Audio Visual Equipment - Basic

If simplicity is your primary concern, you are able to purchase and run a setup that will be able to live stream your classes very simply, though this will come at a significant cost to quality.

Option 1. Laptop-based

Using your laptop computer as a centre of operations to run your live stream platform and your portal, attaching a webcam for slightly improved video quality compared with the in-built laptop's webcam, and a USB microphone for improved audio will be sufficient to live stream, but image and sound quality will be below-average.

Equipment Needed

  • Laptop computer (Windows or Mac)
  • Webcam
    • Suggested: Logitech C920, ~£90
  • USB Microphone (with a long USB lead)
    • Suggested: Blue Snowball ICE, ~£55

economy_laptop

Advantages

This equipment list is very simple to set up and use; can run on laptop battery alone; low budget requirements

Disadvantages

Below-average image quality for a live streamed fitness class; while the sound quality will be okay as long as the microphone is close to you, if you play music in the class at the same time the microphone will probably pick up the music causing an echo; returning to the laptop to manage participants is cumbersome

Setup and usage

Very simple - the laptop will run the live stream platform as well as your portal, your webcam will record and transmit the video, and your microphone will record and transmit sound - this setup is essentially 'plug and play' meaning you just need to plug everything in and likely no further setup is required.

Option 2. Tablet Only

A tablet will provide the ability to live stream a class and is very simple to set up and operate, but you will be severely restricted in the quality and service you are able to provide.

Equipment Needed

  • Tablet
    • Suggested: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6, ~£600
  • Tripod with tablet mount
    • Suggested tripod: Amazon Basics, ~£25
    • Suggested tablet mount: Ulanzi Tablet Mount, ~£15econ_2

Advantages

Very simple to set up and use; very portable; runs on tablet battery; low budget

Disadvantages

Poor image quality for a live streamed fitness class; poor sound quality; unable to play music digitally over live stream; inability to engage with participants as screen will be facing away from you

Setup and usage

Setup for this equipment option will be very simple - the tablet mount is attached to the tripod and holds the tablet; the tablet will run the portal and the live stream platform; the in-built camera will record video and the in-built microphone will record sound.