Custom RTMP Live Streaming: The Ultimate Guide
RTMP has served several purposes in the live streaming process over the years.
Live streaming has evolved so much in recent years, and Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) has played several roles in this transformation.
Macromedia created this protocol back in 2002, the predecessor to Adobe, to deliver content from RTMP hosting servers to the Flash video player. That function of the protocol is called “RTMP delivery” or “RTMP streaming.”
For many years, RTMP streaming was the most popular live streaming system. It delivered video content directly to the Adobe Flash player.
However, the Adobe Flash player was not compatible with mobile streaming, which meant people on a mobile device, such as a smartphone, couldn’t access content that used Adobe’s Flash player.
But over the years, mobile users grew by leaps and bounds. Additionally, affordable data made it easy for people to browse the internet or watch videos via their smartphones or tablets. In fact, more people now surf the internet using smartphones than other devices like laptops. Over 58.5% of global internet traffic now comes through phones.
So naturally, as mobile viewing eclipsed computer viewing, this became a big problem, as more and more viewers couldn’t access content that used Adobe’s Flash player.
Apple created a solution to this mobile video viewing issue by developing the HLS protocol, which would work with the universal HTML5 video player. HLS gradually replaced RTMP for live stream delivery as Flash player phased out.
However, RTMP still had a place in live streaming systems that used HLS delivery. RTMP ingest was born, and the protocol was then used to transport video files from the encoder to the online video platform. RTMP ingest allowed RTMP technology to live on with streaming video content.
RTMP ingest is still the standard use of RTMP in live streaming. RTMP ingest is valuable for broadcasters because it supports low-latency streaming and is made possible by low-cost RTMP encoders. In fact, it’s one of the best protocols for low-latency streaming even today.
RTMP Encoding
Choosing and configuring an RTMP encoder requires research, but it doesn’t have to be confusing or complicated.
Choosing an encoder for your live stream that is both capable and reliable is very important. Streaming platforms like Mslive that use RTMP ingest are compatible with RTMP encoders. Luckily, there are so many great RTMP encoders on the market.
Here are a few of the best encoders that our users rely on to produce high-quality streams:
- OBS Studio
- Wirecast
- VidblasterX
- vMix
- Teradek hardware encoders
- TriCaster hardware encoders
OBS Studio is our preferred encoding software because it is free and open-source. It also supports the RTMPS protocol, which is excellent for protected streaming. The added encryption ensures that no third party can view your streams and breach your privacy. This helps deliver a safer video-watching experience for your viewers. Furthermore, the platform offers a custom version for Mslive users, which makes streaming with OBS Studio pretty seamless.
For more information on streaming with OBS Studio on Mslive, please check out our dedicated guides for macOS and Windows users.
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