Table of Contents

How to Live Stream an Event in 2020

How to livestream your virtual event in 2020

Live event video streaming is an excellent way to reach a broader audience and to make your event content more accessible to more people. By live streaming your event, you can benefit from reducing your carbon footprint, attracting a wider audience, and adapting to the “New Normal at Business Events” in the event industry. 

Today, it is possible to live stream any event. However, it is fundamental to know where and how to live stream an event. It is also crucial to understand and be aware of the best way to live stream an event to get the results you want. Both technology and audience engagement are essential to stream a live event successfully.

With that said, here is a guide for you with live streaming tips and tricks and everything else you need to know on how to live stream your event.  

The Main Features You Need in Software to Live Stream Your Event

To live stream an event is now the norm in a technology-driven world that is more connected than ever before. According to the global 2020 forecast highlighted by CISCO, the total internet video traffic will account for 79% of all the internet traffic in 2020, increasing from 63% in 2015. Just in five years, internet video traffic has soared and will continue to soar.

Nowadays, you can find software to live stream all kinds of events, from concerts, sports, weddings, graduations, conferences, and everything else in between. Given the growing trend in the event industry and the various software options available to live stream events, now is the time to learn about the main features you need in software to live stream your event successfully. However, If you are still looking into getting a feel of how to live stream events online, try it out on Youtube. You can follow our detailed guide on How to Livestream Events on Youtube.    

In any case, when perusing through software platforms on where to live stream your event, consider the following features carefully: 

  1. Access Control
  2. Audience Engagement
  3. Customizable Branding
  4. Event Scheduling
  5. Multiple Cameras Feed
  6. Multistreaming
  7. Performance Monitoring
  8. Session Recording
  9. Split or Multi-screen Capabilities
  10. Video Monetization Tools

Having most, if not all, of these features on the software you choose to live stream your event will make your live streaming experience better altogether. 

How to Choose the Best Tools to Live Stream Your Event

Currently, there are a variety of tools to live stream events, from social network streams to advanced productions. You can find free services from social networks or live streaming platforms to make and broadcast video content with more security. While most of the tools you will find include features to interact with your audience, some tools – mostly live streaming solutions, offer options to monetize your live stream. 

So you are probably wondering, “How do I choose the best tools to live stream my event?” The short answer is that it depends on what you want. Do you want more exposure or more security? Are you going to stream your event to clients (B2C) or other businesses (B2B)? Do you plan to monetize your event?

If you are looking for more exposure, some of the best tools to live stream your event are free or relatively inexpensive. Consider the following five free tools to live stream your event:

  1. Facebook Live
  2. Instagram Live
  3. Periscope
  4. YouTube Live
  5. YouNow

Everything you should know about running online events

These tools are free, but they are also the best you can choose for several reasons. To begin with, you will be able to attract more viewers from around the world because it is free. Second, you can increase your brand awareness and add real value to it because you will get more exposure as more users will have access to your event content. Third, you can quickly and effectively promote your event on social media. And finally, most of these tools include features that allow you to engage with your audience.

However, if you are looking for more security features or plan to monetize your live stream event, place your attention on choosing professional streaming solutions. You can learn more about streaming solutions just below.   

The Equipment You Need to Live Stream Your Events

In general, the equipment you need to live stream your events include cameras, tripods, microphones, a streaming platform, and a video encoder. Let’s take a closer look at these pieces of equipment to understand why we need them to live stream an event.

  1. Camera(s): You can find a wide variety of cameras, including PTZ cameras, camcorders, DSLR, and mirrorless cameras. So it would be wise to research the kind of camera you need. The type of camera will largely depend on the type of event you plan to live stream.
  2. Tripod(s): These sturdy three-legged stands reduce camera movement and improve picture quality. They can hold cameras, camcorders, and even flash units, slaves, and reflectors.
  3. Microphones: This device helps you capture the combined audio from the set or master board. Wireless microphones are also useful; however, you will require a receiver to connect to an encoder or an audio mixer. A few microphones to consider are a Lapel Mic, a Shotgun Mic, and a Handheld Mic. It is also a good idea to use an audio mixer with your microphone of choice to control for different levels of voices.
  4. Streaming Platform: With many platforms to use, from YouTube, Facebook Live, to Cisco, you have many options. Some platforms are free, while others are not. You can learn more by reading “How to Choose the Best Tools to Live Stream Your Event” and “Streaming Solutions.”
  5. A Video Encoder: This device takes and turns your final audio and video stream into a language the internet understands and displays as a live feed. You can use streaming software, also known as software encoding. You will need a capture card to receive the video signal from each camera if you use your computer. Also, keep in mind that streaming tajes up a lot of processing power, which could significantly slow down or even crash your computer. In short, use a hardware encoder to switch, record, and stream your event. 

Streaming Solutions

If you are looking for more advanced controls, consider streamlining your live stream event using the right streaming solutions. Some broadcasters have the resources, time, and technical experience to live stream their events; however, this is not the case for most people and businesses. In which case, you would be better off contracting a professional video streaming platform such as GEVME Live. Designed as a secure platform with seamless features for major digital events, with Gevme Live, you can run and live stream important events such as webinars, conferences, and exhibitions.  

