Streaming Configuration Panel: Connection Options

Versions

20120822.GST

Product(s)

TriCaster 40

Search Tags

Flash, browser, “connection type” , stream, configuration

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION

Here we have a look at a few of the connection types available in the Streaming Configuration Panel. For information on Windows Media Pull and Push see related article here in the Knowledge Base or look in the User Guide Chapter 5, Sections 3.3. and 3.4

SOLUTION AND WORKAROUND

The process of configuring a Connection (preset) begins with clicking New to create it. This opens a dialog entitled Choose Configuration Type. The options available are as shown in the following image.

After selecting a Connection Type and clicking OK, the Name field in the main Configure Stream Connection panel is highlighted, to encourage you to supply a descriptive name for the preset.

BROWSER BASED

The basic Browser Based connection option can perhaps be considered the least demanding approach to streaming, in terms of learning curve for the new operator. The only local setting required beyond the initial Connection Type selection is the URL of the Home field for the streaming service you intend to use.

Many of the organizations providing streaming services offer free accounts with limited capabilities and options. This can be just what you need to get started with live streaming. (Many providers also offer paid-for accounts, with benefits including removing ads and advanced streaming options (such as higher bitrate and resolutions or multi-bitrate streaming), two-way live chat, and so-on.

Once configured on the remote site, audition your streaming broadcast by pushing the Test button in the Configure Stream Connection panel. After leaving this panel, the Stream button underneath the Program Out monitor on the Live Desktop toggles streaming on and off (note that when you start streaming with the Test button, then close the Configure Stream Connection panel, streaming continues uninterrupted.)

For Browser Based streaming, the encoding of your program into a stream for transmission to the service provider (and ultimately beyond, to your Internet audience) is performed by an applet running on the website. As mentioned before, however, this arrangement often doesn’t give you as much control or as many options as you might want. Other Connection Type options are more hands-on in this respect, but require you to manually select related settings, as discussed next for each type.

ADOBE FLASH®

TriCaster can encode and stream using Adobe Flash®, and this is a very popular choice.

When you select Adobe Flash as the Connection Type, the controls presented in the header of the Configure Stream Connection panel update accordingly.

The first thing you might notice is the Resolution menu at left beneath the Home field. This selector lets you choose from a list of streaming profiles labeled to show their respective frame rate (fps), resolution and bandwidth settings.

At right is the Server control group where you enter the parameters required by your streaming service (or CDN – Content Delivery Network). Let’s consider the information you need to complete this successfully.

The Username and Password are supplied to you by the streaming service, and are specific to your account.

Location (also referred to as the Server Address) is the address TriCaster will send the stream to (this is supplied to you by the service provider). The Stream ID may or may not be provided, depending on the service provider; in some cases you can simply enter a custom ID number.

Many service providers will supply you with a streaming profile in the form of an XML file for use with Flash Media Encoder. If this is the case, click the Import Settings From File button, navigate to and select the XML file, and TriCaster will automatically import the Location and Stream ID values for the Connection.

BROWSE (IMPORT A CUSTOM PROFILE)

A related function involves the ability to directly import a custom Resolution profile. You might create such a profile for a specific purpose, using either the Adobe Flash Live Media Encoder® or Windows Media Encoder® application installed on your TriCaster).

The Browse item at the top of the Resolution menu allows you to select an appropriate file in a system file explorer, which is then copied to the correct location for it to be listed in the menu for your use in future.