The Future of Live Streaming is Here: RTMP Services Explained

Live internet video streaming is supported by the data transmission technique known as the Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP). Initially, RTMP was intended to carry audio and video information between an exclusive streaming server and the Adobe Flash Player. The protocol is now most frequently utilized to transport encoded content to social networking sites, streaming services, and media servers. RTMP, originally a proprietary protocol, is now an open standard.

Since RTMP has been around for two decades, it is essentially the grandfather of protocols in terms of technology. Over the years, RTMP has been proven to be a crucial tool for live internet video streaming.

What is RTMP Used For?

Low latency

The size of the pieces created by RTMP is dynamically agreed upon between the client and server. Due to the increased data transfer capacity, the stream’s latency is effectively reduced to 5 seconds. Glass to glass (from the front glass of the camera to the front glass of the viewer’s screen) latency is the interval between the time a live stream is recorded and the time it is displayed on the viewer’s screen. For streaming services that seek to draw in sports streaming and other time-sensitive use cases, achieving low latency is crucial for live event broadcasting and a never-ending issue.

Reduced buffering

In close connection with its low-latency capabilities, RTMP barely produces buffering (the much-dreaded wheel that starts spinning over your frozen video image). According to tests, a second round of buffering causes people to abandon a video experience. According to research, 90 seconds is the maximum amount of time a viewer will put up with buffering. See our tutorial for best practices for streaming properly.

Adaptive Bitrate Streaming

Adaptive Bitrate Streaming, often known as ABS, balances a stream’s video quality and compression level with the user’s available bandwidth. This guarantees a pleasurable viewing experience on any device and network and results in less buffering. Without buffering or freezing, ABS automatically displays the greatest quality that a particular bandwidth permits. In ABS, RTMP technology is utilized.

Fast-forward and rewind

It’s quite a technological achievement to fast-forward or rewind video transmissions. This technology is also based on RTMP.

 

How to Set Up RTMP?

To start using the services that RTMP offers, it is crucial to understand how it can be configured. An RTMP server or online video platform (OVP), such as Kaltura Townhalls and Live Events that supports RTMP is required, as is an encoder (hardware or software) that transmits the stream to your audience.

1. Attach your video source (camera) to your hardware or software for RTMP encoding.

2. Add a fresh live stream to your RTMP or OVP server.

3. Configure your OVP’s encoding parameters.

4. Make RTMP delivery possible by configuring the RTMP URL.

5. Under your encoder’s RTMP configuration options, provide your stream name and RTMP URL.

6. Check the live stream.

7. Begin streaming

Since RTMP has been around for two decades, it is essentially the grandfather of protocols in terms of technology. Over the years, RTMP has been proven to be a key tool for live online video streaming. As was previously mentioned, RTMP has a variety of uses and offers a variety of services.