THE WORLD IS SCREAMING “LIVE STREAMING!”

 

Now Streaming Worldwide:

50 shades of Lockdowns and Circuit Breakers. 

With our physical spheres reduced, it's only natural to search for greener pastures by diving deeper into virtual spaces to fuel our primal desires to socialise. Video-ing each other - facetime, zoom, google meet - has become all the rage.

No longer the domain of Gen Zs, social media influencers, auctioneers or multi-region business communication; sports broadcasters are putting their games and content on streaming platforms for people to watch⁹, musicians are live streaming their indoor performances to keep the spirits of their fans alive⁶, and schools have turned to streaming platforms to continue holding lectures & classes, albeit remotely⁸.

live-streaming-influencer-social-media.gif

And for us, you bet we’ve been staying connected with our colleagues, friends, family and even with our favourite celebrities during these times thanks to live streaming! 


But have you ever wondered how live streaming happens? And if you want to stream your own content, what are the available options out there? It’s not just that one button you press on your facebook pages or instagram accounts. There’s a whole spectrum of choices out there - from easy-to-use, top-notch quality, to low-risk streaming, we’ve got you covered in this little compilation of live streaming: What and Hows!

The Basics

When live streaming, the primary purpose is to let the audience see and hear what is happening, while it is happening. Some items necessary are: 

  1. A Camera (for the visuals)

  2. A Microphone (for the audio)

  3. An Encoder (the bridge that connects the recording to the stream)

  4. A Broadcasting Platform (where your video goes live, and your audience watches!)

Although these are the basic elements a live streamer should be aware of, the full package of what is truly needed for your stream ultimately depends on your content and purpose! 

Mobile Live Streaming

Using the phone as the camera - this is a form of live streaming many of us may be most familiar with in our daily social media engagements. The moment a notification pops up saying “XYZ (your favourite influencer) has gone live!”, we hurtle in to sneak a peek at what they are currently up to; fans toss endless virtual ‘hearts’ across the screen that is simultaneously exploding with comments. 

But often enough, viewers encounter blips such as frozen screens, blur 144p video quality, and even situations where the streamer mouths ‘c-a-n y-o-u h-e-a-r m-e’ in void level silence. This is what triggers impatience or loss of interest in many viewers, prompting them to tap out. (noooo!) 

Ironically, the very same social media platforms that make it so easy to live stream with a push of a button, also makes it commitment free for viewers who can tap out and disengage any time. This is why it is keeping a live stream smooth and perfect is essential to keeping your audience.

Ensuring a smooth live stream where video and audio quality remain stable throughout often takes more than just a phone. It will be a worthy investment to take some time to consider the other factors that would contribute to a good stream! (if you are having trouble figuring it out, feel free to hit us up anytime.)

Professional Live Streaming

Ooh, sounds fancy, but what does it mean? In a nutshell, this means live streaming with quality that calls for an ‘oomph’. Having a team of video production specialists who know their stuff to support you in the planning and execution of the live stream, is a way to dazzle your audience without having to sit by your computer at 3AM in the morning cracking your head around technical details. 

Camera positioning, lighting, knowledge on encoders and connection speeds, are some of the things professionals will be more happy to share and discuss with you according to what you need and what you envision. And if you represent your brand, this is a plus point as quality is a direct reflection of your brand image! 

Putting ourselves in the perspectives of the viewers - potential consumers, what would be our takeaway when we encounter a bad live stream from a brand we were initially interested in? According to a research done by Brightcove¹ on consumers’ expectations on video experiences, consumers are 62% more likely to have a negative perception of a brand from watching a poor quality video, and 23% of consumers who watched would hesitate to purchase from the brand. 

A live stream eventually ends, but good impressions last. Quality secured by the support of the right team of professionals is going to be invaluable! So before worrying about cost, have a thought over value; if this could be the answer to achieving what you want to reap from the live stream. Or, have a chat over a cup of (now virtual) coffee with us! 

(shh.. this is a secret) ‘Non-Live’ Streaming

One of the biggest fears that comes with the idea of diving into live streaming, is the fear of ‘bloopers’ - or simply put, something going wrong that you cannot control 😱! Because once it’s live.. there’s no going back!

[Image Credits to: ABC News]

[Image Credits to: ABC News]

These bloopers can be avoided with proper planning and communication, but for those who believe in Murphy’s law (anything that can go wrong will go wrong), we might have a solution for you! And that is, to prepare your video beforehand. 

