09/2020

Smyle, an award-winning creative agency at the intersection of live and digital experiences, have implemented the Quicklink Studio for capturing high-quality content remotely.

In March, live events were abruptly paused due to the affects surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions that were put in place as a result. Subsequently, Smyle had to innovate to take their clients events online. Turning to their Broadcasting team, Smyle constructed multiple control galleries in their UK head office enabling them to perform a live mix of remote contributors, VT playback, presentation content and graphics which could then be recorded and/or streamed. An intercom and remote monitoring solution were also implemented, enabling clients and off-site staff to communicate and give feedback to the gallery crew and remote contributors from home, as if they were in the room.

For their remote contributor requirements, the Smyle broadcasting team turned to Quicklink's ST55 for high-quality, two-way contributions. The ST55 enables Smyle to receive two-way video contributions from any desktop or mobile device, with no apps or software installations required by the remote contributor. Contributors can be invited via SMS, WhatsApp, email or by generating a simple URL link. From the Quicklink Manager, an operator is able to remotely control and configure the contributor's device camera, microphone and speaker settings.

Since investing in May, Smyle have recorded and streamed over 300 sessions for multiple clients using the Quicklink solutions. The team have welcomed into their galleries everyone from Royalty to MPs and CEOs to customers, all connected remotely through a secure web link sent via the Quicklink Manager.

The Quicklink system has given us a reliable broadcast video over IP system, allowing high quality content to be captured remotely. Our clients have commented that the ease of use for their contributors is a big advantage, when approaching their stakeholders they want to ensure the process is as quick and painless as possible, with no downloads and no complicated settings for them to adjust. It is super simple, effective and high quality said Dave Glass, Head of Video at Smyle.

In addition to Quicklink Studio (ST55), Smyle have also adopted Quicklink's ST500 (Studio-in-a-box) for professionally managed high-quality contributions. The all-in-one, easy-to-use portable unit, which incorporates a Panasonic PTZ camera, inbuilt lighting, LCD touchscreen and audio interface, can be controlled remotely from a Chrome web browser using the Quicklink Manager Portal. The ST500 enables Smyle to ensure the highest-quality, in-frame broadcast contribution can be received.

Dave continues: The feedback from both contributors and operators has been excellent, the ease of use and the quality and robustness is far above standard video conferencing software and other hardware-based solutions.

The success of Smyle's first gallery has now resulted in the creative agency constructing an additional two galleries to satisfy customer demand. Within these galleries, Smyle are again turning to Quicklink Studio to gather high-quality remote contributions.

About Smyle

Smyle is a creative agency at the intersection of live + digital experiences. They produce live, virtual and hybrid experiences for a range of brands' business & consumer audiences. With offices in London and Hertford, their in-house teams and equipment provide clients with a unique combination of services including: strategy, content & creative, live planning and delivery, digital planning and delivery, and measurement. Smyle are winners of over 50 awards in the last 12 years, including UK Event Agency of the Year a record number of times - 2008, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018 & 2019.

About Quicklink

Quicklink, headquartered in the UK, supply over 500 companies with award-winning software and hardware IP solutions for the transmission of live and edited video. As Emmy Award and Queen's Award for Innovation winners, Quicklink are proud to have been recognised for the solutions we develop on a global scale.

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