Why ignoring this vital element could ruin your day, month, year or even your brand — and how to ensure your live-streaming audio is pitch-perfect.
To the best of sound engineers and audiences around the globe, audio quality is one element frequently underestimated and overlooked in live-streamed corporate events.
As a professional organisation, if you are putting on a corporate event, every single element needs to be considered to ensure it’s of the highest quality. Anything less than the best can damage the perception of your company, and poor corporate event audio is a surefire way to make audiences switch off.
Substandard audio may come in the form of muffled voices from a poorly placed microphone, tinny audio from someone dialling in from a phone, inconsistent volume between speakers, or interference such as buzzing sounds and loud external noises.
Getting the audio for a corporate event right becomes particularly important when the event is being live-streamed. Your online audience cannot compensate for poor sound in the way somebody physically in the room sometimes can. If they can’t clearly hear what is being said, you risk losing them altogether.
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about creating the best audio for corporate live-streamed events.
What microphones are best for remote speakers?
If you have speakers or guests joining remotely, test their audio in advance. The best microphone option for them is a USB microphone such as the Blue Yeti, which is a low-cost, simple plug-and-play microphone. It delivers a rich, clear sound, can be positioned out of shot and doesn’t need a separate audio interface.
If a Blue Yeti isn’t available, avoid using wireless AirPods with microphones positioned behind the mouth, as they can sound muffled. Cabled headphones with microphones in the cable are a better option, but won’t be optimal.
For professional live-streaming audio, consistency between speakers is also important. One participant using a good external microphone while another relies on a laptop microphone can create noticeable changes in sound quality as your event moves between speakers.
If you work with a specialist events or streaming audio agency, they can provide professional-quality audio kits that can be sent to speakers before the event. This gives remote participants the right equipment and allows it to be tested before they go live.
How do I avoid background noise for remote speakers?
Consider the environment. Are your speakers trying to join from a windy balcony or a shared office space? If so, change their location. We’d recommend compromising on the background to ensure you have clear audio if you have to choose between the two.
Check for loud fans, air conditioning or open windows, as these can all disturb the audio. Set up a professional microphone with a shield to reduce wind noise where necessary. Ensure mobile phones are turned off or on Aeroplane mode.
Crucially, don’t wait until the live event to discover these problems. A technical rehearsal allows you to listen to every speaker under conditions as close as possible to the event itself.
How do I handle audio for multiple speakers in the same location?
If all your speakers are in the same location, your corporate event audio setup will need to be handled differently.
Avoid using a laptop or phone in the room to capture multiple speakers. It’s difficult to position a device equidistant between everyone, which can result in unbalanced audio. It will also pick up movement and other background noise too easily because, by its nature, it will be too far away from each speaker.
Better options for multiple speakers are lapel/lavalier microphones or boom/directional microphones. Both allow clear audio to be recorded while giving the production team control over the volume of individual speakers and microphones.
What is a lapel/lavalier microphone?
Lapel or lavalier microphones clip onto the top or jacket of each speaker. They are generally connected to a wireless transmitter, offering the speaker freedom to move around.
For corporate events involving presenters who need to move around a stage or presentation space, this can make them particularly useful.
What is a boom/directional microphone?
A boom or directional microphone can be rigged above the speaker if they are sitting or standing relatively still. They are great for avoiding noises caused by microphones rubbing against clothing, hair or jewellery.
They are generally wired and connected to the audio mixer.
Do I need a sound engineer for a live-streamed corporate event?
For professional corporate events, we strongly recommend working with a sound engineer.
A sound engineer isn’t simply there to connect the microphones. They can monitor the live-streaming audio throughout the event, control the volume of each speaker independently and respond immediately to technical problems.
This becomes especially important when an event combines speakers in the room with remote participants. The audience should experience one coherent event rather than noticeable differences in volume and sound quality every time the programme switches between locations.
And problems on the day do occur. Having someone dedicated to monitoring and managing the audio means those problems can be identified and addressed without distracting the presenters or the rest of the production team.
Corporate event audio checklist
Before your event goes live, make sure you have:
- Tested every presenter’s microphone and connection.
- Checked remote speakers from the location they will actually use.
- Removed or reduced background noise such as fans, air conditioning and open windows.
- Checked microphone placement for every speaker.
- Balanced audio levels between presenters.
- Tested transitions between in-room and remote speakers.
- Run a technical rehearsal before the event.
- Assigned someone to monitor the audio throughout the live stream.
The technology you need will vary according to the format, venue and number of speakers. The important thing is that audio is planned as part of the production from the beginning rather than treated as something to fix on the day.
How can an events agency help with corporate event audio and live streaming?
We recognise that putting on a live-streamed event or live in-person event is stressful and hard to pull off. All eyes are on the day, and there is no room for error.
Audio is a key part of that success. A creative content agency in London with live-event production experience can help you pre-plan the technical elements of your event, test your setup and make sure the final production achieves the quality and brand perception you are looking for.
We offer a range of services in connection with live events, from planning and production through to the technical requirements of delivering the event itself.
Contact us to talk about how we can help you achieve extraordinary audience engagement with your event.
