The Ultimate Church Live Streaming Equipment List
What kind of live streaming equipment can you use to stream church live? Your smartphone might not have the features or quality required to stream live. Pro equipment is required for professional video and sound. This includes microphones, cameras, video switchers, and mixers.
Choose the Type of Cameras and Mics you Need
The microphones and cameras you use will affect your stream’s quality. You may find that the software and mixers you use are not as effective if you use poor cameras or mics.
Many types of cameras are available for professional live streaming, each with its own benefits. The following are the main options for video cameras:
- Smartphone cameras
- Consumer HD video cameras
- High-quality consumer cameras
- DSLR video cameras
- Professional video cameras
- Pan Tilt Zoom Cameras
Your smartphone’s camera and consumer HD video cameras provide lower-quality video than the more expensive options. These cameras record at 720p and 1080p HD. Although clear video can be captured in well-lit settings, smartphones and handheld HD cameras use small imaging chips that reduce the clarity and brilliance.
Consumer cameras of professional quality can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $20,000 and have larger imaging chips than your smartphone’s. These cameras also have the features you need to stream professional streams. This category also includes cameras that have XLR inputs to connect professional microphones.
High-quality digital cameras for HD video are DSLR video cameras. These cameras are more capable of producing HD video than standard HD video cameras. They do not have XLR inputs and all the video settings that are available on high-end video cameras, like exposure settings, audio control, filters, or audio control.
Video cameras that news stations use, studios, and professional videographers make up the final category. These cameras can cost millions of dollars and start at $25,000, but they are not cheap. These cameras are often out of reach for the majority. Many companies will rent these cameras.
There are many different types of microphones available and various video cameras. Although your camera may have built-in microphones, they are not as good as a professional microphone.
The setting will determine the microphone you choose. You can use many microphones when recording music. You might have a variety of microphones, including large diaphragm microphones for the singers and small mics for the drum beat.
A lapel microphone is better if you’re recording several speakers or performers. These mics can be clipped onto a shirt collar or lapel.
Wireless lapel microphones allow performers to move about without the need for bulky wires. The wireless lapel microphone requires a wireless transmitter to deliver sound to your audio mixer or video switcher.
You can also use handheld mics for live streaming, provided you don’t need to hide the microphone from the speaker. A speaker might use a handheld microphone for interviewing guests or speaking to the public.
A handheld wireless microphone, similar to lapel mics, is preferable for live-streaming equipment unless your stationery. These wireless options are unnecessary if you live stream from your home studio or living room.
Professional-quality microphones and cameras are required for high-quality live streaming. Pro-grade video cameras are a great investment as they are much cheaper than professional cameras and offer better video quality than your phone’s.
Wireless handheld or lapel mics are the best, especially if your speakers or performers need to be mobile. You should choose mics that produce superior sound quality than the ones built in. They also need to be more sensitive to avoid hisses and pops.
Mixers are the best choice for your professional stream
You will need equipment to combine the audio and video for live broadcasting and mics and cameras. You will most likely need to have a vision mixer, an audio mixer, and software. Mixers allow you to send a single stream from multiple cameras or microphones to a streaming platform.
Vision mixers can also be called hardware encoders or video switchers. Multiple inputs allow you to connect more than one camera. You can connect the switcher to your computer and switch between your cameras for your live stream.
These devices can even deliver video directly to your streaming service, eliminating the need for separate software. These video switchers are also known as hardware encoders because they encode video for live streaming.
Video switchers can also be purchased with integrated audio mixers. These all-in-one solutions eliminate the need for an audio mixer and computer software. The switcher is all you need, along with your mics and cameras.
The audio mixer is used in the same manner as the video mixer. You are mixing audio inputs instead of mixing them together. An audio mixer lets you adjust the sound independently from the video. You can also control the volume of each microphone.
There are two types of audio mixers available: digital and analog. A digital mixer converts analog signals to digital ones. This allows you to apply various effects to the sound and adjust the equalizer settings before returning it back to analog.
A digital mixer offers more options, which can be useful for tweaking the sound of a musical performance. These extra features may not be necessary for recording speech.
If you are using an audio mixer to stream live, you will need software to compile audio and video.
You should be aware of the inputs and channels the mixer provides, regardless of whether you choose analog or digital. The inputs of the mixer will be where your microphones will connect.
The audio mixer must have at least four inputs if you intend to use four microphones. The mixer must also contain at least four channels if you wish to adjust each mic’s sound individually.
Install video encryption software on a computer
Encoding software is the final piece of equipment you will need to live stream. This software is required to encode the video for streaming on the real-time messaging protocol (RTMP).
You can also use the same platform without separate software, such as Periscope, Instagram, YouTube Live, Instagram, and Instagram. If you buy a video switcher that supports hardware encoding, you may be able to skip the encoding software. Many streaming platforms provide their own software or include encoding within their apps, but these free options are often limited in features.
You should be able to add audio and/or video directly from your mixers or the cameras connected to your computer’s video card. You might even be able to add graphics, text, and other effects.
Your computer must be compatible with the encoding, video switcher, or audio mixer. The software might require minimum memory, the video switcher might need a specific graphics card, and the audio mixer may require a high-quality sound card. Your computer might need to be upgraded depending on what equipment you use.
You will need the following essential items to produce a high-quality production: cameras, microphones, mixers, software, and other equipment. Additional lighting may be required, such as tripods, camera stabilizers for handheld cameras, and microphone stands.
Conclusion: Extra Equipment
The type of stream you wish to stream will determine your required equipment. You only need one smartphone to stream basic video and music streams. Pro cameras, microphones, mixers, software, and other equipment may be required if you are looking for professional-quality video or music streams.
Cameras and microphones are crucial to quality streams as they record the audio and raw video. Video switchers and audio mixers allow you to combine audio and video for delivery to your computer’s encoding software.
Some professional encoding software might include additional options that aren’t available when you use the Facebook built-in features. Your live stream can be enhanced with graphics, titles, and credits. If you buy a video switcher that supports hardware encoding, however, encoding software may not need to be used.
The equipment you choose will depend on your goals. You want to live stream at the highest quality, so invest in high-quality equipment, including cameras and microphones.
We hope you found this article helpful in answering your questions about live-streaming equipment for churches.
Sources
- https://www.boxcast.com/blog/the-best-live-video-streaming-equipment-for-every-level
- https://www.boxcast.com/blog/the-best-live-video-switchers-mixers-for-beginners
- https://filmora.wondershare.com/virtual-reality/types-of-video-camera.html
- https://www.wikihow.tech/Stream-Live-Video
- https://stretchinternet.com/essential-equipment-church-live-streaming-checklist/
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2018/02/08/livestreaming-what-you-need-to-know-for-a-successful-stream/
