Our list of equipment you will need to stream video sermons is based on three things.

1. Cost
2. Quality
3. Simplicity

DV Camera - We don't recommend a specific brand. We do however ask you get a DV camera with these two important features

1. Fire Wire output - This will enable your video and audio signal to travel to your computer at the same time.
2. Microphone Input - This will allow you to directly plug your audio signal into camera giving you quality audio.

Ground Loop Isolator - You can pick this up at Radio Shack. This will eliminate all humming noises when you plug your audio source into your camera.

Computer - If you are going to buy a new computer for streaming video sermons here are two key features to include.

1. Fire Wire port - this allows you to receive both audio and video signal from the camera
2. The faster, the better - this will cut down on compression time

Fire Wire Adapter - If your computer does not have a Fire Wire port then you can buy a fire wire adapter. If you have a laptop, then a PCI Fire Wire Adapter will work (they come in 2-3 ports and not single). If you have a desktop, then a PCI Fire Wire Card will work fine.

Tripod - When you buy a tripod, depending on where your camera will be placed the taller the tripod the better. Remember people will stand up and you do not want them to block the camera.

Encoding & Compression Software - We recommend Sorenson Squeeze. This will allow you to capture your sermons and then compress them into any format. Flash, Windows Media, Quick time, Real. However; we recommend flash. You can read more about why flash is the superior format by clicking here. Sorenson also makes it easy to export your video sermons for podcasting.