Streaming to Content Delivery Networks

LiveU Central provides several options that enable streaming to both the Internet and SDI
simultaneously, to the internet only, via SDI only or SMPTE-2110 only.

Streaming to the internet is achieved via a Content Delivery Network (CDN) connection. To
stream to a specific CDN, such as YouTube, DaCast, Akamai, LimeLight and UStream, you
must have an account with the CDN provider.

Streaming to Facebook is also available through an LU unit. After creating a CDN account with
a provider, the provider sends a set of parameters that are used by LiveU to connect to the
CDN. The channel name is displayed whenever an SDI output channel is idle and disappears
from the output once the SDI out becomes active.

This guide describes:

Streaming to Content Delivery Networks ............................................................................... 0

Configuring CDN channels ...................................................................................................... 0
Configuring Graphics Overlay on the selected channel ..................................................... 1
Configuring IP streaming on the selected channel .............................................................. 3

Configuring CDN channels

This guide describes how to configure general parameters for a CDN. You can also configure
a CDN’s parameters for a specific MMH.

In the Configuration window, you can do the following:

▪ General: Displays general information about the channel and allows you to change the
channel name, force SDI output resolution and set the bandwidth limit.

▪ Graphics Overlay: Allows you to define graphics overlay settings.

▪ Streaming: Displays parameters required for IP streaming of the selected channel.

▪ Multipoint: Configures Multipooint channels.

▪ NDI: Configures channels that send video to Network Device Interface (NDI) channels.

Note

You cannot modify the configuration of a CDN while it is streaming.

To configure CDN channels:

• Log in to LU Central.

• In the MANAGE tab, select Channels.

• Click n the row of the channel you want to configure.

CDN Configuration Guide

Copyright © 2022 LiveU
The software described in this book is furnished under a license agreement and may be used
only in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

All Rights Reserved

Any technical documentation that is made available by LiveU is the copyrighted work of LiveU
and is owned by LiveU.

NO WARRANTY

The technical documentation is being delivered to you AS-IS, and LiveU makes no warranty
as to its accuracy or use. Any use of the technical documentation or the information
contained therein is at the risk of the user. Documentation may include technical or other
inaccuracies or typographical errors. LiveU reserves the right to make changes without prior
notice.

No part of this publication may be copied without the express written permission of LiveU.

Trademarks

LiveU and the LiveU logo are U.S. registered trademarks of LiveU. Other brands and product
names mentioned in this manual may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective companies and are hereby acknowledged.

CDN Configuration Guide

Streaming to Content Delivery Networks
LiveU Central provides several options that enable streaming to both the Internet and SDI
simultaneously, to the internet only, via SDI only or SMPTE-2110 only.

Streaming to the internet is achieved via a Content Delivery Network (CDN) connection. To
stream to a specific CDN, such as YouTube, DaCast, Akamai, LimeLight and UStream, you
must have an account with the CDN provider.

Streaming to Facebook is also available through an LU unit. After creating a CDN account with
a provider, the provider sends a set of parameters that are used by LiveU to connect to the
CDN. The channel name is displayed whenever an SDI output channel is idle and disappears
from the output once the SDI out becomes active.

Configuring CDN channels

This guide describes how to configure general parameters for a CDN. You can also configure a
CDN’s parameters for a specific MMH.

In the Configuration window, you can do the following:

▪ General: Displays general information about the channel and allows you to change the
channel name, force SDI output resolution and set the bandwidth limit.

▪ Graphics Overlay: Allows you to define graphics overlay settings.

▪ Streaming: Displays parameters required for IP streaming of the selected channel.

▪ Multipoint: Allows you to configure Multipoint channels.

▪ NDI: Allows you to configure channels that send video to Network Device Interface (NDI)
channels.

NOTE
You cannot modify the configuration of a CDN while it is streaming.

To configure CDN channels:

1 Log in to LU Central.

2 In the MANAGE tab, select Channels.

3 Click in the row of the channel you want to configure.

Alternatively, double-click the row of the channel you want to configure.

The <channel name> Configuration window is displayed. The General tab is active by
default.

CDN Configuration Guide

4 Optionally, click the Channel name field and rename the channel.

5 Optionally, select a resolution from the Force SDI Output Resolution dropdown list.

6 Optionally, select Force Output Channel.

Defining the channel as output allows you to stream to Facebook using a preview channel.

7 Optionally, move the Bandwidth Limit counter to set a new limit.

8 Click Apply or OK.

Configuring Graphics Overlay on the

selected channel
For information on how to upload graphics to the Graphics Overlay library, see the LiveU
Central user guide.

To configure Graphics Overlay:

1 In the MANAGE tab, select Channels.

2 Click in the row of the channel you want to configure.

Alternatively, double-click the row of the channel you want to configure.

The <channel name> Configuration window is displayed. The General tab is active by
default.

3 Click the Graphics Overlay tab.

4 Switch Graphics Overlay to ON.

CDN Configuration Guide

 Graphics Overlay options become available.

5 Select a file from the Graphics File dropdown list.

A miniature preview of the selected file is displayed next to the dropdown list.

6 In the Overlay Position pane, drag the blue oblong to where you want the graphic to be
positioned.

7 Move the Overlay Size counter to adjust the graphic's size.

8 Click Apply or OK.

A checkmark appears in the Overlay column in the Channels list window. A yellow flag
appears when the selected channel is used by an LU unit going live.

