For a decade, live streaming has gained much popularity in the event industry. It is beneficial to engage the audience with rich content and creative strategies.
Over the world, streaming live videos in an event has made a unique identity. Similarly, live streams in Singapore have also become a demanding choice among event organizers or planners.
Maybe you gave many queries regarding streaming and its implementation. Well, we have got your back!
In this post, we will cover the meaning of live video streaming. Also, there is a brief discussion on how it works. Read on!
A Brief Understanding Of Live Streaming
First of all, let’s understand the meaning of streaming. Basically, it’s a process of data transmission. Further, viewers don’t need to download the entire video; rather, they can easily replay it.
Well, the live stream is when the visuals are directly uploaded over the internet without being stored or recorded first. Nowadays, video games, TV broadcasts, and even social media videos use live streams. Even from a remote location, streaming helps in delivering real-time video content.
There is a slight difference between streaming and live streaming. However, in live streaming, the viewers receive videos in real-time. Moreover, streaming live is just like broadcasting live streams. At one time one video is accessible to many viewers with live streaming.
The Working Of Live Streaming
The live stream delivers visuals to the audience over the internet through different streaming protocols in real-time. There would not be any video latency. The most popular elements for video delivery are WebRTC, RTMP, and HLS.
In different industries live video streaming is important. So, in the event industry, event planners in Singapore are heading live video streaming programs. These types of events engage more audiences and allow people to join and enjoy content from their place.
The most popular live video streaming consists of virtual events, concert streaming, online lectures/training, marketing, sports coverage, church service streaming, and more.
Live Streaming On A Technical Level
Step 1: Video Capture
It starts with the process of getting raw video data. First, the camera captures the visuals. With the help of a device (with the attached camera), these videos are presented as digital data.
Step 2: Compression Then Encoding
Step two includes compression and encoding of segmented video data. Here, the data compresses when the technician removes the redundant video information.
For instance, if it’s a business event, but the first frame is of the food court. So, it will be removed in the compression process. However, it’s not compulsory to render each video frame.
Now, moving towards “Encoding.” It refers to the method of converting information to a different format. Generally, the live video streaming data encodes into a digital format (interpretable). The best part is that various devices can recognize encoded data. The most popular video encoding standards consist of H.265, H.264, AV1, and VP9.
Step 3: Segmentation
The video consists of a lot of digital information; that is why downloading a video takes longer than downloading an image or PDF. Video streaming is divided into small segments. It is because practically, it’s not possible to send all data out over the Internet at one time.
Step 4: CDN distribution and caching
Well, if a live video stream segment, is compressed, and then encoded (consume seconds), make it available for viewers. A CDN (Content Delivery Networks) is distributed to maintain high quality. It includes minimal latency while delivering the stream to dozens of millions of audiences in various locations.
A CDN is a distributed server network that serves and caches content on behalf of an Origin server.
Well, a CDN provides the experience of faster and better performance. In this, users don’t have to travel to the real server Origin. Rather the streaming can be handled by a CDN server available nearby. Also, delivering content and handling requests with CDN decreases the workload of the Origin server. In the end, with its help, it is possible to serve content fast and efficiently to users all over the world.
Furthermore, a CDN cache temporarily saves every live stream segment. The audience gets the live stream through a CDN cache rather than an Origin server.
Well, these modern techniques make live streams in Singapore and other regions the same as real-time, even when the cached data is just a few seconds behind.
Step 5: Decoding and video playback
Usually, the CDN helps in sending the live stream out to all the audience that is watching it. The audience device first receives, then decodes, and at last decompresses the segmented videos.
In the end, a media player on the audience’s gadget analyzes the data like visual information, and then the video starts playing.
Why CDN Is Important For Live Streaming
CDNs are geographically distributed servers that deliver live streaming video efficiently. Basically, a CDN lies between the Origin servers and the video players (clients) for providing video over vast geographical regions.
CDN reduces latency, scales efficiently with traffic, provides a seamless viewing experience, and protects Origin servers from overloading.
Working Of CDN For Live Streaming
- After completing packaging, transcoding, ad-insertion, DRM, the final streams are placed on an Origin Server (webserver).
- Basically, the CDN configures with the URLs of Origin.
- The video player programmed takes permission from CDN regarding video segments.
- Once the play request reaches the CDN, it doesn’t have any content in the cache. So, it forwards the submission to the Origin Server. When the response of Origin is received, it caches content and sends it to the player.
- In the end, the player requests for the same visuals segment, and the CDN reviews its cache. If it is then, the CDN delivers the video. But if it is not, the CDN requests the Origin Server to transmit the segment.
Final Words
As you have seen, only experts can handle live streaming as a task. So, for conducting these types of events, make sure you choose the right event planner in Singapore region. Also, they should have a powerful team of experienced planners and technicians to conduct streaming.