Live Stream questions
- Thread starter n90guy
- Start date
adamrahn
Well-known member
I use YouTube to livestream several events throughout the year at the university I work for. I typically just run firewire out of one of our cameras into a laptop, a program called Wirecast processes it and streams it to our YouTube account. We'll sometimes use a Tricaster to import multiple streams (rarely needed for us though), and then pumped directly to YouTube too. The event can be set up prior to going live so you have a link to share which is really handy. Takes some testing to get used to, but works really well as far as I'm concerned. I believe there is a cheap or free version of Wirecast you can use, but Wirecast Pro has some handy features that we use regularly (lower thirds, multiple streams, live switching, etc etc). Might be able to answer some more questions if you have any 
Having a Firewire camera and compatible computer used to make live streaming fairly simple, but most of us now have cameras with HDMI, outputting HD video. There are really two routes to go - get a hardware streaming unit, or use a computer with capture device. Plus a CDN of choice of course to handle the streaming.
Hardware examples: Matrox Monarch HD, Cerevo Live Shell Pro, Teradek VidiU, LiveStream Broadcaster Mini. Monarch is a desktop unit, the others can be mounted on the camera hot shoe. Connect HDMI from camera to encoder, and connect encoder to a network, cabled or wireless depending on device. I believe LiveStream unit only works with their streaming service, others should work with most any provider.
Computer: use a PC or Mac with capture card (to get HDMI input from camera) and then use appropriate encoding software. Capture cards from BlackMagic and Matrox are popular choices. Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder is FREE and works with most capture cards and any CDN that accepts RTMP. Or use paid software such as Telestream Wirecast, vMix HD, LiveStream Studio for instance. The paid software does much more than encode - allows user to switch multiple cameras (dependent on hardware of course), add titles and graphics, video playback, etc.
LiveStream Studio has a FREE version, but that only works with LiveStream, paid version works with other CDNs. All have free trials for download and testing.
Regardless of what hardware and software you go with, best advice is test, test, test, with plenty of time before event. A few weeks to get everything working and get comfortable with the workflow. Streaming is not something that can be jumped into on short notice and expect good results. But with some time and effort, it can be quite rewarding. I've found YouTube streaming to be a little more complicated to set up than other CDNs, but works well once you get it configured.
On the higher end, their are turnkey solutions combining live switching, graphics, streaming available - Newtek TriCaster, LiveStream Studio models, even vMix offers turnkeys now (PC based, with added capture hardware and software).
If you have more questions, fire away!
Thanks
Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers
Hardware examples: Matrox Monarch HD, Cerevo Live Shell Pro, Teradek VidiU, LiveStream Broadcaster Mini. Monarch is a desktop unit, the others can be mounted on the camera hot shoe. Connect HDMI from camera to encoder, and connect encoder to a network, cabled or wireless depending on device. I believe LiveStream unit only works with their streaming service, others should work with most any provider.
Computer: use a PC or Mac with capture card (to get HDMI input from camera) and then use appropriate encoding software. Capture cards from BlackMagic and Matrox are popular choices. Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder is FREE and works with most capture cards and any CDN that accepts RTMP. Or use paid software such as Telestream Wirecast, vMix HD, LiveStream Studio for instance. The paid software does much more than encode - allows user to switch multiple cameras (dependent on hardware of course), add titles and graphics, video playback, etc.
LiveStream Studio has a FREE version, but that only works with LiveStream, paid version works with other CDNs. All have free trials for download and testing.
Regardless of what hardware and software you go with, best advice is test, test, test, with plenty of time before event. A few weeks to get everything working and get comfortable with the workflow. Streaming is not something that can be jumped into on short notice and expect good results. But with some time and effort, it can be quite rewarding. I've found YouTube streaming to be a little more complicated to set up than other CDNs, but works well once you get it configured.
On the higher end, their are turnkey solutions combining live switching, graphics, streaming available - Newtek TriCaster, LiveStream Studio models, even vMix offers turnkeys now (PC based, with added capture hardware and software).
If you have more questions, fire away!
Thanks
Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers