Live Stream Questions at DVinfo.net

Silas Barker · August 2nd, 2017, 01:47 PM

I have a client who is interested in live streaming their event to youtube or facebook.

What's the nut's and bolts of making it happen? What software / hardware do you recommend?

Totally new to live streaming online.

Thanks so much!

Oren Arieli · August 2nd, 2017, 04:13 PM

If this is a mission-critical event or a particularly big client, I would suggest hiring an expert. I just did the same for a teleconference and let me tell you that it's a whole new ball game when you have to deal with issues beyond just your camera.

Even a single camera stream can be fraught with trouble, as you'll be dealing with network and bandwidth issues. Then there is the paid options like GoTo Meeting, or Zoom that have less lag, but at the expense of quality. There are many pitfalls involved, and you don't want this to be a learning experience on the client's dime.

Edward Carlson · August 2nd, 2017, 04:45 PM

Let me preface this by saying: I think you should hire a professional, especially if this is mission-critical. I am a professional video engineer with a specialization in webcasting.

There are many things to consider when doing a live webcast. First of which is: who is providing the internet? The reliability of the internet connection is the most important thing. If you have a questionable connection, we usually run a backup cell data connection.

Another thing to consider is the platform you're streaming to. Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, Periscope, Livestream, Ustream, Wowza, Akami... There are different technical specs for each of these platforms (Periscope's being the worst at 800 kbps 960x540)

Who is your intended audience? Are you streaming one camera or many? Does the camera move around? How are you handling audio? How long does the stream last?

The nuts-and-bolts are: fast, reliable internet connection, encoder (hardware or software,) RTMP server or streaming platform, and an operator (and a camera, of course.)

Again, I recommend hiring someone with experience doing live webcasts, unless you have a lot of time to experiment and play around beforehand.

Chris Harding · August 2nd, 2017, 07:32 PM

Hi Guys

Chris Hurd has a specific forum for live streaming so most of your advice would come from there not on this forum Might be a sensible idea to post there or get a moderator to move this post??

Donald McPherson · August 3rd, 2017, 12:14 AM

Set up the camera as best you can for audio, composition and exposure. Which I am sure you have done many times. If it's only one camera you could go HDMI to USB converter ( I have Elgato HD) There are many out there if you Google. Software (I use Xsplt broadcaster) again there are many out there. You will need a minimum of Upload 6Mbs for a decent stream and a good laptop. Now it will not be live but around a 12 second lag. I should say this is one of the cheap options but it does work. You pay your money and take what you get.

Chris Harding · August 3rd, 2017, 01:22 AM

We also do wedding streams that don't really need graphics or mixing so that is a really simple setup with a camera with a Teradek encoder on the cold shoe and connected to a 4G router! If you stream to a CDN like Livestream ..your preinstalled event pages come up on the encoder and you simply stream from the camera ... wedding ceremonies are always tricky cos it can be on a beach or park without any power so this is the easiest way for us.

August 2nd, 2017, 01:47 PM	#1
Silas Barker Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 577	Live Stream Questions I have a client who is interested in live streaming their event to youtube or facebook. What's the nut's and bolts of making it happen? What software / hardware do you recommend? Totally new to live streaming online. Thanks so much!

August 2nd, 2017, 04:13 PM	#2
Oren Arieli Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 918	Re: Live Stream Questions If this is a mission-critical event or a particularly big client, I would suggest hiring an expert. I just did the same for a teleconference and let me tell you that it's a whole new ball game when you have to deal with issues beyond just your camera. Even a single camera stream can be fraught with trouble, as you'll be dealing with network and bandwidth issues. Then there is the paid options like GoTo Meeting, or Zoom that have less lag, but at the expense of quality. There are many pitfalls involved, and you don't want this to be a learning experience on the client's dime.

August 2nd, 2017, 04:45 PM	#3
Edward Carlson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: North Hollywood, CA, United States Posts: 807	Re: Live Stream Questions Let me preface this by saying: I think you should hire a professional, especially if this is mission-critical. I am a professional video engineer with a specialization in webcasting. There are many things to consider when doing a live webcast. First of which is: who is providing the internet? The reliability of the internet connection is the most important thing. If you have a questionable connection, we usually run a backup cell data connection. Another thing to consider is the platform you're streaming to. Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, Periscope, Livestream, Ustream, Wowza, Akami... There are different technical specs for each of these platforms (Periscope's being the worst at 800 kbps 960x540) Who is your intended audience? Are you streaming one camera or many? Does the camera move around? How are you handling audio? How long does the stream last? The nuts-and-bolts are: fast, reliable internet connection, encoder (hardware or software,) RTMP server or streaming platform, and an operator (and a camera, of course.) Again, I recommend hiring someone with experience doing live webcasts, unless you have a lot of time to experiment and play around beforehand.

August 2nd, 2017, 07:32 PM	#4
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Live Stream Questions Hi Guys Chris Hurd has a specific forum for live streaming so most of your advice would come from there not on this forum Might be a sensible idea to post there or get a moderator to move this post??

August 3rd, 2017, 12:14 AM	#5
Donald McPherson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Aberdeen Scotland Posts: 815	Re: Live Stream Questions Set up the camera as best you can for audio, composition and exposure. Which I am sure you have done many times. If it's only one camera you could go HDMI to USB converter ( I have Elgato HD) There are many out there if you Google. Software (I use Xsplt broadcaster) again there are many out there. You will need a minimum of Upload 6Mbs for a decent stream and a good laptop. Now it will not be live but around a 12 second lag. I should say this is one of the cheap options but it does work. You pay your money and take what you get.

August 3rd, 2017, 01:22 AM	#6
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Live Stream Questions We also do wedding streams that don't really need graphics or mixing so that is a really simple setup with a camera with a Teradek encoder on the cold shoe and connected to a 4G router! If you stream to a CDN like Livestream ..your preinstalled event pages come up on the encoder and you simply stream from the camera ... wedding ceremonies are always tricky cos it can be on a beach or park without any power so this is the easiest way for us.