Streaming Questions

Stephanie Antonucci Leathe

Last Updated:

November 18, 2020

How do I connect my live stream to Altar Live?

To stream your service, all you need to do is copy and paste the video feed URL of your live event in the event details. Altar Live will automatically create embed code to fit within the Altar Live iframe. Check our list of streaming players to find instructions on how to find your stream URL for each platform.

What’s the difference between live and simulated live?

A live broadcast is happening in real-time. Simulated live broadcasts allow you to upload a pre-recorded video and schedule it to play at a specific time as if it were a live online event. Different from uploading a video file that someone can play on-demand, simulated live ensures all viewers who visit your page view the same stream and at the same point no matter when they joined. You can play a simulated live event if you connect to a live stream player like Facebook, YouTube, or Vimeo that allows you to stream an event as simulated live.

Why am I running out of RTMP hours?

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If you have connected software such as OBS via stream key, whenever you press "start streaming", you will be streaming to Altar Live's servers - even if you don't have an event set up. This will count against your total RTMP time (default 5 hours). If you use streaming software such as OBS, Wirecast, etc. with multiple services, or you simply want to avoid accidentally going live, we recommend making a separate settings profile for Altar. You can find out more about using profiles with OBS here!

Why will my livestream software not connect to Altar Live's RTMP server?

Here are some troubleshooting tips you can use if your livestream software is giving you error messages or not showing that it is connected to Altar Live:

Check your internet connection. This step might seem simple, but it's essential. Double-checking your current internet speed can also help you diagnose whether or not you're experiencing a temporary internet outage or lull that could be blocking the connection.

Double-check your stream URL and key. Well-intentioned streaming software sometimes adds additional characters to stream URLs and keys (sort of like spell-check but for streaming). Make sure both the stream key and URL in your software matches the stream key and URL you copied during event creation.

Reset your livestream studio software's settings and/or re-install. In some rare cases, there may be a setting or cached info blocking the connection. Consider making sure your software is up to date, resetting your software's streaming settings, or re-installing your software entirely.

My livestream software says it's connected, but I don't see the stream in Altar Live?

If your livestream software indicates it's connected to the Altar server, but the stream is not appearing in Altar Live, please try these troubleshooting steps:

Refresh the page. Sometimes a simple page refresh is all the stream needs to be viewed on your device.

Reduce your FPS. If you're experiencing connection issues, you may want to try reducing your FPS (frames per second) to 30 -even if your livestream software claims it can handle 60fps (this may require turning off your software's fps auto-adjustments). Higher frame rates require a ton of resources and bandwidth, and unless you are streaming a high-precision activity (such as gaming), the difference is minimal.

Reduce your target bitrate. While your streaming software will automatically adjust your bitrate dependent on the connection, attempts to send a live feed at too high of a bitrate may cause the connection to slow or fail. Consider lowing your software's target bitrate (this may mean overriding it's auto-detection).

Restart the connection. We recommend avoiding this if possible, but if you do turn the stream off and on again, be sure to wait at least 30 seconds before each disconnect and reconnect.

Publish the event at least 5 minutes before going live, and begin sending the livestream feed 2 minutes before the countdown ends. For the smoothest experience, events must be published at least 5 min before the start time set in event creation, and the livestream feed must be sent before the event begins (3-2 minutes before is a good target). For RTMP events, we also recommend not starting the stream early in by using the red "Go Live" button in the Auditorium. Following these guidelines helps to ensure that the server begins listening for and distributing the livestream at the appropriate time.

Why is my RTMP stream randomly stopping/disconnecting?

RTMP is a very powerful form of streaming, but the same features that make it powerful also make it resource-intensive. If your stream is randomly stopping, you can try the following steps to stabilize the connection:

Close background processes that may be taking bandwidth or memory. You'll want at least 5 Mbps upload speed for livestreaming itself - any other online programs such as Bible apps, email, etc. take precious bandwidth and will require higher speeds to run along side your stream. Consider closing any of these programs and tabs that are non-essential.
Even if a program or process does not use an internet connection, it can slow your computer down and interrupt your livestream. Consider completely closing any programs or processes that are non-essential while streaming (on Windows you can do this with the Task Manager, on Apple you can use the activity monitor).

Use a more stable form of connection. Wi-Fi is convenient and fast solution for internet connection. However, Wi-Fi networks often encounter imperceptible network drops. Usually these drops are so fast you wouldn't notice it while browsing the internet, sending messages, or even watching a videos. However, these short drops can interrupt your stream, regardless of how fast your connection is. If you have high-speed internet and are still having issues with your stream disconnecting, consider connecting your computer to your router using a tethered ethernet connection. Ethernet cables are inexpensive, easy to use, and are generally considered a staple for professional streaming, gaming, etc.

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Want to learn more about why Altar Live is the best engagement alternative? Read this: We Shut Off Church Online, and Survived!