RTMP Streaming: How Does It Work and Where to Use It?
RTMP Streaming: How Does It Work and Where to Use It?
What is RTMP streaming?
Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) is a popular protocol that is widely used for streaming audio and video content over the internet and supported by platforms such as YouTube Live, Twitch and Facebook Live. It helps to reduce the delay between the time the video is captured and when it is displayed on the audience’s screen.
This makes it essential for live events such as sports broadcasts, concerts, and an excellent pro-standard feature for gaming and other similar activities. RTMP streaming works by creating a persistent connection between a streaming server and the viewer. The server sends the video and audio data in small chunks, which the viewer can playback in real-time.
The protocol also supports adaptive streaming, allowing the server to dynamically adjust the quality and bitrate of the video and audio stream based on the client’s network conditions. If your internet connection is slow, the server will reduce the bitrate of the video stream to ensure smooth playback.
Streaming platforms that support RTMP
RTMP is a popular and widely supported protocol and supported by hundreds of streaming platforms and thousands of private servers. The Streamster app boasts a list of 50+ platforms that support the protocol.
The most popular streaming platforms that support RTMP streaming include:
YouTube Live: YouTube Live supports RTMP streaming for live events and broadcasts. Users can stream to YouTube Live using a variety of RTMP-enabled encoders and software.
Twitch: Twitch is a popular live streaming platform for gaming and esports and supports RTMP streaming for live broadcasts.
Facebook Live: Facebook Live allows users to stream live videos to their followers on the platform. The platform supports RTMP streaming for live events and broadcasts.
Vimeo Live: Vimeo Live is a live streaming platform that supports RTMP streaming for live events and broadcasts.
Custom RTMP servers
Custom RTMP servers are servers built and configured specifically for RTMP streaming using open-source streaming server software such as Nginx RTMP module, Red5, or Node-Media-Server. Then they are hosted on a dedicated server or in the cloud, depending on the project’s requirements.
By choosing a custom RTMP server instead of an off-the-shelf version, you’ll:
- Enjoy greater control and flexibility over the streaming process.
- Be able to customize your server can be customized to optimize performance, adjust quality settings, and handle large volumes of traffic.
- Can integrate with other services such as content delivery networks (CDNs) to improve the quality and reliability of the stream.
RTMP in Streamster
Streamster services use RTMP protocol for the multistream. Choose from one of the 50+ easy-to-use preset platforms or alternatively set up your own by using the ‘Custom RTMP’ channel. To start streaming to a specific RTMP channel, you need to know the server RTMP URL and your personal Stream key.
RTMP URL Many platforms have a preset RTMP URL so you don’t need to set it up. Others will require you to enter this manually. Simply enter your individual RTMP URL into the space provided if required.
Stream key A stream key is a unique identifier that is used to connect your streaming software or encoder to a specific streaming server for RTMP streaming. This is important for security, authentication, control, and quality and ensures that only authorized sources can stream to a particular server or platform. This is why you’ll always need to enter your stream key when setting up your streaming channel in Streamster.
