When you’re looking at streaming your postponed or cancelled live event, there are a few things to consider. This list will help you create an exceptional experience to those who are now connecting remotely.
Events can range from your annual conference, your board summit, your church service, a music concert, a product launch, or more. What you're streaming and the goals of your event matter almost as much as the equipment you use. Start there to ensure your upcoming event is exceptional from an event design perspective, using your goals to create a list of needs requirements (do we want chat, a community, do we have variable ticket types, do we need bespoke registration, do we have a lot of live presenters or are we recording everything, etc.) and then move into ensuring your technology meets your event requirements.
We know there are a lot of questions to think through which is why we put this virtual event stream checklist together. Let's get started.
What sort of and how many events are we streaming?
The options here are virtually limitless. Some of the most common events are a church service with both music as well as a speaker. A musical concert can be streamed as well. Streaming a discussion panel with a moderator and panelists either in the room with them or connected remotely is possible. A single speaker at a podium or their desk can be streamed.
How many events and the size of them matters too. Can you purchase an enterprise option for the platforms you'll need? Do you only need to make on investment? Is it heavy live, instrumental, video, etc.
The next question is what kind and how many cameras do you need?
Determining the number of cameras is directly related to the type of content. If you are broadcasting just a single speaker then one camera will be sufficient. However if the content is multiple panelists or a musical piece then multiple cameras will be needed.
4K web cams produce a very different look and feeling video than an 8K video. You always want high resolution. However different cameras are appropriate and accessible in depending on the event.
What type of audio and how much is required for the event?
What’s the best microphone for virtual events when I have to record at home or in my smaller studio? For most people, that answer is easy: get the ATR2100x-USB here. But the choices are numerous.
Again, this is driven by the type of content. A single speaker only needs one mic. With a panel you would ideally have a mic for each. And don't forget the connection cords to hook up to your sound panel or computer.
What type of lighting and how much lighting do you need?
Lighting is often an overlooked consideration. Whether the subjects are at their desk or on the stage, ensuring the proper lighting is important. You should work with a video team to create the best lighting for the setup.
Though we love stage lighting, we're also fans of a simple ring light that you can sit on your desk for a better home studio experience.
What kind of internet are you using?
Discovering the speed and reliability of the network onsite will impact the stream. Most streaming platforms require a minimum of 5 MB per second upload speed to maintain quality. You can get by with less but the quality of the video will suffer.
No one expects eventprofs to become audiovisual experts over night. That's why AVNation is here to help, from strategic consulting to providing event audio tech like we listed above. Let's set up a time to chat.
