Monday, April 30, 2018

Basics of Video Streaming and How does it Work


Live video streaming has become significantly vital in our lifestyles. In the market today, it is highly encouraged to have multiple live streams especially for businesses and advertising firms. It is an effective and practical way to put your business out there and to connect with potential consumers.   What is streaming video? Live broadcasting video streaming is when individuals broadcast live footage. Due to the advancement in technology, live video broadcasting is as easy as ever before. Individuals can connect with audiences and secure a massive global outreach. Is live video streaming costly? It is inexpensive! In fact, it does not entail for any costs to be procured if you are just using your mobile device, or a computer, even. Not only does it ensure a personalised effect as you feel connected with your clients-audiences, it will not aggravate your tight budget.


Looking for a reliable and credible live-streaming site for broadcasting live videos on multiple platforms? Freedocast will be your first resort.

Thursday, April 26, 2018

What is Encoder? How does it help in Live Streaming?

An Encoder is something that is used to convert video format of the source video into streamable or a universally accessible video format.
Encoder helps at times when the streaming service is not compatible with the video format from the source. Streaming services while great at distribution of your content around the world, don’t support many of the existing video recording formats for reasons like simple broadcasting and quality preservation. At times like these, an encoder software is essential for your video content to be readable by the streaming service before the redistribution.
Encoder for Live Stream
Encoder Settings For Live Streaming
Even if the source video is compatible with the streaming platform, it may not be playable on the video players of various devices. The encoder converts the video from the source device into something that is playable on all kinds of devices and feeds it to the streaming platform to broadcast. In this case, the more devices the video is compatible with, the more exposure the video receives.
An Encoder software is necessary in both the above cases.
With the Freedocast live streaming Pro Device, there is no necessity to use an external encoder as the device comes with an integrated encoder supporting H.264/ AAC encoding 1080p at 5 Mbps. So, when live streaming through the device, one can directly broadcast the video in the destined URL or social media platform without any external support.
The usage of encoder software becomes a necessity when broadcasting through the Freedocast Platform. All the plans in the Freedocast platform offer an RTMP encoder setup feature, which lets you broadcast your source video.
All you need to do is connect your encoder to the video source, Login to the Freedocast Platform, create an event, and Click on “Go Live”. After completing the above steps, select ‘Get URL’ which will show a Pop Up with RTMP Stream URL and Stream Key. Configure your Encoder with the provided RTMP URL and Stream Key and your video starts streaming Live from the platform.
Many Encoder software are available in the market. The selection of these software is dependent on your requirement concerning quality, bandwidth, and the graphics insertions. Also, given the dependence of streaming quality on the speed of your bandwidth, choosing a video/ audio bitrate that is optimum to the average user without compromising the quality of your video feed is crucial.
Many settings are available in the encoders ranging from resolutions 360p to 4K UHD. The standard recommendation though for a live streaming encoder is a 480p video with a video bitrate of 500 Kbps to 2 Mbps and audio bitrate of 128 kbps. This setting stays in the optimum bandwidth levels of an average live streamer and the user.
Broadcasters can also stream live video at multiple bit-rate which lets them stream at different bit-rates simultaneously. But this setting though makes the stream easily accessible to the user, requires high bandwidths from the streamer. Since the multi bit-rate means that the video will be streamed at various bit-rates the total bandwidth that is required to stream at all of them will the sum of all the streams added together. The internet connection speed required to stream at multi bit-rate must be double of the sum of bandwidth that is obtained.
Freedocast Platform offers an Adaptive Bitrate Streaming feature that works well with the multiple Bit-rate encoders. This is a massive improvement over the other kinds of streaming since Adaptive Bitrate streaming offers a good quality video regardless of the user’s internet speed.
If you have never tried streaming with our platform, try it out by registering now and gaining access to the 7-day free trial. Click below and fill in the details.

Monday, April 23, 2018

Live Streaming Magical Shows on Facebook With Freedocast

Technology is one of the things that has brought about rigorous advancement in the world today.The world has been consolidated into one global village through the rise of social media platforms ,which are the core of the technology. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp Among others are examples of communication platforms that has open the gateway for people to interact with each other over the internet. Facebook being the leader,is reported to have up to 2.2 billion users.That being said,business and brands have taken advantage of this to market their products and services. To make it more better and easier,Freedocast have come on board to make simpler the art of video streaming live on Facebook. To your surprise ,TV and Live shows are adopting the same trend.Magical shows therefore are not an exception.Let us now examine how you can broadcast video streaming on Facebook together with its merits.


