We all know that lag is the bane online existence.
Livestreaming is especially annoying because you know the pain of lag.
You know the effects of a slow internet connection on stream quality, whether it is YouTube or Twitch. You can work remotely and connect with colleagues via Zoom video chats. You are well-versed in the concept of lag time.
It is annoying! It's something that all video streamers must deal with. You cannot control some issues that can cause lag such as a slow internet connection.
What if I said that you could do simple things to reduce or eliminate lag in your video chats and livestreams?
Here are some tried-and-true tips to speed up and minimize streaming problems. Note: Although I stream from a Mac I also added some tips for Windows users.
To run a professional-looking livestream, you don't necessarily have to use a setup like Tyler "Ninja” Blevins' video game streamer. Credit: Robert Reiners/Getty Images
Connect directly to your modem
Although this may seem obvious, there are many new livestreamers. Even seasoned livestream veterans like myself sometimes forget to connect to the modem.
You can either have a problem with the internet connection or you are overloading your computer. Laggy livestreams usually indicate one of these two issues. You should stream using a wired connection whenever possible. The ethernet cable can be connected directly to your modem from your computer. This will increase the speed of your live stream and make it more reliable than a WiFi connection.
What happens if your MacBook doesn't have an Ethernet port? Don't worry. There are many options. A Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet adapter can be purchased for as low as $30
A Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet adapter is a good solution if you don't have an ethernet cable. Credit to apple
A mesh WiFi system can be purchased if your problem is that your connection drops because you are too far from your router and modem. These devices can boost your WiFi signal and increase its range. These devices can be quite expensive, but they start at $200.
You can also buy a wireless router that is better. These can also be priced from less than $100 up to more than $350.
Mesh WiFi systems
Wireless routers
Make sure you are setting your stream correctly
If your internet service provider is causing the livestream issues, there are not many things you can do. If you plan to stream HD video live, upload speeds must be at least 4 Mb. You can test your upload speed with Speedtest which is owned by Mashable parent company, J2. You can either upgrade your plan, or switch to a different provider if you don't get that from your ISP.
You can change some settings in the app you are using to stream live video if that is not possible. This is not possible with all streaming software, but let's take OBS as an example.
Open-source, free livestreaming software OBS is all that you need to create a professional-level stream on your PC. Credit: Open Broadcaster Software developers
You can change the output settings in OBS from 1080p to 720p if your stream is slow (Resolution: 12880x720). You know what? Your favorite YouTubers have uploaded 4K footage. At the minimum, you can stream live video at 1080p. You will not notice any difference in your output, especially on livestreams. They will choose the choppy output over 720p if you have a choice.
Your video bitrate can be reduced. Bitrates simply refer to how fast you're sending data and how many bits. For smooth images, you will need a higher bitrate if your image is of high quality. You should set your streaming video quality to 720p and your video bitrate at around 35000kb/second to get a great image.
These setting changes will not only improve your laggy stream if you have internet-related issues, but they'll also help if you have problems with CPU performance.
Use the right software
OBS is an excellent option for all livestreamers, old and new. It is completely free. It is also extremely powerful. This free software can be used to create very intensive video broadcasts. You can use it on both Windows and Mac. There is however a learning curve. There are many settings options, which you can see from the list I gave earlier. If you are looking for complete control and can easily use it, this is the right choice. If you are just trying to create a simple, high-quality video stream, this can be too much.
Ecamm Live is a new livestreaming application that I've discovered as a Mac user. The $15 per month software was launched in 2017 and is clearly the best native livestreaming app for MacOS. Ecamm Live runs faster on my Macbook Pro and produces a smoother stream than other apps.
Ecamm Live is the best native livestreaming software for Mac. Credit: ecamm / Adrian Salisbury
Ecamm Live is very easy to use. You can use all the OBS settings that I mentioned earlier to create a stream that is optimal. Ecamm Live will adjust your bitrate automatically as you stream.
Some advanced users may want to tweak bitrate settings. Ecamm Live is far more intuitive. It's not only available for Windows, but PC users should not be discouraged. OBS can do all you need, and more. There is a steeper learning curve.
Restream and Streamyard, both web-based subscription tools, are widely used in the space. Both offer free streaming options, which allow users to stream from their web-based software.
External drives can be used
A fellow streamer recently suggested to me that I run processes and apps from an external drive.
This was something I needed to test. The first thing I did was research to determine which external drive would be the best for this situation. After much research, and even jumping on a call from the Western Digital product team, I decided on G-Technologys GDrive USB-C external drive. These drives are often used for backup storage and video production. They are fast, reliable, and high-performance drives. One can be purchased starting at $150
A portable MyPassport drive from Western Digital is a good option if you are tight on budget. It costs just over $50. The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is a cheaper option for those who need it quickly. It starts at $75.
G-Technology's G-Drive was designed for media. Credit: Western Digital
My MacBook Pro was purchased years ago with the intention of livestreaming and editing in mind. However, it is possible to see how streaming from a solid state drive would be quicker than running the stream on an older computer with slower internal hard drives.
It was a test run so I changed it up. I streamed the livestream from my internal drive. I also used other apps while streaming (like Google Chrome) off the G-Drive. Chrome is known for taking up a lot of disk space. The external drive was taking a load from my MacBook. I noticed that the internal fan's hum was quieter. This can be quite annoying during live streams. My livestream recordings were saved to an external drive, which allowed me to free up disk space and helped with the occasional slowdown of my MacBook Pro.
This is a huge advantage if you are a Mac user. You don't need to install OS on your external drive and make it bootable if you only want to run applications from it. I simply dragged and dropped the apps from my internal SSD onto the G-Drive. The.app extension is used by Mac apps. They are basically folders. It contains everything you need to run the application, making it very easy to move around.
An external drive can be a cost-effective option if you don't have the budget to buy a new computer with streaming capabilities.
External drives
It's time to get a new computer
Let's suppose you have a computer about ten years old and are ready to buy a new one. What computer should you purchase for livestreaming?
It depends. It depends on what you are trying to do. Your iPhone or Android can do this. If you want to create a livestream with guests, screensharing and layers of graphics or game streaming, you will need to be aware of some specifications.
My MacBook Pro is powered by an Intel Core i7 quadcore processor and 16GB RAM. Although it does most of the work I need, the fan can sometimes whirl at loud levels.
Recently, I purchased and reviewed the Mac Mini M1 16GB RAM. After hearing only positive reviews, I purchased it to livestream. I have never experienced any lag from my computer, and it is not related to my internet connection. For livestreaming, I recommend Mac OS to anyone who wants to continue using it.
If you are looking for a Windows-based computer, keep reading.
There will be guides that recommend at least 4GB RAM, but others who suggest 8GB. Don't believe them. Choose 16GB RAM. This will reduce choppiness and slowdowns when multitasking. You'll need 16GB minimum if you plan to use other programs in your livestream. You'll need more if you plan to stream on Twitch.
The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 is a great budget processor for those who want to build a PC. It costs only $150. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 costs only $40 more and has better reviews.
Get rid of everything you don't need
You would be quite surprised to find out how many apps are running in the background on your computer right now. The menu bar is a good place to start if you're using a Mac. What are the available menu bar apps?
All background processes that you don't need must be closed. Only what is necessary to run your stream should take up memory, CPU, or disk space. Google Backup and Sync may be transferring large files over the internet, causing slow upload speeds.
There you have it. These are some simple tips that will help you livestream better. These tips should help you eliminate laggy streams or at least make it bearable.
This article was first published in July 2020 and last updated in August 2021.
