While playing music live on the internet isn’t a novel thing, the interest in such performances rose in the year 2020, with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many musicians have found themselves unable to reach their audience in a usual way and thus, their ticket income dropped significantly for most of them. As a result of this circumstance, both amateurs and professionals in the music industry have begun to perform online, which has boosted the popularity of related streaming services.
Online gigs have their pros and cons. You can organize everything before the concert and there’s little chance something will go wrong. If you’re timid in public, this is an excellent opportunity to practice before throwing gigs in front of a live audience. However, if instant feedback is important for you, you’ll probably find the online concerts less inspiring. There’s also little opportunity to hear live applause right after you finish. Still, the modern streaming platforms constantly update, and many of them take into account the needs of musicians.
Below, you’ll find the general framework for preparing your online performance. Make sure to test all equipment out before starting your stream. It’s best to learn that your mic doesn’t allow stereo sound before you touch your instrument in front of an audience. You might also find out that your camera captures your elbow instead of your hands and instrument, which must be fixed beforehand, too. Just in case you forgot—your internet connection should be flawless. Check with your ISP to see if you have enough bandwidth and GB left for your streaming concert. It’s possible that you’ll need to upgrade your router as well. Choose a model with high capacity and wide compatibility, for example, check out the Netgear AC1750 review.
Choose a Streaming Platform
There are numerous possibilities to share your music online. You can use well-known streaming platforms like YouTube, Meta Live, Twitch, Instagram, and even Zoom. There are specialized concert platforms like Livestream, Doors, and Bandcamp. Many of them offer demo versions that are free of charge but lack some of the functions of the full version. That means that you can perform online, but you won’t be able to record your performance or check metrics. However, this is a good opportunity to try and find out if this particular platform suits your needs.
Factors to check in a streaming platform:
- Time limit. Your concert can be limited in time, especially if it is a demo version.
- Participant number. The number of simultaneous connections to your concert can be restricted.
- Ability to connect to other performers. If you plan to perform a duet or with a band, this option can be of interest.
- Domain access. Access to some US websites and platforms may be blocked from geographic regions outside the United States.
- Privacy. Check if the link to your online concert can be password-protected or otherwise restrict its sharing.
- Tickets or donations. Many online platforms allow you to sell tickets for your gig or receive donations from your followers.
Prepare Your Equipment
For an online gig, you will need everything you use for your regular live shows, and a little bit more. A camera and a mic, as well as stands for them, are required. It’s better to use different devices for video and audio recording in order to avoid signal interference. Furthermore, if you stream using a smartphone or a laptop, you will most likely find out that you have to choose between sounding clearer and being seen better. That’s because the camera and microphone positions on a phone and laptop are optimized primarily for conversation and shooting pictures.
If possible, choose a camera (a built-in or standalone one) with high resolution and adjustable zoom and focus. This will grant you more freedom in positioning and keep the picture clear. If you use a standalone camera, check its compatibility with your computer. The latter should have enough RAM and processor capacity for maintaining a constant transmission of high quality. Though you can stream with as little as 8 GB RAM and a 2.6 GHz processor, these are minimal requirements that won’t probably maintain a sharp picture and clear sound transmission. With 16 GB for RAM and a 3.6 GHz processor or higher, you’ll ensure a high-quality Full HD picture and a Hi-Fi sound for your streaming session.
A dynamic microphone is optimal for streaming live music. However, the mics differ by the range of frequencies they can receive and transmit, and the sensitivity. While buying a highly sensitive mic seems to be a good idea for streaming live concerts, there’s one consideration. If you sit too close to a mic, it can catch all the little sound you emit, even your breath. If you use an acoustic instrument, there’s less requirement for a mic, as the sound is likely to be dispersed anyway. However, it’s better to choose the mic with a cardioid pattern for capturing most of your sound. Find out about the pickup patterns of the mics and choose the one that fits you the most. For an amplified instrument, it’s recommended to use a dynamic mic or a microphone built-in your musical instrument, computer or camera.
If you plan to use many devices (like pedals, amps, and so on) and/or several instruments, a mixer would be a good addition. Rather than routing each of your audio sources to the mic, hook them up to a mixer and transmit the sound from it.
Select the Place
If you stream your live music from a studio, you most likely don’t have much of an option in terms of location. Usually, the equipment is concentrated in a single place, and there you get the best sound. However, the lighting and background aren’t necessarily the best there. If you’re planning to perform online from home, you’ll have more options for background and, sometimes, even acoustics.
Look for a place, where the following is true:
- Vibration and echo are less likely. While these effects can be purposely created in a studio, they can also have a negative impact on your performance. As a result, search for a small space with soft furniture and good acoustics.
- You can lock in and don’t be disturbed by household sounds. Especially if you’re not alone in your apartment. It could happen that the people would unwillingly interfere with your performance. So, warn your family what you’re going to do and either lock in or let them be the silent spectators of your concert.
- The background is neutral or aesthetically pleasing. The way you see the picture on your wall can differ from the way the spectators see it in the background. Make a record of your rehearsal and see if you look good there.