So at one point or another in life you have probably been surfing the web and all of a sudden you have seen a sporting event, musical performance, or even a church service pop up on your screen with the word LIVE in the top right hand corner or bottom left hand corner. You probably have also wondered what that GO LIVE button on Facebook is all about. Thanks to the everchanging world of technology it’s never been easier to share almost any experience with your family, friends, and well everyone else on the internet. Welcome to the world of live streaming.
In this guide by stelklaw.com we will share with you what exactly is live streaming and how to go about taking part in this world wide phenomenon.
What is Live Streaming?
First things first. You probably are wondering what exactly is live streaming. Simply put, live streaming is the video broadcasting of a real-time, live video to an audience over the internet or across social media channels. Setting up a live stream is relatively simple. All you really need is an internet enabled device such a tablet or smartphone and a platform to broadcast on.
The Growth Of Live Streaming
Live streaming has grown in popularity year after year. From influencers to young people looking for the chance to be creators and presenters of their own unique content. No longer do they have to be just passive absorbers of other people’s content. One of the most appealing factors to live streaming is the immediacy factor. No longer do you have to worry about editing and your viewers can comment in real time as they follow along.
The success of original live streaming platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, and Periscope have led to more traditional social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and twitter to adopt live streaming into their in-app experience.
What you’ll need to start live streaming?
Now that you know exactly what live streaming is you probably want to know how to get started! Your going to want to make sure you have the following to ensure that your live stream runs smoothly:
- A video & audio source-a video camera, laptop, tablet, smartphone
- A video encoder-smartphone, tablet, computer with streaming software installed
- A streaming destination-Twitch, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter
- A stable internet connection
Now that you have everything you need to set up a live stream, let’s look at some important things to remember in regards to setting up your actual stream.
Always ensure you have enough battery power
The last thing you want to have happen during your stream is run out of battery on whatever device you’re using for your stream. Always make sure to be fully charged or have spare batteries just in case.
Test Your Internet Connection
It’s always a good idea to run a speed test on your device prior to going live with your stream. This will help ensure you have a sufficient amount of bandwidth needed to make sure your stream broadcasts smoothly with limited hiccups.
Check Your Sound
Make sure that your sound levels are appropriate on whichever device you are using for the stream. Last thing you want to do is make your audience go deaf or even worse not be able to hear your broadcast.
Run A Dummy Test
It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Most experienced streamers test their live stream on a dummy account/private channel first. This way you can learn whether your bitrate is sufficient, see how the picture looks, check how you sound, and give you a chance to make any final tweaks.
There are many different types of live streams and the topic is very broad. The first step to a great live stream is taking the plunge and diving right in. Always remember all great live streamers started somewhere. Hopefully this guide gave you the basic fundamentals of what’s needed to get started and important things to remember when it comes to a successful live stream.