How-To: Create Your Own Internet Video Show

Posted 07/29/2008 at 2:02pm | by David Murphy

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Setting up a streaming TV show on the Internet is a pretty easy task. You grab a webcam, plug it into a PC, and use an Internet streaming site to host your amateur show. We’re stressing the amateur part because let’s face it, we’ve all seen enough YouTube stars to know the score.

But since this is Maximum PC, we’re kicking it up a notch and showing you how to become an online video producer. First off, we’re upping the number of cameras to two. Second, we’re going to show you how to stream your video live. By using Ustream’s (www.ustream.tv) online interface, you’ll be able to switch back and forth between your two cameras. Give your audience two different views of your head! Or more likely, use the second camera to feature a special guest or sidekick.

However, switching the cameras and the input audio is a Herculean task for one Flash-based interface—plus, we scoff at built-in webcam microphones—so we’re also using a condenser microphone, lavalier microphone, and mixing board. With them, you’ll have better sound quality and you’ll be able to adjust the microphones’ levels on the fly, independent of your camera-switching efforts on your PC. It’s the perfect way to up the production values of your show, and it will help you stand out without resorting to super-expensive, high-definition camcorders. Let’s roll!

Time Required = 35 Mins.

What You Need

• Mixing board
  $30-$100, www.behringer.com
• MXL 990 Condenser Microphone
  $60, www.mxlmics.com
• ATR35s Lavalier Microphone
  $40, www.audio-technica.com
• Two webcams
  $100-$200, www.logitech.com
• One XLR Cable
  $10-$20, www.musiciansfriend.com
• 1/8-inch male to two 1/4-inch male Y cable 
  $10, www.musiciansfriend.com

1. Connecting the Sound

We’re using Behringer’s MXB1002 mixing board for our setup, but feel free to select any mixing board that comes with the number of inputs you intend to use. For our setup, we need one XLR input (fat connector, three prongs) and a single 1/4-inch input. The condenser microphone provides the show’s host with far better sound quality than what a typical USB headset or 1/8-inch microphone offers. The lavalier microphone is a perfect, less-expensive alternative for guests, and it gives you more mobility if you need to stray from your desk for a segment.

As for the mixing board, you can opt for a fancier model to give yourself the option of more guests, or you can just go for a cheaper model with the bare essentials. You won’t see a difference in quality at this price level, just connection options.

Connecting the microphones to the board is simple. For the XLR microphone (top image), plug one end of the male connector into the mic and the other end into the first position on the mixing board. The lavalier mic we’ve chosen, Audio-Technica’s ATR35s, comes with a converter that allows us to plug its 1/8-inch connector into the second channel’s 1/4-inch line-in on our mixing board (bottom image). Finally, to get the audio to our PC, we’re attaching our Y cable’s 1/4-inch connectors to the left and right outputs on the board and the cable’s 1/8-inch end to the microphone input on our motherboard.

2. Connecting the Cameras

Physically installing the webcams is pretty straightforward. We recommend you do it systematically, to prevent your OS from freaking out, especially if you’re using webcams from different manufacturers.

Start by connecting the first webcam to your rig and then installing the accompanying drivers from either the provided CD or a packaged download. Depending on your camera, you might be given the option to enable a face-tracking feature. We recommend you resist the urge to enable this or any special effects. They’ll make your show look lame at best, and at worst, the jittering of the automatic lens seeking out your mug will annoy viewers to the point of turning off your show.

Once you have your first webcam up and running, attach the second one. If it’s the same make and model, the software interface should allow you to toggle between the two as-is. If not, install the drivers for your second webcam. They should be compatible, but if you want to experiment with live-feeding the images from both cameras at the same time, the two apps will have to run simultaneously.

All that matters at this point is that you can operate two cameras. Check both to see that they produce images, place the cameras where you want them to broadcast from, and proceed to Step 3!

Next: Step Three!