COVID-19, what can we say? It’s been the single most disastrous event for musicians across the planet. Live music shows have abruptly stopped and it’s forced a lot of us to explore other means of earning an income (see our article on the 5 Passive Income Systems Musicians Should Build Today) while still keeping our fans engaged. That means musicians are working overtime to earn money and provide music to their fans online. Enter the LIVE STREAM.
Watch: 5 Passive Income Strategies for Musicians
Live streaming is not new, but most working musicians relied more heavily on in-person performances in the past. In today’s COVID-19 environment, 90% of businesses have found a way to facilitate online transactions and musicians have followed suit. Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and most recently TikTok are all great platforms to host a live streaming show because these online communities are where your fans naturally ‘virtually’ gather. But there are also platforms such as Zoom and Stageit which allow you to host more intimate shows for just you and your fans.
Whichever way you slice it, live streaming has become a popular way to replace in-person shows during this time and if we’re being honest, live streaming might be here to stay. If you’re a musician hoping to do live streaming there are a few key pieces of essential gear that you should have. In this article we’ll list the best live streaming gear for musicians to look and sound their absolute best!
Lighting is a Factor to Good Live Streaming Equipment for Musicians!
Few recording accessories are as vital as lighting. The right light can positively affect the mood of your environment. Not to mention, lighting can make or break your on-camera credibility. It can also affect how viewers perceive you as a musician during a live streaming show. If you’re set up in a dark room and it’s hard to see your face, you’ll quickly lose your viewers’ attention.
Related: The Bare Essentials of a Simple Home Studio
How do you add light to your live streaming operations? Natural light is the best, but depending on the weather, it’s not always reliable. Additionally, the lights in your house tend to cast shadows on your face because they are usually positioned above you. Using lighting equipment will give you more control over your environment. The best lighting position is a natural(ish) light slightly raised in front of your face. A ring light on a tripod is perfect for this job because it has a small profile, you can easily move it around and it provides a warm light that is comparable to natural lighting. We recommend this best-selling ring light. It’s affordably priced just under $60 and it comes with a tripod and phone holder for quick and easy set-up.
An HD WebCam for High-Quality Video is a must!
If you’re using a laptop to stream from, we recommend using an HD WebCam for high-quality video. Standard issue laptop cameras can only take you so far. They can cause your video to be grainy and make you look out of focus. That’s not a good look for a professional musician. The best webcams can boost video quality so much that they’re essential for any musician doing regular live streaming. We highly recommend the Logitech C920x Pro HD Webcam. It records in HD and it has an autofocus feature that keeps you in focus at all times. It also can pick up audio quite well if you’re in a pinch! The pricing is mid-range at around $70. If that’s too pricey, there are a few comparable options in the $35 range such as the HD 1080P Webcam Pro, the HD Webcams, and the 1080P Full HD Webcam.
Don’t Forget Professional Audio Equipment, Arguably The Most Important.
A High-Quality Microphone
In addition to lighting and video quality, audio is another biggie. In fact, it may be one of the most important of the three. Because music is the vehicle by which you sell your product, your audio must be of the absolute best quality especially when live streaming. We can personally attest to this as we own the Logitech C920x Webcam mentioned above. Using that webcam alone can be super difficult when it comes to audio. It’s ultra-sensitive and picks up everything in the room. Sometimes you can max out audio levels and end up sounding distorted. In addition, there’s no easy way to mix the sound to your liking. So you’ll need to add in a few upgrades to give your audience the professional quality they deserve. First, you’ll need a large diaphragm condenser mic (LDC). We recommend the LyxPro LDC-10 Cardiod. It provides clear and crisp sound quality and a great deal for the price. You can get this mic for less than $60 which is significantly less than similar higher priced microphones but still achieve the same quality. Alternatively, you can get a similar deal with the Marantz Pro MPM1000.
An Audio Interface
In addition to a good microphone, you’ll need an audio interface to complete your live streaming equipment package. An audio interface will digitize your sound so that it can travel the internet airwaves. This setup is perfect for musicians because you can sing and play your instrument while adjusting the audio levels to create a great sounding mix. This can be applied not just to live streaming, but for home studio recording, as well as recording for YouTube videos. We recommend the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 to achieve this. The Focusrite is a winner because it has an easy set-up and you’ll get excellent sound quality for the price. Like we mentioned earlier, audio for live streaming is the most important, so if you’re investing in anything, this is where you should do it. Priced at $160, this little box packs a mean punch. Check out the reviews here.
If you’re going to do live streaming, you’ll need high speed internet. Check your internet speed here. Your internet speed should be 5 megabits per second. Anything less might create some buffering or interruptions in your stream. Another thing
When added all up, a complete, yet simple live streaming set-up for online musical performances will run you somewhere between $200 and $350. It’s not a bad price when you look at the level of quality you’ll get from it all. The best thing about adding these pieces of equipment to your set-up is that you can use it for more than just live streaming. The gear breakdown we outlined in this article can help you achieve high quality YouTube videos and get your home recording studio in working order. Use this list of best live streaming equipment for musicians to set up an affordable studio and make yourself stand out to your fans and clients.
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Great advice! Thank you for your succinct and thorough recommendations. The webcam looks great to me and I want to try it.
I already have a Sennheiser 845S mic, which I run through my AER Amp, with a line in to my Focusrite Scarlet solo Audio Interface. Would you suggest getting the LyxPro mic, too?
Thanks!
Cherie Gullerud
Thanks Cherie! I think for the purpose of streaming from your studio, I think any good quality mic will do. It really depends on your preferences.