Live and Learn!
Have you ever wanted to easily broadcast and record live streams? Whether it is a graduation, a CEO broadcast, or a class overflow situation, our customers find out rather quickly that live streaming is considerably more difficult that video on demand (VoD). With VoD streaming, the original video can be captured and converted for streaming when requested by the user. Additionally, multi-pass encoding and adaptive bit rate streaming is often used with VoD to improve the video quality and to optimize the delivery based on the viewer’s bandwidth. With live streaming, on the other hand, all of these tasks must be accomplished in real time, requiring greater computer processing and network resources in order to avoid delays and outages. Other challenges live streamers encounter are ensuring there is enough bandwidth to execute a live stream and finding a way to provide the right balance between viewing quality and size of the video stream being delivered to your audience. Moreover, it is not easy coordinating audio feeds, video cameras, file storage, power and the network for a live broadcast. I think you get the point. The demands on the live streamers increase because there are several plates spinning, and on top of all that, IT IS A LIVE EVENT.
First of all, let me say YOU ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. Have you ever tried to watch the Super Bowl, the Oscars or the Olympics online? I’m sure you recognize that millions of dollars are put into streaming those events and they don’t always work perfectly. In most cases many live streaming viewers leave frustrated because of bandwidth issues, device issues or issues with the media player. On top of that, the people broadcasting the live streams are often frustrated with the complexity and cost of pulling off a live stream. Today, I am here to tell you we can relate. Feel better? I didn’t think so. But, I do have some good news and bad news for you.
First, the good news, ENSEMBLE VIDEO HAS JUST MADE YOUR LIFE EASIER! Ensemble Video now offers simple, affordable and effective ways to broadcast live streams to a webpage, CMS, LMS, blog or portal. Moreover, you can now automagically (or manually) record your live stream directly into Ensemble Video. Review our Live Stream and Record and automatic Live Capture features below:
Live Stream and Record
The Live Stream and Record feature enables you to deliver a live stream where you can start and stop recording. These ad hoc recordings will then be placed in your Media Library. No more downloading the file off the camera or uploading the file off your computer. You start the live stream, you stop the live stream recording and the file is automagically put in your Ensemble Video media library. You can auto-publish that to your portal or playlist if necessary.
Live Capture
The Live Capture feature enables you to deliver a live stream that will be automatically captured and placed in your Media Library upon completion of the stream. The key here is you can use almost any live encoder to start a stream, and everything you stream will be automagically captured on the server and then it will be placed in your Ensemble Video media library.
Live Stream Encoder Tools
There are a number of live encoders that we recommend to execute a live stream, they are:
Free Options
Open Broadcaster: Open Broadcaster Software is free and open source software for video recording and live streaming.
Wowza GoCoder: Encode and broadcast live content through Wowza GoCoder, a mobile app you can use to easily stream from your iPhone or Android device.
Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder: Adobe® Flash® Media Live Encoder 3.2 live audio and video capture software is a media encoder that streams audio and video in real time to Adobe Media Server software or Flash Video Streaming Service (FVSS).
Low Cost Commercial Tools
Wirecast: For a fraction of the cost of traditional broadcast hardware, Wirecast allows you to quickly and easily broadcast events, breaking news and live sports.
Matrox Monarch HD: Matrox Monarch HD is a professional appliance that simultaneously streams a live event and records the master quality version for post-event editing.
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