{"id":74286,"date":"2021-10-11T15:00:47","date_gmt":"2021-10-11T19:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=74286"},"modified":"2024-10-31T10:08:54","modified_gmt":"2024-10-31T14:08:54","slug":"how-to-live-stream-step-by-step-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/how-to-live-stream-step-by-step-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Live Stream, Step-by-Step"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u00a0This post has been updated here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Live streaming is a highly effective way to engage with your audience and grow it online. It allows viewers to interact with you directly and follow along with what you’re presenting in real-time. Running a live stream is like having your own broadcast network at your fingertips, but without the upfront investment required to build a studio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea of hosting a live broadcast may seem complex, but it’s pretty simple and almost anyone can do it. If you want to start a YouTube channel<\/a>, live streaming can be a worthwhile strategy. An iOS or Android smartphone with a reliable internet connection is all you need to start broadcasting yourself live to the world. But if you want to achieve a more professional look, you will need dedicated equipment for the task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you need to get started<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To create a professional-looking live stream, you\u2019ll need to invest some money in the following pieces of equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Godox<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lighting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You need a good source of light<\/a> that illuminates the subject’s face. Natural light works, but a ring light or a set of photography lights will give you more control of your scene.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Nikon<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Camera<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can use any webcam for live streaming, but a higher-quality camera will deliver a better-looking stream. Many streamers use mirrorless cameras<\/a> to take advantage of the better lenses they support. Make sure that your camera has what’s known as a clean HDMI out to avoid capturing camera menus in your feed.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"K&F<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tripod<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A tripod<\/a> is a must-have accessory for a live-stream setup. Almost any tripod will do, but make sure it’s tall enough to keep the camera above your eye level for a more flattering look.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Elgato<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Video capture card<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll need a video capture card<\/a> to capture the camera’s HDMI signal to bring your video feed into your computer from a mirrorless camera, DSLR, or camcorder.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Rode<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microphone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A USB desktop microphone<\/a> is a good choice if you’re sitting at a desk. A lavalier microphone<\/a> may be a better solution if your presenter needs to move around or stand in front of a whiteboard.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"CyberPowerPC<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Computer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t need a fancy computer<\/a> for live streaming, but there are some advantages to having a more powerful machine. Video encoding is a CPU-intensive process, but you can offload that work to a graphics card for faster processing. Also, make sure to have at least 8GB of RAM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Software<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most popular live streaming application is Open Broadcast Studio (OBS). It lets you combine multiple media sources, such as your video camera, microphone, and even a mirror of your computer screen, and send the combined feed to your preferred live streaming platform. StreamLabs OBS<\/a> is a great alternative if you\u2019re looking for a more complete package that includes user engagement and monetization features.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Twitch<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose your streaming destination<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The platform you choose for live streaming will depend on who and where your audience is. Some popular options include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n