YGOW Live Streaming Tips

Internet Connection

  • Ensure you are live streaming from a location with a reliable fast internet connection. If you don’t have a good quality connection, plan to live stream from another location (e.g. friend’s place, family or office).

  • Check the quality of your internet connection by running a speed test available here or by searching “speed test” in Google and clicking the “Run Speed Test” button. Ideally, your connection should be capable of more than 20 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload.

  • If your speed test results are not great then try connecting via an ethernet cable (cat 5/cat 6). Available from Officeworks here.

  • For the duration of the live stream ask all other people sharing your internet connection to disconnect. If they must remain connected they should avoid other streaming services (e.g. Netflix) or large uploads/downloads (e.g. Dropbox, torrents or Google Drive). Tethering via their own mobile is fine.

  • Disable all notifications. Instructions can be found here for Windows laptops, Mac Laptops, Android Mobiles and iPhones

Lighting

Ideal lighting is from a large window during the day directly infront of you/behind the camera with all lights turned off. The following mainly applies to live streaming at night:

  • Avoid downlights, turn them off! This is the most important step. 

  • Use large defused floor lights with large shades (e.g. this from Ikea – note, this product doesn’t come with lightbulbs included)

  • Alternatively, if you have white walls light yourself by pointing a desk lamp at the wall opposite you. 

  • More is more, so if you have a few lamps feel free to use them. 

  • If you have the option use all the same brand and type of bulb. 

  • Look for bulbs that have a colour rendering index above 90 (also called CRI)  (in the Ikea example this is the LEDARE series, not the cheaper RYET).

  • Don't have lights visible in the scene.

  • Don't place lights too close to you.

Audio

  • You must turn off the speaker on your computer/phone

  • Use headphones with built-in microphones.

  • Ensure you are in an environment that is as quiet as possible.

  • If you have a choice of headphones test them and use the one with the best quality microphone. 

  • If you are on a budget the wired ones that came with your phone will probably do the job.

  • Turn off anything that creates noise in your house: tv, radio, washing machine, dishwasher, loud fans, etc

  • Unless you really know what you are doing don't record outdoors (i.e avoid wind!)

Background/Location

  • Avoid windows and doors as a backdrop as these are too bright during the day and too dark at night. 

  • Also, avoid stark white and super dark backgrounds. They will mess with the automatic exposure (brightness) of your camera. 

  • Select something with enough interest but not over the top. Plants, books shelf, wine bottles all nice. 

  • Remove distracting elements in the background.

Camera and camera position

  • Ideally use a phone or external camera/webcam (such as this) rather than a laptop

  • The camera should be positioned just above eye level. 

  • Where possible look directly into the camera and not at the screen. 

  • Position the conference call window near the computer’s camera, this ensures you are making eye contact with the audience.

  • If using a phone: position horizontally; and the main camera is usually better quality than the selfie camera. If someone can position your phone for you then use that one. 

  • You can build a phone holder by modifying a car cradle or selfie stick.

  • Framing wise, position your camera so that your head is near the top of the frame and your elbows are near the bottom. Again the phone/camera should be horizontal/landscape.