Master Flawless Live Streaming from Home: 4 Proven Steps

There has never been a more even playing field for those looking to start their own live streamed show. Saturday Night Live is taping sketches via webcams. Entertainment now comes in the form of table reads over video chat. Even a show that started out as one (admittedly famous) guy who wanted to live stream from home was bought by a media conglomerate. Each of these examples required no expensive cameras, elaborate studios, or big production teams. Just a phone, webcam, or camera, and the right know-how. Looking to cook up some showtime magic for your audience? Knowing how to setup a home studio for live streaming success is easier than you think.

Capture: Home studio equipment checklist

The good news is that you likely don’t need anything more than what you already have to live stream from home. What’s more, the best home studio setup doesn’t require a ton of extra add-ons, either. While not necessary, a few small investments can help boost the quality of your event big time.

Lights

An inexpensive LED light kit will offer flattering light for you and make it easier for your viewers to see what’s happening. Ring lights are a popular option for many streamers as they’re simple to use and offer an even distribution of lighting without any fuss. Learn more lighting tips →

Microphones

Audio is often an overlooked aspect of live streaming. But while viewers will be forgiving of video issues, audio issues can be a dealbreaker. There are a wide variety of options, but don’t feel pressured to buy something extravagant. We recommend Deity for lav mics that plug into your phone. More audio advice →

Tripods

It’s always preferable to have a steady camera for your home studio setup. If you don’t feel like investing in a tripod, setting your phone against a steady surface can work — just make sure your camera is at eye level. Or, if you have someone who can lend a hand (literally), you can even make a tripod for under five bucks. Check out our live streaming gear guide for every budget →

Distribute: Getting viewers

With your streaming setup underway, now’s the time to think about how you’ll get people to attend your broadcast while you live stream from home. Where you’ll distribute your content is based on a number of factors, including the goals of your event, where your audience already is, and any privacy measures you may want to implement. Common distribution channels include:

Hosting it public on the web
Broadcasting to social media
Simulcasting to multiple channels (e.g. Vimeo and Facebook)
Embedding it on a private page

Learn more about distribution on Vimeo →

Prepare: Tech recs to live stream from home

Internet bandwidth

To pull off a successful live stream from home, you’ll need to ensure you have sufficient internet bandwidth. First, check your upload speed, which is how quickly you can send information from your computer out into the internet ether. It only takes a moment and will help you understand whether you’ll need to up your speed to produce a gorgeous live stream — the higher your upload speed, the higher resolution you’ll be able to reliably stream. Here’s how to check your upload speed:

Search “speed test” on Google, click “Run speed test” on the search results page.
Visit speedtest.net, or a similar site

“The amount of bandwidth you’ll need depends on your stream settings,” says Tom Gott, head of live productions for Vimeo. At a minimum, he recommends upload speeds of 2.5 Mbps for 720p resolution streams, or 5 Mbps for 1080p — although your best plan of attack is have double that amount to really ensure a smooth stream. Pro tip: Premium and Enterprise subscribers using devices with HEVC-compatible graphics cards can use Livestream Studio to broadcast higher-quality events at lower bandwidth speeds. Learn more →

Ethernet vs. WiFi

Once you have a sufficient upload speed, Tom also recommends using a hardwired internet connection when you live stream from home. Even if your Wi-Fi connection is fast, wireless signals can become unreliable, and may cause issues in the middle of your live streamed show. Not sure how to hardwire your connection? On the back of your Wi-Fi router, you’ll find a few ethernet ports. Plug your ethernet cable into one of these ports, and the other end into your computer directly. If you don’t have an Ethernet port available on your machine or camera, you can grab an Ethernet adapter online for a reasonable price.

Engage: Getting comfortable on camera

Of course, without a skilled host, it won’t matter how many items you’ve checked off your home studio equipment checklist. Great shows have great hosts. And being a great host takes practice. “Lots of new show hosts forget that the things which look incredibly natural from those you admire are very hard skills to master,” says author, speaker, and showrunner Jay Acunzo. “Having a conversation or interview the audience gets lost in requires incredible practice and honing your skills.” Acunzo says great show hosts are like guides, bringing a group of travelers on a journey. The Golden Rule of showrunning — ”get them to the end.” That applies whether you’re moderating a panel in person or live streaming a show from home with an audience you can’t see. When interviewing guests, remember not just to get the story (“What happened?”) but also their reaction to it (“How did that feel?”). Practice your follow-up questions and keep them simple and direct. Unfortunately, there’s no shortcut for practice. (Let me know when you find it though, would you?) Practice your questions before you go live with a guest and think about how to tell a story that keeps your audience listening. Looking for more expert advice on how to live stream successfully from home? We’ve got a great series of monthly broadcasts from some of our in-house experts to help. Sign up our five-part Live Streaming 101 series today.