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To produce great content in real time, you will need to learn the basics. Let's start with the minimum requirements to live stream events, such as Weddings, Conferences, Funerals or any others:
You will need a stable internet connection: the minimum required upload speed is 3mbps.
The best way to guarantee a successful live stream is to have two internet sources. A WiFi connection on location + a data plan on your mobile phone or Wireless hotspot.
Once you sorted out the internet, you will need a recording device, a microphone, and a tripod. For best results, you can get a gimbal too.
Let me show you three simple setups so you can decide which one works best for your needs.
Beginner Live Streaming Gear for Events
All this setup requires is this:
- Smartphone
- Tripod with a Phone Mount.
- Live Streaming App
- Mobile data plan and/or WiFi
To improve your setup, connect a microphone to your phone.
You can use pretty much every phone for this setup, but you should know that newer phones offer noticeable improvements regarding battery life, as well as image quality.
Some of our videographers decide to place the smartphone right on top of their camera and live stream exactly the same angle they’re recording at the event.
A few tech-savvy users also connected their camera feed to an Android phone via USB-C and live streamed weddings with the EventLive app.
The main benefit of this setup is that you can do it while you record the event and it doesn’t require extra employees or complex setups to make it work. The video will be automatically saved to the phone and you can edit it and re-upload it to the live stream link if you wanted to.
Tips:
- Do not forget to fully charge your phone before starting.
- Bring a power bank just to be safe.
- Get any tripod, you don’t need a fancy one for this setup.
- Set your phone to Do Not Disturb.
Just a little disclaimer about GoPro Cameras:
We’ve had many users trying to live stream using GoPro cameras. Even though it can be done, we’re reluctant to recommend them for multiple reasons: they fail to connect sometimes, audio from GoPros is pretty bad, their battery life is far from great, and they tend to overheat very quickly (even the GoPro 10). A smartphone is a better alternative 90% of the time.
Intermediate Setup for Live Streaming Events
The intermediate setup involves using a camera with a laptop and OBS to live stream events.
The jump in quality is not always noticeable for guests, as a single camera angle won’t look like a cinematic production, but this setup comes with a few benefits.
You can get a wireless microphone such as the Wireless Rode Go and place it inside the groom’s jacket, or even on the officiant’s microphone. This will allow you to get crisp audio and your viewers at home will be thankful for it.
The main benefit of this setup is the jump in audio quality. The main disadvantage is the need for a laptop/software configuration before starting the event.
What will you need for this setup to work?
- DSRL or Mirrorless Camera
- An HDMI output port on your camera
- Some cameras require a Capture Card and others can live stream acting as a webcam
- Laptop
- OBS Installed + Configured
- Cables + Power source if your laptop requires it
- WiFi or Wireless Hotspot
Connect your camera to your laptop using an USB cable or Capture Card via HDMI.
Open OBS, and insert EventLive's RTMP keys to go live whenever you're ready.
Tips:
- Do not place your laptop under a full sun or it might overheat.
- Configure OBS properly before starting the live stream to avoid black bars on top/bottom of the video feed and a laggy video.
- Run a live streaming test before starting, to monitor your audio, video and upload speed.
Advanced Live Streaming Setup for Videographers
Experienced videographers might have advanced gear that you want to use for live streaming, so I'll help you build a setup that works with what you already have.
This setup will be focused on a multi-camera live stream.
You will need:
- 2 or more DSLR or Mirrorless cameras
- Microphone: Wireless Rode Go II are great for this.
- Switcher or Hardware Encoder
- Video monitor + Smartphone or Laptop + OBS
- WiFi or Wireless Hotspot
- HDMI Cables
- Power source if your devices needed it
Connect your cameras to your hardware encoder, such as ATEM Mini, SlingStudio, Vidiu X or similar. There are devices such as LiveU Solo or YoloBox that allow you to do this without the need of a computer.
Set up your audio, and connect it to the same device.
You will be using the Hardware Encoder to collect all inputs (Video + Audio) and switch between camera angles during the live event.
Most encoders will connect to a laptop, live streaming through OBS. If you choose to use ATEM Mini (which is an excellent option), you can use the webcam output connected directly to your computer.
Once you receive the video feed on the computer, you can configure OBS with EventLive's RTMP keys and live stream your event.
Final Tips about Live Streaming Gear
As Kayla, one of our successful live streamers said, "keep it simple in the beginning. Even your phone is extremely powerful, and EventLive has made it so easy".
Start with the basics and once you figure it out, you can scale your production to any level that makes you happy. We're here to guide you every step of the way. If you're still considering which setup is the right one for your level of experience, get in touch with us.
We're happy to guide you for free. We're always looking to make more friends amongst the live streaming community.
