Microphone/s
Everyone does it these times. But to do it well, you need equipment for your live stream! Just like at a normal concert, good sound is especially important at a live stream concert. Therefore you should, by all means, use a suitable microphone and not the integrated microphone of your laptop. To get started right away, USB microphones such as the t.bone SC 420 USB Desktop-Set are a good choice, as they can be connected directly to your device via the USB port, making interface, preamp and lots of cabling unnecessary. The Shure Motiv MV88 Kit is also a great solution for recording with your smartphone. The recording kit includes a condenser microphone, a mini tripod and a cell phone clamp, and makes sure you’re ready to record right away.
For vocal recordings, we recommend the Rode NT1-A Complete Vocal Bundle, which includes a shock mount, microphone stand and cable. With a price of less than £200, the bundle offers a very good price-performance ratio and you have everything you need to get started right away.
If you sing and play an instrument, the use of multiple microphones is recommended. For example, use the classic Shure SM58 to record vocals and the SM57 to record instruments.
Speakers & Headphones
To monitor your performance, you will need speakers or headphones. The Yamaha HS 5 monitors give you precise listening experience. Not only for live streaming!
If you prefer headphones, you can also use studio monitor headphones, for which there is a wide selection. A good choice is, for example, the Beyerdynamic DT-770, which offers detailed sound and a high wearing comfort due to its padded ear cups.
When it comes to good headphones, Sennheiser’s models are of course not to be missed: the classic among closed studio headphones is the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro – solid headphones with good insulation and a powerful sound. With a price of only £71, they are also suitable for a small budget. The Sennheiser HD 650 – an open studio headphone that is unrivalled in terms of sound and wearing comfort – is in a slightly higher price segment.
Shure, who is best known for their microphones, also offer good studio headphones in every price range with their SRH series. The SRH840 is a closed reference headphone with a differentiated sound, which is particularly suitable for mixing and recording.
Mixing Console & Audio Interface
For performances with several instruments and musicians or a backing track, you need a mixing console to mix the different sounds. You can use small and easy to use consoles, such as the SHURE MOTIV MVi. It is a compact USB audio interface that connects your instruments and microphones to your computer. The Yamaha AG06 audio interface is also well suited for small home streaming projects. This small device fits on your desk in any case! For more complex performance setups, the Yamaha MG20XU Mixer offers 20 channels with many sound effects and other features.
Focusrite audio interfaces are also highly recommended – the Scarlett is the world’s best selling audio interface! For bands and anyone who needs lots of audio inputs and outputs, the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 with 18 inputs and 20 outputs is ideal. But Focusrite also has the right interface for smaller projects: e.g. the Scarlett 2i2, a USB audio interface for Mac and PC in a visually appealing, scarlet red housing and with a reasonable price/performance ratio of under £150.
Lighting & other equipment
The lighting question should not be left out when choosing equipment for your live stream, so that your live stream concert not only sounds good but also looks good. For cool effects, you can also use decorative lighting like light ropes or a mirror ball.
In addition to the mixing console, you will also need a microphone and guitar cables and a microphone stand. Depending on where you are recording, you can also use a table stand. If you’re recording with your tablet or smartphone, a tripod for your device is also a good idea to ensure interference-free recording. If you use an external camera for streaming, you will also need an HDMI, SDI or USB cable.
Live Streaming Whitepaper
Now that you are set up with all the necessary equipment for your live stream, we wish you every success for your concert. The main thing is, of course, your creativity! You can find more tips and tricks around the topic of live streaming in our Live Streaming Whitepaper.