How To Live Stream Magical Shows on Facebook


If you are a magician or perhaps you want to broadcast your live shows, Freedocast is all you need to live stream on Facebook. The following are the simple and easy steps to follow while broadcasting your magical shows live:

  1. First of all, connect the camera to the Freedocast device using HDMI IN.
  2. Set up the microphone to it, that can project awesome and quality sound to your viewers.
  3. The next step is to go to the Freedocast Pro app, Select the device and establish the connection.
  4. Now create the event you want broadcast live, probably the magical show, then select the platform in which you want to broadcast video streaming.
  5. To select Facebook as the platform, go to Freedocast.com, navigate your way to "Settings". On the settings page choose "Multiple Platforms". Below "Facebook Live", click the "Add" button to activate Facebook live.
  6. Now login to your Facebook account and adjust the settings to specify whom you want to broadcast live to, whether to your timeline, friends or to the public.
  7. Finally, Press "Go live" button and your will be streaming to Facebook live.
Advantages of Live Streaming Magical Shows

Live streaming your magical shows to Facebook comes with a number benefits. First of all, Live streaming attract many viewers. People who cannot find time to come to your show, will find easier to watch it live on Facebook. Additionally, Live streaming creates awareness to many people. Most people might have never seen your show before, but through Facebook they can have insight of your show and probably become your fans.


The key to making your magical shows known to the world, is through the social media. Facebook therefore should be your first priority in streaming your live videos. Many Facebook users find it fun to watch your live performance. Freedocast as well is the best device that offers you the most convenient way of streaming your videos live on Facebook. Try it today and enjoy its amazing experience.

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Live Streaming Cameras – How to Live Stream Video Feed from IP Camera?

IP Camera, typically known as Internet Protocol Cameras are the latest video cameras popular for their full functional specifications. Majorly being used for Security purposes IP Cameras have been replacing the conventional Closed-Circuit Television Cameras around the globe. Primarily because of the multi-functional features that can transmit fully processed High-Resolution Digital Video directly to the servers or any other internet-enabled devices.
Live stream Using IP Cameras
IP Cameras have their own IP address just like any other device like a Smartphone or a Laptop which makes them discoverable over the internet by any other device. IP Cameras as they are available in the market are two kinds- Centralised and Decentralised. The centralised IP Cameras which require an NVR Network Video recorder to handle the recording and video. These can block up the network causing server overloads due to this requirement.
The Decentralised IP Cameras that are more modern and can record and process the video by themselves are more common and in use these days. The cameras can be used to directly record the video and storing it to an external hard drive even in the absence of internet connection.
Designed to be positioned at any place and easy to move, IP Cameras can be connected to a Wireless Network and can be accessed from any remote location on Smartphones or Laptops. Though superior to its peers in many sectors, IP Cameras are less secure and prone to hacking. Security measures like Encryption can potentially reduce the risk to a minimum and can make them very helpful.

Live Streaming through IP Cameras

Live streaming through IP Cameras to a website is beneficial to many sectors like Wildlife Research and Videography, Construction sites, Home Security, Corporate Offices, etc. Due to the high resolution and the ease in handling, IP Cameras are the first choice for many of the organisations.

How to live stream through IP Cameras

Live streaming the feed from IP Cameras to a website is possible but the process isn’t like every other live streaming process. A hosting platform is a primary requirement but unlike Smartphones and Laptops, hosting platforms only process Real Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) format which is different from the Video feed from IP Cameras that are in Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) format.
For the purpose of conversion of RTSP to RTMP, an external encoder becomes essential in the process. Encoder Software like OBS come handy at times like these. The conversion takes place and RTMP feed can live streamed through Freedocast Platform to your personal website by following the below-mentioned steps.
  • Login to your Freedocast Account.
  • Go to Events Page
  • Select or Create an event
  • Click on Go Live Button
  • Select GET URL- A pop up is displayed with RTMP Stream URL and Stream Key
  • Configure your Encoder with this RTMP URL and Stream Key
  • Start Live Streaming through the External Encoder.
  • The broadcast will now be live in the event whose Stream Key is provided to the external encoder.
Suggested Links:

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Signature Style Video Streaming – How To Add Your Logo Using Freedocast

Freedocast now offers you the luxury to add your logo to every one of your live streaming videos.
Having a signature of your own on your live streaming video is a luxury that people can rarely afford. The time it takes and the finances it requires, simply makes people opt out of that option even if they wish to have their own brand advertised. The spontaneity of Live streaming is another element that restricts the branding of the video. A lot of video makers go unnoticed even after providing some of the best videos of all time.
The Branding of live streaming videos changes all this and brings the video makers and the companies into the limelight. Also, the videos become more recognisable to the audience with the addition of a brand logo which harvests free publicity for the corporate and businesses. The option is advantageous to the individual live streamers too. Marking the video with your Signature protects the video if it is made available after the broadcast and allows no one other than the maker to take the credit.

