The document provides an overview of live streaming from A to Z. It discusses signal flow and workflow, encoding options, connectivity and CDNs, and players. The key steps for live streaming are having a video source, encoder, entry and exit points on a CDN, and a player. Encoding options include software or hardware encoding on site or in the cloud. Connectivity requires a reliable high-speed internet connection. CDNs deliver streams through points of presence and support live streaming protocols. Players detect devices and switch between renditions to ensure a smooth playback experience across different screens and connections.

1. Live Streaming from A to Z
Carl Rutman, Senior Solutions Engineer

2. Agenda
Live Streaming A to Z
Signal Flow & Workflow
Encoding Options
Connectivity & CDN
Players
Demo
Q&A
2 | Confidential © 2013 Brightcove Inc.

3. Live Streaming A to Z
Confidential
3|

4. What is Live Streaming?
Live Streaming is the ability for you to
send a video signal, in real time, to
your viewers.
For example:
As a Brightcove publisher,
I want to stream my events Live!
As a Brightcove publisher,
I want to have a Live, 24/7 Internet
Video Stream.
4 | Confidential © 2013 Brightcove Inc.

5. Steps to stream live
1 You must have some type of video
source, this can be either live video or
pre-recorded content.
2 You must have some type of
encoder, either software based or
hardware based.
3 You must have an entry-point and
an exit point on a CDN.
4 You must have a player which plays
the stream appropriate to the device.
5 | Confidential © 2013 Brightcove Inc.

6. Signal Flow & Workflow

7. Live Streaming Overview
© 2013 Brightcove Inc.

8. On-site vs. in-cloud
On-Site Advantages; In-Cloud Advantages;
Reliable hardware – Best for locations with low connectivity
Less risk for well connected locations – Deliver to all devices at a much lower cost
Complete control of signal quality to encoder – Increased stream quality due to scalability
8 | Confidential © 2013 Brightcove Inc.

9. On-site detailed overview
© 2013 Brightcove Inc.

10. In-cloud Detailed overview
© 2013 Brightcove Inc.

11. Encoding Options

12. Options for live streaming
• Software Only Encoding On Site
– This is great for low budget productions, and has the ability to deliver a live stream to almost any Flash
Enabled device.
• Software Encoding On Site with In-Cloud Transcoding
– This is perfect for sites with poor connectivity, or low cost solutions that require delivery to all devices.
• Hardware Encoding On Site
– Are essential for a mission critical live event, with high quality, high availability bandwidth and a large
production.
© 2013 Brightcove Inc.

13. What do you send?
• You have many options for encoding live streams. How do you decide which are right?
– Best Practices;
Understand the various devices and their native screen sizes you plan to deliver to.
•
Estimate the bandwidth available for your target audience.
•
Evaluate the size of the player as it will be displayed on the web page.
•
In most cases, a top rendition of 1280x720p feed, at about 2 – 2.5 Mbps will very high quality.
•
Test and confirm the bandwidth available to you on site.
•
Review budgets to understand if limiting the streaming options will be required to stay on budget for
•
bandwidth consumption by users.
•
Choose up to 10 renditions from the following list and modify their sizing to match your player and
device displays;
13 | Confidential © 2013 Brightcove Inc.

14. List of common renditions, based on various needs
14 | Confidential © 2013 Brightcove Inc.

15. Connectivity & CDN
Confidential
15 |

16. The Internet
• What’s Required?
– A high speed, high quality, rock solid connection. Most hardware encoders will need at least a 10 Mbps “up”
pipe available for them, to stream 6-10 renditions.
• What if that’s not available?
– Then you should consider using an in-cloud transcoding service, like Zencoder. This allows you to send up a
2 Mbps 720p rendition (best practice) and receiving multiple renditions and multiple formats, delivered to all
devices.
• What if that’s not available either?
– You can try to send a smaller, and lower quality signal up to the cloud for transcoding. Some customers have
reported descent results by sending a 500kbps 640x360, and having it transcoded to all devices.
• Wi-Fi? LTE? 4G?
– While these technologies are becoming more and more common, their connectivity is still spotty, and
ultimately, they may not be able to sustain a single, solid stream. However, there are ways to leverage several
of these together, to get a solid connection.
© 2013 Brightcove Inc.

17. CDN
• To stream your live event, you’ll need a Content Delivery Network to deliver the resulting live stream.
– Some key items to considers;
The number of Points of Presence in your target region or, the world
•
The ability to deliver live stream HLS segments (HTTP Live Streaming Protocol)
•
The capacity to support a large amount of concurrent viewers
•
The availability of DVR for your live stream
•
Various security options for Live Streams (i.e.: HLSe AES-128, SWF+V, RTMPe, TTL, etc)
•
17 | Confidential © 2013 Brightcove Inc.

18. Players
Confidential
18 |

19. Playing back your live stream, to your viewers
• Ultimately, after you’ve created all of your renditions for your live stream, you still have to deliver them to the end
user in a way in which their device can ingest it, and offer a manual or automated option to switch between these
renditions, based on screen size, connectivity and CPU Utilization.
– For example, the Brightcove Player loads, and performs the following checks;
•
Detects user agent, and loads in Flash or HTML5, based on device capability.
•
Receives rendition list, and has the ability to move between the renditions based on needs.
•
Evaluates the display size and CPU utilization to ensure a smooth playback experience.
• You will also want to ensure that the player has the ability to monetize your content, based on your needs.
– Advertising Delivery to all platforms
– Paywall options for all platforms
– App Compatibility for App Delivered content
© 2013 Brightcove Inc.

20. Demo
Confidential
20 |

21. To get started
• Here is what you need to get started
– An Entry Point
– A Username and Password for that Entry Point
– Rendition List
– A Stream Name (or Names, based on your Rendition List)
•
This, you make up, but may need to formulate based on requirements (event_angle_bitrate@epcode)
– An Exit Point
– Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder or Wirecast (for our demo purposes)
– A Brightcove Account (for CDN info and Player Playback)
– Zencoder (optional, but for delivery to all devices)
© 2013 Brightcove Inc.

22. Q&A

23. Thank you