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Streaming into Goldcast from other sources

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Contents

Overview

The RTMP In feature allows speakers and event organizers to broadcast livestreams from an external platform into a Goldcast Event. This process happens in realtime and is ideal for situations in which an event is being hosted somewhere other than the Goldcast platform (i.e. Zoom) but the event organizer would still like to provide virtual attendees with an interactive experience.

Recommended Streaming Specs

Video size:  16:9 aspect ratio
Video Resolution: Ideal resolution is 360
Video Bitrate:  4-5 Mbps
Video Frame rate:  24-30fps
Video codec:  H.264
Video Level:  240p, 360p or 480p
Video Profile: Any
GOP: 10-15
Audio Codec: AAC
Audio Bitrate: 128 Kbps, stereo
Audio Sample Rate: 44.1 KHz
Buffer image prior to the video: 1920 x 1080

Creating an RTMP Channel

Note: RTMP Channel feeds must be created at least 30 minutes prior to the event's start time to allow them to sync properly with the Goldcast platform.

The following information should be considered before you begin creating your channels:

  • Events can have up to five RTMP channels.
  • The RTMP feeds will not broadcast to your event prior to the event start time.
  • Once an RTMP channel has been connected to a stream and the channel is live, it cannot be deleted.

  1. Select the Advanced Settings tab on the Space page for your event.
  2. Select the Event RTMP Input tile.
  3. A popup will appear. Select the Create Channel button and enter a name for your RTMP channel in the provided field. Select the Create button to add the channel.
  4. A green RTMP Input created successfully message will appear with additional information about setting up your stream. You will also be provided with the Stream URL and Stream Key links that you will use to connect the channel to your external streaming platform.

 

Assigning an RTMP Channel to a Broadcast

Once you have created an RTMP channel, you will need to assign it to a Stage Agenda item. This will allow it to broadcast during your event.

Tip: 

You may assign multiple broadcasts to the same stream for an event. This may be useful if your event has multiple sessions throughout but each one is using the same source stream.

  1. Select Add Stage Agenda from the Agenda tab of the Space page for your event.
  2. A popup will appear. Select the RTMP Stream tile then click the Save button.

If you are unable to select the RTMP Stream broadcast tile, it is likely because you haven't set up any RTMP Channels. RTMP Channels must be set up before this broadcast type can be added to your agenda.

  1. Select an RTMP Channel from the dropdown and add additional broadcast information as needed. Once you have finished, click the Save button. 
  2. A green New broadcast added message will appear, indicating that the RTMP Stream broadcast has been added your agenda track(s).

Tip: 

If you would like to switch RTMP channels after a broadcast has gone live, you can do so by selecting the new channel from the RTMP Channel dropdown and updating the broadcast.

Connecting an RTMP Channel to an External Streaming Platform

Note: If you plan on connecting your RTMP Channel to a Zoom livestream, please review the platform's live streaming documentation in addition to the information provided in this section.

After you've created an RTMP Channel, you will be provided with the Stream URL and Stream Key that will be used to connect the channel to your livestream.

This information can be obtained from the Agenda tab on the Space page for your event as well as the Event RTMP Input menu in the Advanced Settings tab.

Select the icon that corresponds with the Stream URL and Stream Key you'd like to copy to your clipboard. We recommend storing it in a note or document to return to later.

While the exact location will vary depending on your platform, you will typically paste this information into fields provided in the  Stream Settings for your platform.

Testing an RTMP Channel

Before your event begins, you will want to test your RTMP Channels to ensure that the connection has been properly established.

The following statuses represent what phase a channel is in during the connection process:

Not accepting incoming stream RTMP Channel is not currently live.
Preparing to accept a stream RTMP Channel has been connected to an external streaming platform, but is still processing.
Ready to receive incoming stream RTMP Channel has been connected to and is currently streaming live video from an external platform.

RTMP Channel testing can be performed from the  Agenda tab on the Space page for your event as well as the Event RTMP Input menu in the Advanced Settings tab.

  1. Find the channel you would like to test and select its corresponding Test Rtmp In button.
  2. A popup will appear with additional information about RTMP stream testing. Review this information then select the Start Testing button.
  3. A green Channel is ready for testing! message will appear with information about the duration of the test as well as its end time.

And now we wait...

Once a RTMP channel has been connected to a stream, it is placed in a  Preparing to accept stream status. Channels in this status are still being configured by the system and need additional time before feeds begin streaming to the Goldcast platform. This process typically takes about ten minutes. After that, the stream test will run for two hours.

After ten minutes have passed, you will be ready to move on to the next step in the testing process.

  1. Select the Event Page link that corresponds to your event.

  1. Once you have entered the event, you will need to access the Liveness Control page. To do so, modify the end of the event URL so that it reads: https://events.goldcast.io/e/youreventidnumber/livenesscontrol
  2. Select the Start button for the broadcast you are testing.

  1. Select the Agenda link from the top menu and click the Join button for your broadcast.
  2. If your RTMP stream is playing live on the event stage, the stream has been connected successfully. Return to the Liveness Control page and click End.

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