CDN Configuration Guide

Configuring IP streaming on the selected
channel
To configure IP streaming on the selected channel:
1 In the MANAGE tab, select Channels.

2 Click in the row of the channel you want to configure.

Alternatively, double-click the row of the channel you want to configure.

The <channel name> Configuration window is displayed. The General tab is active by
default.

3 Click the Streaming tab.

4 Switch Streaming to ON.

Streaming options become available.

5 In the Streaming Destination dropdown list, select the name of the destination channel.

The IP Address, Port and Video bit rate (Kbps) fields become available. If a destination
preset for this channel was already defined, the values are automatically populated with
the settings specified in the preset.

6 Select one of the following from the Stream Type dropdown list:

o RTMP: For details, see page 4.

o MPEG-TS: For details, see page 5.

o SRT: For details, see page 5.

Switching Streaming to OFF deletes the configuration for the selected channel. When
turning it to ON again, you need to re-enter the configuration, either manually or with a
preset.

CDN Configuration Guide

Configuring RTMP settings
Using RTMP for IP streaming is the most common way to stream to a CDN.

Selecting RTMP in the Channels Configuration > Streaming window displays the following
fields:

▪ Destination Name: Type a name to associate with the stream.

▪ Provider: Select the CDN to which you want to stream from the Provider dropdown list.

NOTE
To stream to a CDN that is not in the list in the CDN field, contact LiveU support and
ask for the required CDN to be added to the list.

▪ User Name: Type the user name provided by the CDN.

▪ Password: Type the password provided by the CDN.

▪ Primary URL: Type the URL provided by the CDN.

▪ Add URL: Optionally, add a secondary URL.

▪ Stream 1: Type a stream ID into the field.

▪ Video Profile: Select a profile from the dropdown list.

▪ Transparent: Select to enable the video to be sent without transcoding. This option is
typically used with an external transcoder and might not be supported by all providers.

CDN Configuration Guide

Configuring MPEG-TS settings

Selecting MPEG-TS in the Channels Configuration > Streaming window displays the following
fields:

▪ Destination Name: Type a name to associate with the stream.

▪ IP Address: Type the target IP address.

▪ Port: Type the number of the target port.

▪ Video bitrate (Kbps): Type the video bit rate, in Kbps. You can add up to three digits after
the decimal point.

Setting SRT IP streaming

Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) optimizes video streaming performance across unpredictable
networks.

CDN Configuration Guide

Selecting SRT in the Channels Configuration > Streaming window displays the following
fields:

▪ Streaming: Switch to ON.

▪ Streaming Destination: Select a predefined streaming configuration preset from the

dropdown menu.

▪ The stream name is free text that you can update, if required.

▪ SRT Mode: there are two modes:

o Listener: The Listener device waits for a request before starting an SRT streaming
session and listens for an SRT stream on the source port.

Source port: Type the number of the target port on the server side. The IP addresses
of the internal and external servers are displayed by default and cannot be changed.

o Caller: The Caller device initiates an SRT streaming session. It needs to know the
public IP address and port number of the Listener.

Type the address into the URL field.

▪ Passphrase: Optionally, type a string of words to use for internal authentication.

▪ Latency: Select the latency from the dropdown menu.

▪ Video Profile: Select a resolution from the dropdown menu. Custom is the default option.

▪ Resolution: Select the required resolution from the dropdown list.

Keep source resolution is the default option.

▪ Bit Rate: Select the bit rate from the dropdown menu.

▪ Max Frame Rate: Select a resolution from the dropdown list. Keep source resolution is the
default option.

NOTE
The MMH can handle only one IP streaming configuration at a time.

CDN Configuration Guide

Configuring Multipoint sharing options
To configure Multipoint sharing options:
1 In the MANAGE tab, select Channels.

2 Click corresponding to the channel you want to configure.

Alternatively, double-click the row of the channel you want to configure.

The <channel name> Configuration window is displayed. The General tab is active by
default.

3 Click the Multipoint tab.

4 Switch Sharing Options to ON.

The Sharing Options window is displayed.

5 Switch Sharing to ON.

6 Optionally, select Share service location.

7 Optionally, type a name for the shared stream in the text field.

8 In the Share with area, expand My Groups / External and select the groups / external
users to share the stream with.

9 Click OK and then click Apply or OK.

CDN Configuration Guide

Configuring Network Device Interface (NDI) channels
Network Device Interface (NDI) channels can be used to enable multiple video systems to
identify and communicate with one another over IP. NDI channels are used to encode,
transmit and receive multiple streams of high-quality, low-latency, frame-accurate video and
audio in real time.

LiveU partnered with NewTek to implement the NDI protocol in the LiveU system. It enables
an LU unit to stream to NewTek’s Tricaster product via an NDI IP interface.

To enable NDI on a channel:

1 In the MANAGE tab, select Channels.

2 Click corresponding to the channel you want to configure.

Alternatively, double-click the row of the channel you want to configure.

The <channel name> Configuration window is displayed. The General tab is active by
default.

3 Click the NDI tab.

4 Switch Enable NDI Stream to ON.

Figure 1: Channel configuration – NDI

5 Click Apply or OK.

CDN Configuration Guide