How to Stream Live Video

Ever wished you had your own TV show? A webcam and an internet connection is all you need! Want to show off your gaming skills? Game streams are becoming more and more popular by the day. Streaming live video is the future of the internet, and it is simpler than ever to get on board.

Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

From a Webcam

  1. 1
    Find a service online to broadcast on. In order to stream live from your webcam, you will need to sign up with a streaming host. The host will provide the bandwidth that will allow you to share your stream with others. Many of these websites allow you to stream without having to worry about installing an encoder. Popular services include:
    • Ustream
    • YouNow
    • DaCast
    • Livestream
    • StreamLand
    • Google+ Hangouts On Air[1]
  2. 2
    Create an account. All streaming services will require you to create an account with them in order to stream. All offer a free account option, and many offer paid accounts that remove ads and increase the number of viewers you can have.
  3. 3
    Use the service’s built-in web broadcasting program. Almost all services allow you to broadcast without downloading any special software. Using web broadcasting software will usually result in a lower-quality broadcast than using downloaded broadcasting software. The method varies from site to site.[2]
  4. 4
    Sign in with your account.
  5. 5
    Create a channel or room. Many sites have a “Broadcast Now” or “Go Live” button.
  6. 6
    Allow Flash to access your webcam. You typically only need to do this the first time that you broadcast on the site if you check the “Remember” or “Always Allow” box. You may need to update your version of Flash.
  7. 7
    Start broadcasting. Once your camera has been detected, you can immediately begin broadcasting.
  8. 8
    Download broadcasting software for a higher-quality stream. Many services offer free versions of their own broadcasting software, or allow third-party software such as Flash Media Live Encoder or Open Broadcaster Software. Click here for detailed instructions.
  9. 9
    Embed your stream on your own website. Once you have your channel set up, you can use the provided embedding code to place it into your own website. In order to do this, you will need to be able to edit the code for your website. Contact your web developer if you don’t have personal access.
Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

From Mobile camera

  1. 1
    Find a service that supports mobile broadcasting. The service chosen here does not require sign up, but it is recommended to use a free account option. To start streaming you will need only your PC/laptop to follow steps below and the mobile device itself. Press Start streaming now.
  2. 2
    Select Mobile camera. Then enter name for your channel and configure it. You can choose large scale vs. low latency, turn on/off recording. Press Next.
  3. 3
    Install streaming app. Android & iOS are available, links are provided on the page. Then scan the QR code with this app - broadcasting will start automatically.
  4. 4
    Watch your broadcast. Check it in your browser with preview page and then copy browser code to embed your stream on your website. In order to do this, you will need to be able to edit the code for your website. Contact your web developer if you don’t have personal access.
Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Using Google+

  1. 1
    Log into YouTube using the account that you want to host the stream with.
  2. 2
    Visit the .youtube.com/features page once you are logged in.
  3. 3
    Click the .Enable button next to "Live events". Your account needs to be in Good Standing.
  4. 4
    Read the terms and conditions and click .I Agree to continue.
  5. 5
    Click the "Create Event" button.
  6. 6
    Enter in the basic details on your event. This includes the title, description, and tags.
  7. 7
    Adjust the schedule. You can schedule your event to start later, or you can start the stream immediately.
  8. 8
    Click the "Public" drop-down menu to choose your privacy options. Public events can be found and viewed by anyone, Unlisted events can only be accessed if the person has a link, and Private videos are restricted to specific people who must be logged in with their Google+ accounts.
  9. 9
    Ensure that "Quick" is selected. This will enable the Google Hangouts on Air, which just uses the Hangouts plugin and your webcam. The "Custom" option is for more elaborate events and requires your own encoding program. Click here for more details.
  10. 10
    Check your advanced settings. Click the "Advanced settings" tab and review all of the options. You can change your comment preferences, age restrictions, statistics, broadcast delay, and more.
  11. 11
    Click "Go live now" to launch Google+ Hangouts. If you don't have the Google+ plugin installed, you will be prompted to install it.
  12. 12
    Wait for the video to buffer. The Hangouts window will launch and your webcam will activate. You will see a percentage start increasing at the bottom of the screen. Once this reaches a certain amount, you will be able to start broadcasting.
  13. 13
    Click "Start broadcast" to start, and then "OK" to confirm. You are allowed to broadcast for up to eight hours.
  14. 14
    Click the "Control Room" option in Hangouts to manage your viewers. This will allow you to mute or kick people that are being disruptive to your broadcast.
  15. 15
    Share and embed your broadcast. Click the "Links" button at the bottom of the Hangouts windows to see the sharing and embedding information. The short URL will allow you to share the broadcast through Twitter and other social media, and the embed code allows you to easily add the video to your blog.
    • The video will also be prominently displayed on your YouTube Channel page.
Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Streaming a Video Game

