

How to run your own

live stream
By Howard Zochlinski

Produced by 1
How to run your own live stream

Introduction.......................................................................................................................5
Setting up the gear...........................................................................................................6
The camera...............................................................................................................6
Streaming with a smartphone.................................................................6
Streaming with a webcam.........................................................................7
Using an external camera.........................................................................7
Show more with multiple cameras........................................................7
The switcher.............................................................................................................8
Stabilization.................................................................................................9
Audio..............................................................................................................9
Lights............................................................................................................10
Cables............................................................................................................11
Props.............................................................................................................11
A place to stream.......................................................................................11
Setting up the stream....................................................................................................12
The Easiest Way to Live Stream.......................................................................12
The Intermediate Way............................................................................12
Connecting a Camera to Your Computer.................................12
DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras..........................................13
Camcorders.............................................................................14
Action Cameras.....................................................................14
Connect Your Camera through Live Stream Software..............................15
Configuring Your Camera......................................................................15
Configuring OBS.......................................................................................15
Choosing a Source.....................................................................................15

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How to run your own live stream

The Advanced Way: Dedicated Streaming Boxes.......................................16

Choosing your Platform.....................................................................................16
Connecting to your stream host.......................................................................17
Test all systems before going live....................................................................17
Have a backup plan..............................................................................................17
Planning............................................................................................................................18
Script.........................................................................................................................19
Schedule...................................................................................................................19
Switching..........................................................................................................................20
Program bus and preview buss.........................................................................20
Take button............................................................................................................20
T-bar.........................................................................................................................21
Auto button............................................................................................................21
Fade to black..........................................................................................................21
When to Switch.....................................................................................................21
On-camera performance..............................................................................................22
It’s Appropriate.....................................................................................................23
It’s Smooth..............................................................................................................24
It’s Well-Paced.......................................................................................................26
It’s Interesting........................................................................................................26
It’s Consistent.........................................................................................................27
It’s Natural..............................................................................................................27
It’s Confident..........................................................................................................27
Streaming Best Practices..............................................................................................29

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How to run your own live stream

Introduction
Video is becoming ever more immediate and interactive, and nothing speaks to this more clearly than the
now ubiquitous live streaming capabilities of apps like Facebook and Twitter’s Periscope. Now, anyone can
share anything at any time with anyone — live!

The idea of live video isn’t new; TV broadcasters have been sending out live feeds of important events for
years. However, bringing live streaming capabilities to the masses and implanting those streams into our
social news feeds makes them more accessible and decidedly more interactive. Mobile devices are they key to
widespread adoption, serving as capture, distribution, viewing and response device all in one.

More immediate and less polished, live mobile streaming is pushing viewers to favor relevant and engaging
content over high-end production value. Of course the ultra-sleek professional video and avant garde master-
piece will continue to find their audience, but mass consumed online media is expected now — the sooner,
the better — and engaging with the creator of that media only increases the feeling of immediacy. Nothing
satisfies the desire for timely, engaging content better than live streamed video delivered through your favor-
ite social media app. Here’s how you can get started with you very own live stream.

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How to run your own live stream

Setting up the gear

When it comes to live streaming setups, you have a few options. The device you use for streaming depends on
what kind of content you put out. For vloggers or content creators who often travel to different locations, using
a mobile device is a great choice, as it allows you to easily move around and start a live-stream without any
large setups slowing down your process. If you want a more polished looking production, you’ll likely want to
consider more professional options. Choose the method that makes the most sense based on your resources and
your streaming goals.

1. The camera
Streaming with a smartphone
For streaming setups, the choices fall down to mobile devices like phones and tablets or dedicated camera
setups. If you don’t have access to a computer or don’t have the resources to setup a more complex stream,
use your smartphone. If your smartphone has a camera, you can download a streaming service app. This is
a quick and easy way to reach your audiences online, but the quality will be low.

Know that using a smartphone has limitations. You’ll need to make sure there is sufficient light, and just
like with any other camera, it’s best to use an external microphone to capture audio. Consider also that
there will be no integrated graphics or music, and your stream will start abruptly.

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Streaming with a webcam

The most convenient dedicated cameras to use for a live stream are USB webcams, smartphone cameras or
the built-in camera on your computer. Most live streaming platforms will identify these cameras without
any issues. However, if you decide to use any of these cameras, the sound quality will not be best, so an
external microphone is recommended.

