In this article you will learn how to set up a live clip. This includes creating a live clip, setting up a stream (hosted by Blue Billywig or a third party), publishing the live clip and using additional features: pausing and recording a live stream.
1.0 | Create a live clip
In the Media Library:
- Click Upload & Transcode in the left sidebar menu
- Open the third tab “Live stream”
It’s possible to set up a:
- Blue Billywig live stream
- A third party stream
Set up a Blue Billywig live stream if you want Blue Billywig to handle the reception, processing and distribution of the live stream.
Set up a Third party stream if your stream is already hosted by a third party and merely needs to be rendered in the Blue Billywig Player.
2.0 | Set up a Blue Billywig live stream
Set up a Blue Billywig live stream if you want Blue Billywig to handle the reception, processing and distribution of the live stream.
A third party application is needed to make a connection between the video/audio source and the Blue Billywig live platform. If you currently don’t have a source application, we would recommend using OBS Studio (free).
2.1 | Configure stream type
- Title and Stream name
Stream names must be unique and may contain alphanumeric characters, dashes and underscores. The maximum allowed length is 24 characters. - Stream type: Video or Audio
Always choose the video option if you want to stream video and audio. For example, if you want to broadcast a live podcast, choose audio. - Ingested type: RTMP or Webdav
If you are unfamiliar with RTMP or Webdav, select RTMP. - Ingest variant: Simple or Multi
If you are unfamiliar with the meaning of simple or multi ingest variants, choose ‘simple’.
After clicking “Create Live stream” the “Streams” tab is opened automatically. The “Streams” tab displays both the stream details and ingest details:
2.2 | Stream details: Pause a live stream
By pausing a livestream, the thumbnail of the live stream will display. In the “Streams” tab of the live media clip:
- Check the option “Paused” and click “Save”.
- To resume your livestream: uncheck the “Pause” checkbox and save your settings.
It’s not possible to pause a live stream when the content is recorded.
2.3 | Stream details: Record a live stream
Recording your livestream makes the content of your stream available as an on-demand item in the OVP with the already associated metadata. In the “Streams” tab of the live media clip:
- Check the option “Recording” to enable recording and click “Save”.
- The live stream will be recorded as it’s ingesting content.
- After ingesting has stopped, the recording will appear in the Media Library as an on demand item.
Metadata applied to the live clip will be copied to the on demand recording.
2.4 | DVR (Digital Video Recorder)
Our live platform supports DVR, allowing viewers to rewind (and fast-forward) through live content that has been streamed. This feature is useful for viewers who might have missed a specific part of the live stream or want to rewatch certain parts.
Viewers are able to rewind up to 3 hours.
- Check the option “DVR” to enable DVR.
DVR is currently not supported in players initiated by our Native SDK.
2.5 | Ingest details: Connect to source application
Use the Ingest URL and Stream key in the source application you are using to record video or audio.
Both the ingest URL as well as the stream key must be entered in your source application to provide access to the live stream server:
Although it’s possible to pause a live stream in the OVP; use the source application to start or stop a livestream.
3.0 | Set up a Third Party live stream
Set up a Third party stream if your stream is already hosted by a third party and merely needs to be rendered in the Blue Billywig Player.
- After entering a title:
- Source URL
The source URL to be displayed in the player. - Stream type: Video or Audio
Always choose the video option if you want to stream video and audio. For example, if you want to broadcast a live podcast, choose audio. - Type, Bandwidth, Width and Height (optional)
Provide additional (optional) information about the type, bandwidth, width and height. You can edit/add these properties later. - Click “Create Live stream” to create a live media clip and proceed to the third section below (4.0 Publish a live stream).
DVR for streams hosted and maintained by a third party service is only supported when the source URL allows DVR.
4.0 | Publish and embed your live stream
Before embedding a live clip on your website, make sure to:
- Enter relevant metadata, such as a title, description and deep link. These fields can be found under the tab “Metadata” of the live clip (learn more about adding metadata):
- Upload a thumbnail for the live clip (learn more about thumbnails);
- Change the status from Draft to Published and click Save to save all changes (learn more about publishing a media clip).
To embed the live clip:
- Open to the “Embed” tab:
- Select the embed type and playout (learn more about playouts and embedding a media clip)
- Copy the generated embed code and place in your page’s source code to embed the live clip