Shotoku USA, Shotoku Broadcast Systems' North American operation, is bringing its award-wining SoftRail software defined rail system to NAB 2025 signifying its debut at a major US trade show. Shotoku will demonstrate how this ground-breaking concept brings best of all worlds functionality to studios; merging path-following capabilities of a physical rail system with the total freedom of a free-roaming pedestal. SoftRail will be the centerpiece of the Shotoku USA Booth N339 where the company will demonstrate the system along with many other powerful new features incorporated into the TR-XT.
Shotoku, the international manufacturer of high-quality, easy-to-use, and reliable robotic and manual camera support systems, will also highlight the Company's AutoFrame, designed to bring seamless face tracking technology and shot recall to robotically controlled camera systems.
Virtual Tracks
SoftRail is a brand-new concept that maximizes flexibility by opening up studio floor space to limitless software defined paths, while eliminating the restrictions of physical floor tracks on presenters, guests, and other cameras. This trailblazing development is available as a feature on Shotoku's powerful TR-XT studio control panel, incorporating the key path-following benefits of a rail camera into the company's SmartPed fully robotic XY pedestal, while avoiding any physical track or guide on the floor. When the path is no longer needed, simply turn off the SoftRail function and SmartPed returns to its traditional free-roaming pedestal mode with all the advantages freedom of movement brings.
TR-XT's enhanced StudioView mode provides operators with all the tools needed to design a soft' rail to suit any live production. Once defined and enabled, Shotoku's fully robotic SmartPed pedestal behaves as if it is physically mounted on rails. A simple XY joystick moves the SmartPed left or right along the rail path allowing the operator to focus on the other axes and maintain perfect framing. Even stored shots will be recalled by following the rail's path. And, because rails are defined in software only, they can take virtually any shape imaginable, even those that would be physically impossible to build, like looping back over itself without the need for a level crossing!
Unlimited SoftRail paths can be stored and recalled, and different SmartPeds can have separate (or the same) rails active, all easily managed from the StudioView page within the latest TR-XT control system.
Explains Matt Servis, Robotic Support Specialist for Shotoku USA, Rail camera systems built into sets follow every arc and contour of a set beautifully, but they seriously inhibit creativity in future productions and could cause an obstruction to personnel and guests. We developed SoftRail to provide an alternative that brings unparalleled flexibility, allowing access to both free roaming pedestals and a rail system - all in one.
AutoFrame Face Tracking Real-Time Face Tracking and Shot Recall
AutoFrame, Shotoku's technology that allows for seamless real-time face tracking and shot recall, will also be highlighted at NAB with substantial developments. AutoFrame brings another Shotoku best of all worlds' innovation to broadcasters everywhere by increasing system autonomy while simultaneously ensuring instantaneous and seamless human intervention.
AutoFrame provides live TV broadcasters the opportunity to expand the use of robotics without compromising on production quality whilst keeping costs firmly under control. It combines face tracking algorithms with subtle adjustments for response delays. The function can be tightly integrated into Shotoku's TR-XT Control System or run as a standalone system, capable of working with other Shotoku controllers or existing TR-XT installations.
AutoFrame requires only the minimum of selection and set-up choices the rest is automatic. Tracking can be initiated by an automation system if required, without any human intervention, shot recall and tracking can be completed in one operation. AutoFrame will pause immediately if an operator takes control, allowing for manual adjustment of the framing before continuing.
We responded to customers' requests for automated framing and developed AutoFrame which offers the highest level of autonomy possible, added Servis. Face tracking is pointless if the system needs a dedicated operator. So, we've expanded the capacity for the number of multiple channels simultaneously tracked (now 10 and counting!) as well as intelligently defining and maintaining the desired framing, including live zoom adjustments.
AutoFrame is live on-air every day at some of the world's leading broadcasters, proving its reliability and consistent performance time after time, while further simplifying the workflow of a busy live news studio.
Most recent headlines
16/12/2025
Hawkins has landed on Spotify, just in time for Stranger Things Season 5, Volume...
16/12/2025
Wherever you are, your favorite music and audio content should go seamlessly with you. That's why Spotify has partnered with NAVER Corp, Korea's leading...
16/12/2025
2025 Wrapped arrived bigger and bolder than ever. This year's experience is designed to be ultra personal and shareable, with new features like Wrapped Part...
16/12/2025
Three 12-kilowatt Advanced Electric Propulsion System thrusters, supplied by L3Harris Technologies, form the core of Gateway's propulsion system. Pictured i...
16/12/2025
The challenge facing America's defense industrial base is not just about speed - its about rebuilding the foundation that makes speed possible. Our nations ...
16/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
16/12/2025
SEVILLE, Spain Canal Sur, the public broadcasting service for Andalusia, Spain, has completed a total technology refresh based on Pebble's resilient, softwa...
16/12/2025
NEW YORK Teleprompting hardware provider Telescript International has acquired all software code and intellectual property previously owned by Telescript West. ...
16/12/2025
As cable operators face increased competition from 5G fixed wireless access providers, a new report from Ookla Research finds that T-Mobile is the FWA speed lea...
16/12/2025
Apple has announced a major upgrade to the Apple TV app for device owners outside the Apple ecosystem with news that the Apple TV app for Android now supports G...
16/12/2025
Space42 grows Direct-to-Device partner ecosystem through a Memorandum of Underst...
16/12/2025
16 Dec 2025
VEON Announces Release Date for Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2025 R...
16/12/2025
16 Dec 2025
VEON's Kyivstar Invests in Renewable Energy in Ukraine with Acq...
