Multi-Camera Live Streaming with Multiple Cameras or Phones
Multi-camera live streaming doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. Here we run through the basics of multi-camera production for any use case with a focus on cloud-based production. Learn the equipment, setup, and how to live stream multiple cameras or phones together.
When you think of a complicated multi-camera live streaming setup, you might think of mobile TV studios. Cabling could run for miles from cameras and microphones to numerous wireless and wired cameras, and massive audio consoles. Video effects and slow-motion replay systems, powerful production switchers… the list goes on and on.
The good news, for those with less ambitious plans; you’ll need nowhere near that level of technical complexity.
What is a multi-camera live stream?
A multi-camera live stream is capturing live video using multiple cameras, phones, tablets, or video recording devices and editing the live video into one live stream that can be distributed to multiple streaming platforms.
Producing a multi-camera live stream will require multi-camera streaming equipment for switching and mixing live video from the different cameras in real-time, mixing audio, adding graphics, and much more.
Live video streaming events or live concerts are great examples of a live production team using multiple cameras to deliver a multi-camera live stream to their audiences.
Multi-camera productions live streamed via a website or social media platforms are not complex.
Whether it’s live streaming a church service with multiple cameras or a home tv studio setup connecting multiple cameras from remote locations. A multi-camera live streaming setup, production, and distribution of your live video can take only minutes.
Whether using smartphones, media tablets, video cameras, or a combination thereof. Connect your multi-camera equipment to our cloud-based live streaming platform to start production and distribution.
Learn how to produce any and all the multi-camera live streams you need near the end of this article. Our tutorial video helps you build a multi-camera setup to launch your live stream in minutes.
How to live stream with multiple cameras?
Live streaming multiple cameras must start with a multi-camera setup that creates a multi-camera production workflow. The live production team can set up on location or remotely. Live video is captured at the event and transmitted to the production studio where the live production takes place. From here the multi-camera program is distributed to multiple platforms or destinations.
Before multiple camera streaming can take place for any live production, it must be known what kind of setup is best for your production workflow and what equipment is needed to achieve the best results for a multiple camera live stream. Multi-camera setups can vary widely from hardware, software, or cloud-based multi-camera solutions.
Multi-camera live streaming hardware
Multi-camera live streaming will require different types of hardware like cameras, transmitters, routers, encoders, switchers, and much more. Not to mention a full team is needed to manage each area of production. This is the traditional way to manage and produce a multi-camera program. Although it is not as efficient as the technology we have today.
Multi-camera live streaming software
Using multi-camera software can optimize a production workflow, but in many cases, software for multi-camera productions can require the use of hardware. Different software-based multi-camera solutions can make it easier for one or two people to manage to produce the program. While it can help optimize the workflow it can lack in areas around transmission reliability, video quality, and the security of the transmission.
Cloud-based multi camera live streaming
With cloud-based multi-camera solutions, an entire multi-camera production can easily be managed by one person remotely. For instance, with video contributors capturing live video from the event, a cloud-based multi-camera solution like TVU Producer can take in live video sources, start producing, and take it to air right away. There are many other features a cloud-based solution brings to the table when it comes to live production making it easy to launch, produce, and distribute from any location without any hardware, software, or even overhead. This helps to save more and produce high-quality multi-camera live streams.
Multi-Camera live streaming equipment
The hardware and software needed to live stream a multi-camera production depends on many factors. Start the simple way to launch a live stream with multiple cameras.
Live streaming with multiple cameras
Cameras are many and varied. This ranges from video cameras built into smartphones and media tablets to professional video cameras with interchangeable lenses and other kits.
Essentially you can create a multi-camera live stream with any type of camera, including smartphones. The type of camera you need will depend on factors such as picture quality, functionality and price.
Tablets and smartphones are the least expensive option. When compared to properly equipped professional cameras, they can be quite limited.
For example, when setting up an IRL backpack to stream from remote locations. A professional camera, tablet, or smartphone can be used. Even a mix of these can connect to create a multi-camera live stream.
That said, there are accessories that make using smartphones and media tablet cameras easier and improve their overall performance. This includes add-on phone lenses, neutral density filters, gimbals and tripods.
Live multi-camera streaming with multiple phones
If you’re streaming an interview or speech, you’ll be able to get by with a couple of smartphones. In order to link your phones to a video switcher (so that you can mix) you can use TVU Anywhere.
This is an essential video application for Android or iOS smartphones or tablets as sources in a multi-camera live streaming production.
Once loaded onto a device, it enables shooters to bond wireless bandwidth from different sources. Video sources such as Wi-Fi networks and cell phone networks, and contribute video and audio to a production.
