Preset Camera Positions

Setting and Calling Presets

Presets let you save commonly used camera positions and recall them when needed. On the SimplTrack3, each preset stores the camera’s pan, tilt, zoom, and focus settings as they were when the preset was saved. Other image settings are not saved as part of the preset.

Before You Begin

tip

Set the room lighting to the conditions you expect to use during production. Changing the lighting after creating your presets may affect exposure, white balance, and the consistency between shots.

You can choose any number between 0 and 254 for your presets. However, the SimplTrack3 has specific settings tied to preset 0, and preset 1.

important

We strongly recommend establishing presets 0 and 1 according to their intended functions before saving any additional presets.

What Does Preset Zero Do?

• PTZOptics cameras, including the SimplTrack3, have a factory default Home Position. For most PTZOptics camera models, the factory default home position cannot be changed.
• The SimplTrack3 is unique in that it allows you to redefine its home position by saving preset 0.
• When preset 0 is saved, pressing the [HOME] button on the IR remote or selecting the home position in the Web UI will return the camera to the position saved at preset 0.
• Users can configure the SimplTrack3's automation settings to use preset 0 as the starting location for auto-tracking, the location it returns to after tracking, and to configure other automated behaviors.

warning

Please Enable the Tilt While Tracking feature in the Web UI if you want the camera to automatically adjust its tilt angle during tracking. If this feature is not enabled, the camera will use the default height established in preset 0. This can produce unexpected framing.

What Does Preset One Do?

The SimplTrack3 lets you configure the camera's zoom level during auto-tracking by enabling the Zoom While Tracking setting in the Web UI under Automation Settings tab. It provides a zoom range from 0 to 7, with 0 being the widest view and 7 being the most zoomed-in view while tracking.

warning

We strongly recommend enabling Zoom While Tracking. If Zoom While Tracking is not enabled, the camera will default to the zoom level saved in preset 1, which may result in unexpected framing.

Apart from this, preset 1 functions like any other preset. You can save a specific camera position to it, allowing you to quickly return to that position when needed.

Saving Your First Preset

SimplTrack3 Web UI

1. Open the SimplTrack3 Web UI and locate the live preview and PTZ controls.
2. Zoom out to a wide view of the room.
3. Pan and tilt the camera toward the center of the primary shooting area.
4. Adjust the camera's focus setting as needed.
5. Find the Preset Control section in the top-right corner. Enter 1 in the preset number field and click Set.
6. To confirm the preset was saved correctly, move the camera to a different position, then recall preset 1 either by clicking the Preset 1 button or entering 1 in the preset number field and clicking Call.

IR Remote

If you do not have access to the SimplTrack3 Web UI, you can establish Preset 1 with the IR remote:

1. Use the arrow and zoom buttons to create a wide, centered view of the primary shooting area.
2. Adjust the camera's focus setting as needed.
3. Press [1] followed by [SET] to save the position and focus settings.
4. Press [1] followed by [CALL] to recall Preset 1 and confirm that the camera returns to the expected position and focus settings.

Match the image, not necessarily the settings

Different areas of a room may require different exposure or color settings. The settings do not need to be identical across every preset. The resulting images should look consistent when switching between shots.

For easier comparison, monitor every shot on the same display. You can also capture a reference image of your baseline preset or compare the shots in production software such as OBS or vMix.

warning

Saving a preset to an occupied number replaces the previously stored shot.

Calling Presets

SimplTrack3 Web UI

1. Locate the Preset Control section.
2. Enter the preset number you want to recall.
3. Click Call to recall the selected preset.

IR Remote

Press the desired number button to recall the corresponding preset, followed by [CALL].

PTZ Controller

Select the preset number and use the controller's preset-call command. The exact procedure varies by controller, so refer to the controller's documentation for the correct button sequence.

note

The SimplTrack3 Web UI and compatible PTZ controllers can access preset numbers beyond the ten presets available directly from the IR remote.

Clearing Presets

SimplTrack3 Web UI

The SimplTrack3 Web UI does not include a dedicated clear preset button. To replace a saved preset, move the camera to a new position and save that shot to the same preset number.

IR Remote

To clear presets using the IR remote, follow the steps below. The procedure is similar for both individual presets and clearing all presets, with the difference being the number of times you press the [CLEAR] button.

Clearing an Individual Preset

1. Press [CLEAR].
2. Press the number of the preset you want to clear.

Clear All Presets

1. Press [CLEAR].
2. Press [CLEAR] again.

warning

Clearing all presets cannot be undone. Confirm that you no longer need any of the saved camera positions before clearing them.

Setting and Calling Presets

Presets let you save commonly used camera shots and recall them when needed. On supported PTZOptics cameras, each preset stores the camera's pan, tilt, and zoom position along with the image settings active when the preset is saved.

