Melon is a web-based live streaming app, recently launched during the health crisis of 2020.
Even so, it already enjoys great popularity, with an average of more than 3,000 new users per week.
In this review, you’ll see what it offers, and how to use it for your streamings.
How to start using Melon
One of the best things about Melon is that it’s web-based.
That means that it will work on Windows and macOS, as you won’t have to download anything else.
With that said, please note that at least for the moment, Melon doesn’t work in browsers like Safari, you will need Google Chrome or Brave to use it properly.
Other than that, as the service has a free plan, you just need to sign up to start using it!
Melon main features
Once you’ve login into the platform, you’ll be able to go to the Studio, the place where you’ll configure and launch your streams.
Here you will quickly notice one thing, and that is that the free version of Melon includes a watermark in the upper right area of the screen.
If you would like to use your logo instead, you will need to move to a paid plan (more details on this later)
Remember that as you are in the browser, you’ll have to let it access your mic and camera, otherwise, there won’t be any audio or video on the stream!
Guests
One of the coolest options of Melon, is that you can easily invite other users to your streaming.
If you click on the “invite user” button on the top left of the screen, you’ll get the link you have to share with the other speaker.
The guest will only have to configure the video and audio devices he/she wants to use et voilá, he will join you, as a host!
This makes it very easy to schedule a live interview, for example, since the other person doesn’t have to install anything.
From your side, you’ll be in total control of all the guests:
- You can silence them or turn off their video
- Show them or hiding them on the screen
- And even quickly drag their position on the screen using “position templates” (you’ll find these at the bottom of the screen)
Being able to easily invite other people to your streaming is a very neat feature.
However, you are limited to just one guest on the free plan, if you want more, you’ll need to join a paid plan.
Classic tools, reactions and recording
At the very bottom of the screen, you will find a series of tools typical of streaming/video applications.
- Audio settings: reduce eco, mute, self-adjusting volume…
- Video settings: stop the video, mirror it, change input or resolution…
- Sharing: your screen, or a video or audio from your computer.
- Add Reactions: a paid functionality.
- Record the meeting: because Melon is not only useful for streamings.
- And start a multistream transmission.
Multistream
Multistream is one of the most sought-after features in this type of application.
Melon supports many destinations, however, this is a feature reserved for the paid plans.
Customization
On the right sidebar of your Studio, you’ll find, under the menu button (the first one), the different sections where you will be able to customize your transmission.
The most important thing here is that you can create different profiles with different customizations, so you can have different templates for different situations.
In the design section, you’ll be able to modify the overall design of your transmission, changing the theme and adding your own logo (paid feature), changing the fonts, colors, adding overlays…
The text customization will allow you to add a teleprompter (that you only will see), and different banners and teletypes.
Within the video customization panel, you’ll be able to add very professional intros, and activate the green screen feature if you want to use virtual backgrounds (included)
Schedule and chat
Besides all the above, Melon will also offer you on the right sidebar a chat (public, or private one for you and your guests) and the ability of schedule the streamings.
Melon pricing
We love the idea of being able to try Melon without any commitment thanks to the free plan.
However, this free plan only allows you to stream up to 4 hours per month, something that may seem scarce in most situations.
Adding to that is the fact that multistream is limited to the paid plan.
So basically, if you want to take advantage of this application, you are practically obliged to join the Standard or Pro plan.
Get 20% discount on your first billing cycle!
Melon offers a 20% discount on the first payment of any paid plan if you sign up with a referral link from another Melon user.
Melon, the bottom line
Melon is the perfect tool for holding simple private video chats with friends.
It’s definitely much simpler to use than other tools such as Zoom.
The multistream to platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, or LinkedIn, the ability to record the streamings, and the high customization available, make Melon a very interesting option to consider, but only for the professional public, since the paid plans are the ones that are really worthwhile.
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