Using an external camera

Having specific cameras for your stream means that you will be able to put out higher quality content and
makes it possible to show more than one viewing angle. This type of setup works best for streams that have
more than one person involved and might need to switch between shots of the presenters and an event or
product they are discussing.
Any camera with an analog, HDMI or HD-SDI output can be used to stream with the appropriate hardware
and software. SDI-capable cameras offer the most professional connections to use for streaming, but are also
the most expensive. Cameras with HDMI connections are usually sufficient in most settings.

If you want to use a professional camera, you may need to buy additional equipment to connect the camera
to your computer, usually via HDMI. Once connected, the streaming platform will identify the camera and
make it available as a primary camera.

Show more with multiple cameras

One camera can be sufficient when getting started, but a multi-camera setup is the way to go when you
want a more dynamic production; the more coverage the less likely you are to miss a critical moment.

Live event streams or guest-based shows will incorporate multiple cameras in order to give their audience
various views, showing either the event or the guests that they have on their shows. Again for a stream
like this, HDMI or HD-SDI cameras will do the trick, as they can be connected to a switcher. A switcher
is a device that allows an operator to seamlessly switch between the various cameras, giving the audience
multiple views of the stream with the ability to add transitions, effects, and even graphics. This is a big step
up from the limited single angle mode, which is generally possible with on-the-fly streaming from your
mobile device.

Multiple cameras are perfect for directing the attention of the audience. By having specific cameras fo-
cused on an event or person, you will be able to keep your audience focused on the topic of the stream.
Multiple shots will also prevent your viewers from losing interest.

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2. The switcher
If you plan to shoot with multiple cameras, next up on your gear list is a capable switcher. It should have enough
audio and video inputs to accommodate all your mics and cameras. Seamless switching between the various
cameras along with the ability to add transitions, effects and graphics is a must.

You can invest in a machine specifically made for video switching or install switching software on a computer
you already own — just know that you may still need additional hardware to accommodate all of your inputs.
Aside from your cameras, this will likely be your biggest investment, so make sure you find a solution that does
everything you need it to.

Make sure you have a live switcher if you are using multiple camera and audio inputs. You can use a software or
hardware switcher, but either way, make sure it can handle the feeds from all of your cameras and audio sources.
You’ll usually need at least a couple of HDMI inputs, but double check what output types are supported by your
cameras before investing.

A dedicated hardware switcher is usually a better option since it will have a bank of input and output built in and
usually comes with streaming software pre-installed. Software switching options will rely on the inputs provided by
the computer it’s installed on. Though you can add inputs to most computers, either by installing a capture card or
using and external input-output device, doing so is an added expense that needs to be considered.

With streamlined, digital I/O and fast setup, TriCaster 410 lets professionals de-
liver SDI programs to air, live streams, and social networks-all at the same time.

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How to run your own live stream

Most streaming software will have an audio mixing tool built-in, but a dedicated hardware mixer will give you
more control over individual channel levels. If you’re the even you’re streaming is already using a soundboard,
patching into that is a convenient way to get a good audio signal. However you choose to control your levels,
make sure to monitor your audio at least as closely as the video as you’re streaming.

3. Stabilization
The next piece of gear you’ll need — if you don’t have one already — is a good solid tripod or monopod, ideally
with a fluid motion head if the camera will pan or tilt during the broadcast. That fluid head is key to getting
smooth and stable footage.

Whether you are using a smartphone or an external camera, using a tripod is a must. It’s best that the camera
not move during your stream if it can be avoided.

4. Audio
Using an external microphone is strongly recommended for live streaming. Don’t rely on your camera’s mi-
crophone, since they are prone to noise and average audio quality. You could use a lavalier mic, shotgun mic
or even a handheld mic. Check out Videomaker’s Microphone Buyer’s Guide for more information on choos-
ing the right microphone.

Just like with any film or video production, the audience will appreciate clear audio far more than good-quality
video. Making sure that your audio is clear and of good quality is key to having a successful live stream.
There are many options for audio when it comes to streaming; some people will go for a microphone that either
connects directly to their camera either through the use of an XLR cable or a 3.5mm jack.

However, if there is a multi-camera and multi-microphone setup then many users opt to have the microphones
connected to an audio mixer to help them keep control of the audio levels.

Routing the audio output of your mixer through one of your cameras will ensure that the audio is embedded
with the video inside the camera and is brought into the switcher through one of the video inputs. This way the
switcher maintains the audio/video sync, avoiding any delay between the audio and video.

