Well I’m sure by now you have all heard the news that the Christmas at Home Livestream is returning for 2024 on the 21st December 2024. I’m looking forward to it as much as you.
Today I would like to give you insight as to how it all began and what goes on behind the scenes to make it all happen.
How it all began
Christmas at Home started in lockdown as part of a programme of various livestream concerts to entertain viewers in their homes. It was also an opportunity for many ballroom and sequence dancers to be able to dance to organ music just like they do at the Blackpool Tower ballroom and the various organ and keyboard clubs around the world.
How it worked then
My livestream concerts started off very basic just by going live on my phone and recording the audio through the phone’s microphone. This had poor quality and unfortunately as time progressed it sounded incredibly unprofessional and unpleasant.
How did it change
Some of my family and friends will know that during lockdown I became a part of Facebook group organisation called Isolation Fun. This was a daily run activity page with pub quizzes, live singers and much much more. It was run by a very good friend of mine who at the time worked at a caravan park as an entertainer. I loved the idea of presenting my own show as I studied media and creative arts at Blackburn College for my National Diploma. I was very keen to see how it all worked behind the scenes and got involved. I presented a cookery show on a Sunday afternoon called Isolation Kitchen. Danny introduced me to OBS a free and open-source, cross-platform screencasting and streaming app. This enabled me to create different scenes and also plug in different audio and video inputs to create a programme. This gave the idea to stream my music and visuals through OBS for better sound and visual quality.
How is it setup
Using Danny’s expertise and experience we managed to set up the organ to enable it to stream the audio and visual through the OBS software. I purchased a usb audio interface mixer which enabled me to plug in the organ through the mixer and then from the mixer into the computer via usb. OBS then enables me to select the audio interface as an input therefore allowing crystal clear audio to be produced to the listener. When I first started streaming in this way I used some old webcams that I used to have lying around. I was then introduced to droid cam which enabled me to use my smart phone as a webcam using HD visuals.
How is it setup today
When it first began I used my MacBook to stream the OBS software. Since the removal of the Wersi Organ in 2024 I have now built a purpose built recording studio at home in my living room which enabled me to put in a computer which I can work on to produce new music and also stream my livestream concerts. I have now also transferred my radio broadcasting software to this computer. Some of you may not know that I have been part of an online radio station community A1 Radio for quite some time. The station run by Edd Keeley opened in 1992. Having the broadcasting software downstairs now enables me to provide music concerts to the radio with ease. I thank Edd for allowing me to contribute my music to the station but not only that introducing my music to those who are visually impaired.
What does the future hold
The future of my home recording studio is looking bright. I recently wrote a blog about my learnings of Cakewalk pro audio which will enable me to progress with music technology and audio recording and streaming.