This blog post on Live Streaming is an update to a blog posted last week by Chris Kuban at the Chemistry Multimedia site titled, “Avoid the 10 Critical Mistakes When Live Streaming…“

Professional Multi-Camera Live Streaming

There is an important distinction between a RAW cell phone live stream and a professional multi-camera live stream.  As a Public Relations professional I want to control the conversations, the camera angles, the speakers and the output of all video. The end goal is to place my client in the best light possible. I feel that goal is best met by stepping up the quality of the equipment used and by more careful management of the project.

There are many solutions to live stream with a single camera, and this type of arrangement is manageable on a limited budget. Using a video camera with an HDMI output seems to be the easiest way to go. We also discourage the use of DSLR’s since there is a list of back-end work-around solutions necessary to create prior to connecting your converter box.  Also, if you plan to shoot for more than 10 minutes, you will need to know, with certainty, that your camera won’t overheat and shut off during your shoot.

Live streaming a PR event for your client involves a number of considerations. The quality of your livestream will depend on the method used to stream and the equipment and software used. I am happy to share a few recommendations with you. Contact my office to set up a consultation.

Live Stream Converter Boxes

You can purchase a converter box such as a LiveShell.Pro ($449) or LiveShell.2 ($299), a Magewell USB Capture HDMI device ($299) or a Livestream Broadcaster Pro (Only usable with Livestream $569) which all connect to your camera with an HDMI cord. These devices will convert your images to a stream of your choosing.  You have to practice integrating to YouTube Live Stream, UStream, Livestream or a number of other enabling sites.

Remember that some of these sites charge monthly fees to publish your videos live and store those videos indefinitely. And, for companies like Livestream, these fees could range upwards of $800/month.

We will focus on recommendations for appropriate cameras to use while professional livestreaming in a future blog post.

If you’re an agency broadcasting live for several of your clients, there may be challenges in publishing live your streams under your clients’ name.   We ran into issues when posting links to the clients’ event that it had our company, Chemistry Multimedia prominent on the sharable link.  This is not what we wanted.

Producing a Live Show on the Road…

After conducting many hours of research, we have come to the conclusion that there are two professional devices that make publishing Live Stream Videos on the road more practical.  These are both extremely expensive options but for our purposes, both seem to have key elements we want when producing segments for our clients.

Think about a typical press conference or event you may want to broadcast live.  You have a podium and a sound system with the general public or media positioned 15”- 30” away!  You need to be able to zoom into the main speakers, record what they’re saying, cut to wide angles and angles of the crowd, as well as pull the audio.

So, our main goals/requirements are to have a multi-angle camera shoots with the ability to pull audio from a soundboard.  We also would like to pull in prerecorded videos as intros and exits to the livestream, as well as place lower thirds (names and titles/logos) under each speaker. The final goal, of which the jury is still out, is to be able to broadcast LIVE from a remote location with only a hotspot Internet hookup.   We plan to test and evaluate if this will work.  However, the below units are units we plan to explore in more depth.

NewTek Tricaster Mini

At $6,000 to $20,000+

You don’t have to be a video expert, own a studio, lug any complicated equipment around, or use expensive professional cameras to make great content quickly and stream it live in minutes. With everyday camcorders and TriCaster Mini, anyone can make a show with professional results.

• Create your own great multimedia content
• Fast, straightforward, and easy to set up
• All-in-one studio-style system
• Most-complete creative toolset available
• Sized to make and stream content from anywhere
• No need for professional crews or expensive equipment
• HDMI and SDI options available

LiveStream Studio 550

At $8,000 + $2,000 software + $$6,000 additional controller modules + Monthly Fees

With its uniquely portable body, the Studio HD550 makes it easy to set up wherever your event may be. Travel to your destination with your Studio HD550 in its custom bag, and arrive ready for a full multi-camera production.  This is an easy to travel with, single bag unit where you can have up to 5 hard-wired SKI/HDMI camera inputs and multiple IP based camera locations.

There are obviously pros and cons to both systems. We hope to test each of these units and report back as to our results.  However, the investment of doing so with the cost of the cameras, key units and peripheral items needed will probably cost in excess of $30,000 to make this a reality.  This is a significant investment in a concept which will inevitably become more crowded with more updated with smaller and better equipment in the very near future.

**Also, an IMPORTANT NOTE is that the this equipment requires a broadband upload speed of at least 10 Mbps.  This means you must plug into a broadband network able that is able to output this type of upload.  Or, we have been evaluating the concept of “Bonding’ hotspot links which means that you can take 4 to 8 cell phone-like hotspots and merge them into one permanent and reliable high-speed upload stream.  Chemistry Multimedia will update you once we have more information.