Shotoku Broadcast Systems to Bring Best of All Worlds Solutions to NAB with Intro of Award-Winning SoftRail to US Market
Brie Clayton March 17, 2025
0 Comments
Software defined rail system optimizes benefits of physical rail system with free-roaming pedestal
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.
March 18, 2025Peakto 2.3: Keep All Your Photos and Videos Stored Locally-Yet Accessible Everywhere, Without the CloudContent creators fear that their work stored in the Cloud may be
March 18, 2025Appear Launches the X5: Redefining Scalable Live Production at NAB Show 2025At NAB Show 2025 , Appear, the global
Enjoying the news? Sign up for the Creative COW Newsletter! Sign up for the Creative COW newsletter and get weekly updates on industry news, forum highlights, jobs, inspirational tutorials, tips, burning questions, and more! Receive bulletins from the largest, longest-running community dedicated to supporting professionals working in film, video, and audio.
Enter your email address, and your first and last name b
North America Stories
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Liberty University on why broadcast technology isn't just a technical invest...
08/05/2026
COW Jobs: UGC, On-Camera Video Content
Brie Clayton May 7, 2026
0 Comments
UGC, On-Camera Video Content
April 17, 2026Documentary Editor - US,......
07/05/2026
Multi-year partnership positions Victory+ as a free home for Dallas Cowboys orig...
07/05/2026
From sideline reporting to directing and producing, the talented sophomore is building a well-rounded foundation for a career in live sports production
In the ...
07/05/2026
Cobalt Digital has received two Future Best of Show awards at NAB Show 2026. The COBALT blueCORE platform was recognized by TV Tech, and the COBALT PACIFIC ULL-...
07/05/2026
ESPN analyst Mina Kimes will host the televised semifinals and finals of the 202...
07/05/2026
Bitmovin has announced that MUBI, the global film streaming platform, has selected Bitmovin as its cloud VOD encoding partner. Bitmovin's encoding infrastru...
07/05/2026
NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and the U.S. Soccer Federation have announced...
07/05/2026
Angel City Football Club (ACFC) and Victory have announced a regional broadcast partnership bringing live match coverage to fans across the greater Los Angeles...
07/05/2026
Spiideo has announced the launch of AI Highlights inside Spiideo Play, its automated sports production platform. AI Highlights combines video, event data, audio...
07/05/2026
Leostream Corporation has announced a unified remote access ecosystem for high-p...
07/05/2026
The Atlanta Dream has partnered with Victory to stream all locally broadcast Dream games for free, expanding the team's digital distribution strategy and g...
07/05/2026
Riedel Communications has announced the appointment of Marc Engroff as Chief Fin...
07/05/2026
SES and ARD, Germany's largest public broadcasting network, have announced a long-term extension of their satellite distribution partnership through 2039. U...
07/05/2026
UpLight Technologies delivers a flexible video and lighting system for a new televised sportLaunching the Pro Cheer League required more than creating a compell...
07/05/2026
Full Day Productions and GSE Worldwide have announced Spikes Under the Lights, a...
07/05/2026
Two multi-role L3Harris products - the Red Wolf launched effects vehicle and SK...
07/05/2026
L3Harris will be developing key features of a secure and resilient digital infra...
07/05/2026
Alysa Liu and Shohei Ohtani Help Drive Viewership as 91 of the Top 100 Broadcast...
07/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/05/2026
Cobalt Digital Wins Two Future Best of Show Awards at 2026 NAB Show
Manufacturer Recognized by TV Tech and TVBEurope for Innovation in signal processing
Cobal...
07/05/2026
Software and hardware platforms, AI power and user-friendliness on show...
07/05/2026
Intinor will demonstrate its latest technical enhancements for the Direkt series at BroadcastAsia 2026. With a continued focus on reliable contribution and remo...
07/05/2026
Bitmovin has announced that MUBI has chosen Bitmovin as its cloud VOD encoding partner, replacing MUBI's legacy on premises encoding setup to improve scalab...
07/05/2026
Meet Graduates from Berklees Class of 2026 Members of this years graduating class reflect on their proudest moments at Berklee and look ahead to whats next.
...
07/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/05/2026
At BroadcastAsia 2026, Interra Systems will demonstrate its latest innovations in automated quality control (QC), real-time monitoring, and captioning. The comp...
07/05/2026
At this year's Broadcast Asia, PlayBox Neo is set to unveil recent innovations across its PlayBox Neo Suite and integrated range of broadcast media solution...
07/05/2026
Strategic three-year partnership marks delivery phase of BFBS' next-generation media vision
Media organisation and military charity BFBS (British Forces Br...
07/05/2026
Amagi, the agentic industry cloud platform for unified broadcast, streaming, and monetization, today announced the availability of its In-Content Ads offering v...
07/05/2026
Lightware Visual Engineering has developed Rack Taurus for rack-based environments such as education and corporate training spaces. It enables clean and simple ...
07/05/2026
Jigsaw24, the UK's leading media equipment supplier and systems integrator, will showcase its expanded end-to-end workflow capabilities at MPTS 2026, signal...
07/05/2026
Ease Live, an Evertz company, today announced that it has been granted a US Patent for its proprietary graphical overlay technology, the foundation for interact...
07/05/2026
Test & measurement innovator Leader Electronics of Europe will present an extensive range of Leader, PHABRIX and LeaderPhabrix test and measurement solutions at...
07/05/2026
At Broadcast Asia 2026 (Stand 5H3 8), LiveU is redefining live production with its most powerful IP-video EcoSystem to date built to help broadcasters and con...
07/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/05/2026
Recreating the 1974 Doctor Who Time Tunnel in After Effects
Graham Quince May 6, 2026
0 Comments
The Time Tunnel from Doctor Who titles is one of th...
07/05/2026
AI will help build the energy it needs.
That's the case U.S. Energy Secreta...
07/05/2026
Back to All News
Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix Present the Trailer of ...
07/05/2026
Less typing, more tanking.
Faster logins mean more time in the gaming action - and this week provides GeForce NOW members with a smoother path straight into th...
06/05/2026
Gravity Media Chief RF Communications Engineer Glenn Willems uses Wisycom RF over Fiber and wireless solutions across major cycling events and international mar...
06/05/2026
A Sennheiser Spectera module is now available in Bitfocus Companion and Buttons, enabling direct integration of Spectera with the two software platforms. The mo...
06/05/2026
Ted Turner, the visionary media entrepreneur whose appetite for disruption helpe...
Shotoku Broadcast Systems to Bring Best of All Worlds Solutions to NAB with Intro of Award-Winning SoftRail to US Market 
