The live stream industry has doubled in growth since 2020, primarily due to the pandemic forcing businesses to close and operate online. If you’re thinking of live streaming for your business, you might be curious as to how much it will cost you. Before buying your first streaming gadget, make sure to research first. This will allow you to prioritize which hardware and live streaming platform you need to invest in, which will ensure you stay within the budget.
Check Your Internet’s Upload Speed
The quality of your live stream will largely depend on your upload speed. You might have the best camera and audio, but you will still have a low-resolution broadcast if your internet speed is low. Nowadays, most streamers use a FULL HD or 1080p resolution when broadcasting to Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Ideally, you need a minimum of 10 Mbps for a high-quality stream.
If you’re using a third-party app, such as BeLive – Live Streaming, perform test broadcasts on a private Facebook Group or as an unlisted YouTube video. The studio also lets you know if your network quality is either poor or excellent.
After knowing your internet speed, you can take the following steps. Do you need to invest in an extra ethernet cable or router? Or maybe it’s time to upgrade your internet plan. On average, Americans are paying $60 for a broadband plan. Ideally, you need a Fiber connection because it supports a much higher upload speed.
Invest in a USB Condenser Mic
Your viewers can sit through a blurry video, but they will leave immediately if the audio is not clear or distorted in any way. Do you need to buy an expensive mic to have good audio? Not necessarily. Ideally, you need a USB condenser mic, which you can easily connect to your laptop. Depending on what kind of content you need to live stream, you need different types of microphones.
In general, a cardioid condenser mic will work if you’re simply streaming from your desk and talking in front of the camera. A cardioid mic captures sound from the front of the mic and blocks out everything from the side and the back. You can get one for less than $100, such as the AVerMedia (AM310) USB mic.
Buy a FULL HD Webcam (under $100)
Should you use your laptop’s built-in camera? It depends on what kind of laptop you have. Most MacBooks have 720p webcams. However, if you’re using a Windows laptop, the built-in camera in most cases has a lower resolution and has a limited field of view, making you appear closer to the camera. Luckily, webcams nowadays are cheaper. You’ll be able to buy a FULL HD webcam for under $100. The most popular option among streamers is the Logitech C922, which costs around $80. There’s more information in this article about the top three best cameras for live streaming. Don’t start with the most expensive one, as it’s easy to upgrade later on as you gain more experience.
Take Advantage of Natural Light
Lighting is one of the things that you can get a lot of for free. If you’re lucky enough to position your laptop directly in front of a large window where you’ll get natural lighting, then you don’t have to spend anything extra. But if you want a more professional look, you can invest in a ring light. Ring lights can cost anywhere from $10 to $50. There are also lighting kits available on Amazon. Try to experiment with different lighting options and see which one works best for you.
Summary
With the internet upgrade, USB mic, FULL HD webcam, lighting, and software, this setup won’t cost more than $500. If you just want to get started without investing in all of this equipment, you can even go live from your phone. Most phones nowadays have high-quality cameras. Live streaming platforms or live apps also offer free options but with limited features. So, there’s even a possibility that you would literally spend nothing to start streaming.