  1. 1
    Sign up for a streaming service. In order to stream your games, you will need to sign up for a service that will host your video. The host will provide the bandwidth and the chat program for your viewers, as well as the tools you will need to broadcast your game. The most popular game streaming sites are:
    • Twitch.tv
    • Ustream.tv
    • Twitch is the one site dedicated to video game streaming, and you are likely to find the biggest audience for your game stream through them.
  2. 2
    Download a capture program. In order to stream your game, you will need a program that can capture and stream your computer’s display. There are a variety of programs available, both free and paid, but two of the most popular options are free:[3]
    • FFSplit
    • Open Broadcaster
  3. 3
    Install a capture card (optional). If you’re going to be broadcasting from a video game console such as an Xbox One or PlayStation 4, you’ll need to install a video capture card in your computer. This is a physical piece of hardware that you connect your game system to in order to record directly from the game console. The computer will then capture the video and audio from your video game console.
    • This is not required if you are streaming games played on a PC.
    • Installing the capture card is very similar to installing a graphics card.
  4. 4
    Ensure that your computer is powerful enough to broadcast. Streaming games can take a significant amount of system resources, as you need to be able to both play the game as well as stream at the same time. Twitch recommends the following specs for streaming computers:
    • CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz or AMD equivalent
    • MEMORY: 8GB DDR3 SDRAM
    • OS: Windows 7 Home Premium or later
  5. 5
    Link your software and your streaming account. Open the Service tab or menu in your broadcast software. Select your streaming service from the list of available options. Programs like FFSplit offer Twitch support built in.
    • Enter your stream key. In order to use the broadcast software with your stream, you will need to link it to your Twitch account via the Stream Key. You can get this key in Twitch by clicking the Streaming Apps button on the Twitch website, and then clicking Show Key. Copy and paste the key that is displayed into the correct field in the broadcast software.
    • Select a server. In FFSplit, there will be a server list underneath the Service list. You can click the “Find Best Server” button to automatically detect the best server for your location.
  6. 6
    Select your encoding options. In the Encoding menu, you can adjust the encoder settings which will affect video quality and stream speed. Many programs and services have recommended settings for various types of games and connection speeds.
  7. 7
    Run a couple of test broadcasts. This will allow you to get familiar with your broadcasting software and ensure that your encoding settings are set optimally.
Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Using an Encoder

  1. 1
    Download and install an encoder program. An encoder is a program that converts your inputs (camera, capture card, microphone, etc.) into video that can be streamed online. While a lot of webcam websites have built-in encoding solutions, using your own encoder will provide much higher quality and give you more control over your broadcast. Encoders are also required for more intensive broadcasts, such as shows that require multiple cameras or need high-quality sound. There are a variety of encoding programs available, though many of them require a purchase in order to access most features.
    • Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) is a free, open-source encoder that supports many advanced functions. This guide will assume you are using OBS, as it is the most powerful free option. OBS comes with configuration profiles for several of the most popular streaming services.
    • Wirecast is another encoder that allows you to quickly interface with streaming services like YouTube Live Streaming. The free version only allows for a single camera input.
    • Flash Media Live Encoder (FMLE) is an Adobe product that contains a large number of professional features, but can be quite costly. You can quickly interface it with many different streaming services by loading the FMLE profile that the service provides.
  2. 2
    Determine your connection speed. This will help you determine your encoder quality settings so that your viewers can properly load your video. You can test your connection speed at sites like speedtest.net. Make a note of your connection speeds, as you will need them later.
    • See this guide for more details on checking your connection speed.
  3. 3
    Open the Settings menu. This is where you will be doing most of the configuring for OBS.
  4. 4
    Click the "Encoding" tab. These settings will determine the quality of your streaming video, and are dependent on your connection speed.
    • The "Max Bitrate" the the maximum speed your encoding will be. This needs to be about half of your maximum upload rate. For example, if your speed test showed that your maximum upload speed was 3 mb/s (3000 kb/s), your maximum bitrate should be set to 1500 kb/s.
    • Set the "Buffer size" to the same value as the maximum bitrate.
  5. 5
    Click the "Video" tab. This will let you set the resolution and framerate of your stream. These settings are also heavily dependent on your upload speed.
  6. 6
    Set your "Base Resolution" to the same as your desktop.
  7. 7
    Use the "Resolution Downscale" menu to change the output resolution. The following are some recommended settings based on your maximum bitrate:
    • 1920x1080 (1080P) - 4500 kb/s
    • 1280x720 (720P) - 2500 kb/s
    • 852x480 (480P) - 100 kb/s
  8. 8
    Set your FPS to 60 if the service allows it. Some streaming services only allow 30 FPS. YouTube and some other services have started rolling out support for 60 FPS video
  9. 9
    Click the "Broadcast Settings" tab. This will allow you to configure your connection to the streaming service.
  10. 10
    Select your streaming service from the "Streaming Service" menu. There are several preconfigured services available that reduce the amount of URLs you have to copy and paste. If your service is not listed, select Custom.
  11. 11
    Enter your stream key/stream name. Once you start a new broadcast on the service of your choice, you will be provided a unique key that you will need to paste into the "Play PAth/Stream Key" box. This will allow the service to receive the stream from the encoder.
  12. 12
    Exit the Settings menu.
  13. 13
    Right-click in the "Sources" box and select "Add Sources". This will allow you to add input sources that will be broadcast.
    • If you want to broadcast your desktop, select "Monitor Capture".
    • If you want to broadcast your webcam, select "Video Capture Device".
    • If you want to broadcast from your game capture card, select "Game Capture".
  14. 14
    Start broadcasting from the encoder first. Before starting your broadcast from the service's interface, start your broadcast in your encoder. Once you're sure that everything is functioning properly, you can start sending it to the streaming service.

Community Q&A

  • Question
    How can I broadcast live news, I want to understand all methods and expenses?
    Community Answer
    This depends on your audience and your budget. A broadcast streaming encoder is very expensive. However, there are many online services you can use to broadcast. Some have the capacity to broadcast live, while others do not.
  • Question
    What equipment do I need for each of the Livestream options? Can I stream more than one feed?
    Community Answer
    VLC Player is free. You can stream to a social media page or to an individual computer.
  • Question
    How do I broadcast to Twitch?
    Community Answer
    Download StreamLabs OBS, install it and launch. Adjust settings, and start broadcasting!
See more answers

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References

  1. ↑ http://www.ibroadcastnetwork.org/blog/top-live-video-streaming-sites-for-internet-broadcasters
  2. ↑ http://www.ustream.tv/get-started
  3. ↑ http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/12/04/how-to-set-up-open-broadcaster-a-free-lightweight-livestreaming-application/

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