11 Tips to Save Your Live Stream from Technical Difficulties!

Internet failures, batteries dying, and difficulty hearing participants? In this video we’ll talk you through 11 tips to give you the best chance of success for your live stream!

First, it's important to understand that technical difficulties can happen to anyone. Don't be too hard on yourself if you encounter any issues during your live stream. The key is to be prepared and have a plan for when things don’t work. We’ll break these tips into 2 sections; preventative and curative. Preventative are tips that you can do to try and avoid technical issues while curative are tips you can do when things are going wrong.

PREVENTATIVE Tips:

Backup Plan:

If your internet connection or equipment fails, it's important to have a backup plan in place. This could be a pre-recorded video, technical difficulties slide, or a backup stream. In addition to having a backup plan for your equipment, it's also a good idea to have a backup internet connection. This could be a mobile hotspot or a different network.

Wired Internet:

While Wi-Fi is convenient, it's not a reliable option for live streaming. Use a wired internet connection to ensure a stable and consistent stream.

Test:

Make sure you test all of your equipment before going live. This includes your microphone, camera, and internet connection. Make sure everything is working properly and that you have backups in case something goes wrong.

Keep It Simple:

The more complex your setup, the more chances there are for something to go wrong. Keep your setup as simple as possible to minimize the risk of technical difficulties.

Backup Power Source:

In case of a power outage, it's important to have a backup power source for your equipment. This could be a generator or a battery backup. Make sure you have enough power to last for the duration of your stream.

So what if things are already going wrong? Here are a few tips that are CURATIVE:

Stay Calm:

It's easy to panic when things go wrong, but it's important to stay calm and composed. Your audience will take cues from you, so if you're calm and collected, they'll be more likely to stay calm as well.

Communicate With Your Audience:

If you're experiencing technical difficulties, let your audience know what's going on. They'll appreciate the transparency and will be more likely to stick around.

Tech Support Team:

Have someone on hand whose sole job is to handle technical difficulties. This person can troubleshoot issues while you continue with the live stream, ensuring that the audience isn't left waiting for too long.

Reset Software Program:

If you're experiencing technical difficulties with a specific software program, try resetting it. Close the program and reopen it, or try uninstalling and reinstalling the program. This can often solve the issue and get you back on track with your live stream.

Reset Equipment:

If you're experiencing technical difficulties, try resetting your equipment. I know you’ve heard it before, but it works and sometimes stuff needs to be reset!

Troubleshoot Signal:

If you're experiencing issues with a specific feed, start at the source and work your way to the output. If you're using multiple pieces of equipment, check each one individually (and one at a time) to identify where the issue is occurring. By troubleshooting your video signal systematically, you can quickly identify and resolve any issues that may arise during your live stream.

Bonus Tip:

Redundant Systems: If your live stream is particularly important, consider using redundant streaming systems. This means having 2 encoders, 2 computers, and 2 pipes or destinations that act as a primary and backup. You can also send this signal to multiple platforms simultaneously, such as YouTube and Facebook, so if one platform fails, the other can take over seamlessly. This can help ensure that your stream stays up and running even if there are technical difficulties on one platform.