In any case, with streaming solutions, you and your viewers can access specialized servers, sufficient bandwidth, and many other useful features to ensure a successful live stream of your event.      

With many options in the market, it is important to take the time to compare different streaming solutions. Take advantage of free trials and evaluate the various offers. But, most importantly, when considering which streamline solution to use, think about the following features:   

  1. Security Features
  2. Monetization Capabilities
  3. Professional Video Hosting and Live Streaming Capabilities
  4. A 24/7 Support System
  5. The Price of Services

Recording Equipment

The recording equipment is a crucial component for streaming videos. For this part, take the time to research different options to ensure the recording equipment that you invest in is truly compatible with your goals. Perhaps you need a 360-degree video recorder, or maybe you need more sophisticated recording technology. Whatever it is, work within your budget. However, if you are serious about streaming your event, invest in a quality camera. With a high-quality camera, you will improve the quality of the audio and the visual aspects of your live stream event.       

Capture Cards

Capture cards provide services to capture video signals from external devices via an HDMI connection. In other words, a capture acts as an input data receiver. To accurately convert video content into streamable content when live streaming with a camera, you will need a capture card.  A capture card can be personally purchased and installed on a computer. Once installed, it is easy to plug in a camera into the capture card.

While capture cards may not be necessary after all, they still serve to take the strain off your device by capturing the video and sound. Whether you need a capture card or not largely depends on the quality you want for your stream.

The Best Encoding Software and How to Use It

The primary purpose of encoding software is to serve as a tool that transcodes video from one format to another. With encoder software, you can capture video content coming from your webcam, camera, or your phone.

As of now, there are several options for encoding software to live stream your event. Consider asking yourself the following questions to understand which encoding software is right for you and your live stream event. 

  • Is the encoder compatible with my streaming platform? 
  • What features does the encoder provide? 
  • Is the encoding software the best option for my live streaming goals?
  • What’s my budget?

With these questions in mind, here are some of the best encoding software options in the market:

  1. Open Broadcaster Studio (OBS)
  2. Wirecast
  3. VidBlasterX

To help you understand which encoding software to choose, consider their features, and think about the following questions:

  • How big is your audience?
  • How many camera feeds do you plan to incorporate into your videos?
  • What camera will you use?
  • What kind of operating system will you use?
  • Are you considering video effects or video editing?
  • What are the requirements of the live streaming platform you are using?
  • How much are you willing to spend?

Whatever encoder you choose to use will play a significant role in the quality of your live stream event. So you must ensure that whatever live stream encoding software you select covers all your goals for your live stream event. 

Embed Code and How Viewers Can Access Your Video Content

An embed code is a code that is generated by a third-party website like YouTube or Vimeo. A user can then copy and paste the code into a webpage. Once pasted, the embed code shows the same media, application, or feed from the source on that web page. 

To live stream an event successfully, you will need an embed code. The embed code is what you will need so your viewers can have access to your live video content. Once your embed code is ready, copy and paste it into your webpage, social media campaigns, or even emails. 

Create a Versatile Page for Your Video Stream

When it finally comes to streaming your live event, you want to make sure you have everything you need on your live page. Your live page is pretty much your live event, so having all the essentials to make it feel like your viewers are in an actual event is crucial. Apart from the video stream itself, use essential elements on your live page. Consider the following examples of how you can do this. 

  • Design your live event page with your brand theme.
  • Display live widgets on the live video stream to promote your brand, your partners, and sponsors.
  • Display the logos of your partners and sponsors to pay tribute.
  • Include a live engagement chat section, a Q&A section, and even live polls.
  • Provide access to downloadable resources, digital brochures, and any other files of that sort.

Your live event page can and should feature all these elements along with your live video stream. If you want your audience to stay engaged, give them several reasons to do so. Adding these elements will add more value to your live stream event. You can get more than you need with Gevme Live’s versatile pages for your stream. With Gevme Live, you can showcase your brand, integrate your video platform of choice, add modular content blocks, use picture-in-picture features, setup on-demand access for recordings, and provide mobile-friendly access.     

Conclusion

To recap, the purpose of this guide is to inform you on how to live stream an event successfully. We looked into the main features you need in event streaming software, how to choose the best tools, the equipment you need, and the elements that could help you boost your live stream. In practice, you should now have sufficient knowledge on how to find a streaming platform (i.e., GEVME Live), choose a camera, an encoder, a capture card, and any other equipment you might need. Use this guide to your advantage.

If you want to seek further information on digital events, live streaming, or anything else related, take a look at GEVME’s digital event series, and watch webinars on these topics. Similarly, if you have any questions or feedback, leave a comment, or feel free to contact us. We are here to help.

Level up your events with Gevme’s omnichannel event platform

Share this article

We are pleased to announce updates to our privacy policy, reinforcing our commitment to safeguarding your rights. Please click here to review the changes.