Live Streaming from Home Solutions

Now, more than ever, people are turning to livestreaming as a source of entertainment, education, worship, socializing, and even work. In fact, with the right livestream setup, many of the activities that typically require you to leave the house can now be experienced and enjoyed from the comfort of your home. And, if you’re a content creator, livestreaming is a must-have, as it gives you access to a huge audience, as well as a platform to share your content with the world.But what exactly is livestreaming? Who is it for, and how do we use it?

As always, B&H is happy to answer all your questions, including everything you want to know about livestreaming. And, should you need it, we can also help you pick out the livestreaming gear and equipment that best suit your needs.

So, check out our livestreaming primer below, then give us a shout if you have any questions or concerns or need help picking out your gear.

What Is Livestreaming?

As a basic concept, livestreaming refers to any streaming media that is broadcast live over the Internet. In some ways, it’s similar to live TV, only it’s shown online. Livestreaming covers a broad spectrum of topics and uses, including live musical performances and events, social media broadcasts, eSports coverage, and everything in between.

It’s not all entertainment and social media, either. You can livestream a work conference or worship service. Some colleges offer online classes that livestream lectures. There are even livestreamed fitness classes for those who want to stay on top of their exercise regimen. One of the best things about livestreaming is that it allows us to enjoy, engage, and participate in the outside world, even when we’re stuck indoors, and it allows us the freedom to do this like never before.

How Do I Watch Livestreaming Content?

Another great thing about livestreaming is its accessibility. As long as you have a relatively modern computing device (including tablets and smartphones) with a stable Internet connection, you should be able to watch livestreaming content. Typically, and depending on the source of the content you want to watch, you’ll most likely also have to download a free companion app or access a specific livestreaming platform.

For example, Twitch is one of the many such platforms currently in use. Primarily, it serves as a hub for users to create and view livestreaming content that focuses on video games and the video game industry (eSport matches, gameplay, live tutorials, etc.). To watch a livestream on the Twitch platform, you either have to visit the Twitch website or download the Twitch app to your mobile device. It’s fairly straightforward and, as mentioned, requires little more than the equipment you most likely already have—a computer, tablet, phone, or similar device. There are tons of livestream platforms similar to Twitch (YouTube Live, Instagram, et al.) that provide the same kind of easy access to livestreaming content. 

How Do I Livestream My Own Content?

Although it’s technically more involved than passively viewing a livestream, creating your own content can be incredibly useful, rewarding, lucrative, and also fun. As mentioned earlier, you can livestream conferences, lectures, performances—literally almost anything.     

Deciding on content is up to you, but figuring out how to livestream is where we come in. B&H always carries a full catalog of livestreaming equipment, including cameras, mics, lighting and background equipment, podcasting gear, and more—whatever your livestreaming goal, we’ve got the gear you need.