Are you planning on broadcasting a live event, and you need the best equipment for live streaming? If the answer is yes, you’ve come to the right place. We did the groundwork for you and listed those critical items you need to stream any event!

Is a Livestream Camera Expensive?

Technology has gone a long way in the last decade or two. Thanks to that, you don’t have to break the bank to get a camera suitable for live streaming. Furthermore, you don’t have to spend a single cent. You can use webcams integrated with your laptop, but the odds are that the video won’t be of sufficient quality.

If you don’t want to spend anything, a smartphone camera is the right way to go. These devices are powerful, and their cameras can deliver decent picture quality.

However, if you want to take everything to the highest level, the experts recommend a professional-grade live streaming camera. You can’t go wrong with Sony, Panasonic or other premium brands. Those who plan on streaming sports and other events with lots of action should consider an action camera.

How to Determine the Number of Cameras Required

Apart from the type of camera that you will use, it is necessary to determine the number of video devices to use. The primary consideration when deciding this is the event size. It is hard to cover an entire stadium with a single camera. On the other hand, one unit should be sufficient for a small room.

You can consider adding multiple cameras to stream the event from different angles. That can make things more interesting for the viewers, and you will be able to capture all details better. By using the main camera and several auxiliary ones, you ensure that the latter can be of lower quality, which can save you some money.

The important thing to note is that you should always place the camera on a specialized tripod. Viewers can be forgiving to video quality to some extent, but they get extremely annoyed with shaky footage. Tripods have the role of stabilizing image quality, which makes them a crucial investment piece.

Audio Equipment

After taking care of the details related to the video, you can proceed to audio. It will be easier if you can rely on an existing sound system on the premises. If that is not the case, the only solution is finding high-quality audio equipment.

Most cameras have the capability of capturing audio, but will it be of the right quality? What if the speaker is 20 feet away from the camera? The odds are the device’s capabilities won’t capture the sound properly.

That is why those who are serious about live streaming usually focus on using microphones to capture audio. A condenser microphone that features a tabletop stand is ideal for those events with speakers. They are more stationary, which makes using these microphones convenient, especially since they are great at eliminating background noise.

You can also consider clip-on microphones like on TV. These secure that certain people can always be heard, wherever they are. Wireless support will eliminate the need to use cables, which is a functional and aesthetic solution.

Do You Need an Audio Mixer?

If you are using microphones at several places, you will need an audio mixer. That will secure you can combine the sound from multiple sources the way it suits you. It will be easy to adjust volume levels and other details.

A Powerful Computer

You will need either a laptop or desktop PC with encoding software. These specialized streaming apps require plenty of RAM, which is why you need a powerful machine. Apart from 8-16GB of RAM, pick a processor with multiple logical cores so it can do video processing. It will help if you have an SSD as that can speed up the performance of the computer.

Other Things That You Need for Live Streaming

Here are some other considerations for live streaming:

• Internet connection – it is best to avoid Wi-Fi since it is not stable. A wired connection is a better option, but you also need sufficient upload bandwidth. For HD videos, go for 3mbps or more, while low-quality might be suitable for connections around 1mbps.
• Cables and ports – people often forget that they need cables and ports to connect everything. Your PC should have sufficient USB ports, and make sure to calculate the cable length to avoid any problems during the installation.
• Streaming platform – you can use multiple free platforms, such as Facebook Live or Twitch. Alternatively, pick a premium platform to ensure everything is up to your expectations.

Always remember that nothing beats picking a premium live streaming company to do the job for you. That way, you can kick back and relax while we ensure the viewers get the best possible stream quality!