{"id":8599,"date":"2023-06-10T12:53:15","date_gmt":"2023-06-10T12:53:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mslive.co.in\/blog\/?p=8599"},"modified":"2023-08-26T09:22:43","modified_gmt":"2023-08-26T09:22:43","slug":"broadcam-video-streaming-server","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mslive.co.in\/blog\/broadcam-video-streaming-server\/","title":{"rendered":"BroadCam Video Streaming and Broadcasting Software"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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When you get started with live streaming<\/a>, you\u2019ll notice an abundance of acronyms that serve many different purposes. There\u2019s RTMP, HLS, SRT<\/a>, and more.<\/p>

Many of these acronyms relate to different video streaming<\/a> protocols. Basically, protocols are technical processes that facilitate the transfer of data from one program to another. In streaming, this means the transfer of your video files to and from your encoder, streaming host<\/a>, and eventually, the video player where your audience views your stream.<\/p>

Today, we\u2019re going to identify some of the most common video streaming<\/a> protocols you\u2019ll encounter, what they do, and when they should use them. We will break down all the acronyms associated with different video streaming<\/a> protocols. In order to provide some relevant background to help you understand, we\u2019ll also explain the relationship between a codec vs a container format.<\/p>

Are you ready to dive into live streaming<\/a> protocols?<\/p>

What is a Video Streaming Protocol?<\/strong><\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

A video streaming protocol is necessary for live broadcasting<\/a>.<\/p>

A video streaming<\/a> protocol is a standardized delivery method for breaking up a video into chunks, sending it to the viewer, and reassembling it. Video streaming<\/a> protocols are the rules and methods that are used to break video files into small pieces so that they can be delivered to your viewers.<\/p>

Before we go further, let\u2019s look a little further into the \u201cwhy\u201d behind video streaming<\/a> protocols. Most digital video is designed for two things: storage and playback. This leads to two major considerations, namely small file size and universal playback.<\/p>

Most video files aren\u2019t designed for streaming, which means streaming a video<\/a> involves first converting it into a streamable file. This involves breaking the video up into small chunks. These chunks then arrive sequentially and playback as they\u2019re received. If you\u2019re streaming live video<\/a>, the source video comes in straight from a camera. Otherwise, it\u2019s coming from a file for video-on-demand VOD<\/a> content.<\/p>

That is a basic explanation of how streaming protocols work. Streaming<\/a> protocols can get much more complex. Many are \u201cadaptive bitrate\u201d protocols, for example. This technology will deliver the best quality that a viewer can support at any given time.<\/p>

So if a viewer has a slow internet speed, they will be delivered a lower-quality video<\/a>, and if a viewer has a faster internet speed, they will be delivered a higher-quality video.<\/p>

Some protocols focus on reducing latency, or the delay between an event happening in real life and when it plays on the viewer\u2019s screen. Some video protocols only work on certain systems, and other video protocols focus on digital rights management (DRM)<\/a>.<\/p>

As we move through some specific video streaming<\/a> protocols, we will put these and other characteristics into perspective.<\/p>

6 Preferred Protocols for Video Streaming<\/strong><\/p>

Now that you have a better idea of the purpose of video streaming<\/a> protocols, let\u2019s start our comparison with a list of the most common protocols for video streaming today. This will help you better understand the best video protocols for live streaming<\/a> and videos-on-demand<\/a>.<\/p>

In this comparison, we\u2019ll also offer use cases for each video protocol whenever possible.<\/p>

1. HTTP Live Streaming (HLS)<\/strong><\/p>

The HLS<\/a> protocol, or HTTP Live Streaming<\/a>, was developed by Apple and has support for media players, web browsers, mobile devices, and media servers.<\/p>

The first video streaming<\/a> protocol we\u2019ll discuss is HTTP Live Streaming<\/a> or HLS. Apple originally released this video protocol in 2009 to enable them to drop Flash from iPhones. Since then, HLS has become the most widely-used streaming protocol.<\/p>

There are several reasons for this. First, desktop browsers, smart TVs, and both Android and iOS mobile devices all support HLS. HTML5 video players<\/a> also natively support HLS streaming<\/a>. With so many devices supporting HLS, it is only natural that it has become one of the best video protocols for streaming video<\/a>.<\/p>

This allows a stream to reach as many viewers as possible, making HLS the safest protocol today for scaling a live stream<\/a> to large audiences. For example, you can use this protocol to stream live video<\/a> on your website with a simple embed code, and you can reach viewers on most devices.<\/p>

As far as features, the HLS standard also supports adaptive-bitrate streaming<\/a>, dynamically delivering the best possible video quality at any moment to each individual viewer. With recent updates, this standard now supports the latest and greatest H.265 codec, which delivers twice the video quality at the same file size as H.264<\/a>.<\/p>

Currently, the only downside of HLS is that latency can be relatively high. Latency is the delay one experiences between when a file is sent and the viewer receives it. With live video streaming<\/a>, latency can best be described as the delay between when live content and when the viewer gets that content. However, there are methods for reducing HLS<\/a> latency, helping to combat one of the few downsides to this video protocol.<\/p>

Who Should Use HLS?<\/strong><\/p>

HLS is the most widely-used protocol for live stream<\/a> delivery because it\u2019s robust and effective. For example, we know that few viewers will return to a site during a stream if they experience a video failure. Using a widely compatible, adaptive protocol like HLS<\/a> will deliver the best possible audience experience. HLS is one of the best protocols for streaming video<\/a>.<\/p>

We\u2019d also like to mention that HLS is now the default streaming protocol at Mslive<\/a>.<\/p>

Pros of Using HLS:<\/strong><\/p>