A live stream looks simple from the audience side: the event appears on YouTube, Facebook, or Zoom, and it just works. Getting it to just work is the job. Here is what actually goes into streaming a performance or conference in Washington, D.C., and why a monitored, multi-camera setup is the difference between a broadcast and a shaky single-camera feed.
Cameras and switching
A single locked-off camera gets tiring within minutes. Multi-camera coverage lets the stream cut between a wide of the stage, a tight shot of the performer or speaker, and audience reactions, switched live by an operator who is watching the event, not just the gear. On-screen graphics, titles, and lower thirds are mixed in as the program runs.
Audio is half the broadcast
Remote viewers will forgive a soft image long before they forgive bad sound. We take a feed from the house console or mic the event directly, then mix for the stream separately from the room, because what sounds right in the hall rarely sounds right in headphones.
The connection, monitored
Encoding and bandwidth get tested before doors open, and someone watches the outbound stream for the entire event, so a hiccup gets caught in seconds rather than discovered in the comments afterward. The program can be recorded during the stream and delivered afterward for on-demand replay.
We stream conferences, worship services, performances, and special events across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. One example is on our portfolio: a live performance we covered with a full multi-camera setup. The complete service is described on our live streaming page, and if you have an event coming up, get in touch and we will scope the setup to your venue and audience.