Overview
The Control Tray in Hive provides an intuitive interface to manage camera behavior, such as zoom, pan/tilt, focus, and tracking. Located in the upper-right of the application UI under the Controls tab, this tray enables real-time manipulation and camera controls.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Accessing the Control Tray
Open Hive.
Navigate to an Organization and Studio with Added Video Sources
Click the Controls tab located in the top-right corner of the UI beneath the Monitoring, Notifications, and Username icons.
This will open the Control Tray on the right-hand side of your UI
2. Available Control Categories
You may see the following control categories, depending on your camera model and firmware:
Focus – Adjust Focus Mode, Sensitivity, and Limits.
Quick Shots – Jump to predefined camera framing positions.
Auto-Tracking – This relates to a camera’s Built-In Auto-Tracking and is not related to the Hive AI Auto-Tracking.
Zoom – Control zoom level, speed, and acceleration curves.
Movement / Pan & Tilt – Adjust camera movement and sine acceleration.
And Many Others All of our camera drivers are unique, and each manufacturer may label their control features differently. Hive continually optimizes organization and naming taxonomy for ease of use, please take a few moments after adding your video source to explore the Controls Tray to familiarize yourself with the driver's parameter layout.
3. Manipulating Controls
Use sliders, toggles, menus, and value fields to adjust each parameter.
Each control parameter allows for fine-tuning your source to your production needs.
All changes take effect live in your camera's feed.
To save your shots, you can utilize Position Presets. As a note, this saves the Pan, Tilt, and Zoom coordinates only!
4. A quick guide to saving Position Presets
Click the + button or any empty frame in the Position Presets section at the bottom of your UI.
This saves the Pan, Tilt, and Zoom values for that specific source.
5. Using Position Presets
Click a saved preset to recall that source’s specific control settings. This does NOT save your Image Settings. To Save your Image Settings in a preset, please read the Help Desk article linked here.
Presets are source-specific and stored per video source.
To edit or reorganize, drag and drop within the preset panel.
How It Works and What to Expect
Controls reflect the capabilities of your specific camera driver.
Parameters update in real-time as they are adjusted.
Position Presets save Position and Zoom values for fast recall.
Presets do not transfer between cameras or sources.
Tips, Limitations, and Best Practices
Adjust controls in a non-production setting to avoid disruption.
Use Position Presets for frequent camera angles or live transitions.
Organize presets with descriptive names (e.g., “Wide Shot - Stage Left”).
Changes apply instantly, be cautious when adjusting live.
Sine acceleration impacts how smoothly movement initiates/stops.
FAQs
Where is the Control Tray located?
In the upper-right UI under the Controls tab.
Why don’t I see some control categories?
Categories are based on camera model and supported firmware. If you can't find a control setting, please look through your source's Advanced Settings for more parameters. If you still do not find the parameter you are looking for, please let us know at [email protected]
Can I adjust controls during a live session?
Yes, but changes take effect immediately—use with caution.
What does Sine Acceleration mean?
It adjusts how smoothly pan/tilt/zoom accelerates and decelerates. It can be seen as either a waveform, or a percentage in your parameter settings.
Are presets shared between sources?
No, each source will record only its own set of control presets.
Do Position Presets save focus and zoom values?
Not focus values, only zoom values.
Can I delete or rename Position Presets?
Yes, manage them directly from the Position Preset panel.
Use Cases
Saving focused framing for a lecturer in a classroom.
Switching quickly between wide and close-up stage shots.
Managing automated tracking on/off for different segments.
Presetting pan/tilt positions for multiple presenters.
The Control Tray in Hive offers granular control of your camera’s movement and focus systems. Through real-time adjustments and Position Presets, you can ensure precise framing and behavior that fits your production needs.