Good audio gear will also be vital to producing a high-quality live video. How you incorporate the audio signal
will depend on your switcher, but most will have separate audio inputs that you can switch between indepen-
dently from the video inputs.

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Using an external microphone is strongly recommended for live streaming.

5. Lights
A simple approach for lighting your live stream set is three-point lighting. The basic three-point lighting set-up
uses three lights call the key, fill and back lights.

The key is the primary light, it provides the bulk of the illumination on your subject. You place this light about
45 degrees to the subject’s right or left and about 45 degrees above, aimed straight at the face. The 45-degree
angle isn’t written in stone — it’s simply a starting point. Feel free to adjust it later if necessary.

The fill is there to make sure the shadows from the key light aren’t too dark. The fill light is usually about
only about a quarter as bright as your key light — about two stops dimmer. You place it on the opposite side
from the key light, at about the height of the camera. There may be a temptation to put it at the same angle
as the key — after all, we like symmetry — but don’t do that. One thing we’re trying to do here is use shadow-
ing to make the two sides of the face look different, so try your fill light at an angle of 15 or 25 degrees, and
adjust it to suit your aesthetic.

The back light is aimed at your subject’s head and shoulder from behind and above, also at about a 45-degree
angle. It gives your subject a bit of a glow and provides separation between the subject and whatever’s behind
them. This is often called a “defining edge.”

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If you have a nice background you can also aim the back light at that. This works particularly well if the back-
ground is textured — like draped fabric — and you aim your light at it obliquely. This is common in interviews
done at a location chosen for the subject’s convenience rather than its scenic beauty — a backdrop can be
quickly thrown up in a warehouse or a garage and three-point lighting magically transforms it into a studio in a
matter of minutes. Studio lighting is what makes a studio.

The rationale for the back light becomes most apparent when shooting a dark-haired person against a dark
background. Without a back light, the hair vanishes into the background and you’re left with a floating face.

6. Cables
As you set up, collect any cables needed to connect your gear together and get your stream online. Make sure to
appropriately manage the wires and that they are not in the way. Some cable management will go a long way
here in making your stream look more professional.

7. Props
If you have an object or props that you wish to show during your live stream, go for it. A fantastic accessory to
use is a whiteboard so you can quickly write things and show it to your audience. Just make sure the camera can
focus on the whiteboard. Some streaming services allow you to share your computer screen, as well, opening you
up to a world of possibilities such as using a Keynote presentation or streaming multimedia content and games.

8. A place to stream
Compared to a film set where you have the full flexibility of doing whatever you like with a live stream you
have one limitation.

Where is your internet modem or router located?

You need to set up your live stream set as close as possible to your modem or router for better signal strength.
If you are doing a live stream with your computer, it’s strongly recommended that you use an ethernet cable
instead of the wireless signal. Live streaming takes a considerable amount of bandwidth, and if you do it via Wi-
Fi, the chances of having playback issues increase exponentially.

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Setting up the stream

Aside from identifying the best equipment for live streaming content creators, embarking on their first live
streams will also need to familiarize themselves with the best ways to live stream their content. Listed in this
article are the easy, intermediate and advanced live stream methods for content producers who want to docu-
ment noteworthy events as they happen.

1. The Easiest Way to Live Stream

While mobile devices offer the easiest way to live stream. Simply navigate to your platform of choice and
start your stream.

2. The Intermediate Way

The intermediate way of live streaming can be broken down into two parts: connecting a camera to your
computer and connecting your camera to a livestream hardware or software. Both parts are essential to live
streaming, and one cannot function without the other.

Connecting a Camera to Your Computer

Live streaming with a dedicated camera is a viable option for content creators who want to deliver crisp
broadcast quality to their viewers. You can connect your camera to your computer with a USB or HDMI
cable and then send stream your video content using video encoder hardware or live stream software.

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Streaming with a dedicated camera will give you better audio and improved image quality, but the setup
can be a bit trickier since you’ll need to connect your camera to your computer.

DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras

DSLRs offer ultra-high photo resolutions, superb video quality and better low-light performance.
Mirrorless cameras also possess these characteristics, but come in more compact and lightweight
frames. Although neither DSLRs nor mirrorless cameras are designed exclusively to be video cam-
eras, both are notable for producing high-quality digital images and videos. These make them the
go-to cameras for content creators, especially those who’re into video recording and live streaming.

If you’re going to use a DSLR or mirrorless camera for live streaming, make sure your particular
model allows longer recordings. Most camera models have a default setting which causes them to
switch off when recording for long periods. Once you’ve verified that your camera is suitable for
live streaming, you’ll need to connect it to a video encoder to send the camera’s output to online
streaming platforms.

