You'll need a camera, a computer, a video adapter and an internet connection. You begin by connecting your camera to your video adapter and the video adapter to your computer. Then you'll load some encoding software on the computer and enter the configuration information we provide. You can then use our provided embed code to embed your streaming platform on your church website.
Hit the "broadcast" button on your encoder and you're live streaming!
Yes! If you are happy with your existing church web site, you can easily integrate your streaming area into your existing site. We provide the html code you'll need to put on your existing site to either link your streaming site or completely embed your streaming area on your existing site. We also provide an automated countdown timer to include on your existing site that will display the time until your next live service.
We also provide the ability for you to embed the automated cover-flow media vault on your existing site.
Yes! You can view your stream from just about any device from mobile phones, to tablets, computers and even the Amazon Kindle. Any Android or Apple iOS device can view your stream easily!
We'll provide you customized instructions and the html needed to integrate (embed or link) your streaming area onto your existing site. You can embed your streaming platform, your media vault and even countdown timers onto your site. You can even customize your streaming platform so it matches your website perfectly and looks awesome!
Yes! We provide the ability to also send your stream to your Facebook page while also streaming to your ministry website. We even provide detail instructions including a video showing you how it's done.
We provide two options to send your stream to Facebook. The first option requires an encoder capable of sending multiple streams (ie - vMix, Wirecast, etc.). With this option, you can send your stream to your church website and Facebook simultaneously with Basic Unlimited or Premium Unlimited packages at no additional fee. If you don't have an encoder than can send multiple streams, Platinum Unlimited is the choice for you! With Platinum Unlimited, we'll automatically forward your stream to Facebook, Youtube and Twitter.
Yes! You can record your services with your Premium Unlimited or Platinum Unlimited Plan! You can use the automated DVR which will automatically record your services on the server every time you conduct your church service. Or you can choose to start the recording at the exact right time and stop it where you won't have to edit the recording at all. We also provide a great looking media vault for your on-demand streaming services for the Basic Unlimited, Premium Unlimited and Platinum Unlimited Plans. There is no additional cost to store your video and there is unlimited space provided.
When choosing a camera, keep this in mind: The darker your service and the further the camera is from your subject, the higher quality video camera you will need. If your service area is fairly bright and your subjects are not too far from the camera, a consumer grade camcorder will suffice. Although the better your camera, the better your broadcast quality. There are also other considerations that will affect your broadcast quality including lighting, your upload broadcast speed, etc. We recommend that you start with the most affordable camera per your budget and experiment with lighting, camera positions, etc.
Streaming Equipment recommendations are much like car recommendations. What's your budget? What's your expectations? We've found that there are good solutions for every size budget. You'll be surprised how easy and inexpensive it can be to stream your services. Check out our equipment recommendations here.
Your internet upload speed is the primary factor with broadcasting (download speed is not a factor). You will need at least a DSL speed internet connection at the church to broadcast a high quality stream. We recommend that you broadcast at 1,500 - 2,000 kbps for a medium quality stream. At this rate, you would need a consistent upload speed from your church of at least 5,000 kbps. If you are broadcasting multiple streams at various bandwidths, your upload speed will need to accommodate the sum of the all streams.
During the 30 day free trial, everything is included for free. We don't even ask for a credit card number until your 30 day trial is over! Try all of our features risk-free.
After the free trial, the Basic Unlimited package is only $79 per month with unlimited bandwidth. For the Premium Unlimited package, it's $127 per month and includes unlimited bandwidth for most ministries. If you'd like to auto-forward your stream to social media and have a custom channel/app made for your church, our Platinum Unlimited package is $179 per month. Premium Unlimited and Platinum Unlimited is not available for 24/7 broadcast ministries. Special lower bandwidth rates will also be available for the largest ministries.
It's a matter of "You get what you pay for". Here's a short list of ways you'll pay for streaming to a free service:
Free services WILL post unwanted ads on your live church service
Free services WILL block your live worship service when its algorithm detects copyrighted worship music. And they don't care if you already have a license for the music (as most ministries do).
Free services WILL NOT allow you to embed your live stream on your church website. Youtube will allow an embed, but the embed changes for every live stream event (this will drive your webmaster crazy!).
Free services WILL NOT allow you to customize your streaming platform to match your ministry and your website.
Free services DO NOT provide any support. Ever.
Free services DO NOT provide detail analytics. Who attended from where? How long were they viewing? Is this their first time or fortieth? The free services don't provide this information.
Free services ARE NOT designed for ministry. This is a biggy since you won't have tools necessary for doing church online like private prayer, automated visitor follow-up, automated countdown timers till next service and a ton more.
Free services CANNOT protect your ministry and your live stream service. There's no way to ban unwanted online visitors from disrupting your service and your guests online.
Free services ARE distracting. Those attending your service will be enticed to view other content and other things while visiting your service. The average viewer time on a free service is dramatically less than when they're attending using a system designed for ministry.
Absolutely! We recommend that you first test your system prior to broadcasting your service to ensure you have the setting correct. Then go ahead and broadcast your services during the free trial to get the full experience. *Please understand that your 30 day free trial is intended for your regularly scheduled church services. If you desire to stream special events please contact us first.
You can use just about any computer that has been purchased in the past 5 years or so. You'll need a computer that will accept the connection to your camera. Depending on your camera, you may need a video card that can accept your camera input (HDMI, S video, composite video, etc.). Or you can purchase a video capture device. We recommend the Magewell.
We provide all the technical help you'll need, but it's actually very simple to get started. Just download and install one of the recommended software encoders and configure it by making just a few selections (we'll provide the specific settings when you decide to stream). You'll also want to setup your streaming area for your guests. Here's a Streaming 101 Webinar that can also help with the basics of streaming.
