EnableX Live Streaming
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HLS Streaming provides a number of advantages to streamers and
viewers, delivering higher
throughput, decreased latency and improved experience.
Feature | HLS Streaming | RTMP Streaming |
---|---|---|
Protocol | HTTP-based | Proprietary |
Adaptability | Adaptive bitrate | Fixed bitrate |
Player Support | Wide range of devices supported | Specialized player required |
Network Issues | Resilient to network interruptions and packet loss |
Mediocre performance on unreliable networks |
Quality Control | Can switch between different quality streams based on network and device |
Limited quality control |
Content Delivery | Can use CDNs for improved delivery speed |
Content delivered directly from server |
Offer students immersive experiences to learn. Retain students’ attention for longer
For stage shows, awards, concerts, or performances, offer a front row experience to everyone
Reduce barriers-to-purchase, develop deeper connections with customers to increase sales and retention
Transform your events by broadcasting globally with interactive features
Showcase products through live broadcasts, and enable shoppable links for real time commerce
Offer teleconsultations in remote areas, or build care experiences for patients at home
Build your own Twitch like stream, helping viewers interact with you while you game
Streaming shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg, Pay for what you use - pricing based on the number of viewers and the duration of the streaming session.
Learn MoreHLS Streaming (HTTP Live Streaming) allows you to stream video content to a large audience across multiple devices and locations in real-time. It supports adaptive bitrate streaming, ensuring the best possible video quality based on the available network bandwidth.
This technology is useful for hosting live events like webinars, conferences, and meetings. By linking a web-based video UI, you can define the view of your streaming which will be played across devices. Please read here for more information.
HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) and RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) are two different methods of streaming video content over the Internet. While RTMP is often touted as low latency, when used with popular public content delivery services like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube, there can be significant delays. In some cases, the latency can be as long as 30 seconds or even more, especially on platforms like YouTube where latency below 10 seconds is not guaranteed. On the other hand, HLS is known to provide a more immediate streaming experience, with latencies as low as 2-3 seconds. Latency refers to the delay in video streaming, and it is a crucial factor for maintaining user engagement. While many services claim to be low-latency, HLS stands out as a method that offers a closer-to-real-time experience, making it a preferred choice for interactive applications where low latency is important.
When deciding between HLS and RTMP streaming servers, the choice depends on specific needs and requirements.
HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) is a popular adaptive bitrate streaming protocol that is supported by most modern devices and platforms. It breaks down video content into small segments and streams them over HTTP, allowing for efficient delivery and playback across different networks and devices. HLS is particularly useful for live streaming events, as it can dynamically adjust video quality based on available bandwidth, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted viewing experience for audiences.
RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol), is an older streaming protocol that is primarily used for live video streaming. It relies on a dedicated media server for delivery and supports a variety of codecs and formats. RTMP can offer lower latency and higher-quality video streams than HLS, making it a better choice for applications requiring real-time interaction or high-fidelity videos, such as online gaming or sports broadcasting.
Video streaming works by transmitting compressed video data over the internet to a viewer's device. For HLS Streaming, for example, the linked Video UI is made to join the video room automatically, and an HLS Stream is created using the same view. As the Stream is ready, endpoints receive an HLS Stream URL to play in HLS Player. It supports adaptive bitrate streaming to get the best quality video based on available network bandwidth at the receiving end.
HLS Streaming helps to scale up your reach to a larger audience with your video session, meetings, and webinar in real-time. Audiences receive the best quality video streaming based on the available bandwidth at their end.
You can have a Video UI or HLS View in either of the following ways:
Use Default View: The simplest and quickest way is to use the default view for HLS Streaming, available with EnableX. There are limited customization options available.
Develop Custom View: To have a custom view, a Web-based Application needs to be developed, hosted over a publicly accessible ‘https’ URL and linked to the video room.
When choosing a cloud video streaming platform, consider factors such as cost, ease of use, scalability, features, and compatibility with your existing systems. For HLS Streaming, you can use a subscription-based service like the one provided by EnableX or other cloud video streaming platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) Elemental, Microsoft Azure Media Services, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Streaming.
The best API for video streaming will depend on your specific needs and use case. For example, the EnableX Video API supports features such as adaptive bitrate streaming, real-time analytics, and secure video transmission.
To add live streaming functionality to a website, you will need to use a video streaming platform or service that supports live streaming, such as the subscription-based service provided by EnableX or other platforms like Vimeo Livestream, YouTube Live, or Wowza Streaming Cloud. You can then embed a live streaming player on your website using HTML or a content management system (CMS) plugin.
You can stream video on WordPress by using a plugin such as Vimeo or YouTube Embed, which allows you to easily embed videos from these platforms on your WordPress site. Alternatively, you can use a video streaming service that supports WordPress integration, such as EnableX.
The average cost per online video stream will vary depending on the streaming platform or service you use and factors such as the video quality, number of viewers, and streaming duration. For example, the HLS Streaming service provided by EnableX is a subscription-based service that enables you to reach a larger audience with your video session. Connect to an Account Manager for a subscription.
To develop a live video stream app and website, you can use the EnableX Video API or SDKs such as Web SDK, Android SDK, or iOS SDK. These APIs and SDKs provide the tools and functionality needed to develop custom video streaming applications for different platforms.
WebRTC is a protocol designed for real-time, peer-to-peer communication over the web. It provides low-latency, high-quality video and audio streaming and is suitable for applications that require fast, reliable, and secure communication, such as video conferencing and online collaboration.
RTMP is a protocol that was developed for live streaming and is optimized for high-quality, one-way video streaming. It is well-suited for streaming to a large audience and supports advanced features such as low latency and closed captioning. However, it may not be the best choice for applications that require two-way communication or real-time interactions, as it can have higher latency than WebRTC.
If your application requires real-time, peer-to-peer communication, then WebRTC is the better choice for you. On the other hand, if you need to stream to a large audience and require advanced features such as closed captioning, then RTMP may be the better choice.
The amount of data required for streaming video will depend on factors such as the video quality, length, and number of viewers. Generally, 100GB of data should be sufficient for streaming several hours of standard-definition video to a moderate number of viewers, but higher quality or longer videos may require more data.
The best streaming software and server will depend on your specific needs and use case. Popular options for streaming software include OBS Studio, Wirecast, and vMix, while popular options for streaming servers include Wowza Streaming Engine, Adobe Media Server, and Nginx RTMP.