Automatic Modes Remain Active

If auto exposure, auto white balance, or auto focus is enabled, the camera may continue adjusting the corresponding settings after the preset is recalled. These settings will need to be disabled manually before saving a preset if you want the preset to retain specific settings.

Presets let you save commonly used camera shots and recall them when needed. On PTZOptics Studio cameras, each preset stores the camera's zoom level along with the image settings active when the preset is saved.

Automatic Modes Remain Active

If auto exposure, auto white balance, or auto focus is enabled, the camera may continue adjusting the corresponding settings after the preset is recalled. These settings will need to be disabled manually before saving a preset if you want the preset to retain specific settings.

Before You Begin

Set the room lighting to the conditions you expect to use during production. Changing the lighting after creating your presets may affect exposure, white balance, and the consistency between shots.

tip

Evenly distributed lighting is generally easier to work with because it reduces large differences in brightness and color across the room.

Starting from the camera's default image settings can provide a useful baseline, but it is not required. If the camera is already producing the desired image, you can use the current settings as your starting point.

Saving Your First Preset

Horizon Web UI

1. Open the Horizon Web UI and locate the live preview and PTZ controls.
2. Zoom out to a wide view of the room.
3. Pan and tilt the camera toward the center of the primary shooting area.
4. Adjust the exposure, white balance, focus, and other image settings until you are satisfied with the image.
5. Locate the Preset Control section and select Set.
6. Type 1 as the preset number and press Enter on your keyboard to confirm the selection.
7. Select Call, enter 1, and confirm that the camera returns to the expected position and image settings.

1. Open the Horizon Web UI and locate the live preview and camera controls.
2. Zoom out to a wide view of the room.
3. Adjust the exposure, white balance, focus, and other image settings until you are satisfied with the image.
4. Locate the Preset Control section and select Set.
5. Type 1 as the preset number and press Enter on your keyboard to confirm the selection.
6. Select Call, enter 1, and confirm that the camera returns to the expected zoom level and image settings.

IR Remote

If you do not have access to the Horizon Web UI, you can establish Preset 1 with the IR remote:

1. Use the arrow and zoom buttons to create a wide, centered view of the primary shooting area.
2. Adjust the camera's image settings through the on-screen display as needed.
3. Press [PRESET], followed by [1], to save the position and image settings.
4. Move the camera to another position (or press [HOME]), then press [1] to recall Preset 1 and confirm that the camera returns to the expected position and image settings.

If you do not have access to the Horizon Web UI, you can establish Preset 1 with the IR remote:

1. Use the zoom buttons to create a wide view of the primary shooting area.
2. Adjust the camera's image settings through the on-screen display as needed.
3. Press [PRESET], followed by [1], to save the zoom level and image settings.
4. Change the zoom level (or press [HOME]), then press [1] to recall Preset 1 and confirm that the camera returns to the expected zoom level and image settings.

Studio Rear Quick Keys (Buttons 6 & 7)

On the Studio 4K and Studio SE, you can also save and recall Preset 0 and Preset 1 directly using the rear-panel Quick Keys:

• Button 6 (Preset 0): Press and hold to save Preset 0; press briefly to recall Preset 0.
• Button 7 (Preset 1): Press and hold to save Preset 1; press briefly to recall Preset 1.

Match the image, not necessarily the settings

Different areas of a room may require different exposure or color settings. The settings do not need to be identical across every preset. The resulting images should look consistent when switching between shots.

For easier comparison, monitor every shot on the same display. You can also capture a reference image of your baseline preset or compare the shots in production software such as OBS or vMix.

warning

Saving a preset to an occupied number replaces the previously stored shot.

Calling Presets

Horizon Web UI

1. Locate the Preset Control section.
2. Select Call.
3. Enter the preset number and confirm the selection.

IR Remote

Press the desired number button to recall Presets 0–9.

PTZ Controller

Select the preset number and use the controller's preset-call command. The exact procedure varies by controller, so refer to the controller's documentation for the correct button sequence.

note

The Horizon Web UI and compatible PTZ controllers can access preset numbers beyond the ten presets available directly from the IR remote.

Automatic Modes and Preset Interaction

If Image Presets are disabled, when the camera recalls the start location, stop location, or target-lost preset, it will only move to the saved position. The camera will continue using the current image settings and will not recall any image parameters from the preset.

If Image Presets are enabled, when one of those presets is recalled, the camera will restore both the saved camera position and the image settings stored with that preset.

Clearing Presets

Horizon Web UI

Click the Pencil icon in the bottom right corner of the Preset Control section to open the Edit Presets dialog. From there, you can click the Trash icon next to a preset to clear it.

IR Remote

Clearing an Individual Preset

1. Press [RESET].
2. Press the number of the preset you want to clear.

Clear All Presets

1. Press [RESET].
2. Press [RESET] again.

warning

Clearing all presets cannot be undone. Confirm that you no longer need any of the saved camera positions before clearing them.