UK-based Stage Engage’s Christian Ablett offers some advice on approaching livestreaming for your events: Livestreaming has become very popular in recent years as technology has advanced, allowing almost anyone to ‘go live’ from their smartphones on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Livestreaming has also become a key component of virtual and hybrid events, allowing more people to attend than the venue capacity allows. But how does the process of livestreaming work?
What is livestreaming?
Livestreaming is when a live event or occurrence is filmed and the video is shared online in real time through a streaming protocol. High-quality equipment is needed for livestreaming, including cameras, microphones and lighting, and a strong internet connection to ensure it is successful.
How does the livestreaming process work?
Recording
The first step of livestreaming is to use a great-quality video camera and microphone (and an experienced videographer) to capture the event as it happens. These audio and video sources will be connected to your streaming device, usually a PC or laptop.
Encoding
The video is sent to an encoder, which is necessary to take the RAW video files from the camera and compress them into files that can be streamed online. RAW video files contain thousands of still frames that create fluid movement when played in sequence, just like film reels. Encoders use codecs to remove unnecessary still frames, reducing the file size and allowing them to be streamed over the internet. Some common encoding standards are H.264, H.265, VP9, and AV1.
Segmentation
Videos contain a large amount of digital information, so these files will be segmented into smaller videos only a few seconds long so that they can be shared more quickly. The encoder is connected to the streaming platform via the stream key and the URL provided by the platform.
Transcoding
Transcoding is a technological process that produces multiple versions of the video file in various qualities, making both multi-bitrate and adaptive bitrate streaming possible. This allows the viewer to watch the version of the video that best suits their internet connection.
Delivery
You can then use a content delivery network (CDN) to serve content around the world. A CDN is a series of servers in a geographic region that delivers content to viewers, by jumping from the host to the closest server, and then to the next until it reaches the viewer. The number of jumps required to reach the viewer in part determines the content delivery speed and the load time. Each user who is watching the live stream will have the video received, decoded and decompressed by their device so that it can be played.
Tips for livestreaming
While the above is a summary of how livestreaming works, there are also some best practices that should be adhered to:
- Make sure you test the event before streaming the full thing to ensure everything is working.
- Test your internet connection and upload speed. A wired LAN connection may be faster and better than Wi-Fi for reliable streaming.
- It’s also worth having experienced technicians on hand to help if anything goes wrong.
What are the benefits of livestreaming?
Reaching a broader audience
Livestreaming provides access to an event for those who cannot attend a live or hybrid event in person – and in a much more engaging way than an on-demand service can. Attending an event in real-time, even virtually, allows guests to feel a part of the action and they are able to take part in debates, Q&As, competitions and more.
Allowing events to continue in unusual circumstances
As the past few years have proven, there may be times when no one can attend an event. While we hope the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is over, events don’t need to stop when we are all stuck indoors. Livestreaming allows events to continue and people to (virtually) escape for a while and engage with their interests or their industry.
Have your event recorded so it can be watched back in the future
While a livestreamed event is more effective than a virtual on-demand event, being able to watch an event back allows attendees to revisit the best moments of a convention or refamiliarise themselves with the key points in an educational conference. This will also allow you to reach an even broader audience, as those who couldn’t attend live either virtually or in person can now see your content. The process of livestreaming isn’t new – after all, we have all been watching live TV broadcasts for decades. However, the type of livestreaming we are now experiencing puts the possibility of virtual and hybrid live events in the hands of companies and individuals across the globe. Christian Ablett is the founder of Stage Engage, an AV and event production company with many years of experience working with agencies, organisers and production managers around the world to provide technical event support and produce live and hybrid events that make an impact.
