Live streams can be a lot of fun, but let’s be honest, they’re also incredibly stressful! How many times have you checked your connection, looked over your streaming equipment, and set yourself up for the perfect, uninterrupted stream, only for it to start buffering within thirty seconds?
In 2023, everyone expects live streams to work perfectly, and no one wants to sit through a glitchy, buffering stream, with the resolution so low they can’t even work out who is streaming in the first place. So how can you ensure a strong performance?
How the Pros Manage
There are several things the pros think about when setting themselves up for a live stream. This includes network configuration, resolution checks, audio level checks, software encoding, and more. The important thing is that they manage all of this well before the live stream begins. It’s no good checking your network settings after the stream starts buffering, because by that point, the damage is already done.
As we mentioned before, there’s a certain expectation to uphold. When the President gives a live streamed press briefing in the White House or during the long awaited New year speech, no one expects buffering problems. replicate this kind of quality, you need to prepare well in advance and make sure you tick everything off your checklist.
It’s All About Disconnecting
When it comes to giving tips, the first thing we have to start with is network quality. As we mentioned before, it’s likely that you check your internet performance before you start livestreaming. You can do this through clicking on the “Activity Monitor” app, clicking “Network” and viewing the total number of packets being sent and received.
But even if you check this over, you can easily find your Wi-Fi network is slowing things down, and that’s because you haven’t disconnected other devices. One of the biggest drainers of a Wi-Fi network is multiple devices requiring a connection at the same time, so make sure your other devices are disconnected and your live stream is given full power.
Use an Ethernet Cable
Another good way to ensure this power is with an ethernet cable. If your connection is good, but your streaming is slow and buffered, the problem is likely to be ping speeds – the response time to your internet request.
If your ping times are registering at more than 30ms, then this can easily cause latency issues, including lag and data packet loss, but with an ethernet cable, you can ensure a more reliable internet connection, simultaneously lowering your ping speeds.
Improve Your Setup
There are several components to live streaming, including a video and audio source, an encoder, an audio mixer, lights, and, as we mentioned before, a strong connection. It’s important to invest in this home entertainment gear, especially audio related devices – some of the best live streaming microphones in 2023 include the Shure SM7B, the Audio-Technica AT2020 and the Blue Yeti USB.
When it comes to your camera, you don’t have to go overboard. Remember where your audience might be watching the livestream, and what device they are watching on. When it comes to the video, make sure to adjust your output to around 720 pixels resolution, this will make the stream look clearer, and reduce the chance of latency. To do this, simply go to your “System Settings”, and then click on “Displays”. There, you will find multiple resolutions to choose from, and you can hold the “Option” key while clicking “Scaled” to find more.
Livestream Better in 2024
These are just a few small tips, but they can make a big difference to your livestreams going forward. If none of them work, then it might be that your Wi-Fi connection in general is not suitable for a streamlined streaming experience. Remember, however, that Wi-Fi 7 is on the way, and this is set to better latency speeds and reduce lag across the board. Don’t panic, you will perfect your livestreams yet!