The MEVO Livestream Camera is a small device that packs a large punch, but you need to know how best to use it.
I used the MEVO Livestream Camera at our parish’s annual meeting because our Rector wanted it livestreamed to our parish’s Facebook page.
Why MEVO Livestream Camera?
There was a very short time in which I could get a livestreamed event up and running. We have a guy who takes all of our video, and he’s a good videographer, but he doesn’t like to edit footage. He’s also not on Facebook, which is where we wanted our livestream to go.
After some research, I found the MEVO Livestream Camera. It seemed to offer everything we needed:
- Easy to set up
- Easy to use
- Low cost
- It’s small and unobtrusive (2 x 2.5 and 4.6 ounces)
- It’s adorable to look at!
What is good about the MEVO Livestream Camera
I found that the cost on Amazon was the best so I purchased it. MEVO has their video tutorials available on YouTube. Some of these videos are for the new MEVO Plus, but they work the same way.
You run the camera from an app on your Android or Apple iPhone. The Quick Start instructions tell you to start the app. The app tells you to turn on the MEVO. Then you wait for it to connect to the MEVO. When it does, you set up the MEVO to run as a hotspot off of a local 4G network or off of your phone’s cellular plan.
The really cool part is the app gives you the ability to switch shots from one person to another or to a wide angle. You can pan and zoom so that your video looks like you have a multi-camera set up, but it’s all from the one little MEVO. This was by far my favorite part of the camera. That and the fact that it is just so cute to see. Sort of like a high tech version of Mike Wazowski from “Monsters, Inc.”
I had an Issue!
I started everything up as the directions and videos directed, but my MEVO would not connect to the app on my phone. I loaded the app onto my iPod touch and my iPad, and I still could not get the MEVO to connect. I uninstalled and reinstalled the app – no luck. I reviewed the videos and site support help on the MEVO website and tried a hard reboot of the MEVO camera. Still nothing!
I contacted MEVO support via email. They were very prompt on responding! Kudos!! They suggested everything that I’d already done. I told them that those things did not work. Then Tech Support suggested a firmware update which I completed. This did not help. Finally, the Tech Support suggested a factory reset and provided detailed directions on how to do that. Still nothing!
At this point, I was completely frustrated and decided that the unit was no good. I returned it to Amazon. I also told the MEVO Tech Support that I had returned the camera to Amazon. Again, I must give high marks to the MEVO Technical Support for their responsiveness. I had the same technician throughout, and their customer service was excellent.
What Next?
I still needed a camera for livestreaming the annual meeting. I decided to check Best Buy. They had it advertised on sale on their website, but it was $55 more expensive than Amazon. I still wanted to see if I could get it to work so I went to my local Best Buy and picked it up. It was the last one in stock. The clerk said that they were no longer selling it online and was of the opinion that this model has been discontinued in favor of the MEVO Plus.
Before I left the store, I made certain that it worked with my phone. It did!! I was back in business!! Why does this matter? I had already advertised that we were livestreaming the meeting, so I had to find something that worked!
How Did It Work?
I had no difficulty getting the camera to work. I reviewed the videos to learn how to switch shots and get online with it. I tested it in the room where our meeting was going to be held. Everything was fine, but our videographer did not want to run it! So I had to.
On the big day, I set up the camera alongside the presentation projector. This seemed the right distance (8-10 feet). The camera is a wide angle and captured about 6 of us on the head table. I was also giving two presentations so this made it difficult to run the camera at the same time.
The lighting in the venue could have been brighter to result in a more professional presentation. The MEVO sound was good for what it is. The MEVO provides several options for connecting outside audio or using the phone for audio instead of its embedded microphone.
Last of all, the battery on the MEVO lasts about one hour. The annual meeting lasted about one hour and 45 minutes. The video just cut out. It did cut out at a natural pause though, it was just not planned.
I was also not adept at using the device enough to provide a good title and description on Facebook. I had to go back later to edit this online.
MEVO Specifications
For those who like details. I’ve already mentioned that it is 2 x 2 x 2.5 inches and weighs 4.6 ounces. 
Out of the box, you get the MEVO camera, the base, the charging cable (micro USB) and charger, and a 16 G micro SD card. You attach the camera to the base.
You also need the MEVO app which is free on both the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
The camera itself gives you a 150 degree field of view. It can record video in 4K, 1080 or 720 HD. You can stream video through Facebook, Vimeo, YouTube, Livestream, or Periscope. Due to Facebook’s terms of service, you cannot live stream on Facebook and another service such as YouTube or Periscope. Because of agreements, you can stream to Vimeo and Livestream.
In order to use Vimeo for a video longer than 15 minutes, you must be a premium member. I have not tried to use YouTube, Livestream, or Periscope.
You can only use one MEVO Camera with the MEVO app. You can use additional cameras if you purchase the Livestream Studio. Livestream and Vimeo have merged so they work together.
What I Would do Differently
The MEVO is a good way for a small organization to Livestream quickly and easily to Facebook. Most of the difficulty that I experienced could have been eliminated if I had more time to learn the camera and how to switch shots. Definitely take the time to watch the videos on MEVO’s channel on YouTube.
I would also get the MEVO Boost. You can plug in the MEVO while you are using it, but if you don’t have access to an electrical outlet, you need something that will last through your event. The Boost will give you 10 hours of camera time.
More importantly, it will give you the ability to plug in a USB modem or plug in an ethernet so that you will have a better connection to the internet.
Finally, even though you can run the MEVO while you are on the air, you should really turn the reigns over to someone else so that you can focus on the meeting and someone else can focus on the camera shots.
What is the Difference Between MEVO and MEVO Plus?
The MEVO Plus is the same but adds the ability to connect at a farther distance. The MEVO smile is gray instead of red. I don’t think that that is as nice as the MEVO’s red smile.
What Else Should You Know?
You can attach the MEVO to a tripod or a microphone stand. This makes the MEVO set up versatile beyond other cameras. You can adjust 
the MEVO to fit a 5/8 inch microphone stand, a 1/4 inch tripod stand, or a 3/8 inch microphone stand. This will allow you to set the MEVO up where it will be the most unobtrusive, but most convenient for your production.
Should You Purchase a MEVO?
If you want to live stream a good quality video at a price most organizations can manage, MEVO is definitely the best choice. It can be operated by one person. It is easy to get online to Facebook. It is available at a reasonable cost. You cannot go wrong by purchasing a MEVO.
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