While vertical content is divisive to say the least, YoloLiv has definitely identified a gap in the market with its new Instream, billed as the first and only all-in-one multicam vertical live streaming studio.
Instream is essentially a 7-inch box that integrates a whole pile of stuff together into a single unit: encoder, switcher, recorder and monitor, as well as a graphic generator, multiview builder and a vertical content creation tool.
Everything about this is vertical, from the live streams that it produces for Instagram and TikTok to the actual format of the device that can sit upright in the palm of your hand.
And there’s a good reason for that. Over 75% of social media video is currently consumed vertically, with 9:16 rapidly becoming the new default for video creation and consumption. You might have opinions about that, we have opinions about that, but it’s a fact of current life and you might as well have a decent tool to make it all happen.
The Instream box includes 2x HDMI inputs and 1x USB input and supports Wi-Fi, 4G LTE and Ethernet connections. Touchscreen operation gives it that essential smartphone vibe, with a helpful 600 nits of brightness, while it’s based around a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 8-core processor to give it a decent amount of grunt. And there are plenty of tools to help ramp up engagement too, including multiple camera angles with live switching, graphic overlays, and animated countdown timers. More pro level features such as Picture in Picture, and Chroma Key amp things up that bit above the run of the mill.
YoloLiv reckons it makes live streaming easier than ever, without users needing computers, using OBS, or software such as Yellow Duck and its plethora of competitors operating in slightly grey areas as far as some of the social platforms are concerned. Pricing is $1299 and worldwide orders are open now on the likes of Amazon etc with delivery looking like mid-September onwards.