TVU Anywhere turns a smartphone or tablet into a highly portable, reliable contribution source for multi-camera productions. It is designed for easy integration with TVU Producer cloud-based live production platform. It also includes TVU Partyline, a rich new feature supporting multi-party production and guest communications.
An easy remote multi-camera setup would be using multiple live stream backpacks from different locations with the TVU Anywhere app, a multi-camera live streaming app for android and ios devices.
Multi-camera live streaming apps help you live stream with multiple cameras on a smartphone device. As there are many live broadcasting apps available to use, there aren’t many that can sustain a full-on multi-camera live stream. TVU Anywhere is one of the few built and proofed for high-quality live broadcast production.
Mixing sound and audio between multiple cameras
Audio is the other major component of any multi-camera live stream, and like video, the equipment needed will vary based on each project and budget.
Pro video cameras will need a wired or wireless microphone with a transmitter and a receiver. Many helpful guides to microphones and accessories, wireless mic kits, and audio-for-video are available online. Some include guides from Wistia, Videomaker, Shure, and Rode.
Often a two- or four-channel audio mixer can help in the field with these shoots. Larger multi-camera productions will use a larger audio console in the mixing room of a production control center. Guides to mixing consoles, tutorials on audio setup for video production, and selecting mixing consoles are also available online from several sources, including WindowsReport, Crutchfield, B&H, and Sweetwater.
Other audio components, systems and accessories that are helpful depending on the nature of the production include in-ear monitors, headphones, audio cables and connectors, studio monitors, Interruptible Foldback (IFB) systems and intercom systems. However, it’s important to note that for many applications TVU Partyline can serve as a virtual intercom and IFB system replacing the need for their real-world counterparts.
For multi-camera video producers relying on their smartphones and media tablets rather than professional cameras, two must-haves for the field are an XLR adapter to plug an external microphone into the device and a microphone.
Video switcher for live streaming multiple cameras
There are several multi-camera live streaming solutions out there in terms of video switching and mixing as hardware, software, or cloud-based solutions. Whatever you decide on, each option has its pros and cons.
TVU’s low-cost, reliable cloud video switcher for live streaming, TVU Producer, makes it possible for producers of multi-camera productions to switch between multiple incoming camera signals with low latency. Producers can add text and graphics, create picture-in-picture (PiP) screenshots, build an on-screen quad box for multi-person interviews, control audio for each video source and –with the TVU MediaMind AI engine—create closed captions on the fly.
Switching and mixing live video while applying graphics and effects is done seamlessly in the cloud. Users only need to set up and log onto their TVU Producer account from their computer to access all the features.
For producers with more ambitious productions may want to create advanced multi-camera synchronization. Or, a frame-accurate multi-camera production with professional cameras via the public internet, the TVU Remote Production System (RPS) is the answer. Supporting six synchronized cameras, TVU RPS makes it possible to capture content live at a remote venue, transport it via video over IP to the cloud and switch the production with TVU Producer or from an existing studio.
Creating a multi-camera live stream using remote production solutions is the focus of many producers today. The reason why is that it saves on the costs of many expenses while optimizing production efforts and resources needed. In all, it makes multi-camera productions much easier. Learn how remote video production can help you make your multi-camera productions easier.
How to set up your multi-camera live streaming equipment with TVU Producer
If you opt for the cloud-based setup, then launching TVU Producer is quick and easy. Learn how to set up multiple cameras for live streaming in TVU Producer for the perfect cloud-based multi-camera production.
1. Signup and create an account
From the TVU Networks website, visit the TVU Producer page, click “Sign Up,” complete the form and continue. The address in the form receives a verification email. Click on the “Activate account” button in the email. Complete the signup by entering the requested information. In the future, simply log in to begin.
2. Create a program
You reach the start page and can create a program after completing the signup process. Click on the “+,” name your program and click “Next.”
3. Set up format & features
Choose the right format for your project from the dropdown menu, check the tick boxes of the features, such as Partyline, Replay and RPS, that your project, requires and select the geographic region you are working in from the dropdown menu.
Click save. Now you can access your project through a portal. Roll over the upper part of the portal and click “Start.” TVU Producer will begin a three-part initialization process for your project. When done, the TVU Producer interface will appear.
4. Connect multiple cameras to TVU Producer
Now, it is time to begin connecting your camera sources to TVU Producer. Unlike connecting cameras to a real video switcher with cables, TVU Producer is a virtual switcher running in the cloud, so connecting source cameras is far simpler.
