Mobile Live Streaming: So Many Choices
These days getting into the mobile live streaming market is easier than ever, but the real challenge is getting the right setup for you. Mobile streaming equipment in 2021 can give professional levels of streaming quality at a relatively low entry point.
Computers and mobile phones are more advanced than ever and all you need in terms of hardware to get started with live streaming. However, before you start checking out laptops, webcams and microphones be warned that output isn’t going to be great. Why? Because laptops and mobiles are designed to show good marketable specifications while encoding and streaming qualities are a second thought. If you are streaming and want professional results then more bespoke solutions are required.
If your setup doesn’t involve a computer or device that allows camera input to be encoded and pushed to an internet, you will need an encoder. The good news is that in 2021 you can get them the size of portable hard drives. The camera is plugged into one side and the other goes to internet. These take the binary outputs of the cameras and encode them in a compressed standardised format that then can be sent to viewers or a broadcast team effectively.
Camera Inputs
If you need a camera for live streaming that provides professional quality feeds then you will be looking at DSLR and Mirrorless cameras to achieve this. You need one that has USB live view tethering capability but if your camera does not support this like most, then you may be able to get away with using an external I/O device with HDMI, VGA or SDI input cables.
Software
You will need dedicated streaming software if you are aiming for best quality encoding and streaming. Luckily you can get both cloud based streaming software that is already hosted to save you time. Software in 2021 allows you to control multicamera setups either through the interface or a ‘switcher’; a remote used for input control.
Multicamera live streaming equipment
Multicamera setups are possible with another box to help you input the signal along with one or more additional camera inputs. As mentioned prior you can hook up these boxes to a switcher that allows the user to quickly go to different cameras if they cant get to the software interface. Currently on the market you can get switchers that integrate encoders allowing you to stream without access to a computer or encoder.
Turn-key Streaming
Essentially an all-in-one box containing an encoder, an assortment of inputs and software. They allow you to have a mobile streaming solution in a cost effective small footprint package. A switcher can be useful for controlling them and if you are interested in multicamera streaming then you may be better off going for the dedicated devices mentioned above.
Scalability and your Setup
Planning two steps ahead can be useful when purchasing gear for live streaming. Do you go big or go home, or do you start small and scale up? There is risk with both methods. Whatever you decide to do, this is an interesting field with many diverse projects possible.
