Webinars are currently replacing trade fairs. One man’s sorrow is another man’s joy. While the fight for survival among trade fair constructors turns competitors into allies, original event visitors become digital exposition hosts overnight. And it doesn’t even take much. A little know-how, some technology; and your own online conference is ready. contentmanager.de summarises the most important facts and explains what is important in terms of webinar hardware and equipment.
As an (e-learning) alternative to face-to-face events and a content marketing tool, webinars were already successfully established before COVID-19. Why not? Depending on the concept or strategy, digital seminars, web conferences and online congresses are basically a format that is independent of location and time. Moreover, it doesn’t take much in terms of infrastructure and equipment. A smartphone is actually enough. One might think. However, we at contentmanger.de assume that demanding “webiners” (and those in the pipeline) with a little more passion and “self-respect” want to record their webinars or broadcast them live. You can find our software comparison on webinar tools here. But now to the hardware: Those who sign up for a webinar usually expect (high)quality content, professionally and entertainingly presented. So in addition to storyboard and software, the event technology is also a quite critical multiplier.
Webinar hardware and equipment
Microphone and co.
If the audio quality is lousy, the webinar visitor will be disturbed. Faulty or inferior acoustics are unnecessarily distracting and in the end everyone goes home in a bad mood. Professional equipment is therefore essential. So don’t save at the wrong end.
Checklist Microphone-setup
- Microphone
- Pop filter (optional for better acoustics)
- Headphones
- Mixer
- Micsreen (optional for better acoustics)
- Microphone arm/tripod
- Microphone spider (optional for better acoustics)
Camera
An (external) camera increases the interest of the participants in the webinar and at the same time enhances your own presence or that of the moderator, speaker, etc. The integrated webcam of the computer can also be used. The integrated webcam of the computer can also be used. In this case, however, you usually have to make allowances for a significant reduction in light and image quality.
Checklist Camera-setup
- Webcam (integrated)
- Webcam (external)
- Digital camera or action cam (external)
- Camcorder
- Tripod
Lighting
Under “laboratory conditions”, the camera image can be additionally illuminated with special studio lights or photo lights if required.
Checklist Lightning-setup
- Reflectors
- Background systems
- Softboxes
- (LED) video lights
- Ring lights
- Area light
- Camera light
Basics and (technical) requirements
The best hardware setup is wasted potential if the technical requirements are not met. In order to be able to stream cleanly and professionally, in addition to the hardware components (computer, smart devices or notebook/laptop are a prerequisite), powerful webinar software – and possibly also cutting software – as well as a stable internet connection are absolutely essential.
marketingandtech.com goes professional
At marketingandtech.com we use our own green screen studio including professional studio equipment for our exclusive video and webinar productions. Of course, the webinar hardware we recommend is not a setup must. You can certainly go one size smaller – and then gradually upgrade.
Do you already offer webinars or are you planning to do so? Then we recommend our market overview “Webinar Software Solutions”. There we have compared seven providers based on over 120 criteria.
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