Written and updated by Nathan Hippenmeyer on September 2, 2020 at 9:25am

Gear Guide for Live Streaming

Computer Setups

Computers:

What we are looking for in a computer is a great processor, which is essentially the energy center of your computer - it determines how much you can do and how quickly you can do it. Your RAM is also important for streaming because there are so many simultaneous tasks being performed at once. The minimum amount of RAM to use in live streaming that we suggest is 16GB. Less than 16GB and you could run into performance issues.

I like to recommend NVidia RTX Graphics Cards for their superior hardware encoding performance, which you will need to capture raw video and audio data from your camera, convert that data into compressed files (called encoding), and then upload it to the Internet in real-time. You're going to have various applications running at the same time such as OBS, live chats, browsers, and overlays. 

You really don't want to get cheap on these options and you'll future-proof yourself more by upgrading your computer beyond what is suggested above. 

 

A note to Mac Users:

Yes. I know. I listed ZERO Mac/Apple options above! Outrage! Trust me, as the lead Mac/Apple apologist for the YMCA Movement, it burns my soul to display nothing for those of us who solely use Macs. We are better than the PC user. We are more refined. We have culture. We live on the cutting edge of life. But that is not the type of people we have at the YMCA. So we must submit to the PC gods. 

Just kidding. 

You can TOTALLY still use a Mac for live streaming. I ask that you follow similar specs above as you build your Mac. Minimum of 16GB of RAM, get a nice processor and opt for whatever higher-end graphics card Apple is offering at the time. I use a 2017 iMac with an i7 processor, 32GB RAM, and a Radeon Pro 580 8 GB and live streaming works great. Shop in the B&H Photo Used section and you can score some sweet deals on iMac setups. The new Macbook Pros work wonderfully as well. And if you happen to have more money than Jeff Bezos, feel free to buy the new Mac Pros with 28 Cores of power.  

Monitors

Monitors:

Depending on your setup, you may want one or two extra monitors at your desk. You can technically do everything with one monitor if you want to! The separation just makes it easier to produce a single person show. We imagine a setup like this:

Main Monitor: OBS/Streaming Software

2nd Monitor: Browser/Application if you're sharing your screen

3rd Monitor: Viewer Comments for your trainer to see so they can interact with the audience

Capture Cards

Capture Cards:

Capture cards connect your DSLR or cinema camera (recommendations for cameras below) to your computer so that your software can access and display your camera. If you are using an iPhone for streaming or a webcam, you will likely not need a capture card. Don't forget to get yourself an HDMI to HDMI cable or Micro HDMI to HDMI  or Mini HDMI to HDMI cable to connect between the capture card and your camera. We recommend getting at minimum a 25 ft. cord since you may need some space between the camera and your computer. 

Audio Mixers

Audio Mixer for Live Streaming

($80) 3-Channel Bluetooth Audio Mixer

If you're looking for a more beginner-friendly mixer, this 3 Channel Bluetooth Audio Mixer is an excellent place to start. The mixer has wireless and Bluetooth compatibilities meaning you could use your phone or another device to help set up features like music or a soundboard. Being able to combine sound from multiple sources without all the wiring is a nice bonus that comes with this mixer. As long as you are not looking to make any large adjustments to your sound, this mixer gets the job done. The sound quality is pretty good too, but isn't the highest among mixers currently on the market. 
A GOXLR Audio Mixer for Live Streaming

($499) GoXLR

The GoXLR is an amazing piece of equipment, specifically designed with streaming in mind. With four audio sources, most streamers will have everything they need. The UI of the design is easy to follow and intuitive and after a little practice, you'll be seamless at mixing audio and adjusting as needed. Despite being on the pricier end, you're paying for high quality and consistency. If you don't want to work with a bulky, standard, ugly audio mixer, then the GoXLR is the right choice for you. 

Audio Mixers:

Fine-tuning the audio of your stream is essential to creating the right experience for your viewers. Poor sound can ruin an otherwise spectacular live stream. How many times have you wished the streamer would turn down their music? If you want to create a truly seamless streaming experience, the soundscape has to be a top priority. Most streamers will have at least two audio sources that need to be mixed from separate sources into one track. For fitness classes, we need to have a music source and a wireless mic source, typically through a lavalier. Don't forget to see how your wireless or wired mic connects into your mixer. You may need to pick up some spare XLR cables (get extras because they do tend to go bad) or XLR to 3.5mm cords.  

