Business streaming success: Mastering high-quality live streams
Just a few decades ago, people who wanted to watch live events being broadcast from anywhere had to purchase fancy satellites and televisions. Now, anyone with a mobile device can watch live streams from all over the world on social media, streaming services, and websites. This change presents an opportunity for businesses that are willing to take the time to master this new medium.
Why bother with live streaming?
Investing in the equipment and expertise to create high quality live streams may not seem worth it to some smaller companies, but rest assured that it is. Live streaming has become a crucial aspect of any successful digital marketing campaign. People have come to expect entertaining video content, so they’re less likely to pay attention to print advertising, photos, or even infographics.
Live streaming gives businesses the opportunity to connect with their audiences in ways that even taped commercials can’t match. Posting live streams to social media makes it easy for customers and brand enthusiasts to offer feedback, participate in discussions, and otherwise engage with the brand. This, in turn, builds trust and encourages both brand loyalty and the organic sharing of videos.
Mastering equipment use
Some companies get started with basic live streaming kits before upgrading to a more professional look, while others prefer to create a more consistent style from the beginning. This requires purchasing professional equipment that allows users to add extra features and make live streams more entertaining. While it’s true that live streams can be taken from any smartphone or tablet, that won’t offer the level of professionalism that businesses need to succeed.
HD cameras
Plenty of brands that want to be taken seriously get started with just one HD camera, a tripod, and a video encoder. From there, they can upgrade to multi-camera setups that can capture video from different angles to create more engaging content.
Video encoders
There are multiple ways to encode video for live streaming purposes. Some businesses opt for purchasing hardware encoders or setting up encoding software on a computer. Keep in mind, however, that the latter option requires adapters or capture devices to transfer the video data from the camera to the computer. In most cases, it’s more affordable to purchase combined streaming, recording, and encoding devices.
Audio mixers
A video that just looks good isn’t worth anything to a company without equally high-quality audio. Simple setups that feature just one external microphone don’t require audio mixers. For anything more complex, the mixer will convert audio signals to digital formatting, control the volume and tone of each sound source, and provide better sound quality.
Text and graphic overlays
Picture-in-picture effects, text passages, and graphic overlays can make a live stream much more interesting. Incorporating these effects requires specialized software. There are plenty of options, and each of them works a little differently. Try out a few free trials to see which one is the best fit.
The importance of quality equipment
Having the right equipment is a must for producing high-quality live-streamed videos. Businesses are better off starting with smaller-scale setups that feature just one high-quality camera and a video encoder than they are buying cheaper equipment so that they can have multiple cameras and audio sources. Having consistently high-quality videos from the very beginning will be better for branding efforts than complex videos that don’t look sharp or sound clear.
