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 YouTube/Gmail
To enable a Gmail account for live broadcasting (one-time task):
These steps are only needed to enable a Gmail account for live broadcasting if it has not been done before. After this is done for this particular Gmail account, you don't need to do it again:
- Create a Gmail account (or use an existing one) to sign in to YouTube.
- Once you log in to YouTube, tap the Creator Studio option.
- Tap Create a Channel, and then select LIVE STREAMING from the left-side panel.
- Select Events, and then tap Enable Live Streaming.
- If requested, verify the account by providing either your email address or your telephone number.
Procedure:
- Power up the SlingStudio.
- On your iPad, launch the Console app and connect it to the SlingStudio hotspot.
- 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.
- Prepare the video sources that you want to use and connect them to the SlingStudio hotspot.
- Open a new project, and give it a name.
- 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. - Scroll upwards in the dialog box (if needed) and use these settings for your new project:
- Video production (resolution): For YouTube streaming, choose whichever setting you think is best.
- 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. - 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. We'll refine it shortly.
- 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.
- 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.
Note: You can't change this setting once the project has been created. - Down in the LIVE BROADCASTING section, tap Select a Destination.
The Destinations dialog box opens. - Select YouTube.
- You see the Google Login screen. Provide your account credentials to log in.
- If you are asked for various permissions, be sure to allow them.
- Choose an option:
- Tap Stream Now. In the screen that follows, fill out the fields, then tap SET DESTINATION. Or …
- Tap Create New Event. In the screen that follows, fill out the fields, then tap CREATE.
See About YouTube privacy settings, below, for more information about privacy options.
- You return to the PROJECT SETTINGS screen.
- Review your project settings, and then tap SAVE.
- For now, skip past any dialog boxes that you see about media storage and setting up your audio.
- Set up your video: choose a video source for the Preview pane, then tap Preview -> Program to promote the video source's image to the Program pane.
- On the left edge of the Console app, tap GO LIVE. In the dialog box that appears, tap LIVE to confirm.
You can also tap PREVIEW to see a preview stream in the YouTube Live Control Room before you make your video live for the public. (You can sign up for the YouTube Live Control Room via the YouTube website from a computer web browser.) - The GO LIVE button on the left side of the Console app turns red to indicate that you're currently broadcasting.
You also see a timer displayed in the bottom of the PROGRAM window. - To stop the broadcast, tap the GO LIVE button. Confirm in the dialog boxes that appear.
About YouTube privacy settings
When creating an event, be sure to choose the best the Privacy option to suit the needs of your project:
- Public—Your video can be watched by anyone.
- Unlisted—Your video can be watched only by those with whom you have shared the video link. (This is the default setting.)
- Private—You're the only one who can watch your video.
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.
