RTMP Tutorials: From Server Setup to Low-Latency Streaming

 

Looking to live stream content packaged with the Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP)? In this collection of RTMP tutorials, we cover everything from setting up an RTMP server to configuring a low-latency workflow for professional broadcasting.

Find out how to do it all when it comes to RTMP streaming — check out our instructional videos below. 

Table of Contents

 

• How to Set Up an RTMP Server
• RTMP Streaming With OBS
• RTMP Streaming With vMix
• How to Convert RTMP to WebRTC
• Configuring a Low-Latency RTMP to HLS Workflow

 

How to Set Up an RTMP Server

   

With the death of Flash, RTMP has fallen out of use for video publishing. Luckily, solving for this is simple. RTMP is still widely supported by encoders, media servers, and social media platforms — so by setting up your own RTMP server, you’re able to repackage and redistribute the stream.

Robert Gibb at StackPath writes:

“A media server is an absolute necessity if you want to leverage RTMP for live streaming. Wowza Streaming Engine, for example, is a widely used streaming software for live and on-demand video that can be installed on any server.”

In this tutorial, Justin walks through the step-by-step process of setting up Wowza Streaming Engine as an RTMP server on Windows, Linux, and Mac.

 

RTMP Streaming With OBS

   

One setup we see often involves pairing a free software encoder like Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) Studio with Wowza Streaming Cloud. OBS allows broadcasters to quickly get their live streams running using only a laptop. And with Wowza Streaming Cloud, the streams can be processed and repackaged for delivery to any device.

In this video, Justin demonstrates how to use OBS as the source for an RTMP-based live video stream. From there, he walks through sending the live content to Wowza Streaming Cloud, repackaging it as Apple HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), and distributing it for playback using THEOplayer.

 

RTMP Streaming With vMix

   

Similar to OBS, vMix is a robust encoding and switching software that’s popular for broadcasters looking to feed professional-quality video productions into streaming services like Wowza Streaming Cloud. vMix only works for Windows and comes at a price after the 60-day free trial, but it’s a great tool for RTMP streaming.

In the tutorial above, Justin walks through the steps required to send an RTMP Stream to Wowza Streaming Cloud with vMix. The live stream is then transcoded into adaptive bitrate HLS for delivery to any device.     

 

How to Convert RTMP to WebRTC

   

Looking to keep latency low in today’s Flash-less world? Repackaging RTMP streams into WebRTC combines flexible publishing from any source with simple browser-based playback. For this type of workflow, broadcasters simply transport live streams to their media server using a standard IP camera or encoder and then convert the video streams into WebRTC.

Justin details the step-by-step process in the video above. If you’re looking for a more scalable option that leverages this workflow, we also offer a new feature in Wowza Streaming Cloud that enables real-time delivery to a million viewers.

 

Configuring a Low-Latency RTMP to HLS Workflow

   

In our final tutorial, Justin demonstrates everything required to configure scalable, speedy streaming in Wowza Streaming Cloud with an RTMP to HLS workflow. This reduced-latency architecture allows broadcasters to reach large audiences quickly.

 

To follow along with any of the videos above, just download a free trial of Wowza Streaming Cloud or Wowza Streaming Engine.  As always, don’t hesitate to contact us about your specific streaming needs.