Most of us start live streaming just using our smartphones but at some point, you are going to go PRO. The ultimate live streaming equipment setup below is going to show you how to get your live streaming equipment set up. And give you some great tips on getting Pro results from your equipment.
So, let’s get into the checklist for the best live streaming rig!
The PC or Laptop
For the best results, you will need a 4k video editing PC. This is really important because you need a powerful pc to handle the video capture card and of course, run the editing software. For our setup, we use a Black Magic 4K Intensity capture card with HDMI inputs. This allows you to use any camera for your capturing which will set your streaming videos apart from the rest.
Streaming Camera with Clean HDMI Output and Unlimited Runtime
For our set up we use a Panasonic GH5 with a 12-35 2,8 lens this gives us an amazing crisp video quality. To get started you might not need such a powerful camera setup. For beginners, you might use a lower quality camera but always remember to have your HDMI feeds going into your capture card.
Pro-Tip
Use an HDMI connector to get the cable away from your camera viewing screen which then gives you an extra monitoring source for your streaming.
If you happen to own a Canon EOS camera and really want to squeeze the best out of your camera, here’s a more in depth tutorial on how to use a canon EOS camera as a webcam:
Pricing Breakdown
the rig that we are using would set you back about $3000 to $4000 and that might be a little much for some beginners. But you can also use the Elgato Cam Link (about $100) that will use a USB port for your HDMI inputs. This will allow you to get a better camera for your streaming feeds.
Pro-Tip
Starting out you would want to stay within your budget as much as possible, and using the Cam Link setup will help you do that. You will also see a list of cameras on the Cam Link site that have external power supplies so that you can have unlimited runtime on your cameras.
Audio – USB Microphone
We use the Shure MV51 USB microphone in our rig. We get a lot of compliments on the mic because of its retro look. It has some cool functions on the front which gives us some extra options for our audio. The mic will cost you about $150 and the rode boom arm is about $100. But this rig gives you awesome options of your audio and great control of placement and flexibility.
Lighting
As you can see in the video, we use the Specular Modular LED “Triangle Light” for our lighting setup. It’s a cool setup because you can use this light for just about any lighting situation that you can think of. The modular design allows you to connect your lights in many different configurations. The kit only comes with the lights and you would need a stand and connector that lets you bend and angle the lights a little bit. This setup is a bit pricy for beginners but you can check out the Elgato Key Light ($200 each).
Encoding Software
There is a lot of different types of software in the market and you can test and choose the one that works for you. What we use is the vMix suite of encoding software. It has a free version that gives you the basic functions but you will want to upgrade to the HD version soon ($60) when you can. vMix gives you great options like feed switching and alternate video sources.
Dual Monitors
Having dual monitors give you a lot of flexibility in your streaming feeds. You can switch and select more windows and have them at your fingertips by using 2 monitors.
Pro-Tip
You might want to get a larger desk when you start setting up your streaming booth, this will give you the space you need for the rig to be set up correctly.
Get yourself a set of earphones to use as you monitor. You can get an in-ear headphone that you can hide away in your shirt that will give flexibility and great control over your audio feed, especially to keep the feed clean without feedback. The ultimate live streaming equipment setup should help you create a more professional live streaming experience.
