One of the most common questions we get on set is simple: What are those black boxes you bring everywhere? The short answer? It’s a Production Bot—and it’s one of the most important tools in our live production workflow.
At its core, a Production Bot is a powerful computer built into a rugged, travel-ready case, complete with a built-in screen and professional-grade inputs and outputs. It’s designed specifically for live video production, where flexibility, reliability, and speed matter.
On the video side, the Production Bot features eight SDI inputs, allowing us to connect multiple cameras at resolutions up to 1080p at 60 frames per second with ease. When a project calls for more firepower—like 4K at 60fps—we can simply swap out the capture card for a higher-performance option. That modular design means the box can scale to meet the needs of each production.
Audio is just as streamlined. With XLR inputs built directly into the box, microphones and mixers can feed audio straight into our vMix session, eliminating extra converters or complicated routing. Everything stays clean, organized, and efficient.
Around the back, the Production Bot looks familiar to anyone who’s used a desktop computer: USB ports, HDMI, USB-C, and more for connecting controllers, drives, and additional peripherals.
So why not just use a standard computer? Travel. The Production Bot is built to move. The screen is protected, the keyboard and mouse pack up neatly, and the entire setup fits inside a Pelican case that can slide into an airplane’s overhead compartment. That means faster load-ins, easier flights, and less gear stress.
In short, Production Bots let us take a full control room anywhere in the world—reliably and efficiently.
If you're interested in learning more about the Production Bot, be sure to contact us!
