This article describes how to configure an RTMP upstream in your STREAMBOXY videoplatform and which encoder settings are required.

Prerequisites

1. You have a Live Encoder that outputs RTMPs, is TLS 1.2 capable and supports Constant Bitrate Streaming - CBR (e.g. Telestream Wirecast from 13.0.2, OBS Studio, VMIX, Cambria Live from 4.3, FFmpeg, Haivision KB)
   Due to serveral negative experiences, we currently don't recommend Restream in combination with STREAMBOXY.
   
   
2. Your internet upstream speed is at least 12 Mbits für a fluid 1080p stream with 30 Frames per second
   
   
3. Your firewall allows outgoing TCP-Connections over port 2935 and 2936 (RTMPS), optional as Fallback TCP-Port 1935 and 1936 (RTMP)
   
   
4. You have created a Livestreamin STREAMBOXY and have the authorization to manage the upstream (You are at least speaker)

In case of problems and malfunctions during your livestream, you will find possible causes, possible solutions and recommendations in our Livestream Troubleshooting Guide. 

Caution: Livestreams without conncected encoder will be stopped after 30 minutes.

Proven upstream settings

Below we have compiled a list of proven settings for a good upstream result for you

Streaming Best Practices

Stream Connection

• Use a wired connection if possible and make sure your connection has at least the double amount of upstream bandwidth of your planned streaming bitrate
• Check, especially in corporate networks if your Streaming Ports are not blocked by a firewall 
• Use a second identical Encoder with another Internet Connection and STREAMBOXY's high available Livestream feature.

Stream Stability 

• If you are using a software encoder, please close all other unnecessary programs
• Changing the encoder configuration once the stream was started can impact the Stream in a negative way. Reset the stream using the STREAMBOXY reset feature (described below) if you have changed encoder settings
• Test and validate new Encoder Hard- or Software versions before you use them in production. The Encoders described here, are not regularly checked for updates, etc.
• Monitor your Streaming Hardware resources (CPU, RAM, etc.), since encoding may exhaust your hardware resources
  
  

Stream execution and organization

• Conduct a dry run a few days prior to your event, this included in the STREAMBOXY license and ensures that you are ready and rehearsed when its showtime
• Reserve some time to get everything ready for setting up the stream. We recommend starting the streaming in preview mode 30-60 min before showtime
• Start your stream at least 15 minutes before the program start for Attendees and play Trailer etc. as a placeholder which should contain audio or background music
  This allows Attendees to check Video and Audio and maybe get some support before the main program starts
• Check the Attendee experience with a dedicated device, so that you can check what everyone is currently seeing
• Distribute Video- & Sound- Operation and content moderation to different people so that everyone can focus on their job

Static Upstream URLs

• STREAMBOXY offers static upstream endpoints within specific conditions. Rule of thumb: You get a new set of URLs every time you reset your session.
• You can avoid resetting your session, by pausing your upstream.
  • Request your URLs, configure your encoder and try upstreaming or dry run your production setup. If you want to keep your upstream URLs do not change the sessions state to 'Running', but pause your upstream.
• Please always reset your session if you want to stream with changed encoder settings, especially after a change in resolution, FPS or bitrate.

Setting up, starting, and ending of Streams in STREAMBOXY

Gather the Upstream Key in STREAMBOXY

A Livestream can be played either in the main room or in individual breakout rooms. In case you want to start a Livestream in a Breakout Room, you need to navigate there first.

Open the Room for speaker

To request the upstream URL, the room must be opened for speakers. This allows anyone with this role to make the streaming settings and view the preview.

1. Open the STREAMBOXY Stage as Speaker or Administrator and Navigate to the desired Breakout room with the Livestream
   
   
2. Open the Session Administration Panel using the Tools Icon in the left navigation bar.
   
   
3. Click on the Button "Open Room"
   

The following panel appears with the stream URL. Click on Create livestream.
The upstream URL is automatically generated and displayed as the primary and secondary upstream URL. 

The Secondary upstream URL allows you to send a Backup Stream in case one encoder, internet connection or Datacenter goes down.

Please note that booth upstream encoders & configurations need to be identical in order for a failover to work. 

You'll find more information about high available livestreams in this article.

These can then be copied to the clipboard by clicking on the copy field and then used for the configuration of the encoder. 
Furthermore you need to copy the generated Secret key in your encoder as well.

Start Upstream

Click on the button "Start Livestream". 

Important:

Please start the upstream in STREAMBOXY before you start it in your encoders. Starting the stream can take up to 20 minutes.

Otherwise some encoder might have problems resolving the Stream Url due to DNS caching.

In case you run in that issue you can manually empty dns caches. For Software encoder see this guide (external Link).

If you have not already done so, you will be asked to start the livestream in your streaming software. 

Detailed information on starting the livestream with different software can be found in the link.

Note: If your stream is inactive ( no incoming streaming signal) for more than 30 minutes, it gets ended automatically and you will have to restart the process again

Configure and start your encoder with the upstream URL

Configure the encoder with the generated upstream URL and start the stream.

We recommend the freeware OBS Studio as software encoder, because of the simple configuration of OBS Studio for STREAMBOXY.

As soon as you have started the live stream in your streaming software, this will be displayed in the stage. 

Please note that it may take a few seconds to display the live stream. 

The preview is only visible for speakers and administrators, participants cannot see the preview. 

Check the preview in STREAMBOXY

After successful configuration and start of the stream in the encoder, you will see the preview of the stream.

The preview is only displayed to you and all other speakers or administrators, the participants still see a waiting screen.

The functions of the Livestream Preview Player are identical to the functions of the Participant Player. Except, that the participants won't ever see the Livestream controls.

Stage when the preview of the livestream is displayed:

Start live stream for participants and recording

You can only start the live stream for participants after connecting to an encoder. To start for participants, click on the button "Start for participants".

From now on, the participants will also see the livestream. In addition, the recording is started from this point. 

Ending the livestream

To end the livestream in STREAMBOXY, click the "Stop Session" button.

This ends the stream for the participants as well as the recording of the stream.

Confirm the end of the live stream by clicking on "Yes". 

Reset session

You can reset the session at any time after "opening the room" by clicking on the "Reset session" button and then confirming this. 

This will take you to the point where you must first open the room.