Over the past decade, the events space has grown into a multi-billion-dollar-a-year industry. As the industry grows and embraces new technology, people are finding new and innovative ways to reach their audience. One of the most relevant changes to the events industry is livestreaming.
Live Streaming - More Relevant Than Ever Before
The first people to use live streaming were gamers, but soon enough more and more industries moved towards live streaming. Now churches, schools, bands, and even big industry events and conferences are offering live streaming services.
By using your cell phone with something like the Samsung 360° camera, you can have a 4k, virtual reality 360° live stream of your event. That means that anyone who tunes in remotely can have a fully immersive experience.
Thanks to how advanced smartphones have become, live streaming has a relatively low barrier to entry. All you need is a smartphone, a microphone, and a mixer, and you’ll be live streaming on YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and a host of other streaming platforms in no time.
For those wanting a more professional set up, you can look into HD cameras and video mixers like the Roland VR-4HD.
Advantages of Live Streaming
Reach New Audiences: When the band KISS first started their career, they made a point of playing in towns that almost no one would play in. This allowed them to reach new audiences and grow their popularity. If you embrace live streaming, you too can reach new audiences that you would otherwise miss if you were in a set location.
Convenience: Thanks to services like Netflix, people can get media-on-demand in the comfort of their own home. By live streaming, you give your audience a convenient way to join you, whether it be for a church service or a gig.
Audience Data: If you play a venue or perform live somewhere, it can be hard to get the names and email addresses of everyone in attendance. By having people log into your live stream, you can capture data that you may not get otherwise.
No Overcrowding: We’ve all been to at least one event where we were shoulder to should with thousands of other people, and we had to queue to use the bathroom. With live streaming, your audience won’t need to suffer through overcrowding anymore.
Repurpose Your Content: If you record your live stream, you can show the same stream a few times over. By reshowing a stream, you can reach people at different times, meaning that your audience doesn’t have to stress about arriving at a specific time.
Schools – Lessons on Demand: If you are an educational institution, repurposing of content means that you can record your syllabus live, and have questions and answers and have an interactive session. You can then upload the content and have your lessons available to all past and current students.
Maintain Social Distancing: Of course, it should go without saying that by offering live streaming, you are doing your bit to keep your audience healthy. By encouraging your congregation, students, or fans to watch online, you can ensure that they stay inside.
Entry Level Live Streaming Options
Smartphone Mixers
For soloists, speakers, ministers, teachers, and other small-groups you can look at the Roland Go:Mixer Pro. Every year, the cameras on our smartphones are getting upgraded, but one area limiting the use of smartphones has always been poor audio quality. With the Roland Go:Mixer you won’t record HD video with native phone audio quality.
The Roland GO:MIXER is compact, portable and easy to use. It will allow you to record high-quality music with just your Smartphone. All you need to do is plug it into your Smartphone, and you can record full high-quality audio directly onto your video track as you record.
Improve Your Smartphone's Audio Quality with a Microphone
If you want to bypass using a mixer, then your next option is to use a Smartphone microphone like the RØDE VideoMic ME. The VideoMic Me is a compact and lightweight, high-quality directional microphone with that connects directly to the iPhone
TRRS microphone/headphone socket. Its flexible mounting bracket accommodates a wide range of smartphones and allows the microphone to be fitted for the primary camera or front camera (‘selfie’) use. A 3.5mm headphone jack on the rear allows for play-through of audio while recording (app dependent) as well as easy playback of your videos without having to remove the microphone.
The VideoMic ME-L with a Lightening connector for iPhones and iPads.
The Roland GO LIVECAST Live Streaming Studio for Your Smartphone
The Roland GO:LIVECAST, along with it’s companion app, and your smartphone, gives you everytiong your need to present engaging live web shows that will rival the most advanced creators on social media.
Its Plug-and-Play setup means you simply connect your smartphone and earbuds or headphones for sound monitoring, then use its built-in microphone or your own microphone to capture audio. The app’s easy-to-use tools bring great production value to your web shows. Connects directly to your Facebook live, Twitch, YouTube, and other major streaming services.
Professional Live Streaming Options
If you need a more professional setup that can handle multiple cameras, data, and audio sources, Roland Pro AV offer two cutting-edge options in the form of the the VR-1HD and VR-4HD AV Mixers. These are ideal for getting dynamic, multi-media rich church services and lessons to your online audience.
If you’re a content creator interested in maximum engagement during these uncertain times, the Roland VR-1HD is the mixer you need for real engagement in real time. A live streaming device will outperform any uploaded video with larger audiences and more comments posted.
The streamer allows you to broadcast multi-camera livestreams, with amazing sound and picture, making it better than static webcams and smartphones.
The VR-1HD is perfect if you’re also a presenter, gamer, or commentator in whatever niche. You’ll easily be able to livestream with high production standards.
See the Roland VR-1HD AV Streaming Mixer in action:
Roland VR-4HD AV Streaming Mixer
If you’re looking for a compact, portable livestream option that outputs high quality sound and picture, then check out the Roland VR-4HD.
The mixer is able to replace many pieces used in a complex A/V equipment setup.
During the design process, single-person operation was kept in mind, enabling its user to easily switch and mix sound and video by making use of optimised controls. The VR-4HD makes use of advanced audio and video DSP along with dedicated buttons, control faders, and a touch screen interface.
