Live-streaming via the Web Platform has never been easier! It all happens within your Web Browser!
You can conduct a Livestream directly from your Web Browser without the need to do so from the iOS or Android App. Via the Web Platform, you even have the ability to share your screen allowing you the option to share a presentation or any other content!
If this is the first time you are conducting a Livestream from your device we recommend you do a test run via your chosen Web Browser, and please do check out the sections for:
How to Livestream via the Web Platform:
User Permissions:
Live-streaming requires that the member has been granted the following permissions:
- Is a Group Admin of the Group they are attempting to Livestream to.
- Has been granted the permission setting to Livestream.
You can learn more about permissions and how to set them here.
Going Live!
Now that your account has the correct permissions, head to your Community and begin a Post. From here, you will select the Group you want to Livestream to and you will a small camera icon is available.
Alternatively, if you have attached a Livestream link to an Event, you can navigate the Event and begin the Livestream from there. You can learn more about this here.
Pick an option and let's start going live!
You're taken to the Livestream page and are shown the option to go into standby mode and Notify Members of an impeding Livestream. Press this to start the stream itself.
Please note that once you press notify members, the stream is being recorded from this point. This is important to remember when it comes time to Post your Livestream!
You can stay in Standby for as long as you want so that members have an opportunity to join the Livestream waiting room. However, once you are ready to go live, press go live.
When you're Live:
Live-streaming for the first time? Check out this section first.
When you are live you have a few options available to you:
- The camera icon allows you to turn your camera on or off.
- The microphone icon allows you to mute and unmute your microphone.
- The screen icon allows you to share your device screen and stop sharing it.
- The comment icon will allow you to see the chat screen and comment.
- The user icon will show you the members in the Livestream.
- You can grant permission to members to share their video and audio here. Check out this article to learn more about Livestreaming with Multiple Streamers.
- The red exit icon will end the Livestream for everyone.
When sharing your screen, you have the option to select what you would specifically like to share with your members:
- A specific Web Browser Tab.
- A specific application window.
- An entire screen.
Please note, this is a screenshot from Google Chrome – other web browsers may present differently.
Sharing your Screen using a Mac via Safari:
Once you have allowed your Livestream to access your window or screen, you will simply press the Share This Screen/Share This Window button that shows in the middle of the screen to start sharing.
Apple has a specific video overlay system, so when you opt to share your screen or your window on a Mac via Safari, you may be presented with a specific option to choose your presenter overlay. These are options that are shared by Apple but are not supported for the Livestream itself.
Ending the Livestream:
When your session is complete and it's time to end the Livestream, press the red exit icon.
You'll be presented with a confirmation screen:
- Pressing Cancel will keep the Livestream rolling.
- Pressing End the Livestream will end the Livestream.
You will now be asked if you want to Post your Livestream to the Group you have just been streaming to. Don't forget that the stream started recording the moment you started the Livestream – so take a moment to consider if you were at your best moment at the very beginning of the recording!
- Pressing Cancel will not Post the Livestream.
- Pressing Yes will take you to the Post page to curate your Post.
If you press Cancel you will be taken back to the Live-streaming page – press the red back icon again to exit back to your Community.
Live-streaming for the First Time:
When you are Live-streaming for the first time from your chosen Web Browser, we recommend making a trial run first so that you can enable your browser permissions.
Some Web Browsers require you to close and re-open your Web Browser once you change certain permissions, so you don't want to do this when in the middle of a full Livestream!
Below we've set some steps for two of the most popular Web Browsers (Safari and Google Chrome), however, be mindful that other Web Browsers may have similar requirements.
Live-streaming via Safari for the First Time:
When Live-streaming via Safari you will always be asked to grant permission for the platform to use your Microphone and Camera.
However, once you press Allow for these, you can have the option to set these to always allow. This way you don't need to grant the same permissions all the time. Here's how:
- In the URL bar tap on the camera icon.
- Select the option for Always Allow on.
- Going forward, you will not be asked for Microphone and Camera permission when you go Live!
Live-streaming via Google Chrome for the First Time:
When Live-streaming via Google Chrome you will always be asked to grant permission for the platform to use your Microphone and Camera.
When you attempt to share your screen, you may also be asked to grant Google Chrome permission to access this information.
It's important to note that if you are asked this, Google Chrome will have to quit and restart to apply the permission. So we definitely suggest you make a trial run before you have your first Livestream!
The good news here though, is once you have granted Google Chrome these privileges, you won't have to do it again.
Top Tips:
- Can I still Livestream via RTMP?
- If you have RTMP as a part of your package you can – why not learn how to do this here.
- Can I have more than 1 Livestream running at a time?
- Currently you can only have 1 Livestream running at any one time.
- Where can I find my recorded Livestreams?
- You can find them in the Console – learn more about this here.
- Whilst you can go live for multiple hours, the Livestream recording is capped at 2 hours. So if your intention is to have a marathon Livestream session, you may find that when you try and download the recording from the Console you are only provided the first 2 hours.
- If this is the case, please email the Support team and we can facilitate the full recording for you.