In the age of COVID-19, it appears social distancing is going to be common practice among Americans for a while. Unfortunately, this means many events people enjoy throughout the year are being put on hold or rescheduled for later dates. However, some determined individuals refuse to be deprived of their passions and have adopted the mantra that the show must go on. By turning to technology, they’ve been able to bring their events to the masses via live stream over the internet.
Live stream has allowed popular musicians to bring real-time jam sessions from their living room to yours. It’s also allowed people to attend Sunday morning services in their pyjamas. People who had little knowledge of live streaming pre-coronavirus are quickly learning about this technological option for social engagement as a means to adapt to this new way of life.
Casual live streaming
If you’ve ever called someone on Apple’s FaceTime or Facebook’s Messenger, then you’ve live-streamed. Live streaming is simply sharing real-time audio and video. You don’t have to be a tech expert to live stream. Your smartphone has the ability to broadcast audio and video to platforms like YouTube and Facebook. For smaller and more personal live streams, these are excellent solutions and the best advantage of using social media is they are offered to everyone completely free of charge.
But, if you’re planning to live-stream an event like a concert, service, conference, or important meeting, you’ll want to use a better setup that includes digital video equipment, sound equipment, a computer with a production studio, and an internet connection. This equipment setup you choose should give you quality audio and video that looks professional.
Professional grade audio and video equipment
The options for audio and video will seem endless. Computers and smartphones come with built-in cameras and mics, but for larger venues, these aren’t going to pick up every sound, and the sounds they do pick up won’t sound great. Professional quality must sound great.
Most professional-grade video cameras will also come with built-in mics. Like your smartphone, though these mics may be a step up, cameras aren’t intended to pick up professional-quality audio, just as a mic with a built-in camera, if such a device existed, wouldn’t provide quality video. Audio equipment is the most important feature of your setup because if you can’t understand what is being said, or if the music sounds bad, your viewers aren’t going to stay tuned in.
There are many brands to choose from, but the important thing to consider is the direction from which the mic picks up sound. If you have one to three people talking, a setup with individual mics pinned to each speaker’s shirt might be best, but if you’re recording an entire choir or band, opting for a multi-directional mic will be better suited.
If you ask three videographers which camera will work best for your event, you’ll get three different answers. Popular brands include DSLR versions of Sony, Fuji Film and Panasonic. Even an entry-level version of any of these brands is going to be better than the video quality that streams from your smartphone or computer webcam.
A computer and platform for your live streaming event
A computer is an excellent choice for bundling and mixing your audio and video, but as is the case with sound and visual, not just any computer can do the job. A computer that is capable of handling this type of demanding usage is going to need a good processor with lots of memory. Because these types of computers are out of the price range of most beginners, a live stream iMac rental makes a great option. The iMac Pro is designed for graphics experts and videographers to handle the most demanding of processing jobs.
There aren’t nearly as many options for choosing a production platform, but there are some good choices. While you can get an open-source platform for free, it’s going to more difficult to learn. You could purchase software without a subscription, but if you find you can’t operate it, it’s not going to be much value to you.
If you need user friendly, you might subscribe to a streaming service to see if it’s a good fit with your ability. Important things to consider are budget, the number of inputs and outputs you need to manage, and whether you want the capability to add graphics and text during your streaming event.
How to access the internet
It’s possible your venue won’t have internet service, especially if its location is outdoors. It’s also possible that your indoor event will have the Internet, but other people will be using it as well. For the best quality, you want to use your own dedicated access point. The internet you use to stream your event is as important as every other piece of equipment you use. The solution is to bring your own internet through a provider of temporary internet rental.
The availability of live streaming has enabled people to stay connected. Perhaps the best lesson COVID-19 has taught the world is that people do adapt, and they will find a means to continue working together. People will always have passions, and they’ll always have a desire to share those passions. Thanks to those who have kept moving forward through the tough times, the show has continued to go on.
Photograph by FreeStocks