Maximizing Reliability for Live Streaming Events: Proven Strategies for Success

Confused by the large offer of online video providers? An actual demo of transcoding and streaming on their home page is a good start to check their quality and reliability

Broadcasting a live-streaming event can be a cause of anxiety for several reasons:

• Technical difficulties: There is always a risk of technical difficulties occurring during a live stream, such as equipment failure, internet connection issues, or software bugs. These can disrupt the stream and affect the overall quality of the broadcast.
• Audience engagement: Engaging and retaining an audience during a live stream can be difficult, and a lack of audience engagement can lead to a lack of interest in the event.
• Time constraints: Live streaming events are usually time-sensitive and need to be planned and executed within a specific time frame. This can cause stress and anxiety for the organizers and presenters.
• Interaction with audience: Live streaming events require constant interaction with the audience, which can be challenging for some presenters, as it requires quick thinking and adaptability.
• Quality of the stream: The quality of the stream is a major concern for the organizer, such as latency, buffering, video and audio quality, and keeping the audience engaged.
• Legal and ethical issues: Live streaming events can bring legal and ethical issues, such as copyright infringement, data privacy, and security, which can cause anxiety for the organizers.
• Competition: With the rise of live streaming events, there is a lot of competition for audience attention, which can cause anxiety for the organizers who want to make sure their event stands out.

Proper preparation and utilizing reliable providers with real-time valuable assistance can help make the live streaming process anxiety-free

There are several ways to increase the reliability of a live streaming event. Here are some tips for enhancing the quality of live streaming:

1. Use a reliable streaming platform: Choose a streaming platform that has a track record of providing stable and high-quality streaming.
2. Use a reliable internet connection: Make sure you have a strong and stable internet connection to avoid buffering or connection errors.
3. Test your equipment: Test all of your equipment, including cameras, microphones, and other hardware, to ensure that they are working properly.
4. Have a backup plan: Have a backup plan in case of technical difficulties, such as a backup internet connection or backup equipment.
5. Monitor the stream: Continuously monitor the stream during the event to ensure that the video and audio quality are good and address any issues immediately.
6. Encoding and compression: Use the most appropriate encoding and compression settings for your stream.
7. Use CDN : Make use of one or several Content Delivery Network (CDN) to distribute the streaming to multiple locations and reduce the load on the origin server.
8. Have a professional in charge: Have a professional in charge of the technical aspects of the streaming event to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

1. What are some of the most trustworthy streaming platforms to take into account for events that require payment to access?

For events that require payment to access, some of the most trustworthy streaming platforms to consider include:

• Vimeo Live: Vimeo Live is a reliable streaming platform that offers high-quality streaming and a range of advanced features for professional use. It also offers a paywall feature, allowing you to charge viewers for access to your stream.
• Livestream: Livestream offers professional services such as live event production, custom development, and technical support to help users with technical issues and ensure a high-quality streaming experience. It also provides a paywall feature for events that require payment to access.
• iReplay.TV:iReplay.TV has a long-standing reputation for being a specialist in 24/7 streaming channels since 2013, it's known for providing dependable and steady service, including providing channels on Apple App Store that can be subscribed to in-app, and the capability to process payments in real-time through Stripe, PayPal accounts or cryptocurrency wallets.
-->
• Uscreen: Uscreen is a streaming platform that has been created for content creators, it provides monetization options such as pay-per-view, subscription and rental, so it's a good option for events that require payment to access.

These platforms offer a variety of monetization options, such as pay-per-view, subscriptions and rentals, which can be used to charge viewers for access to your stream, and also have features such as security, analytics and support. It's always good to check the terms and conditions of each platform to make sure they meet your requirements and they are compatible with the payment methods you want to use.

2. What are some ways to secure a stable internet connection for a live streaming event?

Here are some ways to secure a stable internet connection for a live streaming event:

1. Use a wired connection: A wired connection is generally more stable than a wireless connection. If possible, use an Ethernet cable to connect your streaming device to the internet. If you are required to use WiFi, it is recommended to use at least the WiFi 6 standard. Additionally, if your connection relies on cellular network, it is suggested to use a multi-SIM router to ensure a stable connection.
2. Check your internet speed: Make sure your internet speed is sufficient for live streaming. Check your internet speed before the event and ensure that it meets the minimum requirements of the streaming platform you are using.
3. Use a backup internet connection: It's a good idea to have a backup internet connection in case the primary connection fails. This can be a mobile hotspot or a secondary internet service provider.
4. Test your internet connection: Test your internet connection before the event to make sure it's working properly. This will allow you to identify and fix any issues before the event. Use your online video provider testing methods rather than a general speed test to your ISP servers for a more accurate assessment of real-world conditions.
5. Use a VPN: Using a virtual private network (VPN) can help to improve internet stability and security.
   Avoid using other internet-connected devices: Avoid using other internet-connected devices while streaming, as they can use up bandwidth and cause buffering or other issues.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your internet connection is stable and reliable during your live streaming event.

3. "How should I perform a rehearsal of a live streaming event?”

