Technology: Streaming, Lighting, Broadcast Gear & DIY
Looking for practical tech tips you can use right now? This tag collects hands-on guides about live streaming, stage lighting, broadcast gear, antennas, and more. I keep things simple: tools to try, steps to follow, and mistakes to avoid.
Want to play other videos while you're live on YouTube? Use OBS or another streaming app that supports media sources. Add the video file as a media source, set it to loop or trigger it with a hotkey, and route your audio separately so your mic stays live. Test scenes and audio levels before you go live to avoid sudden loud clips or muted commentary.
Setting DMX addresses sounds scary but it’s just matching a start channel to a fixture. Check the fixture’s channel mode, pick an unused block of channels on your console, and set the fixture to that start address. If a fixture uses 8 channels, the next free address must be the previous start plus eight. Label fixtures and keep a simple map so you don’t chase ghosts during a show.
Quick tech fixes
Need a quick antenna for a drone? A basic quarter-wave antenna can boost range if you cut the wire to the right length for your frequency, solder a proper connector, and keep the feedline short. For YouTube lighting, aim for a three-point setup or use a soft LED panel and a diffuser. Soft, warm light and a reflector will hide harsh shadows without expensive gear.
Webcasting an event? Pick a reliable streaming platform, run a local recorder, have a backup encoder or connection, and centralize audio mixing. Small events benefit more from redundancy than from higher bitrate—two stable streams beat one unstable 8 Mbps feed.
Planning & gear advice
Broadcast gear is moving to IP and cloud workflows. That means more flexible setups and lower long-term costs, but you’ll need good networking skills and solid infrastructure. Expect 4K and virtual production tools to become standard for higher-end projects.
Wondering who buys movie equipment? Indie filmmakers, rental houses, film schools, and production companies all shop differently. If you’re buying, prioritize lenses and sound gear first—those hold value and improve image quality faster than a pricier camera body.
Why are LED lights pricey? Manufacturing involves specialized chips, thermal management, drivers, and lenses. Cheap LEDs cut corners and fail early. For industrial or production use, spend on trusted brands and good heat sinking—you’ll save on replacement costs later.
Browse the posts under this tag for step-by-step tutorials, real gear tips, and quick troubleshooting. Each post gives clear steps you can try today, plus what tools matter and what you can skip.
Quick checklist before any shoot or stream: run a local test and record so you have a backup, check CPU and network load, lock your bitrate to what your upload can handle, and always test audio on headphones. Use shielded cables for long runs, label power and data runs, and keep a printed DMX map for shows. If gear is expensive, rent one weekend first to learn it. For cameras, prioritize lenses and good glass over megapixels. Small prep beats last-minute panic and fixes a show or stream almost every time. Save equipment photos and serial numbers for warranty.
How does video live streaming work?
Video live streaming is a process that allows users to transmit and receive video content over the internet. It involves a real-time encoding of audio and video signals into a digital format, which is then sent over a network to a receiving device. The receiving device decodes the signals and displays the video content on a monitor or other device. Video live streaming is becoming increasingly popular, as it allows people to watch content from anywhere in the world, on any device. It also provides a great way for businesses to reach a wider audience, as well as for influencers to engage with their followers. Video live streaming is an exciting and evolving technology, with plenty of potential for new and innovative applications.
29.03.23
Maverick Renfield
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