Live streaming nowadays is a great way to connect to your audience and build your trust score. Since the technology lets people connect with their favorite brands or creators in real time, it’s the preferred method to stream nowadays.
However, you need to have a proper live streaming with decent upload speed so it can be delivered fast and smooth.
In this article, we will learn more about live streaming and the different upload speeds you should opt for.
What Is Live Streaming Technology?
Streaming lets users watch or listen to content using a video streaming platform and the Internet. Live streaming transmits data in real time using the Internet, which users can stream on their devices.
Hence live streaming provides real-time and unedited videos that are not pre-recorded. If any glitches or bloopers happen, everything is visible to the viewers.
How Does a Live Streaming Work?
The entire process of live streaming takes place in several steps. Let’s understand these steps so you can easily comprehend live streaming.
- Video Compression
- Encoding
- Video Segmentation
- Distribution Through CDN
- Decoding
🗜 Video Compression
In the first step, compression removes the redundancies from the video; better bitrate and frame size are achieved.
🗜 Encoding
This compressed video is encoded using a codec, which gets packed up for further processing. In the encoding step, the video is converted into various digital formats so most devices can recognize the video. Different encoding formats are:
- H.264
- H.265
- VP9
- AV1
🗜 Video Segmentation
In this part, a video is converted to be played on different bitrates. Most live streaming platforms use ABR (Adaptive Bitrate Streaming), which makes the video adapt to the device’s internet speed and play smoothly.
So, a video is segmented into various small parts, which are converted into resolutions such as 4K, 1080p, HD, 720p, and more.
🗜 Distribution Through CDN
Now comes the CDN part, which is a network of servers. Platforms use these CDNs for faster delivery of the video. The network of CDN ensures that the delivery of the requested video happens from the nearest location of the user. With CDN, a video travels less, making it instantly delivered to the user’s device.
🗜 Decoding
Once the file is received from the nearest server of the CDN, it needs to be decoded to be played. The video is then decoded and decompressed, and the user can finally watch it playing on the screen.
Advantages Of Live Streaming
Here are some of the best reasons to choose live streaming over any other method of connecting with your audience.
1. More Support Of Algorithms
Live streaming keeps you connected to your audience wherever you are. Many social media platforms like Facebook, Insta, and LinkedIn also alert your followers about your live stream.
This makes people watch live streams more since live streams are also more supported by the algorithms over other content.
2. Increased Engagement
Live streams allow you to partner with different businesses and influencers. This leads to increased audience engagement and an opportunity to gain more fan following.
3. Improved Trust
Live streams make customers feel connected as compared to streaming a pre-recorded video. Live streams work even better than testimonials since your subscribers see you face-to-face in real-time. Increased trust makes them return to your brand and try your services even more.
4. Additional Revenue
Many video streaming platforms let you earn on live streams. Just like you monetize pre-recorded videos, you can monetize live streams too. This way, you can set up a price to access your live stream and earn additional income besides earning on other revenue models.
5. Easy To Set Up
Live streaming is easy to set up as well. With just a smartphone and active data, you can start interacting with your fans in real time.
Different Upload Speeds For Streaming – Which One To Choose?
Good upload speed determines the quality of your streaming. Just like the download speed, upload speed matters too, which you should check while buying the internet plan.
Generally, an upload speed for streaming between 672 Kbps and 61.5 Mbps is considered ideal. However, this is such a broad range that it’s natural to feel confused. Let’s read along to understand different upload speeds specifically.
Understanding Download/Upload Speeds
To browse content using the Internet, devices need to absorb data. The more ability is there to absorb this data, the faster a user can access the content.
The ability to take in the data is determined by a connection’s download rate, which also means the amount of bits your device can take per second (Mbps).
The same applies to upload speed which refers to the amount of bits your device can share online. The more the upload speed is, the faster you can share the content.
Ways To Improve Upload Speed For Streaming
The very first method to obtain good uploading speed is to ask it from your ISP provider. Instead of a general plan, choose a business-level plan that provides you desired upload speed.