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Camcorders
Specifically built for recording video, camcorders are great for live streaming. These cameras take
less effort to set up and are structurally designed for comfortable handheld shooting so that you
can film longer streams. Moreover, many of the latest camcorders have 4K resolution, giving you
the best video quality.

Action Cameras
For capturing truly immersive videos that will help you engage with your audience, action cameras
are the best tools to use. Despite their diminutive size, they are capable of capturing some of the
highest-quality and most stabilized footage, making it the perfect choice for live streaming profes-
sionals, adventurers and athletes.

This type of camera is normally equipped with a wide-angle lens and offers first-person views,
which somewhat limits the output to informal live streams. Nonetheless, with today’s action cam-
eras evolving to have more advanced specs, they’re becoming one of the more popular choices for
streaming live events.

Action cameras are small enough to fit almost anywhere and provide good image quality
and stabilization.

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2. Connect Your Camera through Live Stream Software

Upon connecting your camera to your computer, you can then connect it through live video streaming soft-
ware such as Open Broadcast Software (OBS) or Wirecast. While both Wirecast Studio and Wirecast Pro come
at hefty price tags, a free version, known as Wirecast Play is also available, though crucial features are omit-
ted from the free version.

We will mainly be discussing the free-to-use OBS and how to connect your camera to OBS.

Configuring Your Camera
Cameras now have desktop software that enables them to connect to a computer. Upon connection,
the software enables cameras to shoot remotely and deliver a live view of what the camera is shooting.
Check with your camera manual to see what options are available for your camera.

Configuring OBS
Upon downloading OBS, there are a couple of things that are needed to start a basic stream. These are
as follows:

Open your OBS software and start by configuring the resolution of your stream. Click on the Settings
button on the lower right of the screen. On the Video tab, choose the desired Base and Output resolu-
tions that are most suitable for your computer and internet speeds.

To adjust the bitrate, go over to the Output tab and click on Video Bitrate and Encoder. The bitrate value
of 2,500 is sufficient for most scenarios but may be adjusted more or less depending on the bitrate the
machine you’re running on needs.

Choosing a Source
OBS and similar streaming option will give you various options when choosing your video stream
source. Your choice will depend on what type of stream you prefer. The following are some of the most
common options:

• Display Capture will capture the entire display but not in full screen
• Game Capture is for capturing games or other activities in fullscreen.
• Window Capture is for capturing a specific window or application that you have running. You can use
this option to capture the live stream feed from your camera software.

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3. The Advanced Way: Dedicated Streaming Boxes

Using dedicated stream boxes to stream is arguably the most advanced way to go live. A dedicated streaming
box is a capture device that you connect to your computer. This converts the video signal from your cam-
era’s output into a digital format your computer can recognize. If you intend on using a camera that outputs
HDMI, HD-SDI, component, etc., then you will need a capture device in order for Livestream Producer or
Livestream Studio to recognize your camera or cameras.

Some notable streaming boxes brands are as follows:

• Livestream Broadcaster
• SlingStudio
• Tricaster

4. Choosing your Platform

Many different platforms offer live streaming, the most popular being Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram.
Deciding which of these platforms to use will depend on your target audience.

YouTube - a wide range of content creators use this one, from gamers, to live podcast, live tutorials, live news,
and almost any topic you can think of. Doing Youtube live streams also complements your current channel
uploads, adding more content is an excellent way to interact with your subscribers.

Twitch - From its inception in 2011, Twitch has been live streaming. Purchased by Amazon in 2014, Twitch
has become the number one site for streamed gaming content, but they are working to expand the platform’s
audience.

Facebook - the largest social media website on the internet allows every user with a personal profile or page
to use Facebook Live. Facebook is excellent for small business since it will enable you to reach a considerable
audience and even more if you use paid ads (to use Facebook Ads you need a Facebook Page).

Instagram - although Instagram primarily focuses on picture sharing, live streaming allows connecting more
personally with the audience while maintaining a creative approach. Instagram live streaming is commonly
used by actors, musicians, sports personalities, vloggers and journalists.

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5. Connecting to your stream host

When you’re ready to go live, take a look at the support page for the platform to which you will be streaming.

Every platform will provide instructions on the best way to get started. Depending on your destination and
setup, the process might be more or less complicated.

