From Beginners to Pros: Choosing Webcams for YouTube Live

Best Webcams for YouTube Livestreaming

Max Wales

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Broadcasting videos in real time on social media can be a great way to share some of the best moments of your life with your friends or to reach new customers for the products your company offers. YouTube is the world’s biggest video sharing platform that already allows its users to stream live videos through third-party applications such as Wirecast Play or OBS. Less than a month ago, YouTube has finally made possible live streaming directly from a computer’s webcam. The option is currently only available on Chrome browsers, but the company claims that more browsers will start offering this feature soon.

In this article, we are going to provide you with all the information you’ll need to create seamless live streams using a webcam and introduce you to some of the best webcam models in 2021.

Best webcams for YouTube Livestreaming in 2021

The quality of the video recording you intend to broadcast live is essential for the success of your live streams. Most built-in laptop webcams produce low-quality videos, and for that reason using an external webcam that captures high-resolution videos can help you create live streams that attract a lot of attention from YouTube’s community.

How to choose the right webcam for live streaming on YouTube?

Compatability: Even the best webcams on the market are completely useless if they are not compatible with your computer. Finding a webcam that works with a PC or a Mac shouldn’t be too difficult because both Windows and iOS platforms offer support for a wide range of models.

Video Resolution: YouTubers that just want to produce simple live streams don’t have to pay a lot of attention to the video resolution, because their videos don’t show too many details. Vloggers and gamers, on the other hand, should consider using webcams that produce 4K or HD footage since lower-priced options have a hard time realistically depicting colors. The quality of the video output a webcam produces can increase its price significantly, so there’s no reason investing in it if you don’t have the intention of utilizing its features to the fullest.

Sound Quality: Besides the video features, you should also look into the webcam’s audio options, because no one wants to watch a video with a terrible sound. Buying an external microphone is probably the best solution to this issue, but if you can’t afford one, then purchasing a webcam with decent audio recording features is the second best option.

Adjustable Location: Although the angle from which you are recording a stream may not seem important, poorly framed live streams are more likely to go unnoticed. A webcam that is easily adjustable can grant you the freedom of choosing your shots on every live stream you share online and it will enable you to control each and every detail in the video.

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4 Best Webcams for YouTube Live streaming in 2021

There are thousands of different webcams you can use to record a live stream, but the models featured below are some of the very best currently available on the market.

1. Logitech 4K Pro webcam

OS: Windows, macOS, Chrome OS

Price: $199

This is currently the only webcam on the market that supports 4K video recording, which makes it a forerunner of innovation and change. Besides the 4K option, the webcam’s features include a 5X digital zoom, infrared facial recognition and the amazing Right Light with HDR option that helps users record videos even under difficult light conditions.

The webcam can perform basic functions, like Skype calls, without the aid of third-party apps, which means that you can use it to create live streams on YouTube even if you don’t have a broadcasting software. The webcam’s stand is designed to fit almost any surface, so mounting the Logitech 4K Pro webcam to a laptop or monitor is quick and simple. The background replacement feature this Logitech’s webcam model offers can be quite useful if you want to use a different background in your YouTube live stream.

Pros:

• Produces incredibly clear and sharp images
• Superb background replacement options
• Expansive field of view

Cons:

• Poor audio recording options
• Internal software is basic
• A limited number of programs can capture 4K footage

2. Logitech HD Pro C920

OS: macOS, Windows

Price: $99,99

Vloggers and all other YouTubers who care about video resolution will love using this webcam. Besides being capable of producing crystal clear videos in 1080p or HD 720 resolution at 30 or 60 fps, Logitech HD Pro C922 is also optimized for live streaming, which makes it a perfect webcam for live streaming on YouTube and all other video sharing platforms.

The webcam is equipped with two omnidirectional microphones that can record clear audio, but they pick up background noises easily, so using an external microphone for your live stream is still a much better option. The automatic low-light correction feature is designed to detect flickering lights in a video or increase visibility when streaming from a dimmed location. A foldable stand makes mounting the webcam easy, and you can also use a tripod if you want to record a live stream from an unusual perspective.

