Your Guide to Livestreaming Equipment

 Will it be livestreamed?

You’d agree with me that this question is becoming increasingly common. Little wonder people spent a whopping total of 8.99 billion hours on livestreamed content in the Q2 of 2021 according to Streamlabs.

Whether it’s in relation to a large-scale Annual Conference or a family member’s milestone birthday, a book launch or a political rally, a fundraising program or a weekly religious service…and in recent times, even a funeral service, there’s someone out there who’s simply exercising his or her digital citizenship by asking,

Will it be livestreamed?

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT LIVESTREAMING EQUIPMENT

And more often than not, the answer to this recurring question, ‘will it be livestreamed?’ should be a resounding ‘Yes’ for your organization or even for a non-corporate event.

However, beyond saying an exciting ‘Yes’ to livestreaming needs, individuals and organizations need to have sufficient knowledge on how to identify, optimize and set up livestreaming equipment to give both the host and online audience the best experience possible.

Here are three basic components for an effective livestreaming setup?

1. VIDEO & AUDIO SOURCES

If you are only livestreaming on-screen content (such as a presentation), your computer or mobile screen serves as your video source. But if you are livestreaming an off-screen onsite content or activity (such as a Training, Fundraising etc.), then you’d need a camera. As for audio sources, this spans across microphones, mixer feeds etc.

• VIDEO ENCODER

 Think of Video Encoders as your livestreaming courier services. Except that in this case, these encoders help ‘pick up’ you audio and visual content from the respective sources and deliver them over the internet to the streaming destination.

There are primarily three types of encoders you can use; Hardware Encoder, Software Encoder and RTMP Encoder.

• Streaming Destination: The streaming destination is simply the platform where your audience can get to consume or engage your content. There are audio and video streaming platforms, just as there are free and premium streaming platforms

VIDEO CAMERA

What a good foundation is to a high rise building is what a good camera is to a livestreaming delivery. You need a high quality video camera to capture your event. Know this and know peace.

Depending on whether your event is a birthday celebration or a an international conference, there are different grades of cameras you can consider for your next livestreaming event;

Entry-Level cameras

The really good thing about Entry-level Cameras is that they are lightweight and easy to use, usually more pocket-friendly and they produce quality video content with the right lighting conditions. They come highly recommended for starters because they have basic connectivity and do not come with lots of manual controls. Highly recommended as mobile live streaming cameras, below are examples of entry-level cameras;

Prosumer Video Cameras

With higher quality, more manual controls and HDMI connections, the prosumer cameras are well suited for consumers.

Examples of Prosumer Video Cameras are

• DSLR cameras
• Mirrorless cameras
• 4K cameras 
• Prosumer camcorders 

Professional Video Cameras

If you need a camera that offers more manual controls and better video quality, excellent images through the use of high-resolution sensors, ability to use interchangeable lenses and the delivery of highest-quality professional livestreams, then professional cameras are your best pick.

Good examples are

• EFT cameras
• Cinema cameras

AUDIO EQUIPMENT

It really gets frustrating when livestreaming broadcasts produce unstable, low or any other form of poor-quality audio. Even if video quality is stunning and top-notch, poor audio can completely mess up the audience experience and this is why it’s advisable to invest in quality audio gadgets such as the ones below available at Holocene Innovations.

MIXING EQUIPMENT

Mixing equipment enables you to switch between multiple audio and video sources in the course of a livestreaming broadcast, it is designed for broadcasting larger multi-camera live streaming shot and it is most essential for;

• Business Conferences
• Music productions
• Sporting Events
• Religious Services
• Ceremonies

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a good video mixing equipment;

• Inputs and Outputs
• Automation & Connectivity
• Physical size
• On-board Processing

Likewise, for a right choice of audio mixing equipment, the following specs should be considered;

• Number of Input and Output Channels
• On/Off or Mute Buttons
• Auxiliary and monitor buses and outputs
• Digital Inputs
• Control via a network App

For quality mixing equipment, you can consider any of the following available at Holocene Innovations. The following AVmatrix switcher are designed the streaming features as such you may not need a separate encoder to stream with these switchers.

ENCODERS

Video encoding is very important in quality livestreaming as it compresses video files without compromising the quality. It also helps to reduce buffering during video streaming, meet certain bit rates, convert audio formats or quality, change resolution or aspect ratio, makes videos compatible with certain devices (computer, tablet, smartphones, smart TV, legacy devices etc).

Some really good encoders that’d deliver well for your next livestreaming can be seen below;

Datavideo NVS-40 Streaming Server Workflow

WILL IT BE LIVESTREAMED?

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Armed with this guide, saying a resounding ‘Yes!’ to livestreaming requests and much more importantly, being able to deliver awesome audiovisual and  experiences to our clients, community members, friends and families, staff, investors etc. has been made a delightful possibility. So, go ahead, keep connecting, keep creating, keep expanding your reach and keep saying yes!