For anything beyond a Facebook stream for your smartphone, you’ll probably encounter the acronym
RTMP. This is most common type of streaming. Most devices have a RTMP or “Real Time Messaging Proto-
col” which is what allows you to stream video and audio between a flash player and a server. The servers are
usually outlets such as Facebook, Youtube, Vimeo, and Ustream.


RTMP requires your site login information from whatever outlet you’re trying to stream to. If the site login infor-
mation is not prompted, it’s not going to work for the site you are trying to stream to. Additionally, the RTMP re-
quires a server URL and stream key which will typically be given to you by the website you are trying to stream to.

Again, if you get stuck, refer to the destination platform’s support page. This should be your first stop when
troubleshooting — and it’s almost certain you’ll need to troubleshoot at some point.

6. Test all systems before going live

It is monumentally essential to do a test run before doing your real live stream. Make sure to do this test a
couple of days before, not on the same day. In this test, you want to make sure every piece of equipment is
working correctly, test your internet connection speed, check video quality and, most important, make sure
the audio is clear. Do not overlook the audio quality and be sure to verify how it sounds on different devices
— on a computer, smartphone speakers, and headphones. Your audience will not mind the quality of the
video so much, but they won’t be as merciful if they can’t hear you. We also recommended practicing what
you are going to say and have every prop you are going to use on set.

7. Have a backup plan

Live streams can sometimes fail altogether leaving you stranded. If you are doing the live stream with your
computer, it’s a good idea to also have your smartphone on standby just in case the main computer stream
fails. Sometimes the internet goes down, and other times your computer just doesn’t want to connect to the
internet. If that happens, try using your smartphone to reconnect to the streaming platform using your cel-
lular data. Use this as a last resource since a live stream will drain your data fast. Still, it’s better than going
offline completely.

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Planning

One of the key factors to think about when you start planning your live streaming is what content you want
to put out. Not everything will do well as a live-stream and finding the right kind of content to attract audi-
ences is crucial.

The main type of content that is streamed around the world falls under the categories of gaming, podcasts,
tutorials, lesson content and live events. These forms of content are easy to gain a large fan base around, and
are quite simple to stream — plus, they depend heavily on the timeliness of their delivery or participation
from the audience.

When producing a video, it’s essential to plan and prepare adequately, so your shoot goes off without a hitch.
However, how does your typical production compare to hosting a live stream? In this article, we will explore
how you can conduct a successful live stream on your own with a few simple tools.

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1. Script
A script describes everything that the viewer will see and hear. For a live stream, you’ll need to decide
between:
• A simple script with a couple of pointers on what you are going to say or do
• Going entirely scripted, reading every line of dialogue using a teleprompter.
The first option is way more accessible since you will be following a simple outline and talking about
whatever comes to mind. I recommend this one for most live streams since it will allow you to be more
natural on camera and you won’t look so robotic in comparison to reading everything from a teleprompt-
er. Just have a straightforward outline and be conscious of how much time you spend on each subject. You
don’t want to overtalk and bore your audience. It’s a good practice to plan exactly how much time you will
spend on each topic.

2. Schedule
After writing the script, determine the day and time at which you’ll go live — and tell people about it! Also,
make sure you let your audience know how long the live stream will be. Don’t make it excessively long. In my

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Switching

When you first open your streaming software, you’re likely to encounter some unfamiliar terminology.
Here’s a quick rundown:

1. Program bus and preview buss

The main video source that goes out to the audience and the recorder is the program bus. What you see on
this screen is what the audience is seeing. The preview bus allows you to choose which shot will show up on
the program bus next. On the preview bus, you can cue up your shot, load the graphics and titles and frame
the shot exactly how you want before you send out live.

2. Take button
The take button toggles between preview and program. It’s a direct cut to the next shot.

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3. T-bar
The t-bar is the lever that transitions from preview to program. While the take button is a direct cut, the
t-bar uses transitions such as fade and wipe. The speed of the transition is relative to the speed in which you
move the t-bar.

4. Auto button
An alternative to using the t-bar is the auto button. This comes in handy because there is a consistent transi-
tion every time, whereas the t-bar may vary because you are using it manually.

5. Fade to black
Of course, we can’t forget about one of the most popular transitions, fade to black. Whatever is on the
program monitor will fade to black. Right before starting a program, it’s a great idea to fade to black,
countdown, press record and then press the black button again to fade up the image. Then, at the end of
the program, fade out.