Pros:

• Produces 1080p and 720p resolution videos at 30 and 60 fps
• Allows users to integrate live images into their live streams
• Very easy to use

Cons

• Below average audio recording features
• Pricey
• Works only with OBS and XSplit broadcasting software

3. Logitech C922 Pro Stream webcam

OS: Windows, macOS, Xbox, Chrome OS, Android 5.0 or above

Price: $99,99

Professional streamers, who want to capture impeccable live streams, should look no further. Logitech C922 Pro Stream webcam is the premier option for anyone who wants to be regarded as a professional streamer. This Logitech’s webcam lets you capture live streams in 1080p at 30 fps or 720p at 60 fps, while also providing the background removal feature for live streams on Twitch and YouTube. The video compression ensures that your live streams don’t take up too much of your network’s resources.

The webcam’s microphones enable users to record clear audio and reduce the need to use an external mic on every live stream you make. The Logitech C922 Pro Stream webcam delivers stunning performances in low light conditions, and it also has a 78-degree field of view lens. The webcam’s mounting options are somewhat limited, which can have a negative effect on the visual appeal of your YouTube live streams.

Pros:

• Offers a solid support for audio recording
• Delivers stunning picture quality
• Compatible with a wide range of operating systems

Cons:

• Limited mounting options
• Not plug-and-play friendly on Mac devices
• More expensive than webcams with similar capabilities

4. Microsoft LifeCam Studio

OS: Windows

Price: $99,95

The high-precision glass element lens this webcam features produces clear and sharp images. The Microsoft LifeCam Studio webcam has a 1080p HD sensor and it offers 720p HD video chat option. In addition to these remarkable features, the webcam is also equipped with TrueColor technology with face tracking that automatically adjusts the camera’s exposure to the environment and ensures that your live streams are always bright and colorful.

The Microsoft LifeCam Studio has a wide angle lens and an autofocus feature that guarantees that all live streams are always in focus. The webcam is Skype certified which means that it performs best when used with this software. Audio recording features exceed all expectations since the webcam can record natural audio recordings with no background noises. However, the limited compatibility narrows down the spectrum of its potential users.

Pros:

• Excellent video recording features.
• Crystal clear audio
• Great mounting options

Cons:

• Available only on Windows OS
• Demanding system requirements
• Not optimized for live streaming.

How to live stream from a webcam on YouTube in 2020

Although producing your own live stream on YouTube is easy, there are still a few steps you will have to take before you can start streaming from the webcam on your computer. If you don’t have a YouTube channel, you must make one, in order to be able to create your first live steam.

Step 1

Go to youtube.com/webcam , then complete the channel verification process and make sure that your channel doesn’t have any live streaming restrictions in the last 90 days. Head over to your channel, click on the Create a Video or Post icon in the upper right corner of the web page and select the GoLive option.

Afterward, you should give Chrome permission to access your webcam and the microphone you intend on using to record audio.

Step 2

Immediately after, the platform will ask you to give a title to your stream and it will let you choose whether or not you want the stream to be public or unlisted. It may be a good idea to create a few unlisted streams before you go public if you are still trying to figure out how this feature works.

Proceed to select the camera and the microphone you intend to use to record the live stream, and you can also click on the Advanced Settings icon if you want to disable chat during the session or to specify that the live stream includes paid promotions.

Step 3

Once you’ve finished fine-tuning the advanced settings, you should click on the Next button. The platform will offer you to take or upload a thumbnail for your live stream.

Clicking on the Share icon will enable you to share a live stream on social media, copy the link or access the embed code. Using the Share option is a great way to check if your live stream is functioning properly and to make sure that you are all set to begin the streaming session.

Step 4

Start your live stream by hitting the Go Live button. During the stream, you’ll be able to see and reply to comments people posted, the duration of the stream as well as the number of people following your live stream. If you haven’t shared your live stream before you started a new session you can do so while you are live. Click on the End Stream button to finish your webcam live stream on YouTube.

Step 5

After each live streaming session, YouTube will display some important statistics like the total and average watch time for the particular stream, the number of new subscribers or the number of playbacks of your live stream. The stream will be available for review in YouTube’s Creator Studio in the Events menu.

Max Wales

Max Wales is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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From Camera to Chrome: YouTube Shorts Video Upload Guide

How to Upload Shorts Video on YouTube? [2024]

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Quite recently, YouTube launched Shorts to compete with Tik Tok. At the time of this writing, the users in India have access to the fully functional version of the app. Although YouTube Shorts is available for both Android and iOS platforms, its functions are limited as the application is still in its Beta phase for the remaining part of the globe.

With that said, the following sections explain the step-by-step process on how to upload a short video on YouTube Shorts both from your smartphone and a PC.

Part 1: How to Upload Short Video on YouTube from PC?

