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Broadcasting, Live Streaming Hardware, Live Streaming Software, How To Live Stream, Featured Business

How to Start Live Streaming: Equipment, Platforms + More

Back in 2013 — when we started working with broadcasters — live streaming was limited and complicated. Creating great live video was a complex process and, for many organizations, the low-quality, low-impact results often didn't justify the hassle.

Now, live streaming is more approachable and more relevant for all. While broadcasting content is easier than ever before, understanding the many factors involved in the setup can still be overwhelming. The various hardware, software, and platform options can create a barrier to getting started.

Every day, members of our team consult on the live streaming setups of beginners and experts alike. This post condenses the internal knowledge we've developed over the years to help you if you have little-to-no-experience with video or broadcasting. It provides an overview and highlights potential pitfalls.

Overview

There are lots of ways to set up a live stream. You can pull out your phone, open Facebook, and start streaming to Facebook Live on the spot. Alternatively, you can build a multi-million-dollar TV studio with dozens of cameras and hire a full-time staff to run it. Unsurprisingly, most organizations find themselves somewhere in between those two extremes.

To understand where you fit into the picture, we're going to break down the live streaming process into a few different parts:

  1. Audio + Video Capture — How you capture video and audio to send to your viewers (cameras, camcorders, mobile devices, etc.) 
  2. Production — How you add other elements (like overlays, titles, or switching between cameras) to your live video to increase presentation quality
  3. Going Live — How you efficiently send your locally recorded video to your viewers around the world
  4. Video Management — What you do with the video once your live stream is complete to make it an evergreen piece of content
  5. Final Thoughts — More tips and further reading to continue developing your live streaming skills.

Audio + Video Capture

In the past, if you wanted to broadcast, you needed a video camera. Now, you can stream from all kinds of devices.

Laptops + Computers

With the prevalence of streaming platforms available, it’s not difficult to begin live streaming right at your desk with just your computer or laptop. Popular internet streamers and influencers do this all the time, but it’s an incredibly useful way to present information for hybrid and virtual events, businesses, nonprofits, schools, and churches, too.

One way to live stream events and broadcast directly from a computer is with Producer by BoxCast. Presenting content or PowerPoint slideshows with picture-in-picture mode and lower thirds are just a few advantages of using a web browser streaming platform like Producer. Check out the breakdown of more ways to enhance your live streams without leaving your desk.

Producer by BoxCast UI with woman speaking into laptop webcam

Mobile Devices

The cameras on our phones and tablets are getting better each year. In 2014, you couldn't broadcast video from your phone — even if you could, it wouldn't have been high-quality video. Now, not only can you broadcast from a phone, but you can also do it well. All you need is a live streaming app like Broadcaster, Facebook, or Twitter.

Mobile devices — paired with a live streaming platform — are extremely reasonable options if you're a live streaming beginner, as long as:

Video Cameras

While mobile devices are now a legitimate alternative, video cameras remain the best way to broadcast high-quality video.

There are thousands of types of video cameras. To simplify, we'll look at four specific types of video cameras: consumer, prosumer, professional, and pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras.

Read: The Best Video Cameras for Live Streaming

Check out: Our Most Recent Recommendations

Consumer Video Cameras

Consumer cameras are a great place to start if you're streaming for the first time. Built intuitively and at a low price point, these cameras can still pack a punch. You'll forgo some of the additional elements of top-of-the-line cameras, but you can still create great video.

Our favorite consumer camera is the Canon VIXIA (there are several different models) with the Magnus VT-4000 tripod

Prosumer Video Cameras

Prosumer cameras are a step up from consumer cameras in terms of lens capabilities and overall picture quality. These mid-level options are ideal for small or midsize organizations looking to create a professional stream.

In this space, we like to recommend the Canon XA15 because of its zoom capabilities and professional-level outputs.

Professional Video Cameras

If you have a professional videographer on staff and cameras with the latest technology (plus a decent budget, of course), you can create visually stunning video content. If you're buying a camera for the future, make sure it has 4K output capabilities.

We love the Panasonic AG-DVX200 because it can output 4K and has expanded dynamic range capabilities.

PTZ Cameras

PTZ cameras mount on a wall or ceiling of a room. You can control them with a remote or leave them alone as stationary cameras.

