Enable RTMP Streaming in Your Event

RTMP, which stands for Real-Time Messaging Protocol, is a TCP-based protocol that ensures you a smooth streaming experience. At Livestorm, we're using AWS IVS service that can accommodate RTMP ingestion and conversion to a live HLS stream with very low latency (~5s) and Full HD resolution (up to 1080p). If you're using professional audio and video production setups, you might want to use RTMP streaming for your events. In this article, we will explain how to enable RTMP streaming on your Livestorm event sessions and how to set up your live video streaming software.

This feature is only available for Enterprise customers under a plan with monthly active contacts.

RTMP Specifications

• You can't have multiple speakers.
• You can't invite someone to speak.
• You can't share your screen or media files.
• Event sessions with RTMP streaming enabled can be recorded.
• Event sessions have a 12h limit (like non-RTMP streaming events).
• The maximum supported resolution is 1080p (1920x1080). You should ensure that your streaming software is not configured to stream to a higher resolution than this as it may cause your stream to be disconnected consistently and you would not be able to see your stream in the room.
• You can use RTMP streaming with automations (start and end event). Before the event starts, you have to set up the RTMP streaming and start the streaming in OBS first so that when the event starts automatically, the streaming is already ongoing. Also, when you stop the event, the streaming in OBS won't automatically stop though.

Enable RTMP Streaming in Livestorm

You can enable RTMP streaming directly from your dashboard.

Enabling RTMP streaming won't be working if you've already hosted a session of the same event without RTMP.

1

Go to your Event > Settings > Video settings and enable "Allow stream override with your RTMP source".

2

Go to your Sessions. Now, on each session, you can see the RTMP icon showing if it's enabled or disabled. Click on it to enable your RTMP source on this specific session.

3

Check the "Enable RTMP source" box.

4

Your RTMP source is now enabled on this specific session. 🎉

Set Up Your Live Video Streaming Software

Once you've enabled your RTMP source on your Livestorm event session, you can go to your live video streaming software like OBS, XSplit, etc. We're using OBS for this tutorial but the setup is pretty similar on any other similar software. 😉

1

Open OBS and click on Settings.

2

Click on Stream. In the "Service" dropdown menu, select Custom, copy your Livestorm Server URL and your Livestorm Stream API Key (click on the RTMP icon on your Event Session to open the side panel with this information).

3

Don't forget to click on Ok to save your settings. 😉

Livestorm Tip 👉 To improve the stream stability and avoid buffering in the viewer playback, we recommend you set up the keyframe interval at 2 seconds in Settings > Output > Output Mode > Advanced > Streaming.

Examples of OBS Configurations

You can customize the OBS settings for better RTMP streaming in Settings > Output > Output Mode > Advanced and Video > Common FPS Values.

Here are 2 examples of configurations you might want to use :

• Rescale Output: 1980x1080
• Rate Control: CBR 
• Bitrate: 4500 kbps
• Keyframe Interval: 2 seconds
• CPU Usage Preset: veryfast <-> medium
• Profile: Main/High
• Common FPS values: 25 or 30 fps

or,

• Rescale Output: 1920x1080
• Rate Control: CBR 
• Bitrate: 6000 kbps
• Keyframe Interval: 2 seconds
• CPU Usage Preset: veryfast <-> medium
• Profile: Main/High
• Common FPS values: 60 or 50 fps

Host a Livestorm Event With RTMP Streaming

Once you've enabled your RTMP source on your Livestorm Event Session and you've set up your live video streaming software with it, you can start hosting your event with RTMP streaming.

Livestorm Tip 👉 Start streaming a few minutes before your live event to make sure everything works perfectly. 😉

1

Click on Start Streaming on your live video streaming software (we're using OBS here).

You need to start streaming before joining your event room, otherwise, the RTMP stream won't be detected. It might take up to 20 seconds before the stream is detected in your event room.

2

Go to your event room and that's it! You can now Start your event. 🎉

Note that RTMP streaming implies a 5-second audio and video latency.

Troubleshooting

• No RTMP Stream Detected
• Attendees See a Black Screen in the Room

No RTMP Stream Detected

If you see the following screen when joining your event room, it either means that: 

• You need to wait for a few seconds (might take up to 20 seconds) and refresh your page.
• You haven't started streaming with your live video streaming software before joining the room.
• Your RTMP source hasn't been set up correctly in your live video streaming software.

Attendees See a Black Screen in the Room

If your attendees see a black screen in the room and no stream, ask them to refresh their page and it should be working again. 👌