We provide admin access to tons of reports including attendance graphs, attendance details (including city, state, country), attendance by device, complete chat log, most active attenders/chatters and tons more reports.
Absolutely! We provide an option to select your default language and everything on the streaming platform converts to that language automatically. Right now we offer an English, Spanish, Portuguese and French versions.
Yes! Our media vault can host your podcasts and there is also an RSS feed we provide. We can help you set it all up! We can help you get it in the iTunes store as well.
You'll need a camera, a computer, a video adapter and an internet connection. You begin by connecting your camera to your video adapter and the video adapter to your computer. Then you'll load some encoding software on the computer and enter the configuration information we provide. You can then use our provided embed code to embed your streaming platform on your church website.
Hit the "broadcast" button on your encoder and you're live streaming!
Yes! You can view your stream from just about any device from mobile phones, to tablets, computers and even the Amazon Kindle. Any Android or Apple iOS device can view your stream easily!
When choosing a camera, keep this in mind: The darker your service and the further the camera is from your subject, the higher quality video camera you will need. If your service area is fairly bright and your subjects are not too far from the camera, a consumer grade camcorder will suffice. Although the better your camera, the better your broadcast quality. There are also other considerations that will affect your broadcast quality including lighting, your upload broadcast speed, etc. We recommend that you start with the most affordable camera per your budget and experiment with lighting, camera positions, etc.
Streaming Equipment recommendations are much like car recommendations. What's your budget? What's your expectations? We've found that there are good solutions for every size budget. You'll be surprised how easy and inexpensive it can be to stream your services. Check out our equipment recommendations here.
Your internet upload speed is the primary factor with broadcasting (download speed is not a factor). You will need at least a DSL speed internet connection at the church to broadcast a high quality stream. We recommend that you broadcast at 600 kbps for a medium quality stream. At this rate, you would need a consistent upload speed from your church of at least 900 kbps. If you are broadcasting multiple streams at various bandwidths, your upload speed will need to accommodate the sum of the all streams.
You can use just about any computer that has been purchased in the past 5 years or so. You'll need a computer that will accept the connection to your camera. Depending on your camera, you may need a video card that can accept your camera input (HDMI, S video, composite video, etc.). Or you can purchase a video capture device. We recommend the Magewell.
Yes! If you are happy with your existing church web site, you can easily integrate your streaming area into your existing site. We provide the html code you'll need to put on your existing site to either link your streaming site or completely embed your streaming area on your existing site. We also provide an automated countdown timer to include on your existing site that will display the time until your next live service.
We also provide the ability for you to embed the automated cover-flow media vault on your existing site.
We'll provide you customized instructions and the html needed to integrate (embed or link) your streaming area onto your existing site. You can embed your streaming platform, your media vault and even countdown timers onto your site. You can even customize your streaming platform so it matches your website perfectly and looks awesome!
Yes! We provide the ability to also send your stream to your Facebook page while also streaming to your ministry website. We even provide detail instructions including a video showing you how it's done.
We provide two options to send your stream to Facebook. The first option requires an encoder capable of sending multiple streams (ie - vMix, Wirecast, etc.). With this option, you can send your stream to your church website and Facebook simultaneously with Basic Unlimited or Premium Unlimited packages at no additional fee. If you don't have an encoder than can send multiple streams, Platinum Unlimited is the choice for you! With Platinum Unlimited, we'll automatically forward your stream to Facebook, Youtube and Twitter.
Yes! Our media vault can host your podcasts and there is also an RSS feed we provide. We can help you set it all up! We can help you get it in the iTunes store as well.
Yes! You can record your services with your Premium Unlimited or Platinum Unlimited Plan! You can use the automated DVR which will automatically record your services on the server every time you conduct your church service. Or you can choose to start the recording at the exact right time and stop it where you won't have to edit the recording at all. We also provide a great looking media vault for your on-demand streaming services for the Basic Unlimited, Premium Unlimited and Platinum Unlimited Plans. There is no additional cost to store your video and there is unlimited space provided.
During the 30 day free trial, everything is included for free. We don't even ask for a credit card number until your 30 day trial is over! Try all of our features risk-free.
After the free trial, the Basic Unlimited package is only $79 per month with unlimited bandwidth. For the Premium Unlimited package, it's $127 per month and includes unlimited bandwidth for most ministries. If you'd like to auto-forward your stream to social media and have a custom channel/app made for your church, our Platinum Unlimited package is $179 per month. Premium Unlimited and Platinum Unlimited is not available for 24/7 broadcast ministries. Special lower bandwidth rates will also be available for the largest ministries.
It's a matter of "You get what you pay for". Here's a short list of ways you'll pay for streaming to a free service:
Free services WILL post unwanted ads on your live church service
Free services WILL block your live worship service when its algorithm detects copyrighted worship music. And they don't care if you already have a license for the music (as most ministries do).
Free services WILL NOT allow you to embed your live stream on your church website. Youtube will allow an embed, but the embed changes for every live stream event (this will drive your webmaster crazy!).
Free services WILL NOT allow you to customize your streaming platform to match your ministry and your website.
Free services DO NOT provide any support. Ever.
Free services DO NOT provide detail analytics. Who attended from where? How long were they viewing? Is this their first time or fortieth? The free services don't provide this information.
Free services ARE NOT designed for ministry. This is a biggy since you won't have tools necessary for doing church online like private prayer, automated visitor follow-up, automated countdown timers till next service and a ton more.
Free services CANNOT protect your ministry and your live stream service. There's no way to ban unwanted online visitors from disrupting your service and your guests online.
Free services ARE distracting. Those attending your service will be enticed to view other content and other things while visiting your service. The average viewer time on a free service is dramatically less than when they're attending using a system designed for ministry.
