Want to know how we live stream a funeral from a graveside?
Watch the video to take a peek behind the scenes as Dave explains how to live stream a funeral with this setup of a recent graveside funeral live stream.
Video Transcript:
Introduction
Hello. Today, I’m talking about a funeral live stream at a graveside and how that might be different from some of the other livestreams that we might do.
Our live streaming setup
Our entire system is running from a V-mount battery for the live stream. Plus, all the other equipment is also running off battery, including the camera, our switcher, and our encoder.
Moving onto our encoder, first of all, we use a LiveU encoder. It’s a professional encoder which has a battery inside, which means that we can run for about two hours completely off battery without needing to worry about plugging it in.
If we do need to run longer than that, we can actually charge this encoder and power it off an external battery as well, giving us lots of time for us to be able to live stream when we’re away from a main power source. Now, the other thing that this encoder does is it allows you to bond multiple internet connections.
So today, in this example, we’re running at least three modems. One of them is with Optus, and one of them is with Telstra, and our third one is also a Telstra one. It gives us a bit of redundancy across networks in case there is a mobile internet disruption. We also have a backup starlink as well if we do get stuck in more remote areas.
Wireless Camera System
Now, our setup is fairly compact and it’s also able to be moved around as well. I always connect our camera via a wireless transmitter. This means that we can move the camera around if we need to, and we can also place the camera a distance away from our main live streaming unit. This is if there’s more people arriving than we anticipated and we need to move our equipment out of the way to allow more people to be closer to the action. It also allows us to move our camera if we are blocked with our view as well. If someone is standing in a place that doesn’t allow us to get vision, then we can move our camera around to get a clear shot of all the action as it’s happening.
Audio
Now moving on to audio, because audio is really, really important when you’re live streaming a funeral.
The way that we do audio is one of two ways. One way is we plug into the celebrant’s sound system or the funeral director’s sound system, if they have a portable sound system that they’re taking along with them.
Alternatively, if there’s no way for us to plug into the sound system, we have a little lapel mic that we tape to the outside of the microphone. It’s one of the little Hollyland Lark mics that we can tape to the microphone so that we always get a direct audio feed into the camera, giving our online viewers the absolute best audio quality.
Often the audio quality is even better than what people get live because you can hear everything really clearly.
In addition to having a direct audio feed, I also have a microphone on the camera which captures anything that might be happening that isn’t going into the microphone, whether someone forgets to actually put the microphone up to their face, or there’s something else that’s happening that wasn’t planning to be going into the sound system. It’s always good to have a backup, having that microphone on the camera to capture any of that ambient stuff when the main microphone is not being used.
Summary
To summarise, basically, you need to make sure that you have a battery-operated system, having an encoder that can bond multiple internet connexions, especially in areas where there’s limited mobile internet reception.
It’s also important to have direct audio feeds as well so that you can get that direct audio or having a backup plan in case.
Then finally, making sure that you check the weather before you turn up, either that morning or the night before, just to make sure you have a backup plan in case the weather does turn bad on you. It’s important to have some cover to keep your camera equipment protected.
Conclusion
There you have it. That’s a basic rundown of how to do a funeral live stream at a graveside.
Curious about how it all works on the day? That’s exactly what we’re here for.
We provide professional funeral live streaming across Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, and South East Queensland. If you’d like to know more about our setup or get a quote for an upcoming service, start here or call 1300 021 747.
Not sure if a funeral livestream is right for your service? Read our guide on why families choose to live stream a funeral.