16/12/2025
Back to All News
Emma Appleton, Fares Fares, Frida Gustavsson and Jakob Oftebro...
16/12/2025
Back to All News
Docu-reality My Korean Boyfriend Gets a Trailer and Premiere D...
16/12/2025
Harmonic's XOS Advanced Media Processor Improves Streaming Video Quality and Boosts Viewer Engagement SAN JOSE, Calif. - Dec. 16, 2025 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: ...
16/12/2025
RT Sport Awards 2025 live on RT One and RT Player at 8:05pm on Saturday 20 December.
On Saturday 20 December live on RT One and RT Player at the earlier t...
16/12/2025
Singer -songwriter Brian Kennedy has been announced as the final celebrity dance...
15/12/2025
Harlem Globetrotters Celebrate 100th Anniversary With New Brand Campaign From Th...
15/12/2025
Top L-R: La Tierra Del Valor (The Home of the Brave), Mangittatuarjuk (The Gnawe...
15/12/2025
L3Harris will leverage 15 years of experience supporting the E-4B Nightwatch and...
15/12/2025
CONWAY, Ark. In a notable example of how the loss of federal funding is forcing public stations to make massive cuts and operational changes, the statewide pub...
15/12/2025
BOULDER, Colo. Public Media Venture Group (PMVG), Venture Technologies Group (VTG), and WQED have completed a multipart agreement that they say will significant...
15/12/2025
Cape Town, November 13, 2025 - SES and International artist and humanitarian, Fo...
15/12/2025
Luxembourg, December 15, 2025 - SES, a leading space solutions company, and Abra Group launched fast and reliable multi-orbit inflight connectivity service on t...
15/12/2025
How Rivian s Design Puts Drivers First-And Why That Matters Published on Dec 15, 2025 Categories: Business Solutions
LinkedIn Corporate Communications
Sha...
15/12/2025
Space42 and Cobham Satcom completed the full range of advanced terminals for the...
15/12/2025
15 Dec 2025
VEON's Beeline Kazakhstan Delivers First Starlink Direct to Cel...
15/12/2025
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor finds himself the topic of year's cracker jokes
Oasis, David Harbour, Celebrity Traitors and Angela Rayner all feature in this y...
15/12/2025
Comscore Expands Cross-Platform Campaign Measurement to Include Audio and Social New capabilities strengthen cross-platform campaign reporting suite; CCR rebran...
15/12/2025
NVIDIA today announced it has acquired SchedMD - the leading developer of Slurm, an open-source workload management system for high-performance computing (HPC) ...
15/12/2025
RT .ie has reached one billion page views this year and is on track to finish 2025 2% ahead of last year. Average time spent on the site is up 3% on 2024, with ...
15/12/2025
Modern workflows showcase the endless possibilities of generative and agentic AI on PCs.
Of many, some examples include tuning a chatbot to handle product-supp...
13/12/2025
Powering Client Growth: Horizon Deepens Nielsen Partnership, Enabling More Effic...
13/12/2025
In a move that will help it offer more flexible and less costly programming options, YouTube TV has announced that it will be launching YouTube TV Plans with mo...
13/12/2025
SINGAPORE Magna Systems has designed, built and completed what is believed to be the first full UHD and IP-based OB truck in Southeast Asia for a Singapore medi...
12/12/2025
SVG Summit 2025 Preview: Everything You Need to Know for Next Week's Big Sho...
12/12/2025
Hailey Gates at the Atropia premiere (photo by George Pimentel / Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival)...
12/12/2025
Last month, Spotify announced a new collaboration with the ATP Tour, the global governing body of men's professional tennis, aimed at bringing the next gene...
12/12/2025
CONWAY, Ark. In a notable example of how the elimination of Federal federal funding is forcing public stations to make massive cuts and changes in the way they...
12/12/2025
Wisycom and DPA Microphones announce the appointment of Ren Moerch as Group Product Director, Wireless, a strategic leadership role that will guide the combine...
12/12/2025
SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, in conjuncture with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Entertainment Technolog...
12/12/2025
Keepit, the vendor-independent, cloud-native data protection provider, today announced a strategic go-to-market relationship in Poland with Ingram Micro, a lead...
12/12/2025
Atomos announced the immediate availability of a new firmware update for its Ninja TX GO and Ninja TX monitor-recorders, unlocking Open Gate 48P RAW recording w...
12/12/2025
Professional Wireless Systems (PWS) once again played a critical role in delivering flawless wireless coordination and support at the 2025 Latin Grammy Awards a...
12/12/2025
The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), together with the Video Services Forum (VSF), the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) and the European Broadc...
12/12/2025
DHD audio will demonstrate the latest additions to its range of digital audio production solutions on Booth 321 in Hall B6 at Hamburg Open 2026. The show will b...
12/12/2025
Chaos today announces the release of V-Ray for Blender, update 2, bringing its award-winning rendering technology to even more Blender users by adding support f...
12/12/2025
Lighting specialist UltraLEDs has launched Precision LED Tape, a high-CRI lighting solution designed specifically for professional film, TV, and studio use.
P...
Shotoku USA, Shotoku Broadcast Systems' North American operation, is bringing its award-wining SoftRail software defined rail system to NAB 2025 signifying its debut at a major US trade show. Shotoku will demonstrate how this ground-breaking concept brings best of all worlds functionality to studios; merging path-following capabilities of a physical rail system with the total freedom of a free-roaming pedestal. SoftRail will be the centerpiece of the Shotoku USA Booth N339 where the company will demonstrate the system along with many other powerful new features incorporated into the TR-XT. 