6. When to Switch
Switching varies depending on the program. The first rule of thumb is to think like the audience. What does
the audience want to see? If we’re shooting a talk show, we might start with the establishing shot of the set,
also known as the safe shot that is usually set up on camera one.

What if we don’t want the audience to know who we are interviewing yet? In this case, we might start with
camera two framing a close-up of our host as they introduce the guest. When they say the guests name, we
could switch to Camera three with a close-up of the guest smiling. Camera three may also give us a little push
in as we choose her camera. Sure we want to stay with whomever is talking for the most part, but we also want
to see reactions. Keep asking yourself who or what should be the focus. Don’t just switch whenever the other
person talks or switch without a plan.

If you’re recording a scripted show, cut when the script calls for it, or again, when it feels right based on what
the audience should see. You have the advantage of seeing every angle, so make it a point to choose the best
one at the appropriate time.

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On-camera performance

“Welcome to the...um...part of the book where we talk about...uh...[long pause]...let’s see...we talk about on-
camera delivering. Oops! [nervous laugh] I mean ‘delivery.’ On-camera delivery.”

How many times have you seen someone talking into a camcorder with a speaking style that was so broken or
boring or inconsistent it was actually painful to watch? No matter how comfortable someone may be talking
“on the spot,” speaking well into the unblinking eye of the camcorder isn’t easy to do.

When we watch network news, a big-budget promotional video or a Hollywood documentary, we enjoy the
slick verbal communication skills of professional talent. These folks often train and practice for years to nail
the best possible delivery for the production. Thankfully, a good on-camera delivery doesn’t demand the
skills of triple-scale union actors. It simply requires a little practice and a firm understanding of what sepa-
rates a bad delivery from a masterful one.

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In the next few pages, we’ll explore seven characteristics of a good delivery. In a nutshell, a viewer-pleasing
on-camera delivery is:

1. Appropriate for the production

2. Smooth
3. Well-paced
4. Interesting
5. Consistent
6. Natural
7. Confident

The more of these characteristics you can muster up in your own videos, the more effective your communica-
tion will be.

1. It’s Appropriate
A good on-camera delivery is appropriate for the production. In other words, its pacing, inflection, energy
and level of polish all match the type or genre of the video. One approach won’t cut it for every production-
-all these elements can (and should) differ from video to video.

Before you begin shooting, take a big-picture look at your production and ask yourself some key questions.
What is the purpose of the video? Who is the audience? Is a tight, smooth-moving on-camera delivery crucial
to saying what you need to say? Do you have the time or budget or talent to pull off a seamless on-camera
delivery? Is there a defined standard of quality you need to achieve with the video?

The level of perfection seen in a production varies wildly even within the realm of network TV productions.
The loose, stop-and-start banter of a fishing show is a far cry from the tightly scripted delivery of a network
news update. The more important or life-changing the information is, the more polished its delivery will be.

The quality of the on-camera delivery can also differ from section to section in the same production. On The
Today Show, for example, the conversation has a much more polished feel in the studio segments than when
the hosts are talking with the audience down on the street. The loose, improvisational feel of these outdoor
segments is appropriate for the material at hand.

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Make these types of judgment calls in your own videos. Decide how much polish is enough, and don’t try to
achieve something your equipment, talent or available budget won’t allow. For a casual family-history in-
terview of your 93-year-old great-great-grandfather, don’t worry if things move a bit on the slow side. Minor
foibles in speech (on the part of grandpa or the interviewer) aren’t a problem, and can add a realistic “down
home” feel to the interview. If you’re taping your daughter explaining her award-winning science fair project,
re-shooting the presentation every time she says “um” is a recipe for disaster.

At the same time, a delivery that is too loose can make a mockery of the information you’re trying to convey
in a more structured video.

2. It’s Smooth
A good on-camera delivery is smooth enough to engage —and not distract — the viewer. Words flow from the
mouth of the on-screen talent with momentum and purpose, instead of pausing, repeating and skipping like
a scratched record. If you have the means to pull it off, most types of production benefit from such a delivery.
It’s a rare viewer who’s put off by a delivery that’s too smooth.

A smooth delivery is equal parts confidence, experience and preparation. Practicing in front of a mirror is a
great way to get a leg up on all three, allowing you (or your talent) a camera’s eye view of delivery style. Tap-
ing and reviewing some practice runs in a no-pressure setting is also a great tool for building confidence and
on-camera experience.

