Digital @ The Arts Unit Creative Teachers
How to live stream a school event
Teacher resource developed by The Arts Unit
Resource overview and purpose
This site includes resources to support schools and individual teachers in the live streaming technical support often required in a school setting for various experiences including:
school assemblies
presentation assemblies
principal addresses
year meetings
staff meetings
guest speakers
music, dance and drama performances
art exhibitions
musicals.
Additional support resources are also available through The Arts Unit to improve the knowledge, understanding and skills of teachers in how to confidently and effectively manage work, health and safety: legislation, signage, safe work practice and risk management plans.
NSW Department of Education teachers may like to investigate further live streaming resources available on the staff portal under Schools Video.
Getting started
When live streaming your assembly or event, there are some fundamental questions you need to clarify:
Do you really need to live stream or can you prerecord?
Where is the live video stream equipment being set up and used?
Who is the audience for the live video stream?
What is included in the live stream: live footage, prerecorded video and/or PowerPoint images?
What live video stream equipment is needed?
Who will be operating the live video stream equipment?
When is the live video stream occurring?
How are you going to live stream?
What is the internet connection and service strength available at the time of video streaming?
When can a practice live stream occur to test the live stream equipment?
Live streaming with multiple video recording devices and a laptop input
The live streaming equipment a school needs to ensure they can support a simple event mixing between 2-3 video recording devices and a laptop input for PowerPoint/slideshow/video includes:
Blackmagic ATEM Mini
2 laptops – one for PowerPoint/slideshow/video and one for streaming with Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) Studio (free software) installed
2-3 video recording devices (tablets/smartphones)
2-3 tablet/smartphone tripods
monitor/TV screen
4 HDMI cables
2-3 lightning to HMDI or USB-C to HDMI converters
USB-C cable
XLR cable
XLR to minijack converter
headphones
one table and 2 chairs
powerboard and extension cord
2-3 technicians.
Equipment set up guide
Watch the video How to live stream with multiple inputs to assist you in setting up the equipment for live streaming.
How to live stream with multiple inputs
Duration: 12:31These step-by-step instructions taken from the video have also been provided to assist you.
1. Set up a Brightcove account, then select the Live page and create an event.
2. Promote your link through the Live page under Manage Events.
3. Set up a table relatively close to the presentation space.
4. Plug in the extension cord and/or powerboard.
5. Plug in your ATEM Mini.
6. Place a computer or TV monitor on your table and connect it via HDMI to the HDMI out port on the back of the ATEM Mini.
7. Position the recording devices (tablets/smartphones) using tripods.
8. Connect the recording devices, using the HDMI converters and cables, to the HDMI inputs on the back of the ATEM Mini.
9. Run an XLR cable either directly from the on stage microphone or from the sound system/mixing desk to the ATEM Mini. You’ll need to attach the XLR cable to the minijack converter to connect it to the ATEM Mini.
10. Plug the PowerPoint/video output laptop into the ATEM Mini via HDMI. You may need a converter if your laptop doesn’t have an HDMI port.
Make sure the audio is ON for this channel.
11. Turn on your recording devices, your monitor, both laptops and your microphone. Do a test for each of your input devices and audio.
Press the cut or auto button on the ATEM Mini. You should see the video source change between the two recording devices and the PowerPoint/video on your monitor.
Plug the headphones into the display monitor. Have a colleague speak into the microphone and listen for the clarity of sound. Adjust the audio level on the ATEM Mini to suit your requirements.
12. Connect your streaming laptop to the ATEM Mini's webcam outport via USB-C.
13. Make sure OBS Studio is installed on your streaming laptop. Open the application, run the auto configuration and set up streaming information. Add the source ATEM Mini. You should now see the live display that is on your monitor on the laptop.
14. Follow the explicit instructions for using Brightcove and the OBS Studio below to make your stream go live.
Brightcove and OBS Studio set up instructions
Set up the event in Brightcove Video Cloud – Live
Sign in to your school’s Brightcove Video Cloud account. (Initially, only principals can access this service. Principals can set up access for up to 8 other users. For help, see the Schools Video user guide.)
Select Live on the navigation bar and then select Create Event.
Note: First time users will need to select Try it now and complete the sign up form. The activation can take 24-48 hours to complete.
Give your event a name (such as ‘School assembly’) and then select Advanced Options, at the bottom of the page.
Change the Region to ‘Sydney’ and then tick Create this as a recurring event using a Static Entry Point (SEP).*
Select Create Event. Note the streaming endpoint and stream name.
