How to Live Stream Like a Pro on a Budget

Live stream like a

pro, on a budget

Aaron CackoskiThe Music Greenhouse

Jason SamuelsNational Council on Family

Relations

About the

presenters

Aaron Cackoski• Owner, The Music Greenhouse

• 15 years experience producing live and recorded audiovisual content

• Broadcast material includes everything from local bands to city officials to the Dalai Lama

• Has built his own live media streaming capture devices and server

Jason Samuels• Director of Innovation and

Technology, National Council on Family Relations

• Responsible for annual conference technology and audiovisual planning

• Develops live and on-demand streaming media libraries

• Accidental techie, figures it out along the way

Notes and resources:bit.ly/livestream-mnnptech

Who is live

streaming?

How can your org use live streamin

g?

Mobile streamin

g

Mobile live streaming appsPeriscope

Facebook Live (coming soon)YouTube Connect (coming soon)Meerkat (just pivoted)

Streaming from a

PC

Casual live streaming platforms

YouTube LiveTwitch

Google Hangouts on Air

Professional

Streaming

Pro streaming components• Video sources (camera and

other)• Video mixer• Encoder• Streaming service

Mixing and encoding software• Wirecast ($500 - $1,000)

• Vidblaster ($200 - $2,000)

• Livestream Studio – Full ($800)

• Streamstar ($1,000 or $55/mo)

• Ustream Producer* ($280 - $550)

*only works with Ustream service

Mixing and encoding software• Wirecast Play* (Free - $550)

• XSplit Broadcaster ($15/3 mo. - $450)

• vMix ($60 - $1,200)

• Livestream Studio – Limited** (Free)

• Open Broadcast Studio (Free and open source)

*only works with YouTube Live **only works with Livestream service

Free encoding only software• Adobe Flash Media Live

Encoder• FFMPEG (command line only)

Encoding only works if you have a single video input, or input from an external mixer

• Livestream Broadcaster ($400 - $600)

• Teradek VidiU ($500 - $2,500)

• Ask Aaron about his Raspberry Pi based streamer

Portable encoders mount on a video camera and stream to the internet

Portable streamer boxes

Turn key systems

Live streaming platforms

UstreamDaCast

YouTube LiveLivestream

Wowza

• Wirecast Go (iOS only)

• LiveStream Producer Mobile• Ustream apps • Wowza GoCoder

Streaming platform mobile apps

Shift change

Make a diagram of the event

• Physical space• Technical interfaces• Event specific layout

Planning

Event flow

• What will happen?• Is there a projector

presentation• Will there be questions /

answers

Planning

• Camera• Streaming device• Sound• Lighting

Equipment

• Smartphone• Wireless - simple

• Webcam• Inexpensive – built for computer

• Video camera• High quality – versatile

Camera

• Smartphone• Use apps to stream

• Computer• Reliable – switch multiple cameras

• Mobile streamer• Portable – few moving parts

Streamer

• Webcam• USB video input• Firewire• Internal interface card

Connecting to the computer

• Add graphics• Presenter IDs

• Event logo• Multiple angles

• Multiple cameras / PowerPoint

Switching software

Before / after switching software

Encodes video signals for the web

• Flash Media Live Encoder• Provider specific application• Integrated switching

program

Streaming software

• Use a PA system• Especially in larger rooms

• Patch directly in to the sound system

• Make sure everything is heard by the camera

Sound

• Audio board gives maximum control

• Level out presenter's voices• Maintain consistent volume

Sound

• Light everything on camera• Angle lighting downwards• Up light the background

Lighting

Three point lighting

• Key• Fill• Backlight

Lighting

• Consider video background• Design the stage with

interest• Avoid busy patterns

Background

• Cover cables (rug or gaffer's tape)

• Store away empty cases• Raised camera

Best practices

• Test internet• Determine stream quality

• 500 Kbps – 4 Mbps• Get a hard line where you

can

Streaming

• YouTube• Livestream• Ustream• Wowza

Server

Case study

Digital video streaming setup

• Camera and video from laptop feed in to the computer board

• Computer has software that acts as both a digital switcher and encoder, feeds out to live streaming platform

Presentation to streaming setup• Surface Pro 3 at the podium

• Video cable connects to an HDMI splitter

• One HDMI cable goes to the projector• Other HDMI cable to extender kit

transmitter• Extender kit receiver is back at the

tech table• HDMI cable connects to the streaming

computer• Video camera also connects to the

computer

• Running vMix switching and encoding software

• Hard wired internet line• USB 3.0 portable monitor• PC build:

Computer build / configuration

• Core i7-6700K• 16GB DDR4 RAM• 256 GB SSD• 2x 2TB HDD (RAID

1)

• GeForce GT 730 graphics card

• 2x Blackmagic Decklink Mini Recorder

Q & A

Thank you