In Source Box 1, click on “+Add source.” Select from the four options presented for the type of source being connected: EXT IP Source, Anywhere, Pack, and Grid.
Fill in the requested information for the EXT IP Source if selected and name it.
5. Connect multiple phones to TVU Producer
If you are using a smartphone or media tablet with TVU Anywhere:
- Select the Anywhere source option.
- Open TVU Anywhere on your device.
- Aim your device’s camera at the QR code on the TVU Producer screen.
- Touch the “scan to pair” icon on the top right of the TVU Anywhere interface.
- Make sure the QR code is inside the green on-screen guides on your TVU Anywhere interface. Once paired with TVU Producer, the name of your device running TVU Anywhere will appear on the TVU Producer “Add Anywhere Source” screen.
- Select that source and click the “Add to source” button on the bottom right of the screen.
Add different devices running TVU Anywhere to each input. Use only one at a time. Launch the project and scan the QR code of the device running TVU Anywhere.
Repeat this process to add more TVU Anywhere camera sources to the multiviewer source display. You can also add video stored on your local computer as well as video from other IP sources as TVU Producer sources in the multiviewer. For more sophisticated productions, video sources from TVU Grid and TVU RPS can be added to the multiviewer and taken to air as needed.
6. Prepare to take video source to air
To ready a source for air, click on it in the multiviewer. The desired video source will load into the “Preview” window on the multiviewer. To take it to live, click “Video Cut.” The “Preview” video will cut to “Program.” Alternately, use the spacebar on your keyboard to take the preview video live.
7. Multi-Camera features & functionality
- Audio-Follow-Video: TVU Producer can be set for AFV, or audio-follow-video, switching to send the audio associated with a particular video source to air, or set for no AFV. The program gives users the ability to monitor audio associated with each video source.
- Live Video Overlays: Native JPG, PNG and GIF graphics can be added as overlays to videos, as well as intelligent overlays from the Singular.live, Flowics, or Never.no cloud platforms. Follow this tutorial to manage your graphic overlays on TVU Producer.
- Picture-In-Picture: PIP functionality is supported as well as the ability to create two-shot and quad boxes directly from the multiviewer by clicking on “+Add custom video,” which enables you to add source videos and select a custom background.
- Crew Communication: TVU Producer also supports TVU Partyline, accessed through the “Intercom” button. It enables users to communicate with latency-free voice and HD video to remote crew and guests using TVU Anywhere or a TVU Pack device in the field.
- Enable Live Captions – Clicking the “Live Captions” button, accesses the TVU MediaMind AI engine, which generates highly accurate captions using a powerful speech-to-text algorithm. Doing so enables captions to be added in near real-time to program video.
- Record & Replay: Record live switching with TVU Producer and replay the recordings later. Add individual sources as ISO recorded for use in post-production. Finally, use TVU Producer to live stream your multi-camera production to social media sites and web pages or to take your show to air via a TVU receiver decoder.
- Live Stream Vertically: TVU Producer even offers a mode to output your live stream vertically to the massive audience that watches content on their smartphones.
Multi-Stream & distribute your content to multiple platforms
Learn how to live stream to multiple platforms with TVU Producer. Outputting live video directly to Facebook, YouTube Live, Periscope, Twitch, Instagram and CDN platforms is simple. Live video distribution is needed to get your multi-camera production directly to your audience in real-time.
If this is the first time a particular social media destination is being selected:
- Click the “Output” button.
- Click “+Add” at the bottom of the pullout menu.
- Click “Import social media accounts”.
- Click “+Add” on the interface that appears.
- A list of social media sites pops up. Select the desired social media site name, enter the requested information and click “Save.”
- Repeat this process for each social media site you wish to use to distribute your content.
If you have already bound your social media account to the output list in TVU Producer:
- Click the “Output” button
- Select the output method desired
- Enter the information needed by your specific output choice.
Multi-Camera Live Streaming Setup For Broadcast Quality Results
Video producers have many decisions to make when it comes to producing a multi-camera live streaming show. It’s important to know what streaming equipment, features, and quality is needed.
Learn how to create a multi-camera live stream setup in the video below. It’s easy, fast, and reliable for virtually any type of use while having the ability to deliver broadcast-quality content.
The amount of production gear from which to choose for use in the field is massive. Making the right selection will depend on a variety of factors. This includes the sophistication of the production, budget and the type of cameras.
Fortunately, TVU Producer makes live switching and production of live streams easy when it comes to multi-camera productions.
From inputting camera sources, switching between preview and program, adding custom graphics, text and captions to controlling audio, setting up multi-person boxes and streaming the end result to viewers. TVU Producer gets the job done.
