Tag: Live stream

Make MIDI control a reliable part of your live stream

Yes I am using MIDI control as part of my live streaming. How? In a very straightforward way. Playing a new song will trigger a video clip playing as a backdrop for the stream. It can also trigger a scene in the lighting unit. Live streaming is my way to improve my live performances, even though a live stream is not the same as a live show. Anyway, hence my endeavors to still improve my live streams and make MIDI control a reliable part of the live stream.

The old way: MIDIControl

Up to now I had to rely on a separate program MIDIControl to catch MIDI events and relay these to OBS . I can tell you that any chain of devices or software is easily broken in a live stream. More then once I was in a situation where it simply didn’t work. No harm done musically, but the show does look a bit more bland. Lately a new version of OBS broke the link permanently. I had to wait for an update for the MIDIControl program.

This triggered a new search for alternatives and I found one in the form of a true OBS plugin: obs-midi-mg. The first version I used was a 1.x version, the latest version 2.2 has lots of improvements in the UI. In the first version you had to step into binding, step out and step into action to make a scene change work. Now it’s all on one page, like you can see in the screenshot in the header. The big improvement for me is that it is simply there when you start OBS. No need for the chain of programs to be up and running and connected.

For capturing MIDI I use a simple and cheap USB MIDI interface. It even does not have a brand I think. MIDI on windows is very sensitive to plugging it into a different USB port, that is why I put it on a separate interface that never moves. The plugin is setup to listen for a note being played and then trigger a video source to be shown. The video source starts playing from the start when becoming visible and never loops. I keep a spreadsheet with all the bindings to keep track of the note numbers used on different channels.

I hope I have inspired you to make MIDI control a reliable part of your live stream. There are many more useful applications possible. Also for instance using a Launchpad to trigger actions on sources in your Scenes.

The advantages and pitfalls of a head microphone

Yesterday I did a live stream with a new head microphone or headset mic and for the first time since using it, something went wrong. Kind of spoiling an hour long live stream. Before this I used my old faithful AKG D330 on a microphone stand, but when streaming, visually this was kind of a pole with a big thing in my face. So, enter the Samson Wireless Concert 88x I chose this mic because it was affordable and suited for singing. Worth an experiment.

A big stand and microphone

A lot of these affordable headset are for sport instructors, so more intended for the frequency range of the spoken word. Also a lot of the smaller, more invisible, headset mics have an omnidirectional sensitivity. I was worried that such a mic would pick up the key clicks and foot pedal stomps. This mic has cardoid sensitivity that seems to only pick up my voice and not any of the noise from playing. Comfort while wearing is also an aspect and adjustability. On most aspects this mic is fine for me. Audio quality is a little less transparent then the AKG, but acceptable.

The first reactions on the looks in the live stream are positive. Visually this is an improvement over a big round mic on a stand. One aspect of these mics is that, because they’re stuck to your face, you can’t vary the distance to the mic anymore. Any intention or emotion you want to add, by yelling with the mic far away, or whispering with the mic close by is impossible. Some singers that want to belt with the mic far away will feel limited. In my dreamy pop songs I am missing it a little, but not a lot.

The first real pitfall I fell in was yesterday. Because I wanted to drink some water before going live a moved the mic a little bit from my face. Then in the live stream someone remarked that my voice volume was so low. I started fiddling with the faders for the mic, but only after watching back the live stream I saw that it was too far from my face. Caught by the cardoid sensitivity!

Some other downsides are when I breathe through my nose, the wind blows straight into the mic. Resulting in a rumbling sound. Also, one of my songs starts with a part where it’s like i’m calling a friend and speaking into the answering device. The design of this mic more that ever makes me look like a call center employee hahaha.

Samson Wireless Concert 88x

Another aspect is that it is a wireless model. I chose this because eventually I want to play really live again and it would be convenient. It means however that I now have to rely totally on a set of batteries. When you buy an inexpensive set like this, there is no battery indicator. For now it seems reliable in battery life and there have been no problems with the wireless connection. I’ve had maybe 6 hours of operation from the first set of batteries. I hope it won’t fail on my while playing live. Knock on wood.

I’m also the kind of person that immediately starts using a new gadget like this. Tossing aside the manual. But browsing through it after some days I found out that you should not skip reading it. Here in the studio it works out of the box on the default frequency. Live however you and I will undoubtedly have to fiddle around to find the best frequency and you need instructions from the manual to set up right.

For now this little and affordable gadget sounds good enough, really adds convenience and just looks better.