Broadcast Live Video Online
So how to broadcast live video over the internet. Live video broadcasts are now everywhere. In 2020 so far, we’ve seen a tremendous growth of broadcasting live due to the COVID-19 quarantine period. However, we can argue that the pandemic is only accelerating the inevitable.
Throughout 2019 and before the pandemic, live video streaming has already grown by a whopping 93% with an average watch time of 26.4 minutes per second.
With today’s high-speed internet bandwidth, it’s only obvious that live video content delivered over the internet is going to be the new big thing. This is why over 55% of surveyed enterprises are now using live video broadcasts whether for internal communications or for marketing purposes. It is expected that live video streaming will grow to be much bigger in the years to come.
Here, we will learn how we can effectively broadcast live video over the internet. Some do’s and don’ts, and also how to make the most of your live broadcasts.
Without further ado, let us begin.
How Does Live Broadcasting Over The Internet Work?
While the concept of broadcasting live video over the internet or OTT live streaming can be overwhelming especially if you don’t know the technical know-how.
However, setting up a live broadcast is actually pretty easy. Once you’ve got the hang of it, and there are only four main pillars to discuss in order to set up your live broadcast over the internet. They are:
- Your video and audio sources: pretty self-explanatory, the sources of your video and audio content. The video sources can be your cameras, video files on your computers, and others. Audio sources will be mainly microphoning, but also background music, mixer feeds, and any kinds of sounds to be played in your live broadcasts.
- Encoder: an encoder essentially encodes (that is, transform) the video files that come out from your camera into a stream-friendly format. We will discuss more of this below.
- Streaming platform or video hosting: where you will live broadcast your content. This can be social media platforms like YouTube Live, Twitch, or Facebook Live, or you can launch your live broadcasts direct-to-consumer via a live streaming platform like Viloud.
- Internet connection: since you are going to deliver your content over the internet, then a stable and fast enough internet bandwidth is a must. We will discuss the bandwidth requirements for live broadcasting below.
1. Video and Audio Sources
Any stream of video data for your live broadcast is called a video source, and a similar principle also applies to audio sources.
The simplest live broadcast can consist of just one camera and one microphone as a video source. But more complex systems use more than two combinations of video and audio sources. In a live broadcast, different combinations of video and audio sources are called layouts or scenes. For example, we can use two cameras and create a picture in picture (PIP) or side by side scenes/layouts.
Video Sources
In a live broadcast, the video source can be:
- A professional-grade DSLR or mirrorless camera
- A camcorder
- A computer screen (with screen capture software)
- Your computer’s webcam
- Your smartphone’s camera
Nowadays, cameras come in many different price ranges from just below $500 to above $20,000. Redundancy is also very important in a live broadcast setting, so you might want to get more than one camera.
Which cameras/video sources you should get would depend on the content you are going to broadcast. If, for example, you are going to broadcast gaming content where your console/pc is going to be the main video source, then you might not need a professional DSLR camera, and a decent webcam would do.
Figure out your needs depending on your content, and get the most affordable one that can fulfill these needs.
Audio Sources
It’s important to note that audio quality is, in fact, more important than video streaming quality for most viewers. So, don’t underestimate the importance of getting good-quality audio equipment according to your budget.
Microphones will be your main audio source. Moreover similar to cameras, microphones now come in a wide variety of price ranges and quality. Even the built-in microphones on your camera, laptop, or smartphone are now pretty decent, but there are now various affordable, decent-quality USB microphones below $500 that you can choose.
See Also: Audio Converter Software
If you absolutely need audio quality (i.e. if you are going to broadcast live concerts), then you might want to invest in professional-quality XLR microphones. Also, depending on your needs, you might want to get wireless microphones to maximize your setup.
How To Broadcast Video and Audio Sources
The basic principle in live broadcasting is to first capture the signal coming out from your audio and video sources, which is typically done by connecting your video/audio sources with your computer (if you use a software encoder) or a physical encoder.
Most cameras today have HDMI or SDI output, and you can simply use an HDMI or SDI cable to connect the camera to your computer or encoder. However, depending on your setup, you might need a capture card when using a software encoder. The capture card will connect to the camera on one end, and to the computer over USB on the other end. The capture card will capture the camera’s data in real-time, allowing the live broadcast.
For audio sources, if you are using a USB microphone, then you can simply connect the microphone to your computer or encoder via USB. However, you’d need a capture card or dedicated audio converter to connect an XLR microphone.