However, if you are unable to get such a plan, you can do the following things:
- Get an ethernet cable since a wired connection is more reliable and interference-free than a Wi-Fi.
- Disconnect all other devices when you livestream.
- Close all other apps that might use your internet data.
- Make use of a platform that provides multistreaming. This way, you can stream on multiple platforms from one place.
- Block ad blockers, antivirus, and such tools as they also use some of your data.
- Keep all the software and hardware updated, and you will get an improved speed.
Recommended Upload Speeds For Different Domains
If you often find yourself asking “what bitrate should I stream at,” you should know the ideal upload speed as per the domain you create content in. Below are some major domains you can check and consider upload speed accordingly.
Gaming: If you are a gamer who live streams games, you should have a higher upload speed since video games are more graphical and hence need a strong upload speed. In this case, it should be between 6 and 8 Mbps.
Sports: For broadcasting sports events or such live events, users require high-quality video. You should have at least 5.6 Mbps of upload speed up to 11 Mbps.
Education: Those who live stream their classes or provide tutorials in real time should have 1 Mbps of upload speed. It can stretch up to 5 Mbps if your classes require you to show high-definition pictures.
Places of worship: Some creators also stream live church sermons and religious events. The best bitrate for 1080p 60fps is at least 3.8 Mbps of upload speed. You can also do well with 2 Mbps for 720p resolution.
Music and concerts: Music and concerts are streamed on higher resolutions, such as 1080p. To provide such quality, you should opt for 5.6 Mbps as the least and 7 to 8 Mbps as an ideal upload speed.
How to stream with a low upload speed?
Upload speed determines how quickly and smoothly your livestream gets presented in front of your audience. Low upload speed interrupts your overall connection and disrupts real-time communication with your fans.
With GUDSHO, however, creators can record their live streams and schedule them for later. This way, you don’t have to worry about your upload speed and can provide the finest streams. Also, by installing the OBS software through GUDSHO, you can give the viewers the recorded live stream plus real-time presence of yourself, like a picture-in-picture experience.
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Conclusion
Live streaming is the need of time as it serves everyone, from individual creators to brands. The technology brings them many advantages, improving overall conversion rate. However, upload speed matters the most to obtain high-quality and smooth streams.
It is recommended to opt for a business-grade internet plan and a streaming platform that supports high-quality live streams. We hope you will find the mentioned tips helpful and conduct your live streams successfully.
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Frequently Asked Questions
61-5 kbps is the ideal upload speed for live streaming.
Yes, you can, but latency and buffer rate will be more.
Yes, it is more than enough.
Good live streaming requires at least 1 Mbps of upload speed which can be up to 11 Mbps depending on the domain you live stream in.
To test the Internet speed, you can check with your data provider. You can also run an online speed test and know your download and upload speed.
Well, upload speed is very essential for Live streaming. Thanks for sharing such an informative insight which definitly helps for live streamers.
I’m running a video business in an edtech industry and live stream classes on regular basis. What is the recommended speed to live stream educational content?
I’ve always wondered about the right upload speed for live streaming. It’s great to have a guideline, and it makes sense that a higher upload speed provides a buffer for any unexpected fluctuations in your internet connection. I’ll definitely keep this in mind for my next live stream.
This article is a lifesaver for live streamers like me. The explanations about different streaming quality levels and their corresponding upload speed requirements are clear and practical. Surely follow the requirements as shared in this article.
I’ve been struggling to achieve consistent streaming quality in my live broadcasts, and this blog provided the clarity I needed to understand why. Thank you for sharing these invaluable insights!
As a new live broadcaster, I found this blog incredibly helpful in clarifying the concept of upload speed for live streaming. Will definitely try & adjust the speed mentioned. Thanks
This blog is really insightful for live streamers that explains how upload speed impacts streaming quality and the recommended upload speeds for different resolutions. I feel more confident in set up my live streams and ensuring a seamless viewing experience for my audience.
As a creator, I am looking for a live streaming platform where I can broadcast my concerts with the speed outlined above. Can anyone suggest good one?