Looking for gear for a live stream setup

Rippie

Rippie

Veteran
Sorry, this is probably the wrong forum but I couldn't find a more appropriate one. (mods if this needs moved I understand)

I'm an experienced sound mixer but a client of mine is looking to start a live streaming channel and asked me for help regarding gear.
I am really out of the loop on anything streaming related and was hoping for some advice on recommendations on equipment..or web forums out there that might be more appropriate to ask these kinds of questions?

What they want to do is have a few cameras that can be switched between, one of them being wireless (think live streaming with a cell phone). Also the switcher needs to be able to switch to a computer screen.
Toughest thing is I need to keep this as simple as possible, as the people running it aren't video/sound people. They have a budget of about $4000.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
 
There are many things to consider, both on the switching end and the streaming end.

For a switcher, you can go hardware or software. For hardware, Blackmagic ATEM. For software, OBS. With OBS you will need a capture card for each input. I recommend the Magewell USB 3 cards.

On the streaming side, you need an encoder, a platform, and an internet connection. If you're using OBS, you have the encoder built-in. If you are going hardware, I like the Teradek Cube. If you are streaming to more than one platoform (like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch at the same time,) I recommend a service like Restream.io to generate all the individual RTMP streams. This takes the bandwidth load off of you, and passes it to a server somewhere. If you're doing multiple streams without something like Restream, then you need X times the bandwidth (e.g. 3 streams takes 3 times the bandwidth.) With Restream you send one stream to their servers, and then they spit out all the simulcast streams.

For a wireless camera, the Teradek Bolt works great. For streaming from a cell phone, there are apps that let you use your phone as a webcam, and many of them work with OBS.
 
That covered pretty much everything I was going to type, except encoders. We have the first version Matrox Monarch HD, it half works (you can stream or maybe record but not both like they claimed) I wouldn't buy a new one as the support just plain sucked until I gave up trying. It streams and that what we need right now. I've been looking at the AJA HELO https://www.aja.com/products/helo and will probably try to buy one if we have funds left at the end of the year. https://www.aja.com/products/helo

If you just want to get started, you can do a lot with some decent webcams like the Microsoft Lifecam Studio, you can get refurbs pretty cheap and it looks very good. https://www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-us/products/webcams/lifecam-studio/q2f-00013 a few of these with OBS Studio and an audio card and you should be in good shape. Doesn't get you wireless, but it gets the show off the ground and on the air. Then if the show takes off, they can spend more money on better stuff (walk before you run). I would also suggest that you stream in 720p, not 1080. The majority of ISPs in the USA still struggle to support 1080 streams. Good looking 720 beats garbage macroblocks and buffering 1080. It also allows you to zoom in with the mentioned Lifecam Studio cameras so that they aren't real wide, you do this in OBS when you set up each camera.
 
Check out Sling Studio; Mr CheesyCam has a great review on YouTube.

Wireless from camera back to control unit and uses iPad for switching.
 
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