Tips For Setting Up Your Own Streaming Station

Live streaming has become extremely popular over the past few years, with both podcasts and game-play streaming gaining significant traction in their respective audiences. Many people enjoy watching live streams of popular computer games, but some people also enjoy listening to podcasts. If you would like to capitalise on the popularity of live streaming, you will need the right equipment for the job. When you are looking for streaming equipment there are considerations to keep in mind. You will need to think about the audio and visual equipment you might need, whether you will need pre- and post-production software for editing, and what type of live stream you are interested in producing. Below are some top tips for setting up your own streaming station that is sure to entertain and educate your audience.

Audio And Visual Capturing Devices

• Mobile Devices: If you are just starting out and want to keep everything as simple and easy as possible you could use a mobile device to film or record your content. The cameras in these phones and tablets are improving on a regular basis, with many mobile phone cameras exceeding the quality of some DSLR cameras. You can use an app such as Facebook, Periscope, or Broadcaster to stream your content.

• Video Cameras: While using your mobile phone or tablet might seem like a simple option to start out with, but once you become serious or gain a larger audience, you might find that a video camera is a better choice. The visuals will be clearer and have better quality, and it is more stable to use as opposed to a mobile phone.

• Microphone: Capturing clear and audio is vital for the success of any streaming project, which is why a microphone is an important piece of streaming equipment. Relying on the recording equipment of a mobile phone or tablet will now provide you with the audio quality you need. Ideally, you should look for a microphone that can block out background noise, especially if you are recording in a noisy area.

Time For A Tripod

Once you have chosen your camera and your audio recording equipment, you will need to invest in a tripod so that your camera remains stable throughout your filming process. Without a tripod to steady your camera when filming, your content will be blurry, shaky, and not very pleasant to watch. If you are not filming your content, you may not need a tripod, but it is advisable for those who are recording audio content using a mobile device. This is because, if you move around while recording, the sound quality could become an issue. Your tripod should be on a flat, level surface and you should ensure that it cannot easily be moved during filming.

All About Audio Mixers

Good-quality sound is often overlooked when it comes to streaming, as many people focus on producing visually-pleasing content. However, your equipment list should include an audio mixer. In a simple setup, using one microphone will suffice, but if you are using more than one microphone, then an audio mixer is a necessity. An audio mixer converts audio signals into digital format for broadcasting, as well as controlling the volumes and tones of each of these sound sources. Your audio will be crisp and clear, helping to improve your listener’s experience and allowing you to provide high-quality content to your audience. Audio mixers will ensure that your podcasts are crystal clear and that your game streaming sounds as good as it looks.

Putting It All Together