2. Encoders
While the concept of encoding can be quite difficult to explain, in a nutshell. As it goes like this: your camera doesn’t actually save an actual video file, but rather a continuous stream of image files. An encoder would encode these series of images into a single, seamless video file, which would allow it to be live-streamed.
In general, here are why encoding your videos in a live broadcast is very important:
- Reduce file size to allow stable live streaming, which will, in turn, reduce buffering when streaming the video
- Allowing an adaptive resolution/aspect ratio according to the viewer’s available bandwidth and device
- Change audio format or quality in real-time
- Convert the file into suitable formats (including converting obsolete formats into newer ones)
- Ensuring compatibility with certain device or software
There are two types of encoders you can get: hardware and software:
- Hardware encoders: a dedicated physical device, can be portable and small or large and permanent. They can also act as a capture card and can handle various inputs (typically HDMI and SDI). Typically, very reliable and durable, and can support linear 24/7 streaming without slowdowns or crashes. In general, a hardware encoder is more expensive than a software encoder but is much sturdier and more reliable.
- Software encoder: basically, software that runs on a computer (or smartphones/tablets). They are typically more affordable than hardware encoders, but you might not get the same latency speed offered by hardware encoders. There are even free encoder options like OBS, which is pretty reliable, making it a favorite among live streaming startups.
Encoders
You should choose the right encoder depending on your budget and needs. Moreover, you should especially consider what kinds of content you are going to broadcast. Here are some important factors to consider when choosing between different encoders:
- Frame rate: frame rate (measured in frames per second or fps) is the number of frames that are displayed every second. The higher the number, the smoother the video will be in the eyes of the viewers. The standard for digital video stands between 24 to 30 fps, and anything below that considered unpleasant. Aim for 60 fps resolution if you can to produce smooth, life-like videos.
- Resolution: technically the size of the video frame, measured in pixels or just p. 1080p resolution, for example, is the same as 1920 pixels x 1080 pixels. Aim for at least 720p HD quality if you can, but 480p (858×480 pixels) usually considered pretty decently for mobile viewing.
- Bitrate: how much data you are uploading per second, measured in Kbps (kilobits per second) or Mbps (megabits per second). The higher the number, the smoother your live broadcast will be (the better the quality). 1000Kbps is considered the bare minimum for live streaming, but 3000 Kbps-5000 Kbps are considered the standard. Bitrate would dictate frame rate but would depend on your bandwidth (more on this later).
It’s important to keep the right balance between bitrate, frame rate, and resolution to ensure the quality of your live broadcast.
3. Streaming Destinations
Streaming destination refers to where viewers can view your live broadcasts. You can broadcast your videos to social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook Live, Periscope, Twitch, and others, or you can stream your videos on your own site/app.
The best and more versatile approach here is to use a video hosting platform like Viloud where you can simultaneously broadcast your videos on all the popular platforms. You can also get an embed code that you can put on your site’s or web app’s HTML to embed your video player.
When choosing between different streaming destinations, there are generally three main factors to consider:
- Security: You have to make sure the platform is trustworthy so your content, as well as your viewers/audience, are safe.
- Your target audience: Pretty self-explanatory, you should pick a platform where your ideal target audience is.
- Monetization: depending on how you are going to monetize your content, one platform might suit you better than the others. For example, if you are going to broadcast adult content, then YouTube might not be the right platform for you.
4. Reliable Internet Connection
Don’t underestimate the importance of a stable internet connection in a live broadcast. In fact, getting a fast enough and stable internet connection is often the most challenging part of developing your live broadcast setup.
Find the most suitable internet provider in your area, according to your available budget. If you can, always get a dedicated, wired Ethernet line instead of Wi-Fi or cellular internet. Wired internet will always be more reliable than wireless ones, and remember that stability is very important when live broadcasting over the internet.
How much speed would you need? A general rule of thumb is to look at your target bitrate. At the very least, your bandwidth should be 1.5 times your stream’s target bitrate. For example, if your target bitrate is 3 Mbps, then you’d need at least 4.5 Mbps of bandwidth. If you can, aim for at least 2 times of your target bitrate (with the same example, 6 Mbps of bandwidth).
End Words
Once you’ve taken care of the four aspects we’ve discussed above, then broadcasting live video over the internet should be a breeze. The right equipment, the right video hosting service, and reliable internet connection are the keys to deliver high-quality live broadcasts and keep your viewers around.
While live streaming is indeed a very broad topic and your setup might be unique. This post should help you design your own live broadcasting setup and go live as soon as possible. Understanding these basics would significantly help as a foundation when building more complex, advanced live broadcasting setups.
First published on www.Techcody.com