Why ignoring this vital element could ruin your day, month, year or even your brand and how to ensure it’s pitch perfect
To the behest of sound engineers and audiences around the globe, audio quality is the one element frequently underestimated and overlooked in live streamed 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 will damage the perception of your company and poor audio quality 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 who is dialling in from a phone, or interference such as buzzing sounds or loud external noises.
Here’s some answers to frequently asked questions for 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 sound muffled. Cabled headphones with microphones in the cable are a better option but won’t be optimal.
If you work with specialist events agencies they will have professional quality audio kits that can be sent out to speakers before the event to ensure a higher level of audio quality.
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 background to ensure you have clear audio if you have to choose. Check for loud fans, AC or open windows – these will disturb the audio. Set up a professional microphone with a shield to reduce wind noise. Ensure mobile phones are turned off or on Airplane mode.
How do I handle audio for multiple speakers in the same location?
If all your speakers are in the same location you will need to address sound differently. Avoid using the laptop/phone in the room to capture multiple speakers as it’s difficult to position it equidistant between the speakers and will give unbalanced audio. It will also pick up movement and other noise too easily as 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 for clear audio to be recorded and volume control per speaker/microphone.
What is a lapel/lavalier microphone?
These clip onto the top/jacket of each speaker. These are generally connected to a wireless transmitter offering the speaker freedom to move around.
What is a boom/directional microphone?
This can be rigged above the speaker if they are sat or standing still. They are great for avoiding rustling clothes or rubbing on hair/jewellery. They are generally wired and connected to the audio mixer.
We strongly recommend working with a sound engineer in live-streaming or live in-person events. They will ensure the quality of your audio is optimal and can control the volume of each speaker independently and address any problems on the day if any occur – which is more often than not.
How can an events agency help with 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 such a key part of that success. A creative content agency London can help you pre-plan all the technical elements of your event in advance and make sure that you achieve the quality and brand perception that you are looking for.
We offer many different services in connection with live events which you can find on our Events page. Or contact us here to talk about how we can help you achieve extraordinary audience engagement with your event.
