iPad Console: Broadcasting live video with Vimeo

What you'll need:

• A SlingStudio unit
• An network connection for the SlingStudio, either via Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable, that can access the Internet
• One or more video sources
• iPad with the latest Console app installed
• Sign-on credentials for a Vimeo Premium account (a Premium account is required for live-streaming). Go to Vimeo's website for information about Premium accounts.

Procedure:

1. Power up the SlingStudio.
2. On your iPad, launch the Console app and connect it to the SlingStudio hotspot.
3. Connect your SlingStudio unit to Internet using either of these two methods:
• Ethernet cable: Connect a live Ethernet cable to the SlingStudio using the SlingStudio USB-C Expander product.
• Wi-Fi: In the Console app, go to Settings (on the left edge of the Console app) and tap Internet Settings. Choose a Wi-Fi network to connect to.Note: You can also confirm the operation of the Ethernet connection here.
4. Prepare the video sources that you want to use and connect them to the SlingStudio hotspot.
5. Open a new project, and give it a name.
6. Toward the bottom of the settings box, tap LIVE BROADCASTING so that it is switched on.
   You may see an advisory dialog box that you can read and then dismiss.
7. Scroll upwards in the dialog box (if needed) and use these settings for your new project:
1. Video production (resolution): Choose whichever setting you think is best.
2. Video Sources Bit rate: Choose a video source bit rate setting. For now, set the slider to be about halfway between minimum and maximum.
   Note: The min/max numbers on the slider vary with the Video production (resolution) setting you have chosen.
3. Program Output Bit rate: Choose a setting for this bit rate. Again, if you're not sure, choose a setting that is about halfway between minimum and maximum.
8. At the bottom of the Live Broadcasting section, go to the Upload Speed line. Tap the circular arrow to test your current upload speed. After several seconds, the Console app determines what the current upload speed is.
9. Divide this Upload Speed figure approximately in half, and use that figure to refine the Program Output bit rate setting (from Step 7c above). Half the Upload Speed is a good number to start with. Lower settings can offer lower video quality … but also broadcasting with fewer skips. Higher settings offer the reverse.
10. Down in the LIVE BROADCASTING section, tap Select a Destination.
    The Destinations dialog box opens.
11. Tap Vimeo.
12. Log into Vimeo as instructed. If you are asked for various permissions, be sure to allow them.
    Note: A Vimeo Premium account is required for live-streaming. If you don't have a Premium-level Vimeo account, you cannot proceed further. Go to Vimeo's website for information about Premium accounts.
    Once you're logged in to Vimeo, you are returned to the Vimeo dialog box within SlingStudio Console.
13. To begin streaming an event right now:
1. Tap Stream Now.
   The Stream Now dialog box that opens.
2. Enter a Title and Description for your event.
3. Tap to select a privacy option.
4. Tap SET DESTINATION at the bottom of the screen.
   A popup window appears, giving you options about setting multiple streaming destinations.
5. Choose the options you want based on whether or not you want to stream to multiple destinations. You can choose one stream, or go to the Vimeo event settings portal to select multiple destinations.
   When you're finished setting that up, you are returned to the PROJECT SETTINGS screen
14. To schedule a live event for the future:
1. If you want to work with a previously-defined event, tap to select it and skip to Step 3.
2. Tap Create a New Live Event.
   The Create New Event dialog box that opens.
3. Enter a Title and Description for your event.
4. Tap to select a privacy option.
5. Select the date and time that you want the event to start.
6. Tap SET DESTINATION at the bottom of the screen.
   A popup window appears, giving you options about setting multiple streaming destinations.
7. Choose the options you want based on whether or not you want to stream to multiple destinations. You can choose one stream, or go to the Vimeo event settings portal to select multiple destinations.
   When you're finished setting that up, you are returned to the PROJECT SETTINGS screen.
15. Review your project settings, and then tap SAVE.If you see dialog boxes about media storage and setting up your audio, handle those as you wish.
16. Back at the Console app main screen, tap a video source to put it in PREVIEW, and then when you're ready, promote it to PROGRAM.
17. Tap GO LIVE on the left-side edge.
18. In the dialog box that appears, you have some choices:
1. Copy URL: Use this if you want to copy the URL of your Vimeo live stream event and share it with your audience.
2. Simulcast settings: If you want to go to the Vimeo Portal to change settings, including multiple streaming destination settings, you can do that with this option.
3. Go Live: Tap this choice to begin your live broadcast.
   The GO LIVE button on the left side of the Console app turns red to indicate that you're currently broadcasting.
   If you want to monitor your Vimeo broadcast, using a computer, open a web browser and go to the Vimeo website. If you also set your stream to broadcast to other platforms, such as Facebook or YouTube, you may want to check those locations as well.
   IMPORTANT: Do not monitor streams with the iPad that is running the Console app! This could seriously impair its network bandwidth, causing streaming problems.
19. If you choose to monitor your Vimeo broadcast, be sure to sign on to Vimeo using the credentials that you used with the Console app a few moments ago.
    You should be able to see your SlingStudio broadcast on your Vimeo feed.
20. To stop broadcasting, tap GO LIVE from the left side of the Console app.
21. In the dialog box that appears, tap STOP LIVE to confirm.

Want to review Internet connectivity quality as you stream video?

You can do that in either of two ways.

First, make sure that you're streaming video. Then:

• In SlingStudio Console, along the bottom of the Program window, where you see info about your stream, tap Quality.
  The Live Broadcasting Quality Indicator opens, displaying real-time network streaming info.
• Or, you can tap the Dashboard icon (in the upper left corner of the SlingStudio Console main window) to open the Dashboard.
  At the bottom of the Dashboard, you see the INTERNET CONNECTIVITY thumbnail image displaying real-time bit rate data, just as the Live Broadcast Quality Indicator does.

For more information about the Live Broadcast Quality Indicator, see the links below.