If you have made live video attempts, chances are you have a history of low WiFi, WiFi, limited cellular bandwidth or other transmission problems.
Yes, you might be worried about the number of viewers watching, or stressing that your voice might crack and not recover, but imagine being ready to shine for the camera and deliver your best, only to be betrayed by a technology uncooperative As the saying goes: If it's not a thing, it's another thing!
In rocket science, we talk about "takeoff". In the world of live video, we speak of "first kilometer". The problems of the first mile can be notoriously frustrating, not just technical. The first mile is when you ideally establish an audience link before you lose their attention. To get a virgin first mile, major brands are turning to renowned experts who specialize in live video. Small businesses can save time by selecting these B2B winners – but it's equally important to know which brands are buying what technology.
Ben Ratner is a multimedia content creator with nearly 10 years of work in live television, media production, social media and live production. He is the video producer of "StarTalk Radio" with Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Cellular link for live video
Ratner still seems to have the timely skinny on specific live video solutions favored by various brands. He has also recently provided Small Business Trends with a glimpse of a cutting-edge technology that is so useful, almost magical: cellular bonding.
* * * * *
Small Business Trends: I heard you say that you think TriCaster is great. But now LiveU is your new favorite? Am I a misunderstanding?
Ben Ratner: These are two completely different tools! TriCaster is an excellent multi-camera production system, and LiveU is a bonded cell broadcast service. Both can work together. A recent example of this is when I had to do a last Facebook Live stream for GirlStarter on TLC from a parking lot near Atlanta. I had power but no wire or wireless internet. I've used the Tricaster to switch my cameras, run sound and add graphics, and have sent the output to a LiveU Solo. The one touch broadcast of the Solo was really handy.
Small Business Trends: Qu & # 39 is it a game changer? At first glance, the cellular connection seems too good to be true.
Ben Ratner: I think the most user-friendly tool of LiveU is the LiveU Solo. I was able to go places and make my live broadcast work in less than a minute – which would have been quite difficult without the LiveU. Because it comes with cellular cards, you do not need to rely on the Internet from one place. Turn it on, plug in your camera, tell it where to broadcast, press Start, and you're on the air.
The cell link is a game changer for several reasons. For starters, you do not need to rely on local Internet access. You need certain minimum bandwidth allocations to stream HD video. So, even if a site has the Internet, it may not be powerful enough. By design, LiveU units (and other related cellular solutions) have enough mobile phone cards to provide you with enough services to get the job done. In addition, with multiple cellular cards (and optional WiFi and Ethernet connections), if you lose a card, the others continue to broadcast seamlessly. LiveU units come with multiple cards from multiple service providers, so if one service is struggling, the others take over.
Small Business Trends: There are therefore fewer than 20 TriCaster certified operators in this region (NY-NJ-CT), you are part of it . How did it work?
Ratner: Being a certified Tricaster operator has certainly been helpful! This puts me in the Newtek repertoire of certified operators, so people know that they are addressing people like me first when they are looking for operators. This has helped clients like Vevo, All Mobile Video and Major League Soccer to have more confidence in me.
Small Business Trends: What other live video business tips can companies follow right now? And what is the best way to reach you?
Ben Ratner: Vidpresso is the software I am most excited about at the moment. It allows you to add dynamic and social graphics to live streams. It also allows you to import multiple video sources from remote computers. This is a very effective way of spicing up your shows. BuzzFeed and NBC News are two sites that use it extensively, among others. Check it out! The best way to get in touch with me is via Twitter @ BenMakesTV.
Images: Ben Ratner
This is part of the series of Small Business Trends Livestreamed Livelihoods interviews with sessions with actors and actors from today in the world of the livestream.