Your company is about to launch a new initiative / product / programme and the upper management has requested to do a live stream of it. There's a catch though - the live stream footage has to be of good quality and not shot using a smartphone.
Enter the Sony FDR-AX700 4K HDR Camcorder. With its 1.0 – type stacked Exmor RS™ CMOS image sensor, Fast Hybrid AF and 12x optical zoom, this semi-professional camcorder is the best all-in-one camera for basic live video streaming. First, connect the camcorder to a signal conversion box that converts the video feed for playback on your computer. Next, use a live streaming software to send the video signal to a social platform of your choice and you are good to go!
Equipment Required
Must-Haves:
- Sony's FDR-AX700
- Camera Tripod
- HDMI Cable
- Laptop
- Signal conversion box
- We recommend Blackmagic Design UltraStudio Mini Recorder. - Thunderbolt 2 Cable
- Thunderbolt 3 USB-C To Thunderbolt 3 Adapter
- Sony's XLR-K2M - XLR Adaptor Kit with Microphone
- Streaming software
- We recommend free open-source software Open Broadcaster Software (OBS Studio). - Strong Internet connection
- Ethernet connection or a dedicated 4G hotspot is recommended
5 Simple Steps to set-up
Watch the short video to learn how to set-up.
3 Important Tips
- A wired Ethernet cable connection is always the best option. Alternatively, use a dedicated 4G network connection via a USB dongle.
- Always test the set-up prior to the actual live stream itself. Make sure that the connection via the signal connection box is stable and OBS is displaying the feed properly. For Facebook, it is good to set-up a private Facebook Page purely for testing purposes.
- Don't worry about minor glitches or bandwidth lags. The fact that you can live stream high-quality video with a compact professional camcorder like the FDR-AX700 shows how far live streaming has advanced. Nonetheless, always prepare back-up equipment, which in this case could be your smartphone, should that be any technical issues.
Sony's Extensive Microphone Line-up:
This tiny yet mighty shotgun microphone is a perfect addition to the FDR-AX700. It features two modes for audio recording: (i) gun mode for targeting and recording sound in a specific direction, and (ii) zoom mic mode where it will automatically adjust the audio range to match the camera's video zoom position. Comes with a removable windscreen foam to reduce wind noise should you shoot outdoors.
XLR-K2M XLR Adapter Kit with Microphone
Featuring its 2-channel XLR input with independent controls for recording level, attenuation, wind noise reduction, this allows you to connect professional microphones or even utilize the audio from the event's sound system via a wired XLR connection. The build-in mic holder also lets you mount the shotgun microphone that comes with the kit.
In an event there isn't a professional sound system to get the best in-camera audio for the live-feed, the brand new ECM-B1M shotgun microphone will be your best bet. This super compact microphone features three-directivity modes and has an amazing noise-cut filter that cuts out repetitive noise for clear audio.
*While the Sony ECM-B1M has the option to record digitally, only analog audio recording is available on the FDR-AX700.
All three microphone options are cable and battery-free as they simply clip on and connect seamlessly with the Sony FDR-AX700's Multi Interface Shoe for direct power and audio recording.
For Consideration: Other Recommended Conversion Devices
Blackmagic Design Web Presenter
The Blackmagic Design Web Presenter makes any SDI or HDMI video source appear as an USB webcam on your computer for high quality live streaming. While it features RCA and XLR audio input for dedicated audio feed and does not require driver installations (unlike the UltraStudio Mini Recorder), it requires dedicated power source and connects via USB Type-B cables. Take note that the video feed resolution is also capped at HD 720p.
Blackmagic Design UltraStudio 4K Mini
If pockets are a little deeper and you would like to future-proof yourself, consider the brand new Blackmagic Design UltraStudio 4K Mini. Small and portable like the Web Presenter, it features Thunderbolt 3 capture that allows multiple video and audio input options for multi-cam live streaming.
