What VOLUME Should My Live Stream Be? - Make My Live Stream Sound Better - Part 6

About this Video

• Video Title: What VOLUME Should My Live Stream Be? - Make My Live Stream Sound Better - Part 6
• Channel: Ballast Media
• Speakers: Stephen Ballast
• Duration: 00:12:44

Introduction

This video, part 6 of a series titled "Make My Live Stream Sound Better," focuses on achieving the optimal volume for live streams. Stephen Ballast explains how to ensure consistent, engaging audio for viewers by addressing perceived volume and avoiding constant volume adjustments during the stream.

Key Takeaways

• Perceived Volume: The video emphasizes matching the perceived volume of the live stream to that of other online content (targeting -14 LUFS, similar to YouTube and Spotify). Viewers shouldn't have to adjust their volume when switching between platforms.
• Consistent Volume: Maintaining consistent perceived volume throughout the stream is crucial. Avoid large volume changes between music, speaking segments, and different microphone types.
• LUFS Measurement: LUFS (Loudness Units Relative to Full Scale) is introduced as the standardized measurement for perceived volume. A loudness meter plugin in the DAW is essential for monitoring LUFS.
• Dynamic Range Control: To achieve consistent loudness without distortion, managing dynamic range (the difference between the loudest and quietest parts) is vital. This often involves multiple stages of compression on various channels (vocals, drums, bass, speaking mics).
• Master Bus Processing: The final volume adjustment is done on the master bus, typically using a limiter to prevent exceeding 0 dBFS. A loudness meter is used to guide this process, aiming for -14 LUFS. The video suggests temporarily lowering monitor volume to improve calibration during this process.