Beginner’s guide for streaming music production on Twitch
As the pandemic drags on and artists’ focus remains on virtual concerts, we look at a beginners guide to some of the advantages of livestreaming on platforms like Twitch, and how to create better content and optimize the streaming process.
Guest post from Soundfly’s Flypaper. This article originally appeared on Melody Nest.
In today’s world, the music industry is a dynamic and challenging arena where artists have to constantly evolve with whatever trend may arise. It takes passion, time, and energy to learn how to stand out in unique ways. It’s an exhausting but necessary pursuit in order to create something truly special.
Lately, due to the pandemic, musicians have shifted their focus from in-person shows and performances to online live video streaming, as the pandemic has put a restraint on all of us. Live video streaming is a great way to showcase your talent to the world and engage with fans, all from the comfort of your studio. With the growing popularity of video streaming, more and more artists are capturing this amazing opportunity that technology has to offer.
What Is Live Video Streaming?
Live video streaming is a way of delivering content to your audience through the internet in real-time. This means that the performance has not been recorded and stored previously, and everything is being performed live.
Nowadays, everyone like gamers, social media influencers, celebrities, and musicians broadcast live video streams to their fans so that they can connect and engage with them in real-time. This is a new way of reaching out and connecting with people as the pandemic has restricted our movement outside and everyone can enjoy their favorite music performance or video stream from the comfort of their homes. All one needs is a laptop or mobile and an internet connection.
Currently, the biggest names in live video streaming are Twitch, Periscope, and Instagram Live. Twitch, acquired by Amazon in 2014, is undoubtedly the most popular for musicians to join. They make it easy to start building an audience, generate revenue, and find life long fans for free.
Why Artists and Musicians Should Take Advantage of Live Video Streaming
Being a musician, vocalist, artist, or music producer, the content that you create is meant to be shared and spread everywhere. But due to the pandemic, organizing live music shows is a huge challenge.
The next best thing to live music performance is a live video stream of the same performance, but instead of being in-person, this is via the internet and streaming services. People can enjoy and experience their favorite music and have a great time, all from the comfort of their homes. Video streaming may be the future of live music in the coming times, and being a musician you should definitely grab hold of this amazing opportunity.
Through video streaming, musicians can share their creations in real-time and can organize online concerts, which can be attended by everyone across the globe. The revolutionary aspect here is that all one needs to attend these live performances is an internet connection and a laptop or mobile device. People love and enjoy watching their favorite artists perform live, and through live video streaming, you can connect with your fans and deliver great content to them.
Websites like Twitch generate nearly 1 billion views per month and provide access to an unfathomable amount of users within your broadcasts’ reach. Music producers don’t even need to leave the comfort of their house to tap into this type of a global audience. Now, more than ever, fans are flocking to live video platforms to connect with their favorite musicians, and it’s a missed chance at growth to let this pass by.
Immediate Benefits of Live Video Streaming
Playing shows and touring is an expensive part of being a professional artist. There are lots of costs to anticipate like hotel stays, gas, food, and whatever people need on the road to keep them happy and healthy.
With video streaming, these costs are no longer a concern and provide countless benefits, like:
Immediate Access to a Global Audience
Video streaming provides a platform for musicians to showcase their musical talents to the world. Playing shows will always have a limit on how many attendees there can be, but theoretically, an online performance can be unlimited. There is no venue on the planet that people from all around the world can stumble upon and join your performance in a matter of seconds for free.
Cost Affordable
Organizing and performing live video streams is very affordable and budget-friendly as opposed to organizing live shows. You don’t have to worry about setting up a stage, gathering proper equipment, having adequate space and facilities for the audience, etc. All you have to focus on is creating unique and fresh music that people will love. If you put real thought and effort into your work, your live show is bound to succeed.
Tips and Subscriptions
Twitch makes it easy to immediately start generating money for yourself. During every live stream, your fans can tip your performance or choose to subscribe to your channel. Talking with your fans, you’re able to:
“Encourage your followers to subscribe to your channel for either $US4. 99, $9.99 or $24.99 per month. The money collected is split 50/50 between Twitch and the streamer (although a few top streamers have been able to negotiate a higher percentage).” ~ Influencer Marketing Hub
Ease of Accessibility
The best part about creating live video streams is that your fans and audience can view them from anywhere. Earlier, people had to make time and drive to the venue, purchase tickets, stand in lines, and face all these hassles to enjoy their favorite musician’s live performance. Many fans justify not going to shows because of these reasons.
