Logitech Rally Plus Video Conferencing System Review

The Logitech Rally Plus Video Conferencing System in Nairobi Kenya

The Logitech Rally Plus videoconferencing system is about as close as you can get to truly professional video and sound capture outside of a dedicated studio. Designed to operate in conference rooms of any size, the camera can zoom up to 15 times with no image loss, while microphone pods extend the range of sound pickup all the way to the back of larger rooms.

At the heart of the system is the new Logitech Rally camera, which can capture resolutions up to 3840×2160 (4K Ultra HD) at 30 frames per second, which delivers film-quality images. If you set the camera to just 1080p resolution (normal HD), you can bump the frame rate up to 60 fps. Most meetings look best in 4K, but if you need to capture motion perfectly, you can use the 60 fps option.

The Logitech Rally camera offers more than just great image quality. It’s mounted on a motorized stand that lets it rotate, tilt and pan to capture the best possible image. All of that can be controlled with a small remote, but new Logitech RightSense technology is built in too, which lets the camera control itself, focusing on the speaker and recording that person with the best possible settings to optimize facial features and skin tone. This automation enables optimal viewing quality, all without a technician needed to adjust camera settings. When the camera is not in use, it points itself straight down, so it’s clear that it’s not recording.

Listen Closely

Sound quality is similarly impressive. The test unit came with two microphone pods and two speaker bars. The microphones are optimized to capture the frequencies of the human voice and can cancel out other noise. They also work with the RightSense technology to enhance sound by, for instance, increasing pickup power near someone who isn’t speaking or preventing loud voices from overloading the recording. Each microphone can capture sounds in an area of about 14 feet.

The speakers are loud and clear, delivering sound from the other end as if remote participants are in the same room.

Setting up the system was simple, and once installed, it functioned more or less automatically when needed. It works well with a variety of videoconferencing platforms. I tested it with numerous solutions, including tools from Cisco Systems and Microsoft Skype, and it performed flawlessly.

The hardware components of the Logitech Rally Plus system are impressive, but the system also has beauty to match its brains. In addition to working seamlessly with almost every videoconferencing program on the market, the Logitech Rally Plus system independently maintains optimal lighting and focus, keeping production values high while leaving users to concentrate on their meeting.

The Logitech RightSense technology breaks down automation into three components:

Logitech RightSight camera control: The camera automatically frames meeting participants, adjusting as needed when new people begin to speak. This includes panning and zooming to frame speakers perfectly.

Logitech RightLight: This component optimizes light balance and color to prioritize facial features. It concentrates on capturing skin tones accurately, especially in dim and backlit conditions.

Logitech RightSound: This feature does for audio what RightSight does for video. It optimizes voices by suppressing background noise, and can automatically level voices so nobody gets talked over in a roundtable discussion.

For rooms with more than 10 participants, add Rally Mic Pods to expand audio coverage and provide convenient access to mute controls. Each pod adds coverage for six more participants, so you can deploy Rally in large meeting spaces and boardrooms with up to 46 people.

Any organization looking for studio-quality video- and audioconferencing (without investing in a dedicated facility) should consider the Logitech Rally Plus system in Nairobi Kenya.