Whether you’re using YouTube Live, Facebook Live or live streaming from another platform, your iPhone or Android smartphone can be one of the best tools for filming.
Pairing your smartphone with a few simple, affordable accessories is one of the easiest ways to quickly improve the quality of live-streamed content. Investing in the right tools doesn’t have to cost much, and best of all, it can level up your content with no added work.
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In this guide to the best live streaming setup for smartphones, we’ll cover all the top picks for accessories and gear that can take your live streaming game to the next level. So if you’re ready to cover some sweet smartphone accessories for live streaming, let’s get started!
Best Live Streaming Setup: The Shortlist
These days, there’s SO much gear out there that can help you to create high-quality videos. You could easily drop thousands of dollars, but the thing is, you don’t have to!
Even just a few smartphone accessories for live streaming can make a world of difference. Start by focusing on these pieces of gear:
Below we’ve covered the top recommendations for the best video accessories for smartphone devices in each of these categories.
Best Tripods for Live Streaming
One of the greatest tips we can give you for leveling up the quality of your content is to get that phone out of your hand!
Even if you think you have the steadiest hands in the world, holding your phone won’t compare to using a tripod when it comes to steadiness.
Investing in a tripod is one of the easiest to make your live streaming sessions look more professional. That’s because using a tripod eliminates the likelihood of shooting shaky footage that can be distracting to your viewers.
If buying a tripod isn’t in the cards for you, there are still ways to reduce shakiness. Prop the phone up against a steady surface, like a bookcase, wall – whatever you have.
Arkon Tripod
Tripods come in all shapes and sizes, but in this case, a portable tripod will work best for smartphone filming. The Arkon Tripod is small, lightweight, and it even comes with a smartphone holder attached that can be adjusted to portrait or landscape.
If you already have a tripod and just need a phone mount, you can buy the Arkon mount separately and use it with your current setup. This will give you the flexibility to mount your phone in either portrait or landscape.
Takama Flip-Zip Tripod
Another great portable option is the Takama Flip-Zip Tripod. Not only is it small and easy to travel with, but it also doubles as a selfie stick and monopod.
Its height can easily be adjusted, so you can use the Takama as a low-profile desk tripod or switch it to standing height for a tall freestanding tripod.
Best Microphones for Live Streaming
Audio is arguably the most important aspect of your live streaming setup. If the audio is bad, your viewers aren’t likely to stick around to watch your live streams.
While it’s possible to use your phone’s built-in microphone, the better option is to buy an additional mic, especially if you want to take things up a notch with your videos.
So if you’re not sure which of the best video accessories for smartphone devices to invest in, start with a microphone. There is a heap of different options, ranging in size, style, and functionality.
Our top 3 recommendations for live streaming microphones are:
The BOYA BY-M1 is a wired lapel microphone that directly connects to a smartphone audio jack. It sells for around $20, which proves that investing in your live streaming audio setup doesn’t have to break the bank.
If you don’t want to be bogged down by wires, you might consider the RODE VideoMicro shotgun mic instead. For a completely wireless setup, the RODE Filmmaker Kit is a solid choice as well.
No matter which microphone you end up going with, you shouldn’t have any trouble connecting it to your smartphone, even if you need an adaptor to do so.
Best Mounting Device for Live Streaming
Depending on the microphone you go with, you might need to buy an additional mounting system to mount the mic alongside your smartphone.
Our favorite mounting device right now is the Hot Shoe Extension Bar. It attaches directly to the tripod and gives you the option to mount a phone on one side and a microphone on the other.
The Hot Shoe is really helpful for mounting just about anything. It can even be used to mount a light, which brings us to our next category for Android and iPhone accessories for live streaming.
Best Lighting for Live Streaming
Just like audio, lighting is another critical element to any live streaming setup. Getting the lighting just right will not only make the video look good, but it can also keep your viewers engaged by giving them more aesthetically-pleasing content.
We could go on about lighting for hours, but the fundamental key to proper lighting is to make sure the video subject is well-lit. This makes it much easier for the viewer to connect with your content and absorb the message that’s being delivered.
Feel free to start by using whatever you have, like a floor lamp, desk light, or ceiling lights. If you do want to invest in light for live streaming, try to find a portable option that will work well alongside a small smartphone.
The Aputure AL-M9 is an awesome choice since it delivers powerful light and has impressive battery life. Another solid option is the Litra Torch, a light that’s designed for adventure sports, but works well for any type of on-the-go filming.
Best Additional Gear for Live Streaming
There’s a lot of “extra stuff” you can use to take your live streams up a notch. Even though additional gear isn’t a complete necessity, it can definitely level things up.
First up for additional gear is the Osmo Mobile 2 gimbal stabilizer for smartphones. It works on both iPhones and Androids to stabilize the device while filming. That means you can walk, run, bike, or dance with this thing in your hand without worrying about shaky or jittery footage.
Another piece of additional gear you might want to have in your live streaming toolbox is a wide-angle lens, like the TECHO Wide Lens. This lens clips right onto the smartphone camera to deliver a much wider shot.
If you want to show off the scenery in the background or you’re live streaming with another person, a wide-angle lens makes it possible to get the exact shot you want.
The last piece of “gear” that’s worth investing in is actually an app called Oratory. The Oratory App is only available for Android devices, so if you’re looking for YouTube or Facebook Live iPhone gear, you unfortunately won’t be able to access this.
Oratory allows users to transform a phone into a teleprompter by actually overlaying the script directly on the live stream screen. It’s AWESOME, so good in fact that many iPhone users buy an additional Android phone, just so that they can use Oratory while streaming.
Pro Tip: Prioritize Your Gear!
Now that we’ve covered all the best smartphone gear for live streaming, you might be wondering which item to purchase first.
Audio should always take priority, so even if you want to buy just one gear item for the list, a microphone will be an amazing investment for your live-streamed content. After upgrading audio gear, a tripod is the next thing to take precedent, followed by lighting.
Now You’re Ready to Start Live Streaming Like a Pro!
Whether you’re looking for the best live streaming setup for iPhone or the best live streaming setup for Android, all of these accessories can help.
Even if you’re on a budget, you can minimize your spending by using what you have and prioritizing the gear to invest in. Audio is a great place to start, then you can move onto additional gear for your live streaming setup.
To learn more about how to live Stream on your smartphone like a pro, check out our step-by-step checklist!
Interested in learning more tips and tricks for creating quality video content? Check out our guide on the ULTIMATE Process for Editing Videos Faster. This free download provides you with tons of video editing tips and tricks that can take your videos to an entirely new level.
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Recommended Gear for Live Streaming
- Arkon Tripod + Phone Mount + Adapter (Amazon)
- Takama Flip-Zip Tripod (Amazon)
- Hot Shoe Extension Bar (Amazon)
- SHOTGUN – RODE VideoMicro (Amazon)
- LAVALIER – BOYA BY-M1 (Amazon)
- WIRELESS – Rode Filmmaker Kit (Amazon)
- Aputure AL-M9 (Amazon)
- Litra Torch (Amazon)
- DJI Osmo Mobile 2 (Amazon)
- TECHO Wide Lens (Amazon)
- Oratory App – ANDROID
Recommended Tutorial:
Recommended Gear & Resources
Check out an up-to-date list of all the gear, software & tools we use and recommend right now at Primal Video on our resources page here!
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