Hosting a webinar with RTMP livestream
Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) allows you to stream high-quality, professional video content directly into your Zoom Event using a third-party tool like OBS or vMix to create a broadcast-quality experience for your attendees. Users can ingest RTMP streams into Zoom Events webinars to distribute live or virtual events.
Users can configure primary and backup RTMP feeds with temporary or permanent URLs. The feature supports RTMPS with high-quality H.264 codec for resolutions up to 1920x1080 at 30 fps. Users can preview the stream, monitor stream health metrics like packet loss and latency, and start or end the stream. This enables users to distribute professional events to a virtual audience.
Learn more about configuring Incoming livestream (RTMP) in multi-session, single-session full, single-session lite, and recurring sessions events.
Note: This feature is currently only supported on Zoom Events and Zoom Sessions.
This article covers:
Prerequisites for hosting a webinar with an incoming RTMP livestream
Zoom Events requirements
Note: For access to the latest Zoom Events and Webinar features, we strongly recommend hosts to update to the latest version of the Zoom desktop/mobile application.
Technical requirements
- RTMP-capable broadcasting software or hardware encoder
Notes:
- This should be installed on the device you're streaming from.
- The RTMP client shouldn't require extensive computing resources.
- A stable and fast internet connection with the recommended minimum upload speeds:
- For 720p30 quality: 4 Mbps
- For 1080p30 quality: 6 Mbps
- TCP 443 outbound traffic to these subnets
Best practices for an incoming RTMP livestream
Video quality best practices
- Supports up to 1080p30 resolution (this is the maximum). The two most common resolutions and frame rates are 1080p30 or 720p30.
- Higher resolutions require more bandwidth.
- H.264 video encoding is supported.
- We recommend using Strict Constant Bitrate.
- We recommend sending a Key frame every 30 frames (or every 2 seconds).
Audio quality best practices
- We recommend the following audio settings (the two most commonly used settings):
- Stereo, 128Kbps, 48 kHz, AAC Encoding
- Stereo, 192Kbps, 48 kHz, AAC Encoding
- You can test different settings based on your requirements.
Best practices for an RTMP livestream
Prepare the RTMP livestream
- Test Your Setup: Always conduct a test stream before your event to ensure everything is working correctly.
- Stable Connection: Use a wired internet connection, if possible, for the most stable stream, and ensure your laptop and encoder are wired as well. Using Wi-Fi is not recommended.
- Backup Plan: Have a backup internet connection or alternative streaming method ready.
- Separate RTMP Device: Do not run the RTMP software encoder on the same device you are using to connect to the Zoom Webinar.
Leverage the RTMP livestream
Below are a few important details on how to leverage RTMP to broadcast your incoming live stream via a Zoom Webinar.
- RTMP is actually RTMPs, where the s stands for secure. All streams must use a password to ensure they’re secure.
- RTMP will only work for Zoom Webinars (not meetings).
- The existing outgoing livestream functionality and the RTMP incoming livestream functionality are consolidated into the Livestream tab in multi-session, single-session full, single-session lite, and recurring sessions events.
- RTMP will use a Zoom Webinar to broadcast the livestream. RTMP will be treated as a panelist in the webinar and will be listed as Incoming Livestream. You cannot mute the livestream from the panelists tab.
- RTMP will use auto spotlight for the RTMP feed.
Note: The host can unspotlight the RTMP feed.
How to host a webinar with RTMP livestream
Use RTMP livestream
- Start the webinar.
Note: You can also start a webinar with Backstage enabled. The host will need to start the webinar when they are ready to allow attendees to join and begin viewing the presentation. - In your third-party app or cloud provider, enter the custom RTMP stream address and stream key.
Notes:
- Return to the Zoom webinar to enable the incoming live stream.
- In the webinar controls, click More
, then click Incoming live stream.
A panel will appear. - In the panel, view and manage the following:
- At the top of the panel, view the preview of the stream that goes through the third-party application.
- Click Send live to send the stream to the webinar. If a confirmation window appears, click Send.
Everyone will see the stream in the webinar. - On the stream preview, move the volume slider to adjust the volume, or mute the volume. This will control the volume for all participants in the webinar.
- Click Stop sending to stop sending the stream to the webinar.
- Click the Stream metrics tab to view the incoming streaming metrics:
Note: The Stream metrics show the health of the stream as it is coming from the third-party app into Zoom. If you want to see the webinar metrics (in general), click the gear icon from the security shield at the top of the webinar and view the webinar metrics under Statistics.
- Bitrate
- Frame rate
- Bandwidth
- Video resolution
- View the metrics on the chart for more detailed data.
- Click the Stream health tab to view the feed of how the stream is performing.
- View the current overall Stream status. It can range from No data if the stream is not active. Depending on your network bandwidth, it can also read as Excellent, Good, Bad, and Especially Bad.
- Under Messages, view the message feed of the stream's health to see historically all the performance events for the livestream.
- When you are finished streaming, return to your third-party app to stop the stream.