Yes, it’s possible! With footage shot and edited beforehand, there is full control over what will be ‘live’ streamed to the audience. Not just that, it opens up opportunities to add subtitles, graphics, and even re-use old clips that you have in your possession. And if you are looking to make live streaming a long-term thing, this method could also save you time or reap economies of scale as all the footage needed for a few ‘episodes’ can be shot at one go.

But bear in mind, adding and editing too much to the point of satisfying the perfectionist’s dream may cause viewers to start doubting if what they are seeing is really ‘live’. We don’t want our viewers to start feeling disconnected! For advice on how to achieve this balance and retain the ‘liveness’ of your video, call us!

Otherwise, if you want your video to be exclusive to a specific audience for only a certain duration of time (members only!) (for the VVIPs!) (be a patreon to unlock more content!), live streaming your pre-made video gives you the benefit of the video not being immortalised on the internet for it to be seen by the rest of the world awhile after.

 

Video Conferencing vs Live Streaming

“Hey let’s chat on Skype!”

“Thank you! Here is the Google Hangout link for our meeting: ___” 

“Google, how do I change my background in Zoom?”

Do any of the names above sound familiar to you? We bet they’d be familiar to many of you right now! But since both video conferencing and live streams share the same concept of ‘live’ communication and content sharing, questions have risen on what exactly is the difference between the two.

Here is the answer:

According to Dacast², video conferencing involves two or more parties with video cameras communicating via live videos over the internet. Live streaming, on the other hand, is a one-way communication medium (excluding the comments function), in which the video flows from the broadcaster to the viewers only. 

“Does that mean I can’t use Skype, Google Hangout, or Zoom for my live streams?”

Well, yes… and also, no.

You may not be able to use Skype, Google Hangout and Zoom the same way as you would use Youtube Live, Twitch, or Facebook Live for live streaming. If you wish to ‘live stream’ a video to your video conferencing members via screen sharing, you could. But in some video conferencing platforms such as Google Hangout, your viewers will not be able to hear any audio from the screen share. They would be time-travelling back to the 1920s, the era of silent movies. 

But don’t despair! There is still a way to incorporate video conferencing together with live streaming - and in fact, it is a method that is growing increasingly popular! 

Various entertainers and shows that were forced into a hiatus due to the pandemic, have ‘reunited’ on Skype & Zoom, and turned their online reunion to a video for fans to watch. Just last week, Tom Hanks hosted an online gathering of the Saturday Night Live cast on Zoom, which was aired by NBC News¹⁰. They have not stopped creating!

And like them, you could incorporate your video conferencing conversations, discussions, or even interviews as part of your live-stream video. Viewers may also feel a sense of security, as they recognise that those in the live stream are being responsible in current times and practicing social distancing. 

An important note: So that the process of crafting your ‘live’ stream video in post is a smooth one, ensure that all participants in the conference have stable internet connections so that nobody is ‘frozen’ or ‘glitched out’ on screen! And if you already have some clips in hand that you want to use, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Live Streaming = A Stream of Consciousness? No!

Despite the mountain of information on live streaming: What and Hows have been discussed so far, there still remains soooo many aspects that one needs to be aware of to make a successful live stream. 

Cameras, Audio, Encoders, and Broadcasting Platforms all have their different tech specs and restrictions. To name a few just for Broadcasting Platforms:

  • Youtube Live allows up to 1280 x 720 (720p) resolution³.

  • Instagram Live is best supported for 1080 x 1920 (9 by 16 aspect ratio) dimensions⁵.

  • Facebook Live allows up to 1920 x 1080 (1080p) resolution⁴.

... the list goes on and on!

Furthermore, according to your purpose - whether it is to Educate, Entertain or Advertise, the answer to “What’s in it for me?” will differ. Every project, every live stream is unique in their own right, and we have what it takes to come up with a solution that addresses your needs, vision and wants. 

For all you readers who have just jumped on the live streaming wagon, don’t despair if your first stream does not get you the amount of response that you anticipated! Audience size takes time to grow through word-of-mouth and exposure. But you feel it is not working out, look into possibilities of pre-stream promotions (teasers), and post-stream round ups (recap videos) to keep on engaging. We are always here to help! 

[Image Credits To: Shia Labeouf]

[Image Credits To: Shia Labeouf]

Read Also: A Love-a-thon to Squash the Bugathon!

Weeks of staying at home is making everything look the same and everyday feel the same. Although we are physically apart, we are staying resilient, hopeful and connected nonetheless! To spread some well-needed love and cheery joy in this trying times, we are embarking on a love-a-thon - that’s right, a marathon of love! 

 
Arkchetype_Clients_Call Us_Logo.gif
ARKCHETYPE PRODUCTIONS