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!
Choose an Encoder
Click on the icon to choose the streaming software you'll use with your Switchboard Account.
In our example, we selected OBS.
To see more options, click Connect Streaming Software.
Create a Destination Group
Create your first destination group.
Click the Yellow Add Group button.
As you scroll down, you'll see that the fields like group name, stream titles, and descriptions have been prefilled to help you get started. You'll be able to change these attributes now or later.
Click Save.
Add Destinations
Tip: It helps to be logged into the social channels, and pop-up blockers are disabled in your web browser.
Click on the icon of the social destination that you want to add to your first group.
Add Facebook
Click on the Facebook icon.
Click Authorize.
You may be prompted to log into your Facebook account.
Log in and click continue.
Select the Facebook destination type ( profile, page, or group).
Add Twitch
Click on the Twitch Icon.
Click Authorize.
You may be prompted to log into your Twitch account.
Scroll down, and click the ALLOW button.
Add YouTube
IMPORTANT NOTE
Before authenticating your YouTube destinations, you must enable your channel to live stream. The process to activate your account will take up to 24 hours.
Use this resource to learn How to enable YouTube Live Streaming
Click on the YouTube icon.
Click Authorize.
You may be prompted to log into your Google account.
Select the appropriate YouTube channel.
Click the Allow button.
Add Twitter
Click on the Twitter icon.
Click Authorize.
You may be prompted to log into your Twitter account.
Click the Authorize app button.
Add LinkedIn
IMPORTANT NOTE
You must ensure that you have been approved via LinkedIn before attempting to add your LinkedIn individual or company page. Here's a resource to see if you meet LinkedIn criteria for live streaming onto their platform - LinkedIn Live Criteria
Click on the LinkedIn icon.
Select LinkedIn Region
Click Authorize.
You may be prompted to sign into your LinkedIn account.
Click Allow.
Select the type of LinkedIn destination you want to connect with.
Click Allow.
Add RTMP Destination
Click the RTMP icon located at the bottom of the destination group.
Copy and paste the RTMP info (Stream URL and Stream Key) into the appropriate fields from the destination.
Name the RTMP destination.
Click Next, then Finish.
The RTMP destination has been successfully added to the destination group.
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 the appropriate stream settings of your encoder. 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 are successfully receiving video from your live-streaming software.
- Video will display on the Confidence Monitor
-
The status will change from a red dot to a green dot. 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 cherry-pick and click the Go Live button one by one next to each destination.
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 get you started; there are more features to check out!
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 together.
You can follow the steps in this reference to learn How to Create a Template and Apply it to Your Destinations.
Auto Start
Turn this feature on ahead of time, and 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 to 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!
Invite a friend's social channel to your Switchboard Account by following the steps here: How to Use Viral Stream Share!
Team Members
We get it; sometimes, it takes a village to run a successful live stream. Invite other users as admins to your Switchboard account, whoever is part of your stream team.
Check it out here - Invite Team Members.