For detailed information on setting up an entry point, read Brightcove’s Creating and Managing Live Events using the Live Module page.
* Static entry points are advantageous for events such as a daily address or weekly assembly. These events can be activated/reactivated without having to change settings each time. There is a limit of 3 static entry points per school.
Connecting to your audience
Once your live event has been created in Brightcove Video Cloud, decide how your audience will access the video. They will need a link to the video and the time and date of the event.
In Brightcove Video Cloud, select the Live module.
Locate your event, under the Standby tab, and then select the event name to open the Control Room.
Select Player Configuration.
Locate the Player URL then follow option 1 or 2.
Option 1 – Direct link
Locate the Player URL and select Shorten.
Copy this URL and paste it into your communication with staff, students, parents/carers advising them of when your event will go live.
Option 2 – Embedded into SWS
Locate and copy the Player URL (don’t shorten it)
Embed the player into your school’s website:
Sign in to SWS, placing it into edit mode and locate the page that will host the video.
Choose Insert component and then select Video.
On the newly created video component, select Configure.
Leave the Video Height and Video Width blank.
Under Select Video Source, choose Schools Video.
paste the link that you copied from Brightcove Video Cloud and select Done.
Set up OBS Studio
Download and install OBS Studio on your computer. You can download it from the OBS Studio page.
2. After installation, run the Auto-Configuration Wizard.
Choose Optimise for streaming.
Set the base resolution to 1280 x 720 and FPS to 30.
Set the service to Custom.
In the Server field, paste the streaming endpoint (RTMP URL) from Brightcove Video Cloud.
In the Stream Key field, paste the Stream Name from Brightcove Video Cloud.
Untick Estimate bitrate with bandwidth test.
Apply the settings in the Auto-Configuration Wizard.
3. In the Sources pane, select the + (Add) icon and then select Video Capture Device.
4. Select OK.
5. If your webcam is not shown automatically, select it from the Device list.
6. Select OK.
7. Right-click the preview of your webcam, select Transform and then Fit to screen.
For detailed information on installing and setting up OBS Studio, read OBS’s Wiki page.
Running your event
In Brightcove Video Cloud, select the Live module.
Locate your event, under the Standby tab, and then select the event name to open the Control Room.
Select Activate and then wait for approximately one minute.
Return to OBS Studio and select Start Streaming to go live.
Once you have finished making your address, select Stop Streaming.
Return to Brightcove Video Cloud and select Deactivate.
Tips
Test your live stream – this is best done at least a week prior.
Ensure all electrical equipment is correctly tested and tagged and all leads are securely taped down to avoid trip hazards.
Take a direct audio feed from the lectern microphone/sound system.
Turn iPad off auto lock.
When using camera apps; including Shoot (iPad) or Clean camera (iPhone) gets rid of display and buttons off the screen.
Ensure you have time to test the setup a day or two before the event as there will invariably be fine tuning to do. Also leave plenty of time on the day to setup and test.
See this link to a simple one camera stream - Webcam live stream instructions.
Benefits of multicam include: close ups, wide shots, direct video/Powerpoint display, better quality audio feed straight from lectern/sound system. Better experience for viewers.
Copyright
When including music or dramatic texts within your live stream event, it is essential to ensure you are following all copyright legislation.
For further information, refer to Smartcopying.
Department of Education - Live streaming platforms
The Department of Education supports the use of various platforms for live streaming and provides an online live streaming guide for teachers on how to set up and live stream through:
The Department of Education also provides schools and teachers with a schools video user guide to consider when pre-recording your video content and then uploading it to share with students, parents, staff and the community.
How to use this as a professional learning resource
Select the area you need to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills and navigate the information.
There are template documents and signs provided as a resource for you to reproduce and use in your school.
For further assistance please contact The Arts Unit.
Australian professional standards for teachers
6.2.2 Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.
Information for logging this into ETAMs towards your professional learning hours.
Activity name - TAU Event technical support
Activity type - Professional reading
PD Type - Teacher identified
Duration -
Standards - 6.2.2
How did this activity address the standard descriptors? - Developing knowledge on how to use technical production equipment effectively for a school assembly or arts event. The Arts Unit developed this resource to upgrade the knowledge and skills of teachers in the specific areas of safety, lighting, audio, staging and video streaming.
Further resources
Additional support resources are available through The Arts Unit to improve the knowledge, understanding and skills of teachers to confidently and effectively manage all technical areas for school events.
Select the following resources to explore them further.