Here are several we really like.

Other Options

You can use different types of cameras to stream. Some mirrorless cameras, IP cameras, and GoPros will work in certain situations.

If you do choose to use a non-standard video camera, make sure to double-check your specs before building your setup. You should look at the maximum length of recordings and ensure there's a clean HDMI output.

What to Watch Out For

Your audio setup. Too many people spend too much time thinking about picture quality and not enough time considering sound quality. In most situations, a live stream is only as good as your ability to hear it.

Doing too much, too fast. If you're broadcasting for the first time, do yourself a favor and make it simple. Start small by building a smooth workflow for you and your team. You can always grow your production down the road.

Production

Production elements are the additional features (overlays, titles, switching between cameras, etc.) you bring into your stream to improve the viewer experience. While using production tools is a great way to increase viewer engagement, they also require additional manpower. This brings us to our first point: You don't have to enhance your stream with production elements — they're a nice bonus.

When You Want an Automated Setup

If you can't actively produce a live stream, that's okay. You can set up a feed from a PTZ camera in the back of the room or a video camera on a tripod and not have to worry about anything else.

Small Production Elements You Might Want to Add

If you have the staff for a bigger production, there are a few bang-for-your-buck additions that'll create a better viewing experience. Switching between cameras can add variety to your broadcast. Overlaying images and titles or other elements (like scoreboards) provides better context for your viewers tuning in.

Production Tools

Sometimes, you can get away with adding simple production elements without an extra piece of hardware. A few live streaming platforms (like BoxCast) provide a built-in graphic overlays feature for placing images on top of the video mid-broadcast. You can also switch up your video feeds, share screens, display lower thirds, and customize branding assets and graphics with Producer. These keep your production more professional, enhance your image and brand, and engage your audience more than just a static video feed.

If you want to change between two camera angles a few times, you can do so with a basic HDMI switch.

Outside of those simple production enhancements, you'll need a hardware-based or software-based video switcher. We recommend hardware, but here are our favorites of each type for beginners.

What to Watch Out For

Making things too complicated. We've said it before, and we'll repeat it again: Make your workflow easy. Don't try to add too much production too fast.

Considering the staff or volunteer time required. Video production requires producers and camera people. Whenever our team produces a live stream with heavy production, we have a handful of people involved.

More fun stuff creates more work to do — it's the broadcaster's trade-off.

Going Live

Up to this point, we've covered capturing video and adding optional production elements. To live stream, you also need to send that video to the internet in real time.

You have two big questions to answer:

  • Where do I want to send my stream?
  • How am I going to get it there?

Where To Send Your Stream

There are a limitless number of destinations for your live stream, including your own website, Facebook Live, YouTube, Twitter, and smart TV apps.

Your Own Website

Your own site is the best place you can serve your viewers with your brand and resources.

Facebook Live

Of all of the streaming platforms, Facebook Live is the most popular because of its social power. If you already have a large audience on Facebook, you may find Facebook Live an important destination for your streams because of its potential for high viewership.

YouTube

When you think about video on the internet, YouTube is the biggest name in the industry. With over 1 billion unique viewers each month, the platform is an effective space for sharing your digital video content.

Twitter

While Periscope used to be the streaming tool of choice or Twitter, the social media giant officially sunset Periscope in March 2021. Now live streaming is directly incorporated into Twitter proper. Many organizations with active Twitter accounts can benefit from streaming live video to this destination.

Other Destinations

There are many other places you may want to send your live stream. Each one comes with its unique advantages and disadvantages.

You don't need to stream to every destination. For example, if you don't already have a YouTube following, it's probably not worth your time to manage a stream there. Pick a few spots that work for you and focus on growing your audience in those places.

How to Get It There

All live streaming destinations require sending your stream to the internet.

If you're using a mobile device for capture or a software switcher for production, your video is already one step closer to the internet, since it's sitting on a phone or computer.

If you're using video cameras for capture and a hardware switcher for production, then you'll need to connect to a local network.

Using a Phone/Laptop/Tablet to Connect to Internet

If you're capturing or producing your video on an internet-connected device, you don't need a hardware encoder. You do need a platform — app or software — with encoding and content distribution.

Producer has these encoding and distribution abilities baked in, so you can go live in just a few clicks on your computer, no extra hardware or other equipment needed.