A smooth delivery also depends on your talent’s access to the information he’s sharing with the viewers. In all
but a completely improvised situation, you’ll have some sort of game plan for the spoken word. This may be a
loose outline with a few key concepts to cover, or it may require a full script that the talent will deliver verba-
tim. When your on-screen help knows where he’s headed in the script or outline, his delivery will be the best it
can be. When he has to struggle to keep his bearings, smoothness of delivery will be the first thing to go.

There are several tools you can place at your disposal to keep your talent on-track, ranging in complexity
from computer video prompters to simple cue cards. Thankfully, you don’t need an expensive electronic
solution to capture smooth speech in your videos. Anything your talent can easily see without breaking his
concentration will do the trick.

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The humble cue card is a mainstay of network television and professional productions, from late-night com-
edy shows to training videos. Cue cards are cheap, easy to make and very portable. Any large posterboard or
thick piece of paper works well; with these simple tools, the only other item required is a thick black marker.
Place the cue cards near the lens, and round up a diligent volunteer to change them as the take progresses.

You can fill up a cue card with a word-for-word script, but this will often freeze your talent’s eyes on the
card and restrict her ability to move or gesture. This may be fine for certain types of videos, and some talent
prefer reading a full script instead of improvising. If your talent sounds like she’s reading, however, you may
want to try a different prompting approach.

Instead of putting your script on a cue card word-for-word, try boiling each sentence or section down to a
few key phrases. If they have a good grasp on the subject matter of the video, some people can improvise well
from a very sparse cue card--even if there was no full script to begin with. A combination of key words and
full sentences works well if the script contains specific phrases you wish repeated verbatim.

Boiling your script or concept down to a handful of key words frees you up to make your cue cards small-
er, and gives you more flexibility in where you can put them. Any place your talent can discretely look for
a cue is fair game. Taping a normal-size piece of paper below the lens works well, provided you don’t need
to change the paper mid-take. If your talent can discretely look down towards the floor, you can place cue
cards there. Try stashing three by five-inch cards behind something (a plant, for example) sitting on a desk
or table. If you’re doing an interview type of production, place cue cards so your host can look past the
guest to see them.

Finally, your talent can hold small cue cards in his hands, provided the presence of the cards won’t cause a
problem for the type of video you’re shooting. If you use hand-held cards, don’t have your talent try to con-
ceal them or be overly discrete. Short, occasional glances at the cards shouldn’t distract the viewers or com-
promise the delivery.

Though it doesn’t work for everyone, some experienced on-screen talent are able to pack relatively large
chunks of a script into their short-term memories. They read a paragraph or two of text before rolling tape,
then recall it for delivery while tape is rolling. Provided you can keep shots shorter than a minute or so in
length, this technique negates the need for any type of prompter or cue card.

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3. It’s Well-Paced
A good on-camera delivery is well paced, being neither too fast nor too slow. Most people speed up their
speaking when nervous, something that’s obvious when you view the tape later. Some go the other direction,
dragging the speed of delivery down as they painstakingly say each word.

A good rough estimate for speaking speed is in the neighborhood of 130 to 180 words per minute. If you
speak much faster than this, you may exceed the ability of some viewers to understand what’s being said.
Talk slower than about 130 words per minute, and you risk putting your viewers to sleep.

4. It’s Interesting
A good on-camera delivery holds the interest of viewers. It pulls them in right from the beginning, then
maintains their involvement to the final word. An interesting delivery works its magic regardless of subject
matter. Great on-camera talent can turn “How to Change a Car Tire” into a gripping presentation.

One of the keys to keeping on-camera delivery interesting is variety. As important as the visual variety
created by diverse shot selection and cutaways, variety in speaking style, pitch and inflection breathes
vitality into a script.

When you listen to professional talent, you’ll hear that they emphasize certain words and phrases in al-
most every sentence. The pitch and volume of the voice may go up on those words, or they may put longer
spaces on either side for emphasis. The end result is a delivery that’s constantly changing depending on
what’s being said.

Until adding this kind of variety becomes second nature, you’ll need to make a very deliberate effort to get it.
One of the easiest ways is to take a copy of the script and read it aloud. On a sentence-by-sentence basis, lis-
ten for phrases or words that seem to demand further emphasis. Your voice should rise and fall naturally in
these spots. Where these words fall depends on the sentence itself, as well as your own delivery style. Under-
line or highlight the words, and read the sentence again. When you get to an emphasized word, really punch
up your energy at that spot. If the results sound contrived or unnatural, try different (or fewer) words.