The fact is, if you are using a computer to upload short videos to YouTube, the process is identical to publishing your other, regular footage. However, there are a few guidelines that your clips must comply with so that the streaming platform could specifically identify them as YouTube Shorts. These norms include:

• Your videos must not be more than 60 seconds long in duration
• They must be shot in portrait orientation, ideally in the 9:16 aspect ratio
• The title or the description must contain ‘#Shorts’ (without quotes) in it

Once you have a video recorded using the first two guidelines from the above list, you can use the instructions given below to upload the media on YouTube:

Step 1: Select a Short Video to Upload

Launch your favorite web browser on your PC, go to YouTube, make sure to sign in to your YouTube account, click the Create (Camera) icon from the top-right corner of the web page, click SELECT FILES on the Upload videos window, and locate, select, and upload a short video from your PC to the portal.

Step 2: Mark the Video as Short

On the Details window that appears, add #Shorts in the Title or Description field, optionally pick a thumbnail from the suggested images present under the Thumbnail section (or upload a custom picture from your PC), select your preferred radio button from under the Audience section, make the other necessary changes if need be, and click NEXT. When the Video elements window comes up, choose your preferred options and elements, click NEXT.

Step 3: Publish the Short Video

On the Visibility window, choose your preferred radio button from under the Save or publish section or select Schedule to set a different time when the short video should be published automatically. Finally, click SAVE to publish the clip as a short video on YouTube from your computer.

To sum up, uploading YouTube Shorts video from desktop has nothing different from uploading regular YouTube video besides the requirements listed at the beginning of this article. If you prefer to edit videos for YouTube Shortson a computer, I recommend you to try our video editor Filmora , which is an ideal solution for YouTubers. Download the free trial version below and get started.

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Part 2: How to Upload Short Video on YouTube Mobile App?

The process of uploading YouTube Shorts from the mobile app is fairly simple compared to the method used on a computer. While using the app, you can either upload an existing video or shoot a new one from within the program itself then and there, add music and text, and upload it right away. Both these methods are explained below in detail:

Note: The guidelines for creating and uploading short videos to YouTube remain the same, regardless of the platform or device you use.

Method 1: Upload an Existing Short Video

Note: Make sure to have the target video on the smartphone and that you have downloaded, installed, and signed in to the YouTube app before proceeding.

Step 1: Select a Video to Upload

On your Android or iOS smartphone, launch the YouTube app, tap the + (Create) icon from the bottom, tap Create a Short from the Create box that pops up from the bottom, tap Upload from the bottom-right corner of the next screen, and select and upload a short, 60 seconds video recorded in portrait orientation from your device’s storage to the app.

Step 2: Add Details

On the next screen, tap NEXT, user the Music and Text icons at the bottom-left corner to add a background music and caption to the video respectively, and tap NEXT from the top-right corner. On the next screen, enter a name for the video in the Title field along with the #Shorts tag, and tap Select audience to choose your preferred audience.

Step 3: Upload the Video

Finally tap UPLOAD from the top-right corner to upload the short video on YouTube.

Method 2: Record a Short Video and Upload

Step 1: Record Shorts Video

Previously, I have introduced how to record and upload YouTube Shorts videos , so I will keep the content concise here.

Please note you will not see the Create a Short option if you are outsides of India.

In the YouTube app, tap the + (Add) button and select Create a Short. Please note you will not see the Create a Short option if you are outsides of India.

Next, use the Speed and Timer icons to set the speed of the video and the countdown timer duration before the app starts recording the video when you press the Record button respectively.

Now tap the Record button from the bottom to start recording a video and stop to stop the recording. Make sure to shoot the footage in the portrait mode (ideally in the 9:16 aspect ratio). Tap NEXT from the bottom-right corner to proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Add Text and Music to the Short Video

On the next window, use the Music and Text buttons from the bottom-left corner to add a background music and caption to the video, and tap NEXT from the top-right corner.

Step 3: Upload and Post the Short Video

On the Add details window, enter a name for the video along with the #Shorts tag in the Create a title field, tap Select audience to select the target audience, and tap UPLOAD from the top-right corner to upload the short video on YouTube.

Conclusion

Learning the process of how to post short videos on YouTube is fairly simple as long as you have the video recorded in the portrait orientation, it is up to 60 seconds long, and contains the ‘#Shorts’ tag (without quotes) in the title or description. The good thing is, if you don’t have access to the YouTube app on your smartphone, the method for how to upload short video on YouTube explained in the first section can be followed while using your desktop computer.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett