Choosing a Live Video Streaming Service

I was asked to recommend a live video streaming service.  Here is my attempt to answer that question.  It was at least a year since I reviewed live video streaming offerings.  I have direct experience with  Ustream and YouTube Live and grew to like Telestream Wirecast (OEM version of which is) used in both.  I was intrigued with what I learned...

Who You Are

As usual, understanding one's needs is the right place to start.  There are multiple reasons for using live video streaming services.  Kids (and adults!) might be interested in sharing their game play, hence gamecasts.  Individuals might be interested in sharing their family events.  Businesses use live video streaming for increasing their reach for internal and external events.
My prospective customer: small to medium business or non-profit with existing Internet presence.  Possibly with YouTube account.  Intends to use live video streaming for engaging a wider audience.

Production Values

Next, let us establish a context...  We all consume so much video content, we are conditioned to expect high production values.  Online audience will immediately notice any failure in this department.  And may act on it. Therefore to my customers I insist: Accept no compromises.  Even on a tight budget, there is no reason for not delivering these:

• Good lighting.  The purpose is not so much to increase overall brightness - modern cameras are sensitive enough.  Rather it is to open up shadows under the eyes created by regular office lights, to draw audience's attention to the speaker.
• Good audio.  The quality is mostly determined by microphone placement, not microphone price.  On-camera mic is a no-go.  Best option - radio lavalier.
• Multiple cameras to offer multiple viewing angles.  Close up to communicate speaker's emotions.  Wide shot to show audience engagement.
• Desktop integration.  Slides are as important as the speaker.  Sometimes even more.  You should dedicate a separate camera to shooting slides, or better yet, stream the slides directly from the presentation laptop.
• Lower thirds.  Nothing makes your content more professional than good audio and lower thirds.

Recommendation: if forced to choose between high production values and timeliness, choose the former.  Production values usually are more important than live nature of the event.

How This Works

Live video streaming solutions fall into "cloud" and "desktop" categories.  All live video streaming service providers offer both.

Live Streaming - Cloud Solution

In cloud solution every source (be that camera or a desktop stream) is connected to the service.  Producer is using a web application controlling streaming service to perform:

• stream switching - e.g. between the camera pointing to the speaker to a desktop stream or to a feed from a mobile camera used by an audience member;
• stream combining, e.g. creating picture-in-picture or adding lower thirds;
• encoding the resulting stream according to the capabilities of the device used by a member of the virtual audience.

Pros of such solution include a very low activation energy.  You can create your first live event literally in minutes.  Just download a Livestream application for your iPhone, and provided your account is paid, you can start streaming.

As to Cons - to me such a solution is just wasteful about the bandwidth (all streams are active at all times and are likely to share the same WiFi!) and production GUI is likely to be less responsive - it is a web application after all.

Live Streaming - Desktop Solution

In contrast to the cloud, "desktop" solution involves stream switching and combining right on the event premises.  Telestream Wirecast can be used for this purpose with both YouTube Live and Ustream.  I learned about new alternatives to Wirecast: XSplit and Open Broadcaster.  I can't wait to play with both.

Analysis

Let's look into the leading live video streaming service providers.



Let me offer few specific configurations in the order of increasing complexity and improved functionality.

YouTube Live Cloud Solution, Free Software

YouTube Live event editing GUI allows producer to add multiple cameras, one camera being a default.  Here is what you will need:

• Video camera with an HDMI output 
• Blackmagic Design Intensity Shuttle interface rather StarTech.com USB3HDCAP USB 3.0 Video Capture Device
• Computer compatible with the above device and running Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder.

Stream switching is performed in YouTube Live GUI.  From what I understand, stream combining
functionality is limited.  Such a solution can be extremely portable.

YouTube Live with Wirecast

Create a YouTube Live event with a single camera.  Wirecast running on your production workstation will play a role of that camera.  You will need:

• Video cameras with an HDMI output 
• Production workstation with (multiple) Blackmagic Design DeckLink Mini Recorders and running Wirecast for YouTube Studio.

Stream switching and combining is performed on the workstation in Wirecast.  Such a solution can deliver high production values on a very tight budget.

Conclusion

Live video streaming services matured and consolidated in the last 2-4 years.  Today if you stick with any of the industry leaders, you will get a good bang for your buck.

Having said that, if you already have YouTube presence and produce live broadcasts only occasionally (once a week or less often), YouTube Live will offer a very nice integration with the existing content while relying on production tools which are, pretty much, industry standard.  Overall YouTube offering targets lower to mid market segments, which is exactly where my prospective customers find themselves.  Invest in Wirecast for YouTube Studio ($279) and you will be able to deliver high production values on a tight budget.

For those who are better funded and are seeking for a user-friendly (yes, proprietary) solution - Livestream seems to be a perfect match.  For example, a congregation seeking to share their church services, will be well served by Livestream - be that a low end or a high-end hardware-based option.

If you are a large business looking to roll out a custom branded video streaming - Ustream will work with hardware from a wide array of vendors.  You should have no problems hiring personnel to support such a solution.

Sources

http://www.streamingmediaglobal.com/Articles/Editorial/Featured-Articles/Buyers-Guide-Live-Streaming-Services-80961.aspx
http://www.streamingmedia.com/Articles/Editorial/Featured-Articles/Ustream-Justin.tv-Livestream-and-Bambuser-Streaming-Unplugged-83016.aspx
http://mainstreamchicago.com/a-comparison-of-youtube-and-livestreams-live-video-services/