Want to have your own TV show? Want to show how good you are at playing games like many people do on their online shows? Only with a webcam and internet you can do it! Internet live streaming, or streaming, is the future of the Internet, and so can you.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Using Webcam
Step 1. Find an online service to broadcast your event
To go live using a webcam, you'll need to sign up with a host, or provider, of an online viewing service. The host will provide bandwidth so that your show can be watched by others. In general, you do not need an encoder to be able to use the services provided by these sites. The following is a list of widely used online broadcast hosts:
- Ustream
- YouNow
- Bambuser
- Livestream
- Google+ Hangouts On Air
Step 2. Create an account
The online streaming service provider will ask you to create an account before you can get started. You can sign up for free, or you can also pay to remove ads and increase audience capacity.
Step 3. Use the default software provided by the host
In general, you can broadcast your show without using any additional software. However, using the software provided by the host often results in lower quality of the video you broadcast compared to using the software you downloaded and installed. Each host has its own method.
Step 4. Sign in with your account
Step 5. Create a channel or room
In general, this can be done by selecting the “Broadcast Now” or “Go Live” button.
Step 6. Allow Flash to access your webcam
This process can only be done once if you check the “Remember” or “Always Allow” box. You may also need to update Flash before you start broadcasting.
Step 7. Start broadcast
Once your camera is detected, you can start broadcasting right away.
Step 8. Download additional software to broadcast higher quality videos
Many hosts provide free versions of their own broadcast software, or allow third-party software such as Flash Media Live Encoder or Open Broadcaster Software.
Step 9. Connect your online impressions with your site
Once your channel is active, you can use the provided embedding code to associate your online viewing with your own site. You must know how to use web code and have developer access to do this, otherwise contact your web developer.
Method 2 of 4: Using Google+
Step 1. Log in to Youtube with the account you will use to stream the show
Step 2. Go to the
youtube.com/features.
Step 3. Click the button
Enable which is located next to the "Live events" button.
Your account must have a non-problematic status to get started.
Step 4. Read the given terms and conditions and click on it
I Agree to continue.
Step 5. Click the "Create Event" button
Step 6. Fill in the details about your event, including the title, description, and label, or what is commonly called the
Step 7. Set a schedule
You can set your event to start on a specific schedule or at a moment's notice.
Step 8. Click the “Public” menu to bring up the privacy settings of your event
The “public” option will make your show discoverable and visible to anyone, “unlisted” will restrict the show to only those with the link, and “private” will restrict access to only the owner of the Google+ account you choose.
Step 9. Make sure to select "Quick"
This will enable “Google Hangouts on Air”, which only requires the Hangouts plugin and your webcam. Custom options you can set for more detailed events and you should have your own encoding software. Click this button for further explanation.
Step 10. Check advanced settings
Select the "Advanced settings" bar and double-check the options. You can change comment settings, audience age restrictions, statistics, broadcast breaks, and more via this bar.
Step 11. Click "Go live now" to start Google+ Hangouts
If you don't have a Google+ plugin, Youtube will ask you to confirm to install it.
Step 12. Give your video time to load
The Hangouts window will open and your webcam will turn on. Wait until the percentage number that appears at the bottom of the screen reaches a certain number and you can start the event after a while.
Step 13. Click “Start broadcast”, then “OK” to start
The time limit for live viewing via YouTube is eight hours.
Step 14. Click the "Control Room" option in Hangouts to set your audience
You can use this option to mute or kick people who are interrupting your event.
Step 15. Share and link your broadcast
Click the “Links” button at the bottom of the Hangouts window to see the information you need to share and link your event. The URL can be used as a link that you can share via Twitter or other social media and the embed code can be used to link the video to your blog.
Ongoing broadcasts will be prominently displayed on your Youtube channel
Method 3 of 4: Broadcasting a Video Game
Step 1. Sign up for an online streaming host
To broadcast your game, you must register with the host that provides the service. The host will provide the bandwidth and chat box for your viewers, along with the equipment you need to broadcast your game. Here is a list of the most popular game-themed online hosting hosts today:
- Twitch.tv
- Ustream.tv
- Twitch is a website that focuses on providing game viewing services. You can get viewers more easily when you broadcast your game here.
Step 2. Download the software that provides the capture feature
To broadcast your game, you will need an additional program to capture, or capture, and broadcast what your screen is showing. There is a lot of software to choose from, both free and paid, but the most widely used are:
- FFSplit
- Open Broadcaster
Step 3. Install a capture card (optional)
If you want to broadcast your game from a console like Xbox One or Playstation 4, you'll need to install a capture card on your computer. A capture card is a piece of hardware that is used to connect a console and a computer so that you can record its appearance and sound.