But live video streaming changes it all. All people need to do now is just click a button and experience their favorite artist’s performances live. People who can’t leave houses, or have other commitments can now enjoy their favorite artist performing from their homes. And with the pandemic going on, people love to experience live shows as they can’t move outside. This encourages them to attend these live video streams and is a great way for musicians to increase their fan base.
Engaging With Fans
Another great feature that live video streaming has to offer is that musicians can connect and interact in real-time with their fans and audience via live chats, comments, and more. You can talk to people and deliver what they desire. This creates a great connection between musicians and their fans and people love it when they can interact with their favorite artists easily.
Opportunity to Be Creative and Try New Things
Live video streaming provides musicians a chance to be creative and share new and fresh creations with their fans. There is no pressure and limitations on time, as you can organize and host live video streams whenever you want. All you need to do is prepare great content and that’s it! You can start a live video stream and connect with your fans while sharing your new creations. It gives you a chance to showcase and share your talents easily without any difficulties.
+ Learn songwriting, theory, production, composition, arranging, mixing, and more — whenever you want and wherever you are. Check out Soundfly’s courses here!
Create Better Content to Optimize Your Video Streaming
While creating and organizing live video streams may seem easy, in order to succeed one should have a proper strategy and plan. With thousands of artists hosting new video streams daily, your live video stream should be unique and stand out. So here are a few ways you can improve your live video streaming and get better results.
1. Creating Amazing Content
The key to hosting a successful video stream is having fresh and great content. Your video stream should consist of new musical creations that will attract a wide range of audiences and make your video stream a success. Make sure the content you plan on performing is original, well thought out, and will appeal to your fans. You should practice and rehearse your content well in advance as while performing live you can’t afford any mistakes. So prepare great and original content that will showcase your talents and will make people fall in love with your creations.
2. Prepare a Marketing Plan
In order to host successful video streams, you should devise an innovative and well thought out marketing plan. Advertisement and awareness are key to gathering large audiences and growing your fan base. Social media is a perfect way to spread the word about your live video performances and streams as this way people can share your live video streams with their friends and relatives, and you will gain popularity. You can post about your video streams on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even hire freelancers for a very little amount to help you gain exposure and share your live video streaming globally. So creating a perfect marketing plan is necessary to succeed in hosting great video streams.
3. Selecting the Right Video Streaming Platform
The most crucial element of live video streaming is selecting a perfect video streaming platform that meets all your requirements and suits all your needs. There are various streaming solutions available nowadays, and selecting the perfect streaming platform can be a bit challenging. One such amazing streaming platform which is great for musicians is “Twitch”. We will discuss and understand all about Twitch shortly.
4. Setting up Proper Equipment
Another important aspect of live video streaming is the equipment that you have. In order to host successful and great video streams, you should have the proper equipment like a good camera, proper recording tools like high quality microphones, high-speed internet, and a modern and compatible laptop or computer.
There are a few things you’ll need to consider to have a good start on Twitch.
- Software Encoder: OBS Studio is the most popular choice for streamers. Streamlabs Studios is also a great option if you’re using Windows.
- Strong CPU: Aim for an i5 or i7 processor, 8 or 16BG of RAM.
- Microphone: Both the Blue Yeti X or the Blue Yeti Nano are excellent microphones for the price.
- Webcam: If you’re looking for better quality video, try out the Logitech HD Pro C922 or the Razer Kiyo.
Now with all this knowledge, we hope that you understand the importance and potential of live video streaming. This is a great opportunity for musicians and new artists who want to share their talents with the world and are searching for a platform. And with the current situation globally, hosting live video streams is a great way to connect with the audience and gather new fans from all across the globe.
In the coming time, live video streaming has the potential to become huge, so go ahead and grab hold of this amazing opportunity and take your music career to a whole new level!
