YoloBox Pro Live Review
By Jennifer P
Frank Doorhof recently posted his review of the YoloLiv YoloBox Pro. For as long as he can remember, he has been live streaming.
It all started many years ago with a webcam and special live-streaming software (YouTube didn’t support live streaming at the time). In the morning, he would place the webcam in the makeup room with the model, and then he would take the same camera and move it to the studio to show the photoshoot. All through one camera, and the cool thing was that people stayed online the entire day, interacting, sharing ideas, and chatting with each other and me. Due to time differences, some people dozed off, but it was a fantastic experience.
His internet speed at the time was about 0.5 up (if the wind was blowing correctly). He is now surfing the internet with a blazingly fast fiber connection of 160/160 and… he is still live streaming.
One webcam has evolved into four cameras inside the studio, plus one for me behind the desk. During the live stream, viewers can also see my desktop via another input device, as well as picture in picture screens of various sizes. Of course, people can interact, and we are simultaneously streaming live on Facebook and YouTube, where people can directly interact.
He has a pretty nice setup for his live streams. Their HDMIs are fed into an RGB minilink, which is connected to an external screen to display the previews. Wirecast is running on his MacBook Pro, and he is also using an external monitor for the comments and the YouTube studio preview. It works perfectly and he is extremely adaptable, but he can’t show retouching on my laptop while Wirecast is running without experiencing live stream issues when he use more demanding plugins.
Enter the YoloBox Pro.
So, what exactly is the Yolobox pro? In short, you can eliminate all other hardware (except the cameras) and stream directly from one device. Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well, a lot is possible these days, so why not, and let’s be honest, having one small device that does it all sounds absolutely amazing, so he couldn’t wait to start testing.
3 HDMI Inputs
To begin, three HDMI sources can be connected. This was the first issue he had with the YoloBox Pro.
But there is a simple solution. For their Digital Classroom setup, he uses a Magewell capture device for his iPad/Desktop, and the YoloBox Pro also has a USB input port, so he tested the Magewell with a 1080P camera, and it worked flawlessly, as did his iPad and Desktop. This means you can work with four different sources, which should be more than enough for most people.
Zoom Meetings
Since the Pandemic, we’ve done more online than ever before, and many meetings are now held online rather than in person. However, as a teacher, he frequently encounter issues with streaming services for clients. Some clients are fine when we stream via YouTube on their account, but sometimes they are also asked to use dedicated software, and some of them are extremely limiting, often requiring only a webcam and, if you’re lucky, your desktop. But don’t worry, the YoloBox pro can output its video stream not only via HDMI, but also via a USB output port, and…yes, it works in Zoom, Teams, and other similar applications.
Effects
Of course, effects are required during a livestream, and the YoloBox Pro does not disappoint. You can choose from a variety of fade effects, create “custom” overlays, change the borders and backgrounds within the Picture in Picture screens, and even overlay score cards, social media comments, and other content. They have a wide range of options that should be more than enough for everyone.
Guests
One of the features Frank likes about Wirecast (but have yet to use) is the ability to invite a guest. You can simply send them a link via the built-in Guest module, and the guest will only need to click there during the live stream to join you. If you want to travel light while still having access to the internet, you could use this function to use 1-2 extra phones as cameras; just make sure you disable audio on those phones if you don’t want them to be mics.
Audio
Of course, audio is extremely important, and the YoloBox Pro recognizes this. Frank likes it when you can set up audio correctly, and while there is no support for plugins like a compressor/limiter or de-esser, you can set up audio per input, use delay per channel (nicely done), and even use an auto follow method.
MultiCast
The YoloBox Pro also allows you to stream to multiple services at the same time. Furthermore, you do not need the YouTube live stream studio to be open (to go live) with the internal software, which is a huge benefit; you can also use the RTMP service option if you want to do something other than the included services.
Green Screen
Maybe you need it, maybe you don’t, but it’s awesome that it’s a one-box solution that works flawlessly.
Simply place a green piece of paper or whatever you want behind you and choose a cool background, and you’re there.
Comments
This function is Frank’s absolute favorite. People frequently ask questions during the live stream; with the YoloBox Pro, you can choose to display the comments in the live stream. And the selecting and deselecting works flawlessly. Frank always recommend not showing every comment; some people, if you know what he means, can’t handle the option to share their “opinion” during a live stream, and editing it out later is often impossible. Fortunately, selecting the comments is extremely simple.
In Conclusion
Frank absolutely adores the YoloBox Pro; it’s incredible to think that with just one device, he can go live during events, trade shows, in the middle of a location shoot, and while traveling with the RV; as long as he has Internet, he is ready to go (using his phone as a hotspot). If you want complete and simple streaming, but also the ability to stream from most locations, the YoloBox series is ideal, with the Pro providing the most connections and options.
Read the full review from Frank Doorhof HERE
Learn more about YoloLiv YoloBox Pro HERE
Learn more about YoloLiv HERE