answers to live streaming FAQs
I’ve heard a lot about SRT; What is SRT and how can it benefit my productions??

SRT is a relatively newer streaming protocol that allows for the “Secure, Reliable, Transport,” of video over networks, including the internet! Broadcasters use SRT as a very cost-effective and reliable means for sharing video from one location to another without the need for a VPN tunnel, satellite, or an intermediary server. For example, a visiting collage can send a live, high-quality video broadcast, back to their home school with just an SRT encoder and an internet connection.

What is the difference between NDI, NDI|HX and NDI|HX2 and why does it matter?

NDI®, the innovative network device interface technology from Newtek, on the whole is a game-changer for video production. NDI makes it possible to connect send and receive low-latency, high-quality, video across networks with relative ease. I used to like the “grades” of NDI to the grades of fuel for your car. “Pure” NDI is like premium fuel; It has the best quality, lowest latency, but “costs” the most in terms of bandwidth. It is perfect for “high-performance” networks.

NDI | HX was most like mid-grade fuel, where it easily works for most people and networks. Although NDI | HX still has amazing quality and just a hair more latency (like milliseconds), it takes up much less bandwidth, so it is perfect for almost any network. NDI|HX2 is most like ethanol. It has great performance, a lot of the features that make pure NDI awesome (like embedded metadata) but doesn’t cost you as much bandwidth as NDI.

What is cellular bonding and what is the cheapest way to implement it?

Cellular bonding is exactly as the name implies- it is the “bonding” of multiple connections to allow you the ability to have more bandwidth (or speed) for available for your connection. There is more- if one of your cellular connections goes down for whatever reason, it can failover to the other active connections in real-time and keep you going without disruption. In all of our testing and experience, Peplink and their SpeedFusion technology is the best bang-for-the-buck in terms of quality, functionality, and overall adaptability.

My audio sounds garbled on my stream but sounds excellent in my facility. Why?

Well, there are a lot of things that can cause distorted audio on a stream, but the most common issue stems from improper audio levels. For example, audio feeding into a sound system in a sanctuary or auditorium might have a lower level of gain being sent to the sound system, whereas the audio being sent to your encoder or streaming computer might be much higher (or “hotter”). Starting with a lower level of initial gain, begin checking the audio being sent to the encoder and/or streaming computer directly off of the mixer to ensure it sounds clear from the source. If clear, move on to the encoder or streaming computer (a.k.a. switcher) to ensure there is no added-gain being applied to the audio signal. This simple check should help to resolve the most common cause of audio distortion.

Why do some platforms allow me to stream for free and others charge a fee? Which is best?

Without claiming to be a lawyer or advisor on legal matters, it usually boils down to two things:

1. Ownership of the content

2. Monetization

The first—content ownership—always is a bit tricky as every platform defines “ownership” a bit differently. Some platforms give you the ability to stream for free as the “trade-off” for their having rights to your content. This also ties in with the monetization aspect as well. These free platforms use advertiser revenue to help cover their costs as well. When you “pay” a subscription fee to a platform, you usually are provided with more control over the rights of your content and therefore can monetize your content more easily as well.