Livestreaming is becoming an incredibly popular source of entertainment for gamers, musicians, creatives, and anyone who’s interested in live broadcasting their activities to the entire internet.
Streaming has become a way of connecting with viewers in a more personal way, since you can actively engage with them while they watch, rather than just respond to their comments on your video.
In fact, livestreaming on platforms such as Twitch and YouTube can even be a potential source of income. As viewers pay to subscribe, streamers can earn a percentage of that revenue. As a business, livestreaming can personally connect you with your target audience – potential customers.
While we can’t help you decide what activity to stream, tell you what to say to attract millions of followers, or choose the live streaming app for you, we can teach you successful live mobile streaming techniques. The rest is up to you!
How to Make a Livestream on Your Phone
Depending on where you’re streaming from and what activity you’re recording, you might want to consider using a tripod. No matter how interesting or entertaining your stream is, if your video is shaky, viewers won’t stick around. To keep your stream as stable as possible, use a portable tripod, like one of these. The quality of your audio can make or break your live streaming experience. The microphone in your phone is probably okay, but a high-quality external microphone will provide the sound quality for which you’re looking. Subpar audio is going to drive your viewers away, so you want to make sure you can provide the highest quality audio possible.
There are several different types of microphones available, so you’ll need to decide what type will work best for you. Choose a hands-free mic so that your hands are free for whatever activity you’re recording with your mobile device. Consider an option with a cold shoe mount to attach your phone mic to your tripod easily.
Lapel microphones are small options that you can simply clip to your shirt. You also have the choice of an external microphone that attached to your phone or tripod.
Once you know your viewers can hear you, you’ll need to make sure they can see you too. Proper lighting is an essential tool in any live streamer’s toolkit. The Aputure AL-M9 is an ideal way to make sure your viewers can see every expression on your face. Consider a phone gimbal stabilizer with object-tracking too to make sure your livestreams are smooth and correctly composed.
How to Livestream on Twitch with a Phone
Twitch has a reputation as one of the biggest names in livestreaming. Though most popular with video gamers across all gaming systems, Twitch has several livestream categories that can be broadcast from mobile phones.
Currently, Twitch supports mobile broadcasting in these categories:
- Talk Shows – Just as the name implies this is a group discussion on any topic
- Music – Musicians can share their work with the world
- Social Eating – Never eat alone again!
- Creative – Designed for artists of all mediums to share their work (like a livestream Mobile Creator Series)
- IRL – Every other activity not mentioned in other categories
To stream from your mobile device, you’ll first need to download the Twitch mobile app, which is available for both iOS and Android devices. Once you’ve downloaded the app, the Mobile Streaming option can be found under the Pulse tab. Make sure that your phone is set to allow the Twitch app to use both your camera and microphone.
After you’ve located the Mobile Streaming option, you can set up your equipment. Be sure to double-check your sound and lighting before hitting the live button.
You can set up your livestream while your mobile device is in a vertical position, but to begin streaming, you’ll need to rotate your phone to a horizontal, or landscape, orientation.
From the streaming screen, you’ll be able to switch from the front camera to the back camera with the tap of a button. When you’re finished streaming, simply tap the End button to end your recording.
As you can see, streaming on Twitch from your mobile phone is easy to do, just be sure to follow Twitch’s Community Guidelines to make sure you aren’t breaking any rules during your stream. Do note, the games are property of their respective owner, and their rules matter too!
How to Livestream on Youtube with a Phone
Livestreaming can be a great way to up your YouTube channel. However, it’s important to note that if you’re interested in streaming on YouTube, you’re going to need at least 100 subscribers already to access the feature.
Need a little help getting those first 100 subscribers to your Youtube channel? Then check this out (no, it’s not Youtube Premium).
If you’ve got the followers, the equipment, and the desire to stream, you’re ready to get started. First, you’ll need to download the YouTube mobile app and verify your account. This process is quite simple and typically involves sending a verification code to your smartphone. Be sure to give the app permission to access your camera and microphone!
In the app, you should see an icon that resembles a video camera. You’ll need to click on it to access the live streaming feature. You can then give your stream a title and description.
You can also decide whether the privacy of your video should be set to Public or Unlisted. As the name implies, Public means your stream is available to the general public, while Unlisted means that only viewers with the link to your stream can access it.
Similar to the camera app, you’ll also see a button in the upper right-hand corner of the screen to switch the feed from the front camera to the back camera. Try to use the rear camera if possible, as the video quality is likely to be higher than with the front camera. You can change this later if you want, but it’s helpful to get everything set up before you go live.
Once you’re ready to record with your phone, simply hit the button that says Go Live. From there, you can begin streaming your mobile live video! You’ll have access to camera filters as well as an interactive chat box, which can be hidden if you don’t want people commenting on your stream.
In the upper right-hand corner, you’ll see a Finish button. When you’re done streaming, you can tap that button, and your livestream will end. No more uploading videos is much easier than you thought, isn’t it?
