ACADEMY HOWTOWEBCAST
“If you want to stick with your built-in webcam, it’s a good idea to improve the audio. There are lots of mics that can be used”
3. SIMPLE STREAMING VIAYOUR COMPUTER Panasonic UE4, which supports 4K
audiomixers you can buy, which takes four XLR inputs and lets you mix the levels for each. So you can mix lav mics, radio mics and stereo ambient mics, if you like. Then output the overall result to your computer via USB. Alternatively, for a single-mic set-up, you can plug in one of the newer breed of USB mics, such as the tabletop-style Rode Podcaster, NT-USB or NT-USB Mini, which are high-quality studio mics ideal for voice-overs or podcasting. You can even use the NT-USB on an iOS device using the Apple Camera Connection Kit. If all this seems like a lot of trouble and complication just to stream to Facebook or YouTube using your computer’s own webcam, then you’re right – it is. It’s far better touse amoreprofessional camera.
To provide more control, streaming from your desktop or laptop computer can also be free to Facebook or YouTube, and just as simple. Alternatively, other free wide- audience platforms include Instagram, Twitch or WeChat. Many people are now using private or secure-audience streaming services like Zoom, Skype or GoToMeeting, or solutions built into larger programs like Google Hangouts or Microsoft Teams. Or you can even monetise content on Patreon, BoxCast, Twitch, Vimeo or YouTube. All these use the same technology and, at the basic level, use your computer’s own webcam and mic, so again quality isn’t great. But there are ways to improve it. One very simple option is to use a Zoom Q2n-4K, which is a combined mic, recorder and 4K streaming camera all built into one small unit. Its quality is way better than built-in webcams, plus it actually records the whole session to a memory card and it can be plugged directly into a laptop or iOS device for instant livestreaming to Facebook, YouTube or the like. And, of course, you have the advantage of having the footage and audio to edit later. Its lens is super wide with a 150° viewing angle. There are professional upgrade options for webcams, such as the £1170/$995
recording or HD and has a 111° wide-angle lens. It can be controlled in terms of pan, tilt and zoom via USB and works as a USB webcam or as a streaming camera over a Wi-Fi network. If you want to stick with your built-in webcam, it’s a good idea to improve the audio. There are lots of mics that can be used, especially if you buy an inexpensive 3.5mm jack-to-USB adapter or a suitable headphone and mic splitter cable for use on the latest Apple MacBook Pro laptops. Just plug in a mic designed for a DLSR or mirrorless camera, or one designed primarily for podcasting, and the audio will be improved. Chances are you will need to up the gain on your mic. If you have a recorder like a Zoom, then you can plug your DSLR mic into that and then plug that right into your laptop. And if it’s one of the bigger Zooms, like an H4N Pro or H6, you can plug XLR mics into it, too, as it acts like an analogue-to-digital converter using its own preamps. So you can use any mic you already own, and mix them on the Zoom. Of course, you can buy separate audio mixers if you plan to mix the audio from several mics. The £549/$599 Rode Rodecaster Pro integrated podcast studio is one of the easiest and best streaming
IMAGES Zoom makes a range of kit ideal for streaming, from its all-in-one Q2n camera and recorder to the H6 pro recorder
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PRO MOVIEMAKER SUMMER 2020
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