Live Streaming Basics

When you choose the right camera, you're taking the first step to ensure your viewers receive a high-quality broadcast.

Most modern cameras and webcams attach to a computer (or "encoder") using a USB cable, capture card, or over your computer network. Higher resolution cameras will render a cleaner broadcast to your viewers. We recommend streaming with a camera that provides 1280x720 resolution (or higher), commonly referred to as 720p HD.

PTZ Cameras

A PTZ camera is a robotic camera that pans, tilts, and zooms. eCatholic LIVE powered by StreamSpot offers some of the best HD PTZ cameras on the market. Check out StreamSpot's Streaming Equipment Page for a complete list of recommended camera models.
Purchase PTZ cameras

Use the Larix Broadcaster app to turn your phone or tablet into a mobile broadcast studio.

Audio and video is captured using your built-in camera and microphone on your iOS or Android device and is broadcast directly to your viewers. You can use a WiFi connection or your cellular 3G, 5G, or LTE network to transmit. Simply point your device at what you want your viewers to see.

Turn your stream into a full production using a video switcher. Switchers allow you to input multiple cameras or video sources and "switch" between them with transitions for a professional-looking broadcast.

There are many hardware-based switchers on the market to choose from and they all work perfectly with eCatholic LIVE.

Introducing the StreamSpot ONE Gen3 Encoder the [simplified] way to stream! This encoder 100% automated, self-configuring encoder from StreamSpot. No setup, no configuration, no buttons to push or switches to flip.

Simply set your broadcast schedule and the StreamSpot ONE Gen3 takes care of the rest!
Learn More

The computer (or "encoder") is the device that will combine your audio and video into the broadcast your viewers will see. It is very important that your encoder meets the specifications below for a quality broadcast.

If you are using a PC:

• Intel Pentium 4 - 3Ghz or faster processor or AMD equivalent (Intel Core i3 or higher recommended)
• 2GB Installed RAM (4GB or higher recommended)
• 100GB Hard Drive
• Windows 7+

If you are using a Mac:

• Intel Based Mac, MacBook or Mac Mini (Intel "Core i3" or higher recommended)
• OSX Tiger or higher

You can easily capture the output from your audio and video devices using the built-in sound card on your computer or a third-party capture card. If you are using an IP camera, the video is captured using your network.

Detailed setup instructions for every possible equipment scenario are available in the eCatholic LIVE customer portal after you start your free trial.

Note: If you are using a laptop to encode, and would like to use StreamSpot Sync® Automation* to automatically start/stop your broadcast, you must use a PC as your encoder. This automation feature does not work on a Mac.

*Available for Premier and Pro packages only.

Capture cards allow you to input your audio and video devices into your computer for encoding. Here are a few that work great with StreamSpot:

Magewell USB Capture HDMI Plus

A compact single-channel HDMI video/audio capture device with a built-in scaler. It also offers a loop-through HDMI port for local monitoring. Works with PC, Mac, Linux (USB 2.0 or Higher).

>> Shop for Magewell USB Capture HDMI Plus - B&H Photo | Amazon
 

Magewell USB Capture SDI Plus

A single-channel 2K capture device that interfaces with your computer via USB 3.0.  It features a loop-through BNC input/output that allows you to see your video on a downstream device, while you are capturing it on your computer. You can also capture audio directly, without picture, or de-embed audio from the SDI stream. Works with PC, Mac, Linux.

>> Shop for Magewell USB Capture SDI Plus - B&H Photo | Amazon

Have a different capture card? We can make it work with eCatholic LIVE!

StreamSpot works with almost all streaming equipment. As long as your device can encode using the RTMP or RTSP protocols, it will work with StreamSpot.

A few supported appliances:

• TriCaster
• VidBlaster
• Kulubyte
• Teradek
• Cerevo Liveshell Pro
• StreamEez-Pro
• XSplit

Have something else? We can make it work with StreamSpot. For the ultimate in simplicity, check out the StreamSpot ONE Gen3 Encoder.

Below are the resolutions StreamSpot supports and the required bandwidth for each for HD broadcasts:

• 1920x1080 (1080i/p HD) - minimum 3.5Mbps upload speed
• 1280x720 (720p HD) - minimum 1.8Mbps upload speed
• 720x480 (480p) - minimum 1.2Mbps upload speed

What's your speed? Check out a free speed test. Remember, only the upload speed is important.
Test your Speed

Below are the resolutions StreamSpot supports and the required bandwidth for each for SD broadcasts:

• 720x480 (480i SD) - minimum 350kbps upload speed
• 640x480, 640x360 - minimum 300kbps upload speed
• 320x240, 320x180 - minimum 200kbps upload speed

What's your speed? Check out a free speed test. Remember, only the upload speed is important.

Test Your Speed

A multiple-bitrate broadcast* allows you to send several resolutions and bitrates simultaneously for optimized delivery to your viewers. StreamSpot players automatically "adapt" to each viewer's bandwidth and device and delivers the appropriate bitrate and resolution.

Sending multiple bitrates simultaneously takes substantially more bandwidth than single bitrate broadcasts. To calculate the bandwidth required, please use the following methodology:

Video bitrate 1 + Video bitrate 2 + Video bitrate 3 (optional) + Video bitrate 4 (optional) + Audio bitrate + 1Mbps overhead = Total required upload speed

Typically, a minimum of 5Mpbs upload speed is recommended for multiple-bitrate broadcasts.

What's your speed? Check out a free speed test. Remember, only the upload speed is important.

*Pro and Premier packages only

Test Your Speed