Over the past few years, live streaming has quickly moved from being a secondary function of technologically advanced ministry to becoming a primary, almost singular methodology for carrying out the mission of the church. As churches of every background, size, and style reorganize their strategic approaches around live streaming (some for the very first time), here are five universal areas to consider to maximize the impact and effectiveness of a live stream.
A reliable stream at 1280x720 resolution will trump a glitchy full HD every day of the week.
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1. Environment
One of the biggest mistakes churches make when setting up their live stream is selecting the wrong room or environment to stream from. Good streaming starts with a clear idea of what the appropriate setting would be to contextualize the content or experience a church is creating for their stream.
Is the stream most appropriate in a small group-style living room setting, a coffee shop-style experience, or a larger sanctuary or auditorium?
For instance, is the stream most appropriate in a small group-style living room setting, a coffee shop-style experience, or a larger sanctuary or auditorium? The power of fast Wifi means it’s easier than ever today to match the environment to the content, so wise leaders will start with that consideration first.
Photo: Elijah O'Donnell, Pexels
Key thought: who's watching? And where?
Another environmental consideration for a stream should be the acoustics of the room. Too many acoustically reflective surfaces nearby can quickly muddy the impact of the message. And from a visual perspective, it’s good to keep in mind that creating more space between the subject (the main person on camera) and the background will help draw the viewers eyes and minimize distractions.
2. Lighting
A second area that churches too often overlook is the specific lighting of an environment, as well as the steps needed to reinforce that light for broadcast. If a room has good natural light sources, moving the subject as close as possible to the light sources will help draw the viewer’s eye and create a natural separation between the foreground and the background.
In rooms where that setup isn’t possible, or in rooms lacking any source of natural lighting, new sources of light will be needed to create that same effect. LED lights designed for video are now more affordable and can be purchased at online sights like Amazon or B&H Photo and Video.
In larger rooms, these kinds of lighting can help reinforce existing stage or ambient lighting. In smaller rooms the more powerful versions of these lights can be angled to bounce off nearby walls or ceilings to provide a more diffuse style of lighting that should be far more pleasing to the eye.
3-Audio
While it may seem counterintuitive, the vast majority of live stream viewers will be far more tolerant of substandard visuals than they will be of poor audio quality. When the sound quality is too thin, too muddy, too soft or too harsh many viewers will simply click away rather than torture themselves for the sake of the content.
... almost any mic will be an improvement from the mic built into a webcam.
The first move in the objective to improve the quality of the stream is to find a dedicated mic that can be mixed directly into the audio portion of the stream. And almost any mic will be an improvement from the mic built into a webcam. Look into purchasing a lavalier, or condenser mic online for a big, immediate boost in the quality of your audio stream.
Once that mic is in place, explore the possibility of introducing an audio interface device that can provide some audio processing, allowing you to boost or cut the microphone levels to ensure the best quality possible. The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is an inexpensive industry favorite for adding warmth or a volume boost to podcasting or live stream audio signals.
4-Data
Once the audio and video quality of a live stream is set and in, place church tech leaders will be ready to focus on ensuring that the stream that goes out has sufficient bandwidth. The first step in this process will be to analyze and eliminate, if possible, any internal data sources competing with a live stream for bandwidth.
... churches can use a website like SpeedTest.net to see exactly what kind of performance they're getting.
Secondly, churches can use a website like SpeedTest.net to see exactly what kind of performance they're getting. For live streaming upload speed, rather than download, is what really matters; 5mbps constant is minimum for streaming in anything like HD quality.
Photo by Donald Tong from Pexels
Finally, check the settings on the streaming software or platform to ensure that the video quality isn’t set higher than is necessary. Unless your upload speeds are blazingly fast, forget 4K resolution, or even 1920x1080 resolution for that matter. A reliable stream at 1280x720 resolution will trump a glitchy full HD every day of the week.
Check the settings on the streaming software or platform to ensure that the video quality isn’t set higher than is necessary.
5-Options
A final mistake that too many churches make with their live streaming is using the wrong platform for the job. Again, finding the right tool for the job starts with being clear as to what the content is and who the viewers will be for a live stream.
For instance, conferencing platforms like Zoom and Webex will often be less distracting and more efficient for small group-style events than live streaming to Facebook. Many of these sites also have interactivity that’s much more effective than other formats.
... finding the right tool for the job starts with being clear as to what the content is and who the viewers will be for a live stream.
Social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube can be powerful platforms for connecting with larger audiences, as well as potential new viewers. They’re also designed, however, to retain audiences through continual new engagement and attraction, meaning that viewers may be easily distracted during your experience, often intentionally by the platforms themselves.
Dedicated video hosting and cloud streaming services allow churches to designate specific locations for their live streams, while custom designing secondary features that draw viewers deeper into community involvement. While there are a number of good options for churches wanting to improve their stream, ministries just starting out should explore ChurchOnlinePlatform.com for a great place to take the next step, free of charge.
[Editor's note: This piece was originally published in 2021.]
