The pandemic brought about changes that people never thought possible. With concerts, clubs, and events shut down; artists had to look for other ways to entertain their fans, stay relevant in the industry, and still make money. For that reason, the world of live streaming gained popularity pretty fast.
Live streaming is an incredibly accessible and powerful tool for artists, musicians, gamers, educators, and anyone who wants to share their content with the world. Whether you want to jam out on your guitar in front of a few thousand people or showcase your skills as a pro musician, this guide will help you set up the perfect environment for live-streaming from anywhere in any setting.
Your Live-streaming Room
The first step toward creating an amazing live stream experience for yourself and your audience is selecting a perfect room. If possible, pick a room with enough natural light through its windows so that your stream looks professional. However, ensure that it doesn't have too much sunlight directly hitting the camera lens since it can cause glare or distraction.
Prepare the Stage
Once you have found a room for your live stream, it's time to start preparing the stage. If you are playing a wired guitar, ensure all cables and chords are organized neatly and easily accessible. This is so that in case of an emergency like a speaker cutting out, you won't be tangled up in wires while trying to fix it.
Use Proper Lighting
Lighting plays an integral role when setting up a live stream. Too much light can wash out details, while not enough will leave everything looking dark and distorted, and no one wants either.
Ideally, purchase some professional lighting fixtures, such as softboxes which allow you to control precisely how much light is cast onto each element of your setup and provide smooth transitions from darker parts into brighter ones without creating harsh shadows.
This technique also helps add depth to images making them look more dynamic compared with flat lighting techniques used by many amateur setups.
Make Yourself Photogenic
Your live stream will remain on your platform long after you are done. Therefore, you must ensure that everything within the frame, yourself included, appears pleasing to the camera.
When preparing for any live broadcast, ensure your hair is styled correctly, your facial expression is minimalistic, and confident eye contact is maintained throughout the event. These details may seem insignificant, but they truly elevate your professionalism, thus increasing the chances of a successful stream.
And remember that a smile genuinely puts your audience at ease, creating a friendly, welcoming atmosphere that ideally encourages interactions between the host and viewer community.
Your Live Streaming Gear
Before diving into specifics, let's quickly go over what equipment is required when setting up a successful guitar live stream session:
- Guitar: The most important of all is a guitar. You must ensure you have a guitar you are accustomed to and one suitable for almost all genres. Guitars with p90 pickups are the best, as they produce jam-packed and balanced tones.
- Tripod: A sturdy tripod is essential for keeping your camera steady during broadcasts. This will help ensure that your footage remains fluid and shake-free. You must also ensure you have a compatible smartphone holder if using an Android device, as many tripods are not designed with Android phones in mind.
- Camera: If broadcasting from a computer, invest in a good quality camera such as the Logitech C920 or older C930e; these offer excellent image and video quality without breaking the bank. Alternatively, use your phone's built-in camera if possible; iPhone 8 Plus models provide fantastic results when paired with decent lighting setups. This could be worth considering if you regularly stream on your handset.
- Phone case: Most modern smartphones contain powerful cameras capable of streaming live performances directly to viewers worldwide. However, consider investing in a phone case that provides extra stability and protection against drops. And don't forget about audio output options, since some handsets only allow mono sound, whereas many musicians prefer stereo.
- Laptop: Make sure to purchase a laptop suitable for running research and intense music production software like ProTools at acceptable speeds. Most processors today come equipped with adequate specs but double-check before committing any money just to be safe. Also, consider external storage needs, like connecting up external hard drives containing raw audio files, when deciding what model best suits your requirements.
- Microphones are essential for capturing the best audio quality possible when streaming live performances. Invest in a multi-pattern condenser mic, such as the Rode NT1-A, which offers incredible sound clarity, especially if paired with an audio interface like Focusrite's Scarlett 2i2, as they enable you to route various sources into one unit allowing for better control and levels during recordings.
- Headphones: A good pair of headphones is also necessary to ensure that what's being streamed out sounds excellent. Popular brands include Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, Audio Technica, and AKG. Ensure they're comfortable enough to wear for long periods.
- Audio Mixer: It allows multiple inputs from different instruments or microphone signals to be routed into one central hub where levels can be adjusted easily. Popular audio mixers include the Mackie ProFX12V2, which is perfect for small home studios, or the Yamaha MG10XU, which gives you more options when dealing with larger setups.
- Video Mixer - This device helps combine video feeds from cameras hooked up directly or via cables so they appear within the frame simultaneously during broadcasts while providing easy access controls over each source.
- Preamp: This equipment is designed to provide a louder signal for microphones and add crispness and clarity.
- Software Setup - Take some time to familiarize yourself with the software you will be using before broadcasting. This could involve downloading trial versions of specific packages to get acquainted with their inner workings. Also, ensure that any plugins required are up-to-date so they don't cause any major issues during live streams.
How Do You Live Stream?
Now that we have covered the basics let's discuss how exactly you set up your live stream and here’s a set up guide for new streamers!
The first step involves correctly setting up the camera and microphone by positioning them to adequately capture sound and visuals without obstructing one another or creating awkward angles.
You mustn't rush your setup, as small changes make huge differences when streaming live performances. And always double-check everything looks professional from the viewer's perspective.
Wear Nice Clothes
It's always best to dress smartly when streaming since people associate what appears on screen with a musician’s brand or image. Consider what colors work best together, but also keep comfort in mind; no one wants to fidget due to excessively tight clothing while playing guitar.
It would be best to wear something that compliments the instruments featured within the frame.
Do Not Use Voice Processing Software
Many of these platforms have voice processing softwares that adjust your audio. While these are great for voice conversation and improving speech clarity, they can wreak havoc on your guitar tunes. Therefore, it would be best to turn off the software. Check on the settings, and turn these features off under advanced options.
Have a Helper
Having a helping hand on stream can make a difference between the success and failure of your session. This is because they can help if technical difficulties arise.
Your helper should be knowledgeable enough to understand how technology works and be prepared to deal with unexpected curveballs quickly and efficiently. Thus, you can focus purely on enjoying the experience instead of worrying too much about behind-the-scenes stuff.
Do a Mic Sound Check
Before beginning a live session, always run a thorough mic test to ensure everything works as expected.
Ensure Your Internet Connection is Working
One final issue worth mentioning is a reliable and stable internet connection. Nothing is worse than experiencing dropped frames or buffering delays in the middle of a broadcast.
Many platforms offer the ability to improve lower resolution bit rate backroom bandwidth; however, it's essential to have relatively decent upload speeds, to begin with, or else you won't be able to deliver quality content to your fans.
Live Stream Platforms
Nowadays, there are many platforms where artists, gamers, and educators share their talents with the general public. These range from Twitch, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Vimeo. Each of these platforms offers unique features to its user base.
For Instance, Twitch allows subscribers to view exclusive clips, while Instagram stories generally have shorter-lived disposable content. Therefore, it all depends on personal preference.
Promote Your Stream on Social Channels
After establishing the page, now comes the part of getting the word out to promote upcoming events on social media accounts. Ensure that you've included suitable hashtags. You can also create an impactful trailer, giving potential viewers an idea of the live session.
Final Thoughts
Setting a perfect environment for a live stream session from anywhere requires compromise and patience. And you'll realize that the end results are worth the effort invested. Having the perfect guitar set up for your live session can help you break through viewership numbers and reach the highest peak possible.