Connect to a scheduled YouTube Live Event with a persistent stream key and Switchboard Cloud

In this article we will show you how to schedule a YouTube Live Event with a persistent stream key and connect it to Switchboard Cloud via a Custom RTMP destination.

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NOTE: If you need to connect Switchboard Cloud to a previously created YouTube Live Event via Custom RTMP, please check out this article.

The Benefits

• Stream to a 3rd party channel that is not included in our list of destinations.
• More platform control when used with YouTube Live Studio
• Used as a one time event or on a scheduled basis

Let's say that you are collaborating with another YouTube channel to produce a weekly series for one Month. You don't have the authorization or log in credentials to their YouTube channel, but that's okay. Inside of YouTube studio, they can create a Custom Stream profile that has its own Stream Key and Stream Url. They would share this info with you so their channel can receive video from your Switchboard Cloud account. When it’s time to GO Live just select the destination and hit the green "GO LIVE" button, video will send to YouTube studio.

Full control can be used Inside of Youtube Studio:

• Manually hit the Blue "GO LIVE" button to post the stream to the YouTube Channel
• Manually hit the red "End Stream" button to stop the stream

Steps to set up a Custom RTMP Youtube Channel

1. Go to Youtube Studio
2. Log into the appropriate YouTube Account
   
3. In the upper right, select the live steam icon
   
   
   
4. Fill out the details for your live stream video.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Under Stream Settings select the down arrow.
   
   
   
   
6. Select "Create new stream key"
   • Give the stream profile a Name and description.
   • TIP: Give it a name that corresponds with the Destination Group in your Switchboard Cloud Account.
   • NOTE: The BITRATE and Frame Sizes can't be changed after the stream profile is created. The Common video and Bitrate sizes are highlighted below.
     
     
     
     
     
7. Apply the specific Stream Key Profile to the Video Stream
   - Hit the Down Arrow and choose from the list
   - The Stream Key profile should now be displayed and will be applied to the video
   
   
   
8. Copy the Stream URL and Stream Key
   - This info will be used inside of Switchboard Cloud when you add the YouTube profile as a Custom RTMP.
   NOTE: The Server URL starts with "rtmp:/"
   

Now ADD the YouTube Channel as a Custom RTMP to your Switchboard Cloud Account.

Log into Switchboard Cloud

1. Choose Add Destination and select New Destination from the menu.
   
   
   
2. Select RTMP from the list.
   
   
   
   
3. Paste the Stream Key and Server URL that you copied from YouTube into the appropriate fields.
   NOTE: The Server URL starts with "rtmp:/"
   
   
   
   
4. Name the Custom RTMP to easily identify for repeat use.
   - Hit the info button on the right.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Add more destinations depending you your needs
   
   

TIME TO "GO LIVE" 

1. When it's time to Go Live, turn on your encoder.
2. Check that video is present in the Switchboard Cloud confidence monitor 
3. Hit the green "GO LIVE" button next to the appropriate destinations.
4. In YouTube Studio - verify that video is showing in the Preview window
   - Hit the Blue "GO LIVE" button (if Auto-Start isn't enabled)
   
   
   

When it's time to Repeat the Stream:

1. Open YouTube Studio
2. You will be prompted to re-use the previous stream settings.
   -Select "Reuse settings" or the down arrow to select from the list.
   
   
   
3. Start sending your stream from Switchboard Cloud to the YouTube channel listed in your destination group as a Custom RTMP.