Your Guide to the Best Live Streaming Equipment [2023 Update]
Video content is booming across many industries. Whether connecting with customers, streaming events, or managing remote teams, a live streaming setup is necessary. If there’s one thing companies should invest in these days, it’s streaming equipment.
But what if you need to start streaming right away? You can use the equipment you already have, such as your mobile phone and built-in microphone or your tablet with built-in audio-video recording.
Want to create a professional live streamer for your business? In that case, you should invest in some professional equipment.
Not sure what to purchase? Don’t worry! We have you covered with a complete guide to the best live streaming equipment.
So if you’re wondering which equipment to create a professional live stream, this guide will surely help you. We’ll help you put it together and be ready when it’s time to press record and broadcast live video.
New to Mslive and interested in trying out our live streaming platform for yourself?
4 Major Components for a Live Streaming Set-Up
You may be wondering, “How do I set up a live feed?” or “What video streaming equipment do I need to stream?”
When it comes to live streaming, there are four main components you need to start:
1. Video and Audio Source: First, you need video and audio to stream! That can come from multiple sources. Your video will generally come from cameras or your computer or mobile screen. Audio will come from microphones, mixer feeds, and other audio sources.
2. Video Encoder: A video encoder will capture your audio and visual content and format it to be sent over the Internet. You can use a hardware encoder, software encoder, or RTMP encoder.
3. Streaming Destination: This is where you’re sending your content. Your streaming destination will be the video streaming platform that you’re working with. It can be a professional video streaming platform or one of the several free streaming platforms you can find if you look hard enough.
4. Internet Connection: If you want to broadcast live, you need a stable internet connection. Fiber internet is ideal for streaming (especially HD or 4K) but only sometimes necessary.
You’re going to need to connect your audio and visual sources to your encoder and connect your encoder to your video streaming platform. When everything is connected, you can hit the “Go Live” button on your video streaming platform, record on your camera, and start your live stream.
Let’s examine these components and learn the best live streaming equipment for professional live broadcasting.
Video Cameras
Viewers look for high-quality streams, which happen through professional video cameras. It’s time to take your live stream to another level.
The most important piece of equipment for a professional live stream is a video camera. You’ll need a high-quality camera to capture your content. There are thousands of different live streaming cameras available, each with different features and price points.
Three categories of cameras are entry-level, prosumer, and professional. Here we’ve broken down our favorite cameras in each category to help you choose.
Entry-Level Video Camera
An entry-level camera tends to be lightweight and relatively simple to use. Entry-level cameras also tend to be more affordable than advanced video cameras. Most entry-level video cameras can produce quality video content with the right lighting conditions and proper technique.
Entry-level cameras tend to emphasize automatic settings and typically don’t have a lot of manual controls. Also, their internet connectivity functions are often relatively basic. They make great mobile live streaming cameras because they’re typically lightweight and affordable enough to take anywhere.
The average price for an entry-level video camera is $300 to $700.
Examples:
- Smartphone cameras
- Action cameras
- Entry-level camcorders
Our top entry-level camera pick: Panasonic HC-VX981K, $797.99
Audio Equipment
Having proper microphones during a live stream will take you from beginner to professional.
When it comes to videos, audio quality is extremely important. Viewers are likelier to stick around when the audio is good, even if the visuals stutter. There are even studies to back that up.
Just like with video cameras, there are three different levels of audio live streaming equipment:
Low to Medium Quality Audio Devices
- The built-in microphone on the phone or computer
- Built-in microphone on entry-level and prosumer cameras
Medium to High-Quality Audio Devices
- USB microphones
- 3.5mm microphones
- Built-in microphones on professional cameras
Professional Quality Audio Devices
- XLR microphones
Using a basic wired 3.5mm lavalier mic instead of the built-in microphone on your phone, tablet, or entry-level video camera can significantly improve your audio quality, although using a higher-end 3.5mm microphone will improve it even more.
To achieve the highest quality audio streaming, use an XLR microphone. For decades, XLR microphones have been the professional standard for quality and durability. If you want the best possible audio experience for your live broadcasts, invest in at least one XLR microphone.
You should also be aware of pickup patterns on microphones. Especially in the case of higher-end microphones. That’s because you’ll probably have more options for pickup patterns the higher up the price ladder you go.
In audio recording technology, a pickup pattern refers to how a microphone picks up sound. There are several different pickup patterns for microphones, but the most common include the following:
- Cardioid: This pattern captures the audio in front of the microphone and around the sides. When visualized, the pattern appears somewhat heart-shaped.
- Figure-8: This pattern captures sound from opposite sides of the microphone equally. When imagined, it looks like the number 8.
- Omnidirectional: This pattern captures sound from all directions equally. When visualized, it looks like a circle.
When you’re looking for a microphone for your live streaming video, make sure that the pickup pattern fits your needs and your goals for the broadcast. You want a mic that can pick up an audio mixer to make up ambient sound for some broadcasts, like live events. For others, like video tutorials, you need a mic that picks up a single voice and no outside noise.
