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SECTION 18.3 CONNECTION OPTIONS
The process of configuring a Connection (preset) begins with selecting the item “Create Connection from current URL ...” from the Connection menu at left. This action will immediately open a dialog entitled Choose Configuration Type. The options available are as shown in Figure 300.
After selecting a Connection Type and clicking OK, the Name field in the main Configure Stream Connection panel is highlighted, to encourage you to supply a descriptive name for the preset.
TriCaster’s first encoding and streaming alternative is the RTMP protocol, popularized by Adobe Flash®. In determining whether you should choose RTMP or another encoding method for your own purposes, you might find it helpful to review the section titled Live Streaming in Section 18.6.1.
When you select RTMP as the Connection Type, the controls presented in the header of the Configure Stream Connection panel update accordingly.
The first thing you might notice is the Streaming Settings menu at left (Figure 301). This drop-down selector lets you choose from a prepared list of streaming profiles, labeled to show their respective resolution and bandwidth settings.
At right, you will see the Server control group (Figure 302), where you will enter the specific parameters required by your streaming service (or CDN – Content Delivery Network). Let’s consider the information you need to complete this successfully.
The Username and Password are supplied to you by the streaming service, and are specific to your account. Location (also referred to as the Server Address) is the address TriCaster will send the stream to (this is supplied to you by the service provider).
The Stream ID may or may not be provided, depending on the service provider; in some cases you can simply enter a custom ID number.
Many service providers will supply you with a streaming profile in the form of an XML file. If this is the case, you can click the button labeled Import Settings From File, navigate to and select the XML file, and TriCaster will automatically import the Location and Stream ID values for the Connection.
Note: By design, the Import feature does not automatically change the Resolution profile you have selected at left. You should ensure that this setting is compatible with your service.
BROWSE (IMPORT A CUSTOM PROFILE)
A related function involves the ability to directly import a custom Resolution profile. You might create such a profile for a specific purpose (using either the Flash Media Live Encoder® or Windows Media Encoder® application installed on your TriCaster), or download it from a streaming service.
The Browse item at the bottom of the Streaming Settings menu allows you to select an appropriate file in a system file explorer, which is then copied to the correct location for it to be listed in the menu for your use in future.
Note: the nearby Delete button allows you to dispose of unused imports of this type. The default Resolution profiles cannot be deleted, however.
One other Flash-related detail deserves mention. The first time you configure a RTMP stream, a webpage applet may pop-up up a configuration dialog asking you to permit Adobe Flash Player to access your TriCaster audio and video devices.
Click Allow, and checkmark Remember, too. Then, in turn, click the ‘microphone’ button and ‘webcam’ button, selecting TriCaster’s audio and video devices from the drop down menus provided.
(If you ever need to open this panel again, you can get to the settings by right-clicking on a flash applet in the browser, and select Settings.)
If you are streaming internally (to people in your building or inside your own corporate firewall), Pull streaming may well provide the easiest approach.
That said, Pull is not a universal solution. Since your stream may be constrained by lower bandwidth than a commercial streaming service typically offers, Pull streaming may falter when more than a few users are viewing the stream.
For a Pull Connection Type, the Location field attempts to automatically display the Internet address you would provide viewers, or in some cases, your streaming service provider. This the IP (Internet Protocol) address of your computer on the network. This information will be provided as ‘punctuated’ numeric value.
IMPORTANT Note: routers provide a measure of network security by masking the details of systems connected to them, thus preventing direct external access.
If TriCaster is connected to the network by a router, the IP number shown in the location field is only valid for viewers connected on the same side of the router as your TriCaster (as they might be in a local intranet configuration.)
The Location provided in this case is merely a local number assigned by the router, and is not accessible to the world at large. To find out how to provide external access to your stream in this configuration, please see Section 18.8, Diagnostics and Troubleshooting, for information on routers and “port forwarding”.
You can provide any clients or streaming providers this address. Entering this address into the File menu of Windows Media Player® (using copy, and pasting it into the Open URL window) will direct the player to show the stream from your system on client computer system(s) connected to the Internet.
Hint: Most web browsers can be also configured to invoke a compatible player when required, as well, but using WMP directly in this fashion may save some steps.
Beyond this, simply select a suitable profile from the Resolution menu for your need. Once you are done setting up the connection, click OK to close the panel. Your live program stream will be sent continuously to the network while the Stream button is enabled.
A Push Connection Type is often the most convenient method, especially in cases where TriCaster is connected behind a firewall. Push streaming is also usually simpler when you need to stream from major venues (such as hotels or convention centers). The program stream passes quietly out through any firewalls or routers between the facility and your streaming server.
Also, once your streaming provider has provided you the connection specifics, you can resume the stream at any time without intervention from the server. When a Push profile is chosen, the Server control group updates to allow entry of the (pre- arranged) host web address (Location), Username and Password.
Note: The publishing point is placed at the end of the URL, following a forward slash (i.e., http://225.21.1.4:8080/NewTek).
Enabling the Stream button then “pushes” the stream from your location, logging into the pre-arranged web address using the username and password you provided. The streaming service then re-transmits your stream for all to see.
Note: You will find information on the use of custom streaming profiles including MBR (multi-bitrate) options at Section A.7.3 in Appendix A.
The basic Browser Based connection option can arguably be thought of as the lowest common denominator, and also the least demanding approach in terms of learning curve for you, the operator. No local settings are required for this connection type (beyond the URL) of the streaming site you intend to use.
Many of the organizations providing streaming services offer free accounts with limited capabilities and options (often ad-sponsored). These arrangements can be just what you need to get started experimenting with live streaming, or may even satisfy all of your needs in this regard. Generally, the companies involved also offer paid-for accounts as upgrades. The benefits may include such things as removing ads, more streaming options (such as higher bitrate and resolutions or multi-bitrate streaming), two-way live chat, and so-on.
Note: The steps involved in creating an account with a streaming service provider and configuring the stream vary widely, and unfortunately cannot really be dealt with in depth here. Generally, though, they are pretty simple, and providers offer step by step information and support through their sites. And, of course, NewTek’s own TriCaster forum membership can often offer helpful hands-on experience and advice.
Once configured on the remote site, you can audition your streaming broadcast using the Stream button in the Dashboard at the top of the Live Desktop panel. If you do not wish to archive your stream, disable the Archive File switch beforehand.
Hint: Some services may show you what they are receiving from TriCaster when you press Test or Stream, but do not actually broadcast that stream until you indicate that you are ready to go ‘on air’, using controls on the website.
For Browser Based streaming, the encoding of your program into a stream for transmission to the service provider (and ultimately beyond, to your Internet audience) is performed by an applet running on the website.
As mentioned before, however, this arrangement often doesn’t give you as much control or as many options as you might want. Other Connection Type options are more hands-on in this respect, but require you to manually select related settings, as discussed next for each type.
Hint: Password-protected streams are an option with certain CDN accounts. In some cases (where Flash is used to provide the client side password support), using this option will mean that iOS devices cannot view the stream. This is not a TriCaster issue, per se, but something you can discuss with your streaming service if it arises.