With Livestream Studio, you can send a stream from a third-party encoder via RTMP directly to Studio and bring that stream in as a source.
Important: In order for this feature to work successfully, your network must have Port 1935 open to both TCP and UDP communication, as it is a UDP connection. This port also needs to be forwarded to the internal IP address of the machine using the server.
If your encoder is streaming to Studio from an external location (i.e. not from the same network), you must ensure that both systems are on a public-facing IP address in order for your encoder and Studio to communicate with each other.
Speak with your IT administrator if your network requires these changes to be made.
RTMP Input Basics
Go to Inputs and navigate to Add Input > Stream > RTMP Server.
To configure the RTMP server, select the gearwheel icon to the right of the RTMP server input.
By default, authentication is turned off. If you would prefer to have a username and password affiliated with your RTMP Server, click Change Settings.
This will open the RTMP Server tab in Studio's settings. Check Authentication and enter the desired username and password; then click Save.
Scroll down in the General tab; your RTMP URL and Stream Name* are displayed in this menu.
To save time copying and pasting, Studio gives you the option to Download FMLE Settings, which you can then import into your encoder.
In your third-party encoder (e.g., Wirecast, OBS, etc.), open your RTMP settings and enter the RTMP URL and Stream Name* from Studio into the corresponding fields.
*The "Stream Name" in Studio refers to what most encoders call the "Stream Key."
If you enabled authorization, enter your RTMP Input's username and password into your third-party encoder.
Start streaming from your third-party encoder to your RTMP Input.
In the Livestream Studio multi-view, the video output from your third-party encoder will appear in your RTMP Input.
You can transition your RTMP Input into Program, just as you would with any other source. When you end the stream from your third-party encoder, the source will no longer be visible in Livestream Studio.
Advanced Settings
In the RTMP input's General settings, scroll down to find additional settings.
Checking Transition to Program will automatically switch the RTMP input into Program as soon as Studio receives the stream. Select your Transition to program mode, which allows you to choose whether your input will Cut or Auto-Transition into Program once the stream is received.
Next is Start Stream, which can prompt Studio to automatically start streaming to your selected provider(s) in Livestream Studio (e.g. Livestream) as soon as it receives the RTMP input.
When RTMP stream ends allows you to select what Livestream Studio should do when you stop streaming from your third-party encoder. The options are:
- No Action: Studio will not react to the RTMP stream stopping
- Stop Streaming: Studio will end its stream. Check the Stream tab to a prompt on what to do with your stream's archive on the selected streaming destination (e.g. save as draft, post, delete).
- Switch to Preview and Keep Streaming: Studio will continue streaming, but transition the Preview source into Program.
With these settings enabled, your RTMP source will now automatically appear in Program and Livestream Studio will start streaming to your chosen provider without any additional action needed.
You can also configure RTMP input settings via Livestream Studio Web Control.
Troubleshooting
If you attempt to stream from your encoder and are unable to reach the RTMP server, it could be that Studio is not displaying your machine's internal IP address. Follow the steps below to get the correct IP address
Go to your Windows network settings and find your connection status; click Local Area Connection.
Select Details.
The IPv4 Address is the IP address that you need. Replace this with the IP address displayed in RTMP URL in your encoder (e.g. rtmp://10.20.30.40/live). The stream name remains the same.
If you are using a Mac system, open System Preferences > Network. Use the IP Address listed here in the RTMP URL.
You should now be able to go live to your Studio RTMP server.