Choose the right microphone with the right pickup pattern, and it will help optimize the quality of your live stream.
Encoders
The fourth key piece of equipment you need is an encoder. Video encoding is the process of compressing video files from external sources so they’re not saved as individual images but as one fluid video. Video encoding compresses the video files with as little compromise on quality as possible
Here are the top eight reasons to encode a video:
1. Reduce file size
2. Reduce buffering for streaming video
3. Change resolution or aspect ratio
4. Change audio format or quality
5. Convert obsolete files to modern formats
6. Meet a certain target bit rate
7. Make a video compatible with a particular device (computer, tablet, smartphone, smartTV, legacy devices)
8. Make a video compatible with certain software or service
There are two main types of encoders: hardware and software encoders
For a live streaming setup, you’ll need to invest in either a hardware or software encoder. It’s the final piece of gearyou need to create quality live streams.
Hardware Encoders
Hardware encoders are dedicated processors that use an algorithm to encode video and data into streamable content. These encoders for live streaming come in small, portable boxes or large, permanent fixtures.
They can support various sources, but HDMI and SDI are the most common. They’re usually built to last and can support 24/7 streaming without crashing, which is ideal for professional use. Some specialty hardware encoders use battery power and 5G LTE connections to stream live video from remote locations.
Software Encoders
Software encoders are media-encoding programs that run on a computing device, like a laptop or desktop computer. They need to be paired with a capture card or other means of capture video by connecting your live streaming cameras to your computer to capture video. Some examples of popular software video encoders include:
1. vMix Video Streaming Software
2. Wirecast Live Production Solutions
3. OBS Studio Broadcasting Software
4. VidBlasterX Video Production Software
These software packages also integrate mixing and production tools. They appeal to live streaming startups because of their low cost and customization features.
However, software encoders need to catch up on speed compared towh decent-quality hardware encoders, which is something to consider when deciding on the right encoder for your live stream.
RTMP-enabled Encoders
If you’re using an RTMP encoder for live streaming, you’ll need RTMP (real-time messaging protocol) compatible hardware or software. Regarding RTMP encoding, broadcasters can choose from a wide variety of software and hardware encoders.
There are options for every need and budget. vMix, Wirecast, OBS Studio, and VidBlasterX all support RTMP encoding. The most modern use for RTMP ingest technology is transmitting video content from an encoder to a video hosting platform.
Mobile Live Streaming Equipment
Mobile live streaming requires a different setup than what you’d need for streaming from a studio. It’s possible to live stream with just a smartphone, especially if it’s one with a high-quality camera like the new iPhone 14 Pro. But there’s also equipment in which you can invest for even better mobile live streaming.
Here’s a short list of ideal kits setups for mobile live streaming:
- Handheld smartphone gimbal
- A multifunctional octopus tripod with a ball head
- A compact on-camera microphone
- Portable lighting gear
These mobile streaming equipment add-ons will help enhance and improve your online streaming setup quality while streaming from a mobile device. They’ll also help to ensure that you can broadcast quality live content on the go.
In addition to the physical list above, for mobile broadcasting, you should take advantage of 2 essential digital tools: a mobile streaming app and an RTMP-enabled video hosting and live streaming platform.
For more information on the ideal mobile setup, check out our tutorial on mobile live streaming equipment for broadcasting on the go.
Live Streaming Equipment for Churches and Houses of Worship
As opposed to using mobile devices for broadcasting, to stream your church services you’ll need to invest in live streaming tools to make streaming accessible. That’ll also give your recordings a more polished and professional appearance.
While you could record and stream using a smartphone and a free platform such as Facebook Live or Youtube Live, there are limits to the quality and length of service you can streamthat way. To give your congregation the feeling that they’re in a church with you, you’ll need to invest in some equipment, including
- Camera,
- Tripod,
- Video switcher,
- Live streaming platform.
There’s a wide range in price points and complexity for each of these items, and they, fortunately, include some relatively inexpensive options. As you become more experienced and knowledgeable, consider spending a little more to upgrade your live streaming equipment.
Whether you’re a small community congregation or want to expand your reach online, live streaming your church services is an excellent opportunity to maintain the engagement of your current congregation. It can even help you be prepared for unforeseen circumstances interrupting in-person worship.
To give worshippers a high-quality broadcasting experience, check out Mslive’s guide on church live streaming equipment and learn the tips and techniques needed to deliver your congregation the message you want them to hear whenever they’re ready.
Final Thoughts
The best equipment for streaming you use is extremely important, especially regarding your live streaming setup. Without the right audio and video, viewers will not stick around.
In most cases, 90 seconds is the longest a viewer will tolerate a spotty stream. That means you only have one and a half minutes to capture a viewer. That’s how crucial quality audio and video are.
Now that you’ve read this article, you know what it takes. We reviewed the best cameras, microphones, encoders, mixing equipment, and CDNs for a killer live streaming setup. Consider each piece of equipment carefully and scale when appropriate.
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