Streaming Hardware

These suggestions are based on personal experience only. You need to do your own research and determine what is going to work for you. The pricing is at the time of writing and for budget purposes only. All links are affiliate links into Amazon.nl

Main Hardware

For the IRL Pro App on Android, high-end Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones are generally recommended due to their powerful processors (especially Snapdragon chipsets for better video encoding), robust cameras with good optical image stabilization, and reliable connectivity.

Specifically, models like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, S24 series (for 60fps support in third-party apps), and Google Pixel 7 Pro are often cited. These phones offer the necessary performance for stable live streaming, the camera quality for clear video, and sufficient battery life, which are all crucial for "In Real Life" (IRL) streaming where content creators are often mobile and in varying network conditions.

While older flagships like the S22 can work, the newer models provide better overall performance and features for a smoother and higher-quality streaming experience, particularly with features like multi-camera support and network bonding offered by the IRL Pro app.

The Samsung Galaxy S24, with its powerful processor and enhanced camera capabilities, offers a strong foundation for using the IRL Pro app for live streaming. The S24 series is noted for supporting 60fps in third-party camera apps, which is crucial for smooth, high-quality "in real life" (IRL) streams on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. While the phone's robust battery and bright display contribute to a positive streaming experience, users should consider using a power bank for extended sessions due to potential battery drain and heat generation, especially when streaming over 5G. The IRL Pro app, praised for its bonding features and clear output, provides essential functionalities for mobile streamers, though some users note areas for improvement like external camera support and robust disconnect protection.

The OtterBox Commuter Series case for the Samsung Galaxy S24 offers a balance of slim design and robust protection, making it a popular choice for everyday use. It features a dual-layer construction with a soft inner slipcover to absorb impact and a hard outer shell to deflect it, providing "DROP+ Protection" that exceeds military standards (3 times as many drops as MIL-STD-810G 516.6). The case's design includes secure grips, raised edges to shield the camera and screen, and port covers to block out dust and lint, all while remaining wireless charging compatible. Made in part with up to 35% recycled plastic, the Commuter Series provides solid defense against drops and bumps without adding excessive bulk, fitting easily into pockets.

General Hardware

For extended live streaming, especially outdoors or during long events, external power is absolutely crucial to prevent your devices from running out of battery and ensure an uninterrupted stream. Continuous video recording, processing, and transmission consume significant power, making internal batteries insufficient for prolonged sessions. When considering power delivery, prioritize power banks with high capacity (20,000mAh or more), ensuring their output ports and wattage (ideally USB-C with Power Delivery) match your devices' requirements for efficient charging. It's vital to confirm your equipment can be powered while simultaneously in use (sometimes requiring a "dummy battery" for cameras), and always use high-quality, robust cables. Additionally, factor in environmental conditions for outdoor streaming, and for critical events, always have a backup power source for redundancy.

For improved audio quality in mobile phone IRL streaming, especially when aiming to capture more sound from in front of you while minimizing background noise, it's highly beneficial to use an external microphone like the Boya BY-MM1. This directional, cardioid microphone focuses its pickup pattern forward, making your voice clearer and reducing ambient sounds from other directions. To connect such a microphone to modern Android phones, which often lack a dedicated 3.5mm audio jack or require simultaneous charging, you'll need an OTG (On-The-Go) cable with a power input, allowing your phone to receive external power while simultaneously connecting to peripherals. Additionally, an audio capture device like the Boya BY-K9 (or similar audio interface) is often necessary; while the BY-MM1 connects via 3.5mm, some phones require a specific USB-C audio adapter (which the BY-K9 can provide or facilitate depending on the model), converting the microphone's analog signal into a digital format your phone can process, ensuring proper recognition and high-quality audio recording for your live stream.

Baseball/Softball Additional Hardware

The Neewer PA020 fence mount is a specialized and robust aluminum alloy tool designed to securely attach your mobile phone (or action camera) to chain link fences or gridwalls, making it ideal for capturing sports footage, vlogging, or live streaming. It features two metal hooks and two elastic hooks connected by carabiners for stable mounting, along with a smartphone holder that accommodates phones from 2" to 3.3" wide and can even hold a portable charger for extended recording. The mount offers highly flexible positioning with a 4.3" sideways adjustment range and 360° rotation for optimal angles, while four shock-absorbing rubber rings help to reduce vibrations for stable video capture, ensuring professional-looking results from a unique perspective.

The Vamson Phone Fence Mount is designed to securely attach smartphones and action cameras to various types of fences, making it ideal for recording sports like baseball, softball, tennis, or any event through a chain-link fence. Key features include a 360-degree rotating double ball head for flexible angle adjustment, anti-shake ropes on some models for enhanced stability, and a design that ensures the fence does not obstruct the camera's view. It boasts easy and quick installation and removal, and its portable, lightweight construction makes it convenient to carry, providing a hands-free solution for capturing clear, stable footage in a variety of outdoor scenarios.

Hockey/Football Additional Hardware

The Manfrotto 290 Xtra is the largest tripod in the 290 series, featuring three-section aluminum legs and shoulders for exceptional rigidity, durability, and strength. Its aluminum leg locks have adjustable tension to ensure long-term optimal performance despite wear and tear.

A key feature is its four leg angle positions, allowing for highly creative shots. The rapid center column provides excellent flexibility in height adjustment, and a new cold-resistant hand grip ensures comfortable handling.

This kit includes a lightweight aluminum fluid head with a pan bar and quick-release plate. This head is specifically designed for video applications, as its fluid damping system enables smooth, precise, and consistent movements for professional-looking video footage. It allows for effortless panning and tilting, with independent locks for both axes, making it ideal for cameras weighing up to 6kg where controlled camera movements are essential.

The Neewer Metal PA001 phone mount is a durable and versatile accessory, crafted from robust aluminum alloy, designed to securely attach your smartphone to various camera setups while minimizing shake. It boasts wide compatibility, fitting most smartphones with an adjustable width from 2.1" to 3.4", and offers flexible angle adjustments including a 360° rotatable clip, 180° tilt, and 360° swivel for diverse shooting angles like landscape, portrait, and overhead. For enhanced video recording and vlogging, it features two cold shoe mounts for attaching accessories like microphones or LED lights, and its versatile attachment options, including a cold shoe base and a 1/4" threaded screw hole, allow mounting on camera hot shoes, tripods, monopods, or light stands. Weighing only 100g, this compact and portable mount is an ideal solution for reliable and adaptable phone-based photography, videography, live streaming, or online conferencing.

Commentary Audio Mixer

The Behringer X1204USB is a compact yet versatile premium 12-input 2/2-bus mixer, ideal for small live performances, home studios, and podcasting. It features four Xenyx microphone preamps, known for their transparent sound, and "one-knob" compressors on all mono channels, simplifying dynamic control.

The mixer also boasts a built-in 24-bit, dual-engine effects processor with 16 editable presets, providing a range of reverbs, delays, and other effects. Crucially, its integrated USB/audio interface allows for direct recording and playback with a computer, making it a convenient solution for both audio mixing and basic DAW integration.

While it might work for basic stereo input (recording the main mix), it's not designed specifically for Android. For critical audio work or multi-track recording, a dedicated USB audio interface that explicitly lists Android compatibility and offers multi-channel support would be a more reliable choice. However, for simply getting a stereo feed from the mixer into an Android device for live streaming or basic recording, it's worth trying if you already own the mixer and the necessary adapters.

Commentary Audio Monitor (Optional)

The Behringer HA400 is an ultra-compact 4-channel stereo headphone amplifier, designed to provide individual monitoring for multiple listeners from a single stereo source.

While the Behringer X1204USB mixer already has a dedicated headphone output, it's typically a single output with one volume control. This is perfectly fine if only one person needs to monitor the mix.

However, in scenarios like band rehearsals, recording sessions with multiple musicians, or even podcasting with several hosts, everyone needs to hear the main mix, often at their own preferred volume.

This is where the HA400 becomes indispensable: you would connect the main headphone or control room output of the X1204USB to the single input of the HA400, which then splits that stereo signal into four independent headphone outputs, each with its own volume knob.

This allows each individual to dial in their perfect monitoring level without affecting anyone else, ensuring clarity and comfort for all participants.

Field Audio

The Boya BY-BM6060 XLR Shotgun microphone is an excellent choice for capturing ambient sounds from a field or rink due to its super-cardioid polar pattern, which allows it to focus on sounds directly in front while rejecting unwanted noise from the sides and rear.

To integrate this into your audio mix using the Behringer X1204USB, you would connect the BY-BM6060's 3-pin XLR output directly into one of the X1204USB's XLR microphone inputs (channels 1-4).

Since the BY-BM6060 is a condenser microphone, it requires phantom power (48V DC) to operate, which the X1204USB conveniently provides via a dedicated phantom power switch for its microphone inputs.

Once connected and phantom power is engaged on the mixer, you can then use the channel's gain knob to set an appropriate input level, the EQ to shape the tone of the field/rink sound, and the channel fader to blend it seamlessly with other audio sources, such as commentary or music, into the main mix.

Also add a XLR to XLR cable and stand.

Other

Budget

Streaming Costs

Please Note

There will ALWAYS be a risk that the phones get hit by a puck, ball, bat, stick, helmet or something else. This setup is at your own risk. I always attach safety lines to the phones and secure these to the fence to at least catch the phone before it hits the ground. All the phones are also in rugged rubber cases.
Always use external power on the main camera. The process of camera, overlay, compression, hotspot and streaming is to much for the internal battery only.
Heat is always a challenge and some times in the season we simply go offline.

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