Getting Set Up
/In this blog post, I want to share how to live stream content using YouTube. Specifically, we discuss how to use a YouTube account along with OBS Studio software to capture live video of in-class presentations and share these videos on your YouTube account. I walk you through a four step process including downloading all necessary software, purchasing any auxiliary hardware, assembling your live streaming systems, and running your first tests to get this technology working in your classrooms. I also share resources with you to help troubleshoot when issues arise.
What software do I need to do to live stream using YouTube?
STEP 1: CREATE A YOUTUBE ACCOUNT
The first step to live streaming a video on YouTube is to set up a YouTube account. You can learn more about how to do this, simply DuckDuckGo the phrase “How to create a YouTube account.” Any of the top results should get you started. I plan to make a video soon about how to do this.
STEP 2A: DOWNLOAD OBS SOFTWARE
In addition to YouTube, we will use the freely available, open-source OBS Studio software. OBS stands for Online Broadcaster Software. To get this software, go to the OBS Project homepage at https://obsproject.com/.
STEP 2B: SET UP THE OBS SOFTWARE TO LIVE STREAM ON YOUTUBE
Once you have OBS software installed, the next step is to set up this software on the computer that you plan to use for live streaming. I plan to make a video that details how to do this soon. For now, here are some good resources that might help you get started:
YouTube Video: How to Use OBS Studio (Beginners Guide) 8m, 20s
How to live stream on YouTube with OBS by Jon Martindale (Feb 11, 2020)
STEP 2C: DOWNLOAD ANY OTHER SOFTWARE YOU MIGHT NEED
At Foothill College, most of our classrooms come equipped with special document cameras that you can stream on your computer. Specifically, many Foothill classrooms are equipped with the WolfVision VZ-8light3 and Wolfvision VZ-8light4 cameras. The Wolfvision company also developed software, known as the vSolution Link by Wolfvision software, that allows users to capture digital video of the document camera’s output on any computer.
Sadly, Wolfvision no longer provides or supports this software. However, there are still older copies of this software available online for users who have an interest in this. Below I provide links to this software.
MAC Users:
https://download.wolfvision.com/vSolution_Link_Help_Mac/
Windows Users:
https://wolfvision.com/vsolution/index.php/en/presentation-systems/software/vsolution-link-pro
What hardware do I need to do to live stream using YouTube?
STEP 3: GET ACCESS TO GOOD HARDWARE
Strictly speaking, you can use any built-in microphone and webcam that you have access to on your computer. Moreover, since OBS Studio allows you to stream a screen capture of your desktop, you don’t necessarily have to use a webcam.
However, I believe that good audio and video quality makes a difference for students. I have also been told by my students that they appreciate seeing me in these videos. In particular, many students have said that my facial expressions and appearance help personalize the lesson and make them feel more connected to the course.
With this in mind, I share with you the names of products that I personally use in my classes and that I have tested extensively. In choosing these product, I attempted to keep the cost low while providing high-quality audio and video.
Let me be clear and say these are not necessary in order to live stream. As long as your computer has access to a microphone, you can capture your screen without any reference to your physical person.
Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam- Full 1080p HD Camera ($89.33)
STEP 4: TEST YOUR LIVE STREAM
Now that you have all of the software and hardware you might need, give your system a test by Live Streaming some test content.
How do I set up in my classroom?
Now that you have all the software and hardware, you might be wondering: How can I actually set myself up for in-class live streaming. I’m so happy you asked. I created a YouTube playlist entitled How to Live Stream Lecture to help you through that process. Please take a look.
There are two points I’ll share here. First, before I push the “start streaming” button, I check to make sure that I have properly selected the specific audio and visual devices I plan to use for each live stream. More than once, I have forgotten to select my microphone and ended up recording with no sound. With that in mind, my second point is that every time I push the “Start Streaming” button, I ask my students to confirm that the live stream is functioning properly. I often have a hand full of students who keep the YouTube link live in the background for the entire lesson to help monitor the live stream and give me suggestions. Second,
Troubleshooting Issues
Now that we have covered the basics, I should say: be prepared to test your software and trouble shoot. For the teachers reading this blog, don’t underestimate the genius of your students. If you are struggling to get this working, ask your students for help. I have found that when my students understand that I am trying to implement tools that make their learning experience more valuable, they are very eager to help me succeed. I also believe deeply that students have so many funds of knowledge that they bring into class. As a teacher, I try to remember each and every day that I can learn a lot from my students and that I can invite them to actively help design our classroom environment.
Beyond asking students for help, OBS Studio has a robust online community of users and a ton of online troubleshooting help. Here are some of the articles I find most useful as I deal with the day-to-day maintenance of my software:
https://obsproject.com/wiki/Troubleshooting-Guides
https://obsproject.com/wiki/Stream-Buffering-Issues
https://obsproject.com/wiki/Dropped-Frames-and-General-Connection-Issues
At one point, I had to uninstall and then reinstall OBS software on my Mac and I struggled to start fresh. When that happened, I found the following link quite helpful:
https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/how-to-uninstall-obs-for-mac.21434/