- Not needed if you play computer games.
- Installing a capture card is very similar to installing a graphics card.
Step 4. Make sure your computer is powerful enough
Broadcasting games requires a powerful computer because you use it to play and broadcast at the same time. Here are the computer specs Twitch recommends for streaming the game:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz or AMD equivalent
- MEMORY: 8GB DDR3 SDRAM
- SO: Windows 7 Home Premium or later
Step 5. Connect the software with your online viewing account
Open the Service bar in your broadcasting software. Select the service you are using from the list. Some software like FFsplit has built-in features for Twitch and Justin.tv.
- Enter your stream key. Stream key works to connect your software with Twitch or Justin.tv. You can get it by selecting the “Stream Apps” button, then “Show Key” on the Twitch site. Copy and paste the code in your software.
- Select servers. If you are using FFSplit, you will find a list of servers located under “service”. Select “Find Best Server” to find the best server based on your location automatically.
Step 6. Select encoding settings
The encoding menu is used when you want to change the video quality and viewing speed settings. Many software and online streaming hosts have recommended settings for different types of games and internet speeds.
Step 7. Run a test broadcast
Take this opportunity to familiarize yourself with the software you are using and make sure the encoding settings used are optimal.
Method 4 of 4: Using the Encoder
Step 1. Download and install the encoder
An encoder is software that converts input data from cameras, capture cards, microphones, etc. into video that can be broadcast to the internet. While many webcam sites provide their own encoder, using your own will give you better video quality and more control over your broadcast. An encoder is also needed for more intensive broadcasts, such as events that require viewing from multiple cameras at the same time or higher sound quality. There are many encoders to choose from, but most will only give you full access after you buy the paid version.
- Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) is an open-source encoder that you can get for free and has many advanced functions. Considering OBS as the best free encoder, this article is written with the assumption that you are using OBS. OBS also has customized settings profiles for some of the most popular online streaming hosts.
- Wirecast is an encoder that you can directly connect to YouTube Live Streaming. In the free version, you can only use one camera.
- Flash Media Live Encoder (FMLE) is a product from Adobe that has many professional features. While it's not cheap, you can directly connect it to many online streaming hosts by opening the FMLE profile that matches the host you're using.
Step 2. Determine your connection speed
This will help you determine the encoder quality settings for your viewers to watch smoothly. You can test your internet speed through sites like speedtest.net. Take note of your connection speed for later use.
Step 3. Open the Settings menu
Almost all OBS settings can be changed through this window.
Step 4. Open the Encoding bar
You can adjust the video quality via this bar, the higher the quality the higher the internet speed you should have.
- "Max Bitrate" is your encoding speed. Set it at half your highest upload speed. For example, if your speed test results show your highest upload speed is 3 mb/s (3000 kb/s), enter 1500 kb/s in the Max Bitrate box.
- Enter the same number for " Buffer size ".
Step 5. Click the “Video” bar
Here you can set the resolution and framerate for your broadcast. This setting should also be adjusted to your highest upload speed.
Step 6. Set "Base Resolution" according to your monitor resolution
Step 7. Use the " Resolution Downscale " menu to change the resolution to be displayed
Here are the recommended settings for the maximum bitrate you have:
- 1920x1080 (1080P) - 4500 kb/s
- 1280x720 (720P) - 2500 kb/s
- 852x480 (480P) - 100 kb/s
Step 8. If possible, set your FPS at 60
Some hosts limit their viewing to 30 FPS, but hosts like Youtube have started to provide services at 60 FPS.
Step 9. Click the “Broadcast Settings” bar
You can set the connection between your computer and the host from this bar.
Step 10. Select the online streaming service you are using from the " Streaming Service " menu
You can use the default settings of some of the available hosts to reduce the number of URLs you have to copy and paste. If the service you are using is not on the list, select “Custom”.
Step 11. Enter your stream key /show name
You can get your stream key after signing up with your preferred host. Copy and paste the code into the “Play PAth/Stream Key” box. This will connect your encoder with the host.
Step 12. Close the Settings window
Step 13. Right-click in the Sources box and select Add Sources to add input sources to your broadcast
- If you want to broadcast what your monitor is showing, select “Monitor Capture”.
- If you want to broadcast what your webcam captured, select “Video Capture Device”.
- If you want to broadcast the game from the capture card, select “Game Capture”.
Step 14. Start broadcasting using the encoder
Before starting broadcasting via a broadcasting host, first broadcast your show via an encoder. Once you're sure that everything is working properly, you can start broadcasting through the broadcasting host.