1. Test your equipment: Make sure your microphone, camera, and lighting are working properly.
2. Run a sound check: Check the audio levels to ensure they are at the correct volume and that there is no feedback or echo.
3. Check your internet connection: Make sure you have a strong and stable internet connection to avoid buffering or connectivity issues during the live stream.
4. Rehearse your script or presentation: Practice your script or presentation to make sure you are comfortable with the content and delivery.
5. Test the live streaming platform: Make sure you are familiar with the live streaming platform you will be using and that it is working properly.
6. Do a dry run: Start a test live stream and practice the entire event from start to finish to iron out any kinks.
7. Review and adjust: After the dry run, review the footage and make any necessary adjustments.
8. Have a backup plan: Have a backup plan in case something goes wrong during the live stream, such as having a secondary streaming setup and recording the event locally so it can be streamed later.

it is important to pay attention to dropped frames or high CPU usage during the rehearsal and live streaming event. Dropped frames can cause the video to stutter or freeze and high CPU usage can cause the computer to become unresponsive.To monitor dropped frames, you can use the built-in tools on your streaming software or a third-party program.
To reduce CPU usage, you can:

• Use GPU encoding (also known as hardware encoding)
• lower the video resolution and bitrate
• close any unnecessary programs running in the background

check if your streaming software has any performance settings that you can adjust.
It is also a good idea to have a backup plan in case something goes wrong

4. What are the advantages of utilizing both a software transcoder and a hardware transcoder for live streaming redundancy?

Using both a software transcoder and a hardware transcoder for live streaming redundancy can provide several advantages:

• Reliability: Having a backup transcoder can ensure that streaming continues even if one of the transcoders fails.
  Flexibility: Using a software transcoder in conjunction with a hardware transcoder can provide more options for customizing the transcoding process.
• Scalability: Having a hardware transcoder can help with handling a large number of concurrent streams, while a software transcoder can be used to add new features or support additional codecs.
• Cost-effectiveness: A software transcoder can be a cost-effective solution for small-scale streaming, while a hardware transcoder can be used to handle high-traffic streams.
• Robustness: A hardware transcoder can be more robust and efficient than software transcoder in some cases, and when combined with a software transcoder, it can help to ensure that the live stream is delivered with the best possible quality, and will help to minimize the impact of any issues that may arise during the streaming process.

5. Which streaming platforms provide professional services such as live monitoring and technical support in real-time?

There are a few streaming platforms that provide real-time professional services to help users with technical and production-related issues during live streaming events. Some examples include:

• Livestream: Livestream offers professional services such as live event production, custom development, and technical support to help users with technical issues and ensure a high-quality streaming experience.
• Ustream: Ustream offers professional services such as live event production, streaming solutions, and technical support to help users with technical issues and ensure a high-quality streaming experience.
• Wowza: Wowza provides professional services such as live streaming consulting, custom development, and technical support to help users with technical issues and ensure a high-quality streaming experience.
• Brightcove: Brightcove offers professional services such as live streaming production, custom development, and technical support to help users with technical issues and ensure a high-quality streaming experience.
• Streaming Tank: Streaming Tank is a streaming production company that provides professional services such as live event production, streaming solutions, and technical support to help users with technical issues and ensure a high-quality streaming experience.

It's good to know that these professional services are generally offered by streaming platforms that are geared towards enterprise and professional use, and they may be more expensive than other platforms. However, they can be a great solution for users that require a high level of technical expertise, professional production, and technical support for their live streaming events.

6. Should I prefer HLS Push to RTMP for live streaming?

Yes, HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) is generally more tolerant to network variability than RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) because of its HTTP roots.
HLS is built on top of HTTP, the same protocol that is used for web browsing and downloading files. HLS's resilience to network variability is enhanced by the connectionless nature of HTTP, which allows for packet resending in changing network conditions, enabling the video to keep playing.
On the other hand, RTMP is a real-time protocol that uses a single connection to send a continuous stream of data. If the network conditions change, the entire stream can be affected and result in buffering or video artifacts.
While HLS offers the benefit of adaptive bitrate output, its encoders and transcoders are less available and more expensive compared to RTMP encoders, and do not always provide this feature.

7. Which streaming platforms support HLS failover?

HLS failover is a technique used to ensure continuity of streaming in the event of a failure of a CDN (Content Delivery Network). It works by having multiple CDN's available as backup options, so that if one CDN fails, the stream can automatically switch to another one without interruption.
When using HLS failover, the streaming platform is configured with multiple renditions of the stream, each from a different CDN. The player is then able to switch between the different renditions seamlessly in case of failure. This allows for a more reliable streaming experience as it reduces the risk of the stream going down in case of a CDN failure.
Several streaming platforms support HLS failover with multiple CDN, such as:

• Wowza Streaming Cloud
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) Elemental MediaLive and MediaPackage
• Akamai Adaptive Media Player
• JW Player
• Brightcove Live.

It's always a good idea to check the documentation or contact the support of the platform you're planning to use to confirm if it supports this feature, as many of them will require an additional contract with CDNs.

8. Can finding a video producer with knowledge in streaming platforms enhance the live streaming event?

Finding a video producer that has knowledge in streaming platforms for a live streaming event can be useful. A video producer with experience in live streaming will have knowledge of the best streaming platforms to use for different types of events, and will be able to advise on the best platform to use for your specific event. They also have knowledge of how to properly set up and test the equipment, how to ensure good video and audio quality and how to troubleshoot any technical difficulties that may arise. Additionally, they can provide professional services such as live event production, custom development, and technical support to help ensure a high-quality streaming experience.
By working with a video producer with experience in live streaming, you can ensure that your event runs smoothly and that the technical aspects of the stream are handled properly. Some online video providers showcase video producers who are familiar with their platform among their listings.

Article written by
Sylvain Corvaisier

Independent streaming and iOS engineer

Last modified: December 9th, 2024