On your phone, your Facebook or your Twitter app can encode video. Unfortunately, those apps will only distribute the video for their own platforms. If you rely on those social apps for encoding, you'll be limited to streaming to one destination.

If you want to stream from an iOS device, but also need to stream to multiple destinations, consider BoxCast's Broadcaster app. Broadcaster is the most powerful way to broadcast 1080p60 HD live video directly from your iPhone or iPad.

Using a Hardware Encoder to Connect to the Internet

If you're not using an internet-connected device for capture and production, you'll need a hardware encoder to send video to the internet from your camera or hardware switcher.

At BoxCast, we offer two hardware encoders built specifically for organizations. The BoxCaster is an easy-to-use, powerful encoder that can stream up to 1080p. The BoxCaster Pro is BoxCast’s most powerful encoder, designed for easy, automated, professional-level streaming.

Simulcasting (Streaming to Multiple Destinations)

Simulcasting is the name for live streaming to multiple destinations (like your website, social platforms, mobile apps, and smart TV apps) simultaneously.

Multi-destination streaming a great way for your organization to grow its audience. If you aren't sending your broadcast to various platforms, you're missing out on viewership.

At BoxCast, we simplify simulcasting by allowing you to set up a broadcast with as many destinations as you need with a single click. You can save time and plan ahead by scheduling broadcasts days or weeks before you go live. Our platform also lets you set recurring broadcasts and upload your events in bulk.

What to Watch Out For

Your internet upload speed. The top priority for you as a broadcaster is to ensure you maintain a good network for your live stream. Whether you're using Wi-Fi or a cabled connection, read up on minimum bandwidth requirements and the factors that affect them.

Video Management

The last aspect of live streaming is what happens to your video when the stream is complete. In many cases, the recordings of those broadcasts can be just as important for viewers as the live video.

Consider where your recorded broadcasts will be hosted for on-demand playback, how to edit them, who has control of them, and how long they'll be available to you.

Recorded Video Editing + Management

Once your live stream is complete, you'll have an opportunity to improve the recorded video for easier viewing. You might consider a platform with the ability to do the following:

Automatic Archiving (While Maintaining URL Link)

If you send everyone to a specific link to watch your live video, intuitively, you want the recorded version of that video available in the same spot. This way, your viewers will see your content when they click on the old links.

Downloading and re-uploading videos for on-demand playback is painful. Avoid that process.

Trimming

If your stream starts late or ends early, you may end up with superfluous footage at the beginning and end of your broadcast. You need a way to cut out any unnecessary video at the beginning or end of your broadcast.

Broadcast Replacements

Whether you want to upload a locally recorded version or replace it with a post-processed video, a broadcast replacement option can make this easy. This tool should ideally maintain all existing listing links, embeds, and analytics from the original broadcast.

Video Marking

Video markers allow you to tag significant moments in your broadcasts so viewers can reference them easily. Whether you're tagging the topics of a city council meeting agenda, marking the moment of a goal in a soccer game, or breaking apart a five-hour business presentation, video markers can help your viewers quickly find what they're looking for.

Ownership and Content Rights

You may assume that any content you create is owned by you — it's not. If you stream to Facebook Live or YouTube directly, those companies own your videos.

In addition to owning your content so they can monetize it, YouTube and Facebook need complete control to stop any video they deem in violation of copyright law. In theory, it seems good that these platforms crack down on copyright law, but in practice, the policy can be a big concern for organizations. These platforms have algorithms that pick up video and sound that infringe on copyrighted material, and they're not always accurate.

We often encounter cases where organizations lost access to their account or were unable to access their own videos because of faulty algorithms.

All this to say, you should keep copies of your video content in another location, where you have control. With a platform like BoxCast, you have ownership of your material. You remove it when you want to, you manage it, and keep it as long as you need.

What to Watch Out For

How long you actually need your archives. For most organizations, viewership of recorded streams decreases over time. Have a certain length of time you want to keep your broadcasts available in mind. Forever isn't always the answer.

The ability to download. Make sure you have a way to download your broadcasts for internal record-keeping. It's always good practice to keep a backup copy.

Final Thoughts + Further Reading

Hopefully you've picked up the basics of what you need to start live streaming. To learn more, check out the following articles and guides: