How To Start Live Streaming With Melon

While live streaming is a rapidly growing facet of the online world, the barriers to entry may be daunting for those starting from scratch. Figuring out which streaming software is right for you can be one of the more difficult decisions to make. There are plenty of options capable of broadcasting high-quality streams, but each software is different and may require some trial and error to figure out the best approach. 

That’s where Melon comes in: an intuitive cloud-based app that makes it easy for creators to live stream to Twitch, YouTube and more. In this blog, we’ll teach you how to start live streaming quickly with the help of Melon and other budget-friendly gear. 

WHAT IS MELON?

Founded in 2020 by the team behind Streamlabs, Melon is a no-hassle app made for streamers, creators and everyday people alike. Users can set up a stream and go live on their platform of choice in as few as five clicks. But make no mistake, Melon is as powerful as it is simple: fully customize your broadcast layout to fit your brand, invite and add guests to your stream, simultaneously record your broadcasts as they happen and so much more. 

From public broadcasts to private streams with friends, Melon aims to streamline (pun intended) the process for going live online. And with a few easy-to-use and affordable accessories, you can enhance your stream with broadcast-level audio and video. Here are a few of our favorite live streaming accessories you can use along with Melon. 

BEFORE LIVE STREAMING WITH MELON

A good-quality stream needs a good-quality setup, so here are two items to get you started:

Blue Yeti X

Blue Yeti mics are the #1 USB mics for streamers, gamers and online creators, so there’s a good chance that you've already seen plenty of Yeti mics in the wild (that is, on other peoples’ streams or videos). Yeti X improves on the design of the original Yeti with a four-capsule condenser array for clearer, more focused pickup patterns, high-res LED metering and an intuitive multi-function smart knob. Plus, with the included Blue VO!CE software, you can craft the perfect broadcast vocal sound with enhanced effects, advanced voice modulation and HD audio samples.

Logitech StreamCam

Small but mighty, StreamCam elevates your computer’s video feed with stunning 1080p HD resolution and smooth 60 frames per second. With real-time auto-focus, auto-framing and intelligent light exposure, it will feel like you have your own camera operator packed into a webcam. You won’t have to worry about being blurry or overexposed so you can focus solely on your stream’s content.  

HOW TO USE MELON FOR LIVE STREAMING

When you sign into Melon and open the app, you’ll see the video deck on the left, the “canvas” in the middle, and the chat and editing tools on the right. The canvas shows what your broadcast will look like before you go live, so you’ll have plenty of time to set it up to your liking. From the canvas page, you can go live in just clicks or less:

Click 1: Enable Your Mic and Camera

Select your audio and video inputs using the mic and camera icons at the bottom of the canvas. If it’s your first time using Melon, make sure you also give your browser permission to access your microphone and camera. If it doesn’t automatically ask, you can change the settings by clicking on the lock icon next to the URL.

Click 2: Add Yourself to the Canvas

Now that your camera is enabled, you should see yourself in the video deck on the left. The video deck is a virtual waiting room of sorts, so videos in this section won’t be on your stream until you add them to the canvas. To do that, just click on the videos you want to add and they’ll appear on the canvas instantly. 

Click 3: Invite and Add Guests to the Stream

Bring any guests or co-hosts to the stream via an invite link, which you can get using the “invite guest” button in the video deck. Your guests don’t need a Melon account to join the stream, either; they’ll be automatically added to the video deck once they click the link, and from there you can add them to the canvas. 

Click 4: Personalize Your Broadcast

The editing panel on the right side of the canvas lets you customize your broadcast before and during your stream. Add backgrounds, titles, news tickers and even original banners and logos to make your live stream look like a professional production featuring your own unique brand. 

Click 5: Connect Platforms and Go Live

The last step is to hit the green “Go Live” button at the bottom of the canvas:a menu will appear where you can pick your streaming platform of choice. Along with YouTube, Facebook and Twitch, you can also link to an RTMP stream to broadcast on custom platforms like a personal website. And just like that, you’re live!

LIVE STREAMING TO MULTIPLE PLATFORMS

If you’re looking to take your stream to even greater heights, a Melon PRO subscription offers the ability to simultaneously stream to all supported platforms. While you can certainly find strong followings on any single streaming platform, there are several benefits to trying out multistreaming:

• Reach a huge amount of viewers across platforms
• Build a presence on numerous platforms without needing to schedule multiple streams 
• Connect with fans that only use specific platforms
• Broadcast from one source; no multiple tabs, windows or programs required

Best of all, you still get Melon’s seamless organization and an easy setup when you multistream from the app. Just link your accounts to Melon and check multiple destination boxes when you go live. Melon will even collect comments from all platforms into a single chat window automatically so you won’t need to constantly dart between websites to keep up with your viewers.

Melon, Blue Yeti X and Logitech StreamCam are a winning trio that will have you streaming like a pro in record time. To learn more about Melon, check out this in-depth how-to video as well as their blog and support for more information and helpful tips. Also, check out the Blue blog for more info on all things streaming.