How to Add Logo to Live Stream through Freedocast Pro

Branding through Freedocast can be done in 5 simple steps.
1.Login to your Freedocast Account
2.Go to Settings
3.Click / Tap on Branding
4.Upload Logo
5.Select the position

Things to Remember

Adding Logo to Live Broadcast is an extraordinary feature, but some points are a must to remember to make it blend in the video and not be a distraction.
  • Make sure that the logo size is such that the brand is recognisable but is not obstructive to the video in any way.
  • The position of the logo must be selected accordingly as well. Corners usually are the best places for logo placement.
  • Select the colour of the logo such that it goes well with the video at all times. Too bright colours tend to be a distraction. Transparent logos work well with all kinds of videos.
Suggested Links:
Reference Source: Freedocast Blog

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Know the Live Streaming Benefits of Medical Education

Live streaming can be a powerful tool in any of the Education sectors. The effective usage in sectors like Music, Dance, Crafts, etc., has been discussed in the past. But it is rarely ever said that live streaming can be used in complex sectors like Medical Industry too.
We all are familiar with the concept that Medical knowledge isn’t something that one can gain virtually. The sector is known for its hardship, years of study, training, and practical experience. It is also reputable for its high tuition fee that leaves years of Student loans after becoming a professional.
Live Streaming Medical Education
Considering all these factors, it is highly uncommon that medical industry attracts plenty of individuals from a normal middle-class family in the third world countries. A study says that India, one of the largest and fastest developing nations in the world produces just over 50,000 Medical Graduates/ year. Many third world countries including India lacks the ideal number of Doctors per 1000 people which is 1.
While we know that mortality rate is high in these nations due to the lack/unavailability of Doctors, no exploration into finding a practical solution had ever been carried out. Even if there is one, it is bound by the regulations of the nation which is desperately trying to keep up its reputation regarding the quality.
While this helps to maintain the quality of medical care received by the average population in cities and towns, it also restricts the reach of substandard medical care in rural areas where there is none. A plethora of third world population dies of simple treatable/ curable infectious diseases like Tuberculosis, Malaria, Hepatitis, Jaundice, Dengue Fever, Leptospirosis, Filaria, etc.
The lack of people with basic diagnostic knowledge in rural and undeveloped areas in third world countries can be mentioned as the reason for this. But what we fail to recognise is that after spending so many years laboring day in and day out to become a doctor, no individual in their right mind would go and treat the people who cannot even afford the medicine. Even if they did so, how can one expect to pay the piled-up student loans?
Here is where live streaming can pitch in. Out of the many courses that are available online, medical courses occupy the least number of positions due to the aforementioned and many other reasons. Though live streaming cannot offer the essential surgical knowledge to become a full-fledged doctor, one can teach the basic diagnostic skills and treatments in live which can help save lives in areas where there is little to no medical care available.
Another area where live streaming can help the medical industry is sharing the live surgical procedures to students studying medicines. An internal network sharing various screens and feed from the cameras in a live procedure can help the organization to learn a lot more about surgeries and the complications arising while carrying them out.
All that is necessary to offer this knowledge is a live streaming device, an HD Camera, a Microphone, and a decent internet connection. Be it from a website or from a social media platform – live streaming benefits of Medical Education can educate and save many more lives.
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Tuesday, April 3, 2018

How Live Streaming to Facebook Improves Brand Awareness

Live Streaming on Facebook

Facebook has become one of the most popular social media platform with more than 1 billion active users. So, it would make sense for advertisers to reach their target their audience through this popular platform. Online marketing is a very important tool in today’s advertising industry and no one can afford to ignore the practicality of using Facebook as one of their primary promotional mediums.

Small and large businesses alike are using Facebook for improving their brand awareness. One of the most popular methods available for this purpose is streaming to Facebook live. Statistics show that users tend to comment 10 times more on Live Stream on Facebook than on a regular video or post. It enables brands to expand their engagement with the audience because as soon as broadcasting starts, users get immediate notification and can join in real time.

Live Streaming to Facebook can be used in many different ways as required. An easy way to use it via hosting a Q&A session. It would allow brands to get feedback from their consumers and get a better understanding of their market. Many businesses use this opportunity to introduce their new product lines or explain their upcoming items to create an anticipation among audience. Brands can also attempt to increase their social overreach by providing an exclusive insider view of their businesses. It might include a tour of their offices or introducing their team members or even streaming their day-to-day operations live on stream. This way many people would be able to relate themselves better to a particular brand creating a stronger bond between them.

While streaming it is important to remember that companies have a chance to engage with their target audience on a more personal level. They can take queries from viewers and answer them right there and then creating an engaging atmosphere. Facebook is a platform with tons of potential and Facebook live is one of the ways to make your brand value more appealing to others.