Live video streaming is a huge market growing at an exponential CAGR of 21%(projected for 2021-2027) and is expected to reach a worth of $223.98 billion by 2028.
We covered the basics of setting up a live stream in our previous blog, A Beginner’s Guide to Live Streaming. This week, we’re here with a more professional approach to enumerate a checklist of the essential points to consider for professional live streaming.
In this Article:
💻 Laptop or Computer
The exact technical requirements of a laptop may vary depending upon the software you use. However, any new laptop available today will work perfectly fine for live streaming. Look for something with:
– At least 8GB of RAM
– A Solid Slate Hard Drive (SSD)
– At least 3-4 USB ports
You can also stream using the desktop computer if you don’t need the portability offered by a laptop.
🎥 Camera
While the built-in laptop cameras might work well for live streaming, it is advised you use professional cameras for better quality videos. The most cost-effective cameras to use are the standard USB webcams. You can, however, use any latest, greatest, and the most popular camera that suits your live streaming needs.
The most commonly used cameras for professional live streaming are:
- Logitech C922 Pro – allows full-HD streaming, with stereo microphones, and no external mic support.
- Panasonic HC-V770 – highly regarded amongst YouTubers, with self-framing and manual focus options.
- Sony A7 III – high-end mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses, allows to record and stream simultaneously.
- Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 – best camera if you’re on a tight budget, allows high-definition streaming, with simple plug-and-play functionality
🎙️ Microphone
Audio quality is as important as video quality. You can use various options to capture the audio correctly depending upon your live streaming requirements:
– Use condenser microphones with a table-top stand for stationary streaming setups.
– For more dynamic and sit-and-chat streaming setups, lapel microphones are a great option.
Some of the most preferred microphones for professional live streaming include:
- Shure MV7 Podcast Microphone – with integrated touch panel for mic controls
- Blue Yeti X – with zero-latency monitoring, smart knob controls, and blue voice
- HyperX SoloCast – with tap-to-mute sensor and sound nearly identical to QuadCast
- Blue Yeti Nano – with 48kHz sample rate, zero-latency monitoring, mute and headphone volume controls
- HyperX Quadcast S – with built-in shock-mount
🎚️ Audio Mixer
An audio mixer will enable you to use multiple microphones and other audio sources in your live stream. You can adjust the volume of each microphone to ensure everyone is at the same level. When looking for a suitable mixer, give special consideration to the following aspects:
– Physical size
– Automation and connectivity
– Input and outputs
– On-board processing
– User interface
⚙️ Software
Software is the magic key that plays a pivotal role in polishing the streams for broadcast, complete with scenes and transitions. This is where you can do the branding by adding your logo and other graphics and overlay it on the live video.
🌐 Internet Access
Everything set, a quality internet connection with strong bandwidth is the ultimate recipe for success. Without this, you might not be able to put out a stable live stream. A wired network connection is highly recommended:
– Avoid Wi-Fi at all costs
– Test the speed before you go live
– Maintain an upload speed of 305 Mbps
– Have a backup connection
🎞️ Filming Spot
Backgrounds in your stream are essential. Keep them neat and tidy, motion-free, and disturbance-free. The viewers want everything to be clear and simple so they can focus on you.
– Avoid dark rooms and low ceilings.
– Pick a quiet place with good lighting, no sounds, and no interruptions.
Perfect lighting is the often-ignored component of a quality stream. However, the lighting of your video sets the mood of your viewers. Make sure you have adequate lighting to brighten up your stream.
– Face the window of the room or manually brighten up the streaming space with LED lights.
– Opt for softbox lighting or desktop lighting, depending upon your budget and available space.
– Use the standard 3-point lighting to provide lighting from three different angles to obtain a balanced look without sharp appearances and shadows.
👨🏻 Presenter’s Outlook
As a presenter, you must not only look good; instead, you should perform well on video.
– Wear solid colors
– Avoid checks, patterns, and geometrical shapes
– Avoid eyeglasses
– Avoid seasonal looks with turtlenecks or tank tops
– Avoid large, clunky, or noisy jewelry
– Use matte finish makeup to avoid ‘on-camera glo
👉 Before you start your live video broadcast
- Decide your live streaming destination – You might want to broadcast on your socials such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or Twitch. Or you might want to embed your video on a specific website.
- Select live stream format – You might want to conduct an interview, or host a panel discussion, or engage in an interactive talk show with your audience. You must define this well before you go live.
- Prepare a script – This script will act as a guard rail to prevent you from going astray from the topic when you go live.
- Create hype on social media – You can do this by sharing teaser posts and short clips to create a buzz of excitement before you go live and pique the interest of your audience.
- Test – You must test all your equipment before you go live. While it might be easy to overlook this tip, but one single error can destroy your stream.
👉 During your Live Stream
- Make sure you look into the camera.
- Engage with your audience through comments, polls, and Questions & Answers.
- Multi-stream to all your socials and your website to ensure maximum viewership.
- Use appropriate titles, headers, and captions.
- Avoid the most common live streaming mistakes. Read More: Top 6 Live Streaming Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.
- Deploy valuable tricks and hacks for professional live streaming. Read More: OneStream Live Tips & Tricks for 2021 – Your Complete How-To Guide.
- Use tactics to engage the maximum audience. Read More: How to Engage Maximum Audience During a Live Stream? An Ultimate Guide.
👉 After your Live Stream
- Thank your viewers for watching your video, appreciate their time to motivate them to tune in for your next session.
- Follow-up to any unanswered questions posted during the live video, don’t leave them hanging.
- Share a teaser of what to expect on the next live stream.
- Share the recorded video of your live stream so people can view what they missed.
- Analyze your data to better plan your following streams
Read More: Repurpose your Live Streams: Restream Old Videos for Better Audience Outreach
🎯 Putting it All Together…
Live streaming is no rocket science. However, professional live streaming calls for extra effort and mindfulness of the best equipment and the best practices for ideal results. Using OneStream Live with add the extra pinch of creativity and ease that you need for setting up professional video broadcasts. If you’re not already using OneStream Live for your live streaming and video hosting needs, now is the time to amp up your streaming experience and keep your audience coming back for more live videos.
Download OneStream Mobile App.
OneStream Live is a cloud-based live streaming solution to create, schedule, and multistream professional-looking live streams across 45+ social media platforms and the web simultaneously. For content-related queries and feedback, write to us at [email protected]. You’re also welcome to Write for Us!
