Live Streaming for the Long Haul A little about me Rev. Brian - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Live Streaming for the Long Haul

• Rev. Brian Wallace

Associate Minister to Pittsburgh Presbytery

A little about me…

What’s the most important part of a bridge?

Three Key Points

• Live streaming is complicated and multi-faceted, with

numerous ways it can go wrong - even if it worked perfectly the week before.

• The “best” live streaming solution for your church is

entirely dependent on your context and ministry goals.

• The most important element for live streaming isn’t

technical: it’s human resources. What you and your people know and can do, and do it well.

Five Technical Aspects

• Record: Camera/Cameras and Sound
• Capture: Switcher/Capture Device
• Broadcast: Computer/Streamer
• LAN: Internal Network Connection
• Internet: Upstream Internet Connection

Five Technical Aspects

Record Capture Broadcast Local Network (LAN) Internet

You!

Your People!

Record: Camera(s) and Sound

• Traditional Camcorder - Good for all-around use, can be used for other

projects, built-in AC power, “clean output”, can be remote controlled.

Record: Camera(s) and Sound

• Designated Streaming Cameras - Small, portable, and often wireless.

Often provide a one-step solution.

Record: Camera(s) and Sound

• DSLR - Much better low light performance and provide more “depth” to

the image quality.

Record: Camera(s) and Sound

• PTZ/Surveillance Cameras - Similar to streaming cameras, but are wired,

easily remote-controlled.

Record: Camera(s) and Sound

• Cinema Cameras - High-end solutions, especially good for low light

auditoriums

Record: Camera(s) and Sound

• For all solutions, you’ll need to think about how you’ll mount cameras

(tripods, monopods) and miscellaneous cords (AC adapters, audio and video cables, etc)

Sound

• This is the most overlooked part of live streaming video (or video

production in general)

• Best Option: Take an output from your existing sound system into your

live stream.

Capture Device

• The “capture” process takes the signal from the camera/sound and feeds it

into the computer.

• Most often a USB-device that plugs into the computer.

Capture Device

• Look for “hardware encoding” or “hardware encoder”
• the device does the processing of the video for you

and not your computer

• Options:
• AverMedia Live Gamer Series
• Blackmagic ATEM Mini
• Elgato Game Capture / Calming
• SlingMedia Studio
• And more…

Capture Device

• Some DSLR cameras can be connected via USB to a computer directly.
• But there are two major drawbacks:
• The quality is not as good as using HDMI
• Audio from the camera is not transferred, so you must use an external

audio device.

Broadcast:

• Usually a computer, but there are dedicated streaming/broadcast

devices for this purpose.

• Some use dedicated programs that connect to platforms (like YouTube

Live, Facebook Live, etc.)

• Others show up as a webcam-type device that can connect directly to a
• platform. (This is the preferred method - far easier to setup and use)

LAN/Internet Matters

• Wired vs Wireless Connections
• Upstream Internet Connection
• Visit www.speedtest.net and test your connection.

Sample Set-Up: Barebones Phone

Additional Cost Record (Video/Audio) Smart Phone $0 Capture Smart Phone $0 Broadcast Smart Phone $0 LAN Wi-fi $0 Internet Local ISP $0 Total $0 Other Items:

• Tripod, Phone Mount

Comments:

• Simplest setup, but definitely the lowest quality.
• Phones work best when close up, but that can make the positioning awkward.

Basic Set-up (Single Camera)

Additional Cost Record (Video/Audio) Canon Vixia HF R800 / Sound Board $219 Capture AverMedia Live Gamer Mini $139 Broadcast Existing Computer $0 LAN Wi-fi $0 Internet Local ISP $0 Misc Items $150 Total $508 Other Items:

• Tripod, Monopod, 3.5mm audio cable

Comments:

• A good basic camera for a well lit sanctuary
• Can be placed at the back of the room and zoomed in.
• Can be adjusted easily and smoothly

Basic Set-up (Single Camera)

Additional Cost Record (Video/Audio) Canon XA20 / Sound Board $1400 Capture Elgato Game Capture HD60 $150 Broadcast 2013 MacBook Pro $0 LAN Wi-fi $0 Internet Local ISP $0 Misc Items Tripod, Mini-HDMI to HDMI Cable $100 Total $1650 Other Items:

• Tripod, Monopod, 3.5mm audio cable

Comments:

• This is the actual setup we own for Pittsburgh Presbytery

Basic Setup (Better Camera)

Additional Cost Record (Video/Audio) Canon Vixia HF G21 / Sound Board $999 Capture AverMedia Live Gamer Mini $139 Broadcast Existing Computer $0 LAN Wi-fi $0 Internet Local ISP $0 Misc Items $150 Total $1288 Other Items:

• Tripod, Monopod, 3.5mm audio cable

Comments:

• A more expensive camcorder is going to have a bigger sensor, which will yield better

performance in low light.

Basic Setup (DSLR)

Additional Cost Record (Video/Audio) Canon Rebel SL3 $600 Capture AverMedia Live Gamer Mini $139 Broadcast Existing Computer $0 LAN Wi-fi $0 Internet Local ISP $0 Misc Items $250 Total $989 Other Items:

• Tripod, Monopod, 3.5mm audio cable

Comments:

• This will forfeit some flexibility, as a DSLR requires an AC adapter (which isn’t included at

purchase) and lacks some things like power zoom. But, it will allow you to record better quality in low light.

Basic Set-up (Multiple Cameras)

Additional Cost Record (Video/Audio) 3 - Canon Vixia HF R800 / Sound Board $657 Capture Blackmagic ATEM Mini HDMI Live Stream Switcher $295 Broadcast Existing Computer $0 LAN Wi-fi $0 Internet Local ISP $0 Misc Items $300 Total $1252 Other Items:

• Tripods, Monopod, 3.5mm audio cable

Comments:

• You could “Fix” three different cameras (pulpit, lectern, wide shot of the front, etc.) and use

the switcher to switcher between the shots depending on what you needed.

High-end Solutions

• Mevo - multiple, independent cameras designed for

Streaming

• SlingStudio (camera adapters and a hub for multiple

cameras connected together wirelessly)

• Local Contractors

Closing Comments

• Context is everything - what you know, what your people

know, your physical space and what you already own determines everything.

• Start with analyzing your upstream internet connection -

it’s the one thing that you can’t do anything about.

• Find out what your people know - while it’s stereotypical,

this is a great time to grab your favorite millennial and empower them

Good Sources

• amazon.com
• B & H Photo (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/)
• Newegg (https://www.newegg.com/)
• Adorama (https://www.adorama.com/)

Contact Me

bwallace@pghpresbytery.org 412-323-1402