Audio/Microphones

Saramonic Blink 500 B1 system on a DSLR

($179) Saramonic Blink 500 B1 Wireless Mic System

If you want an extremely small, feather-weight wireless microphone system that delivers broadcast-quality sound to use with cameras and mobile devices, look no further than Saramonic's line up of microphones. Use the mini shoe on the top of your DSLR to mount the receiver into your camera. The audio from your camera will be used with your video source inside of OBS/Ecamm/Vmix (or whatever your broadcasting software of choice) to provide a clear, crisp sound from your trainer. This is not my favorite option, and some users have had issues with syncing the Mics. Thankfully, Saramonic will replace your unit if you face issues. 

Microphones:

Sound influences our perception of a video's quality perhaps even greater than the image quality itself. The audience will readily forgive a poor quality picture before they forgive poor quality sound, so it is your job to make that sound as pleasant-sounding as possible. 

You're going to want to get a mic for each person who is on screen. That mic will count as one "audio input source" in your broadcasting software (Streamlabs OBS, Ecamm for Mac, VMix, etc.) The microphones listed above will all work as great options to provide your audience with crisp, clear audio from your presenter. You will hear a noticeable quality difference as soon as you go from a microphone on your camera to one of the wireless lavalier microphones listed above.

Some Y's say, "Why can't I just use my mic that I already use in the studio?" You can totally do that. But in my experience, when these mics feed into OBS, you begin to hear your voice sound like it's talking on a telephone. Do a test on these mics first to see if you're satisfied with the audio. 

Cameras

Cameras:

You'll notice that we are suggesting ALL Sony mirrorless DSLR Alpha series cameras. Sony makes excellent, budget-friendly cameras that are tailored for live streaming, unlike some other unnamed companies that rhyme with the word "Banon." These Sony cameras all have the ability to provide a "clean signal." Many cameras--particularly those not designed primarily for live streaming - can only output a signal with display icons. As a result, you get a live video that looks like this image below. 

 

A man stands smiling with a brick wall behind him. The camera display icons see in a square formation all around him

 

Also, please make sure to pick up this camera power adapter ($23) with your Sony Camera above to make sure you never run out of power during your shoot.  Also, running straight from battery or USB can overheat your camera, causing it to shut off. Best to use the power adapter above to make sure you can stream for as long as you want. 

Broadcasting Software

OBS Screen showing scenes and sources for your live streaming broadcast setup

(FREE) OBS (Open Broadcaster Software)

OBS is the king of live-streaming software. It's free and open-source for video recording and live streaming. Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux. Not the most user-friendly option, but an incredibly powerful tool that is easy enough to pick up by watching YouTube video tutorials. We'd be remiss if we didn't mention Streamlabs OBS which is a much more user-friendly version of OBS. Streamlabs allows you to personalize your streams utilizing already created pro themes. These themes help you look more professional with better overlays, apps, and graphics. To get access to these streaming tools, it's an extra $12/month. 
vMix Software on a desktop monitor

($60-1200) vMix Software

vMix has the most advanced features, controls, and flexibility of any of the software listed here. vMix has a somewhat antiquated pricing model. Instead of a subscription model, you pay for the software one time and then get free updates for a year. The $350 version lets you do HD live streams and lets you have 1 guest on your live stream. Take a look at what tools you are going to need based on the different pricing plans that vMix offers. My guess is that most Y's who choose to use vMix could get away with the $350 option and get great use out of it. 

Licensed Music

Marigold Artlist Logo on brown background

Artlist

12,000 Tracks at $199/year is nothing. With unlimited downloads that you can use in any project (not just live streaming) is unheard of in the broadcasting industry. Artlist is the most straightforward, legally-speaking, of the options listed here. Lifetime use of songs that cover live streaming on Facebook, Twitch, YouTube, and all other online platforms. Some of our trainers have reported struggling to find 32 phrase, 8 count songs with high energy, and have found it's best for calmer workouts. However, with 150+ new tracks added per month to the Artlist music library, you can't go wrong.
Soundstripe Logo on green background

Soundstripe

4,000+ Tracks at $66/month is not a bad deal. But I will say, of all the popular music services, this one might be the most frustrating. Any song can be used more than once. However, you have to give the name of the project you are using the song for, and then get a single-use license for that song for that one use. Single-use licenses never expire, but since the company adds and removes the songs all the time, they might not be there down the road, and therefore, Soundstripe can be very cumbersome. Your workflow will suffer and you want to remove any boundary that is getting in the way of you creating content for your digital memberships. 
Epidemic Sound Logo on Blue Background