It’s important to remember that most people err on the side of being too conservative with their energy and
variety. They’ll often feel that they’re adding more than enough emphasis, while the delivery seems flat and
boring to the viewer. What feels “overboard” to the talent is usually just the right amount of inflection.

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At the other end of the scale, a delivery with too much emphasis and inflection comes across as canned and
insincere. The breathless, hyperactive blather of a salesperson gets tiring after about 10 seconds. To attack a
full-length video with this type of delivery will make it all but unwatchable.

5. It’s Consistent
A good on-camera delivery has consistent energy level, inflection and pacing from beginning to end. Where
these elements do vary, they change with purpose to match what’s happening in the video.

Contrast this with a video where the talent’s enthusiasm changes noticeably from moment to moment. When
this happens, the end result looks and feels like a patchwork of different takes instead of a cohesive whole.

There are two key areas in which changes in delivery can be quite obvious to the viewer: pacing and energy
level. If these two evolve slowly over the course of your video, there’s a chance they won’t be noticed. When
they differ dramatically from take to take, however, viewers can’t help but notice the change.

6. It’s Natural
A good on-camera delivery is natural and free from exaggerated mannerisms you wouldn’t see when talking one-
on-one. A good delivery is also conversational, using words and phrases that are a normal part of everyday speech.

When thrown in front of a camcorder, many people are unsure of what to do with their hands or body. This
uncertainty often shows up with one of two extremes: either they freeze and use no body language whatsoev-
er, or they begin to use repetitive, grandiose gestures. Using no body motion results in a stiff, lifeless delivery
that’s not at all interesting to the viewer. At the opposite extreme, too many gestures usually mean a barrage
of visual cliches. Punctuating every phrase with some sort of body motion may feel like appropriate passion
while taping, but will only look silly and unnatural to the viewer.

Some people show their nervousness and inexperience by abandoning normal conversation in lieu of lofty,
pompous-sounding speech. It’s as if they’re thinking, “I’m on camera now — I have to sound more official.”
Instead of impressing your viewers, this type of delivery will come across as pretentious and stuffy.

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7. It’s Confident
A good on-camera delivery has an unmistakable air of confidence. This is comforting to viewers, who pick up
an unspoken message from the talent--you’re in good hands here. When talent lacks confidence, your viewers
will sense that they’re dangling on the edge of disaster at all times. This is not a good feeling.

Lack of confidence shows up in many ways: a halting delivery, fidgety hands, hands near the mouth, shifty
eyes or a “deer in the headlights” fixation on the lens. If you’re using inexperienced talent in your video,
you can expect to deal with one or more of these traits. Thankfully, you can increase the confidence levels of
these folks considerably with a few simple techniques.

If your talent has fidgety hands, give her something to hold as she speaks. This could be a clipboard, coffee
mug, book or anything large enough to pacify her hands. Small objects (like an ink pen) don’t work--they
only make the movement more noticeable. Props add visual interest in addition to helping make the point.
Shutting off your camcorder’s tally light (or placing a piece of tape over it) can help calm the nerves of some
talent. Try stepping away from the camcorder when rehearsing, and have the talent speak directly to you
instead of the camcorder. As a last resort for short takes, you can record with the talent speaking to an invis-
ible off-camera listener.

Talent lacking in confidence will often call undue attention to their mistakes. If the video doesn’t require
a perfect delivery of every line, small foibles are no problem unless they turn into a larger mess. Encourage
your talent to correct the mistake and move on quickly, without saying things like, “Boy--I just couldn’t spit
that out!” or “Let me try that again.”

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Streaming Best Practices

A stream is a great way to connect with your audience and bring them deeper into your content. It’s impor-
tant to engage your audience, just like you would when presenting in person.

The best way to engage your audience is will a high-quality stream. You’ll need to use all of your video pro-
duction skill and more to produce a successful live stream. Keep the basics of camera angle, audio and light-
ing in mind as you prepare to go live, then put those skills into high gear once the stream is underway. Pay
attention to both audio and video so that you can address any issues that pop up immediately.

Along with paying attention to the technical side of the production, you’ll also need to pay attention to your
audience. As a content creator, you must make sure you answer their messages and comments and show them
that you appreciate their support. Actively rely on their opinions in order to produce the best content for
them. It can sometimes be helpful to have a dedicated point person for addressing comments and questions
while the stream is live.

The most important thing for a successful live stream is to convey the energy from the host to viewers at
home. Sometimes it’s best to start simple. Choose the setup that works for your style of production — it’s ok if
that means streaming only with your phone. And with that, you’re ready to go live!

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