Live streaming your classes, going the extra mile with with fibodo!

So you want to get started live streaming at your best, right? I mean, what’s the point in having all this technology at our disposal, if you’re not going to ensure that you not only come across good but sound and look your best.

It’s a scary prospect for some of us, but don’t worry, that’s why I, the disembodied voice in your head is here to take you through it – and ensure that you’re not breaking the bank wide open in the process!

Can I do live streaming off a phone? Yes!

Let’s start at the bottom of the totem pole, mobile devices! This includes your iPad or other branded tablet. These devices are basically supercomputers and instead of using them just to stream out badly put together video, why not spruce things up a little? Not only will you thank yourself, but anyone connected with you – via fibodo’s handy scheduling software – will be pleasantly surprised.

Steady Cameras, Bright Lights

Get yourself a tripod and a grip. Joby, a company that makes nifty variations on the traditional tripod is an ideal place to start looking. These GorillaPods are fantastic because you can either wrap them around anything that’ll take the weight or use them traditionally or even as a selfie stick if you want to walk and talk. If you’re not wanting to purchase any of these, you can absolutely find some makeup artist inspired purchases clogging up Amazon these days. Some even come with their own ring light. (Mine cost £15!)

Clean audio is the key!

Next, get yourself a microphone. For the love of God and all that is unholy, please do not just rely on your device’s built-in microphone. Yes, they’re exceptional for where they came from, but nothing will beat a dedicated microphone. If you’re really getting invested, maybe purchase a lapel microphone with a long enough wire.

fibodo is all about leisure and activity, as are you, so you’re absolutely going to have your phone far away to avoid colliding with it. The further you get, the more the microphone is going to strain as you lead or connect with clients far away and producing huge reverbs around the room which sounds terrible. Imagine the worst YouTube videos, but you’re charging for them! Enough said.

Have the right hardware for the job!

Make sure your mobile data plan is up to scratch and if you find your work connection is a bit naff, maybe hop over to your 4G plan and stream off of that.

For those with laptops, the same rules apply to the kit! Since the pandemic started, a lot of camera manufacturers have either begun pumping out webcams as fast as they can or allowed their big expensive DSLRs to produce a signal over USB. Either way, maybe avoid that tiny little camera built into spy on you at all times.

Extra things to spice it up

If you want graphics, Open Broadcaster Software is a free program with a boatload of tutorials online. Seriously. It’s intimidating, but once you’ve seen one basic tutorial, you’ll get it. The brilliant thing they’ve done recently is allowed whatever is output via OBS to pretend to be a webcam, effectively allowing you to treat a traditional Zoom call like your own TV show with full graphics, text, overlays and even cut away to a muted, singular image before you start, want to take a break or end.

Maybe next time we’ll talk about ways you can take this further and with fibodo giving you the platform to cut through for your classes with top-notch service, you might as well begin investing in what could be the future of your business.

Streaming Your Sessions: The Basic Kit You Need for Streaming