Help me find the ideal livestreaming solution!

December 3, 2014 9:18 AM

I need to livestream a small-scale sporting event at the end of February 2015. I would probably like to continue livestreaming events for both business and personal stuff after that, so I am wondering about the best technology to invest in and system to use.

Currently, I have a Mac laptop, but no video camera. I would need a solution that could not only stream well, but would allow a microphone or two for audio commentary. We will have access to both wired and wireless Internet for the event.

I would be open to any of the following solutions:

* A video camera that I can plug into the Mac laptop;
* A box like the Teradek Vidiu that allows me to stream directly from a camera (which camera, though? I'm not sure);
* Something I haven't thought of yet.

I would love to hear what setups you use and what you think would work best. Specific recommendations for cameras and other tech solutions are most welcome as well.

I have used UStream in the past, but haven't been super-pleased with the quality. Should I use Livestream, or YouTube, or something else?

Many thanks!

posted by jeffmshaw to Computers & Internet (2 answers total)

I would suggest trying google hangouts and skype, see if they produce what you want in terms of streaming quality with the onboard camera, then add a better camera and microphones to the laptop. There are many perfomance issues that using a big provider who has figured all the streaming out can help.
posted by nickggully at 11:20 AM on December 3, 2014

Best answer: Telestream Wirecast is probably the most full-featured software to do livestreaming on OS X, but it is rather pricey. It supports a wide range of input devices, though you'll have to do your research to figure out what combination works for your needs.

Personally, I use it in conjunction with Blackmagic Design Thunderbolt capture devices for HDMI capture and then I use Wirecast's Virtual Camera output to make Wirecast's output appear to my system as a webcam, which I use in Google Hangouts.

If you want some help figuring this stuff out, memail me, though I'm by no means an expert. I've only figured out enough myself to bumble through my specific use case.
posted by strangecargo at 2:15 PM on December 3, 2014 [1 favorite]