To select the optimal settings for your Peatix Live event, it is important that you fully grasp your broadcasting environment (e.g., the upload speed of your internet connection, the specs of your PC) and find the matching settings.
First, please check that your PC and internet connection meet the required specifications by referring to this help page: What are the required specifications for running Peatix Live events?
Then, follow the details below to find the optimal settings for your event.
Use the recommended streaming settings
If your streaming software is OBS Studio
Please see the “Recommended streaming settings” section of the Broadcast page (under the “Stream Setup” tab). The default settings are “720p (HD)” for “Video size” and “Standard” for “Video quality”. Enter the values displayed on the right, such as “Encoder”, “Bitrate”, etc., into the corresponding fields on OBS Studio.
* For the latest information on OBS Studio, please check the official website.
If your streaming software is StreamYard
When streaming from StreamYard to Peatix Live, you will only need to select the “Broadcast quality” (there is no need to enter “Bitrate”, “Frame rate” and other information separately). By default, the “Broadcast quality” is set to “High Definition (720p)”. Check the settings and start broadcasting.
* For the latest information on StreamYard, please check the official website.
If you will be using streaming software other than the ones above, refer to the official website and help pages for the software of your choice.
Run a test stream and monitor its health
Once the recommended streaming settings have been entered, start running a test stream. For detailed steps on how to start running a stream, check this help page: How to livestream using Peatix Live ("Conduct test runs before going live").
After you begin running a test stream, please monitor its health by first checking the information displayed on your streaming software. If you are using OBS Studio, you will find information such as “Dropped Frames” and status signal at the bottom of the screen. Monitor these to determine whether your stream is stable or not.
Example of a stable stream
- Dropped Frames: 0
- Status signal: Green
- Bitrate (shown on the right of status signal): 3170kb/s (close to the value entered into OBS Studio: 3000kb/s)
You can conclude that your stream is stable if you continue testing for a while and the condition above continues.
Example of an unstable stream
- Dropped Frames: 396 (there are many dropped frames, and the percentage of dropped frames is also high)
- Status signal: Red
- Bitrate (shown on the right of status signal): 4272kb/s (quite different from the value entered into OBS Studio: 6000kb/s)
You can conclude that your stream is unstable if the status signal turns red or orange, or the number of dropped frames is high. It is possible that your bitrate is too high, so we suggest lowering it bit by bit until the status signal turns and stays green.
After confirming the stability of your stream on streaming software, return to the Peatix Live Broadcast page. The stream status indicator changes from "Offline" to "Preview", and you will see your test video clip shown on the stream monitor. Watch the video to make sure that your stream is running smoothly (i.e., it is not freezing or lagging).
Please also click the “Stream health” tab on the Broadcast page and monitor the stream health.
There are four stream health categories:
- Excellent
- Good
- Fair
- Poor
Along with stream health, you will also find a tip on how to optimize your stream. If you see any values that need to be replaced, enter these into the corresponding fields on your streaming software and check the stability of your stream.
Tips for delivering a higher quality viewing experience
If your stream is stable and would like to try delivering a higher quality viewing experience, we suggest you adjust the “Recommended streaming settings” section of the Broadcast page (under the “Stream Setup” tab).
For example, the values for “Bitrate” and “Resolution” go up when you change the “Video size” from “720p (HD)” to “1080p (Full HD)”. Enter these values into the corresponding fields on your streaming software and check the condition of your stream. We also recommend changing the “Video quality” from “Standard” (default setting) to “High”.