The instructions outlined below apply after the release of the Version 15.1 SP5 Service Pack.
Sometimes, you want to stream externally-produced content directly into OnAIR (such as if your A/V partner or video producer is using professional software to mix or enhance the live stream), as part of your hybrid or virtual event.
This article includes technical specifications for your encoder to use yourself or supply to your A/V partner.
To see whitelisting and other protocols (to prevent video streaming being blocked by firewalls in security-conscious settings), please refer to this article.
Once you enable AIRCast for your event, you need to:
STEP 1 - Create Stream Channel(s)
In the Setup Panel, Presentations look for the heading: “Stream Channels”.
Click the PLUS icon to add a new channel:
You’ll need to name the channel and choose a location to stream from.
Note, streaming locations are set by our Content Delivery Network platform, so you need to choose based on where you'll be streaming from (if two streaming locations seem correct, you may want to consult a map and choose the closest to you for best results).
Click SAVE.
NOTE: You cannot change the region after creating the channel. If there's an error, you need to DELETE the channel and create a new one.
Make sure you create enough channels for your event.
If you have concurrent sessions, you CANNOT put them on the same channel. You need one channel for each agenda track.
STEP 2 - Check the channel(s) you've created
Under Stream Channels, you'll now be able to select the channel you just created, and check that:
the region name is showing; AND
the RTMP Server URL and Stream id/Key are both showing.
If these aren't showing, go back to Step 1, delete the channel and try again.
STEP 3 - Add the correct Stream Channel to each session
In each session requiring live streaming, under the OnAIR tab, check the box for “Enable Live Streaming"
Then for Delivery Mode, select either:
AIRCast RTMP OR Stream to AV partner
and select your chosen stream channel from the dropdown list.
After selecting the channel, you’ll see the RTMP Server and Stream Id/Key appear in the session details.
Encoder settings
IMPORTANT: USE THESE ENCODER SETTINGS / GIVE THEM TO YOUR A/V PARTNER TO ENSURE COMPATIBILITY
Resolution: | 1920 x 1080 px |
Encoder: | x264 |
Rate Control: | CBR |
Keyframe Interval: | 0 (seconds) |
Profile: | baseline |
Bit Rate: | 4500 Kbps-6000 Kbps [4.5Mbps - 6Mbps] |
CPU Usage Preset: | veryfast |
Tune: | zerolatency |
Real-Time Streaming - B-frames
For more stable real-time or low-latency RTMP streams, you may need to check that B-frames are not enabled (bf=0 / Baseline profile).
B-frames require referencing both past and future frames, which forces frame reordering and buffering in the encoder and decoder. In low-latency streaming pipelines, this buffering can introduce timing instability and visible jitter, particularly when network delivery is not perfectly consistent.
Disabling B-frames ensures frames can be decoded in the same order they are received, reducing buffering requirements and improving playback stability in real-time workflows.
Wowza support also recommends setting B-frames to 0 for RTMP workflows to Wowza Video.
For non-real-time streaming (VOD or high-latency CDN delivery), you may choose to enable B-frames to improve compression efficiency.