Welcome to the Switchboard Family!
We are so glad you are here and have begun the Switchboard Journey! We've created this essential guide to help you start multistreaming with Switchboard Live.
September 2024:
We have just updated our application. Although some of the visuals may appear different, the functionality remains unchanged. You will still need to connect your encoder, add destinations, and apply templates. When you first sign up, a default workflow will be created for you, so keep that in mind.
Check out this video to learn how to get started.
Connect your Live Streaming Software and Switchboard
Let's get started!
Create a Destination Group
Click the Create a Group Button.
Give the Group a Name.
Click Save and Next.
Connect your Live Streaming Software and Switchboard
Connecting your Switchboard account with most encoders is easy!
An encoder is the third-party live streaming platform you'll need to live stream.
- Copy the RTMP URL.
- Copy the Stream Key
Paste the RTMP URL and Stream Key into your encoder's appropriate stream settings. Sometimes, this may be labeled "RTMP."
You can test the connection by sending the video from your encoder into your Switchboard account. Don't worry; you won't go live to the destinations. You are just testing the connection between the two platforms.
You'll see changes on the workflow page when you successfully receive video from your live-streaming software.
- Video will be displayed on the Confidence Monitor.
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The status will change from a red dot to a green dot, and the wording will change from not receiving to receiving.
- Messaging in the stream status heading at the top will display: "Video Present."
- You'll see the Go Live button change from Gray to Green - This means you are ready for the fun part... Multistreaming!
Ready to Multistream!
Now, you can select all the destinations in the group at once and go live, or you can cherry-pick and click the Go Live button next to each destination one by one.
Now you're Multistreaming!
You'll see the changes cycle through the states, and after a few seconds, you'll be multistreaming to the destinations in the group!
Click on one of the social icons to view the stream on your channel!
Ready to End the Multistream
Select all the destinations.
Click the Stop Streaming Button at the top.
The stream will stop streaming to the destinations.
Congratulations! You've completed your first Multistream with Switchboard Cloud!
Of course, this is just a quick guide to help you get started; more features exist to explore!
Create a Template
Switchboard has a powerful template feature!
This feature allows you to create the stream title and description (the metadata) for all of your destinations grouped.
Follow the steps in this reference to learn how to Create a Template and Apply it to Your Destinations.
Auto Start
If you turn this feature on ahead of time, we'll automatically start streaming to your social channels as soon as you start your broadcast on the live streaming software.
Learn how to use the autostart feature here. How do you enable the autostart feature?
Viral StreamShare™ Switchboard Live's Exclusive Feature
You can publish to other social channels without requesting their login credentials. They choose which destinations to opt in, and BAM!
When you Go Live, they Go Live!
Follow the steps here to invite a friend's social channel to your Switchboard Account: How to Use Viral Stream Share!
Team Members
We get it; sometimes, it takes a village to run a successful livestream. Invite other users as admins to your Switchboard account, including those on your stream team.
Check it out here - Invite Team Members.