Epidemic Sound

30,000+ Tracks. Custom Agreements.  Legally speaking, Epidemic Sound is less restrictive than Soundstripe, but more so than Artlist. They are way more expensive for large Y organizations. Custom agreements for larger Y's can be as high as $500-$4k per month. Livestreaming is covered on all platforms of course. They have the largest library compared to nearly any other music service. Nothing else compares since Epidemic has been around since 2009. They also, like Artlist, add 150+ songs per month. It's been noted by the YouTube channel "Live Streaming Pros" that Epidemic Sound is the one music service that doesn't flag you on YouTube and Facebook. Artlist and Soundstripe tend to, at times, flag your videos for using their music, even though you already paid for their service and are using it legally. Not having to fight these miniature appeals on Facebook and YouTube is a huge win in the Epidemic Sound column.  

Lighting

Dracast LED Panel

($795) Dracast LED Light

Dracast makes excellent battery-powered LED light panels which allow you to take these lights on location with you wherever you go, even if you have no power! For color accuracy, you can change the color temperature of these LED panels from 3200K-5600K. This means you can quickly match the prevailing ambient or artificial light balance in your studio with the simple twist of a knob. A dimmer knob also allows you to have control over your light intensity. These frequently go on sale (currently this light is only $395) so pick up a few of these when they do!
Kino Flo two light kit for live streaming studio

($3,326) Kino Flo 2-Light Kit

If you want industry-standard lights for your studio, look no further than Kino Flo. These 4-foot lights feature accurate color rendition, flexible power supplies, and soft, wrap-around light quality. The fixture takes daylight and tungsten lamps, and are lightweight enough to maneuver around. They can even be taped to a wall if needed. I suggest not going this route and rather using some scissor clamps to mount to a drop ceiling or using a wall plate for solid ceilings. Super easy to use, and beautiful light quality. Once you use Kino Flo lights, you'll understand what makes them stand out. Dimmer is integrated into the light for better light control. Pick up a Kino Flo 4Bank Full Flozier to diffuse your light even more. Combine this set up with a Diva Light as your backlight, and although you might be $5k into lighting, you'll have a gorgeous virtual studio set up. 

Lighting:

Lighting for video absolutely, 100% matters -- but if you are live streaming in one your fitness studios at the Y, chances are your lighting is pretty good to begin with. If you want to go for a special look with dramatic lighting or stand out, by all means, GO FOR IT. But if you are trying to save money, the lighting might be the best place to start. I would invest in amazing sound quality far earlier than I would a dramatic lighting setup. Remember, this is something you can invest in down the road, but doing it right out of the gate isn't your number one priority.  If your trainers do happen to be in a dark spot in your studios, I would consider mounting some lights in the ceiling where they will be streaming and running a cord to an outlet that you can simply turn on and off with a light switch. The easier you can make the live streaming setup, the more likely you will create content. Simplicity is key, and you don't want your trainers to feel like they have to haul lighting gear around to get their live stream done. 

Internet Connection:

When we speak about Internet speed, it's important to note that their are two different types of Internet speed -- your download speed and your upload speed. Download speed is how fast your internet connection can transfer data from a server to you. For example, when Netflix starts getting grainy, your download speed has probably gotten really, really slow. 

But download speed is not nearly as important to live streamers as the upload speed. Upload speed is how fast your internet connection can transfer your data to a server. Upload speed is what you use to send a stream to your social network. 

Best Internet Speed Practices for Live Streaming:

  • Get fiber internet in your live streaming studio/fitness studio whenever possible -- AT&T U-verse, Verizon Fios, Google Fiber -- see if it's available in your area. It's a more dedicated, consistent speed. Coaxial cable has too much variation in speed. 
     
  • Use an Ethernet, wired connection for live streaming. If you're sending 4 MB/s to Facebook and 10 MB/s to YouTube, and you're on coaxial cable, on WiFi, then you are going to have a ton of fluctuation in your Internet speed. You'll drag your stream. Audio is going to get out of sync. It's just going to look really bad. To send to YouTube along, you'll be sending about 10 MB/s to get good quality. 1080 HD stream go to YouTube at 14 MB/s. If you are going to just Facebook on one page, then 10 MB/s is fine. But most Y's will be streaming to multiple Facebook pages at the same time. 
     
  • To Simulcast to Facebook, YouTube, etc. try to get around a 50 MB/s upload speed at minimum. The last thing you want to do is have a pixelated experience. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) doesn't always have a list of upload speeds on their site. You may need to call a manager on the phone. Some customer service reps at ISPs don't even know what upload speeds are...so make sure you speak with someone knowledgable.