What is RTMP? How RTMP Helps in Video Streaming

What is RTMP? How RTMP Helps in Video Streaming

What is RTMP?

RTMP denotes Real Time Messaging Protocol which initially was a protocol owned and designed by Macromedia for audio streams has also gained a lot of popularity due to its flawless video streaming. With the introduction of HTTP video streaming, RTMP video streaming nearly went obsolete at a point. But RTMP has several advantages which still make it the most used protocol to date.

What is RTMP streaming?

If one had to define RTMP, it can be easily stated that RTMP is an Adobe owned protocol who had taken the rights from Macromedia. RTMP can be used for streaming videos is FLV as well as MP4 formats. It also has the capability of streaming audio in MP3 and AAC formats. Live streaming as well as on-demand streaming is also supported by RTMP. RTMP servers include Wowza and Adobe Flash Media.

How does RTMP streaming work?

RTMP is basically based on TCP (Transmission Control Protocol).

In a specific situation, the correspondence is set up between the Adobe Flash Media Server (FMS) and the Client Flash Player.

What is RTMP protocol?

RTMP protocol is adaptable and can deliver Video and Audio (and TEXT! Keep in mind it takes into consideration a different text track to send along) in various configurations and to different Devices like Mobiles (except for iDevices which don’t “comprehend” Flash) and Web Applications. The upside of RTMP is that all Video and Audio documents are sent to a swf (small web format) file which can be played in a Flash Player, which reversely can be implanted in a Web Page or even Mobile Devices.

In a simple setup for the budding visionary, the Adobe Flash Media Server must be implanted first to encourage the transmission of Video or Audio information. At the point when a Flash Player installed towards the End User side makes a call to the FMS, it (the Flash Media Server) sends a swf file, which lives on the Server, back to the Player.

The Video and Audio files are all embedded in this swf file format and along these lines you can send Video or Audio in any possible format and still playback in a similar Flash Player.

RTMP Streaming, in any event in a homely setup, can be accomplished without the loss of sweat. The way toward installing and setting up a Flash Media Server is quite easy and the technology is brilliant since it has been around for a long time now. You can transmit Video and Audio in different formats and interpretations, and additionally apply Security Features, for example, Player Verification.

Adding to that, a standout feature amongst the most critical points of interest of RTMP, with regards to Live Broadcasts, is the low latency that is achieved while broadcasting a video. HTTP based Technologies present high latencies like 10+ seconds more and that just can’t work with outrageous live transmissions, for example, sport events, betting events, trading related Applications.

There’s a whole other world to the bundle of RTMP’s advantages over HTTP. Well it might sound bad but it is a fact that not all devices on earth today are front line Technology.

We should talk Set Top Boxes for instance without the mention of a couple of astounding exemptions, we are discussing obsolete boxes pressed with Stone Age old Hardware and Software. These do “comprehend” RTMP streaming and includes every feature that is required.

Still RTMP is used worldwide to date and has not gone obsolete. This is because of a few reasons.

  • Most streaming devices support RTMP so that they can deliver to CDN providers and servers which stream video content. In order to deliver a live video shot with a mobile camera, some native cellular applications use RTMP archives.
  • One of the most notable advantages of RTMP streaming is that it has the capability to commence an advanced search. With a real-time streaming protocol, the player can look for a lesser latency than HTTP enabled video streams. A Flash Player is required to relish this feature.
  • RTMP can encourage different levels of content insurance, from falsified to genuine DRM (Digital Rights Management). For PC browser playback, the program does not store RTMP streams in their cache.
  • One of the favored talents of RTMP is versatile streaming playback, wherein numerous bitrates and resolutions of content are given to a video player, empowering the best resolution to play in the given current system speeds. Certain HTTP streaming innovations, for example, HLS and MPEG-DASH help in a similar delivery system, yet RTMP can be more responsive when it comes to changing with one bit-rate then onto the next. Sadly, there is no standard for HTTP versatile streaming across browsers that would support HTML5 video.
  • While live streams don’t need to be versatile, a similar rule of bundled video section applies to any live stream playback. Almost all live streaming occasions for in-browser PC playback require a video player that backs Flash-based rendering and RTMP playback.
  • The browser for Apple i.e. Safari on iOS locally supports HLS, and luckily, all cutting edge streaming servers, including Wowza Streaming Engine, support RTMP and HLS packetizing. The urgent need for Flash Player with live streaming will just change when MPEG-DASH moves toward becoming as influential as Flash is today. In the event that Internet Explorer 8, 9, and 10 supports are required for your live streaming arrangement, RTMP streaming will remain at the top. Additionally, on the off chance that you require close to zero latency on a live stream, HTTP streaming will most probably not address your issues while RTMP can. HTTP tools require more bundles to collect on the server before sending them to the video player.

RTMP is basically an old and foolproof streaming technology that has been used for years now. The Flash Player which helps in viewing video streams through RTMP protocol is quite famous and used all over the planet. There are certain drawbacks of RTMP that has been found out, however, it still remains a platform favored by most.

In conclusion, it must be noted that if your focus lies entirely upon live streaming then RTMP is surely the protocol which you give your venture a successful future. HTTP streaming has become quite widespread as well, but it can never include the features that RTMP streaming have implanted in it.

What is HLS Streaming and When You Should Use It?

What is HLS Streaming and When You Should Use It?

As with other forms of technology, video delivery technology has seen a rapid evolution over the past few years. Around ten years ago, the world of online video was largely dominated by Adobe Flash. And yet, as the years have rolled on, Flash has slowly sunsetted, making way for new, superior protocols like HTTP Live Streaming (HLS). Also, the HTML5 video player remains the user interface of choice today. This is big news for the tribe of rising entertainment entrepreneurs and marketers. Since HLS and HTML5 are freeshare services, they’re available for consumption to the world at large. And with the number of affordable turnkey video frameworks available, the scope of online video content is vast. Streamhash, a brand that specializes in online video streaming has a tailor-made live streaming technology in its kitty; StreamNow offers broadcasters a chance to stream from anywhere at lightning-fast speeds. The framework has seen notable traction in the market, with numerous new businesses preferring to pick ready-made technologies rather than spend thousands more on designing their own technology stack from scratch. Before understanding how you can pair turnkey frameworks with HLS, let’s gain a deeper understanding of HLS and its role in video streaming.

A Keyhole to HLS:

HLS is a popular streaming protocol that is used to transmit video and audio content from a server to a user via the internet. Here’s how it works:

 

HLS breaks MP4 video content into 10-second segments

These segments are then carried to their destination via HTTP which allows the HLS streaming server to be accessed by an array of devices

Latency varies between 15 and 30 seconds

HLS live streaming is far superior to its counterparts as far as quality is concerned. In fact, broadcasters have the option of tailoring a single stream to varying qualities to accommodate a spectrum of user download speeds. Let’s take an example. Say a user is streaming a high-definition video on their phone via mobile internet. If the internet drops, the user may experience a muted or dead space in the stream. However, HLS live streaming allows users to alter their download quality in tandem with the internet availability in the vicinity. As a result, buffering, lags and delays are avoided.

Alternatives to HLS Live Streaming:

We’ve established by now that HLS live streaming is the kingpin of streaming protocols. But that doesn’t mean that it’s the only one out there. There are several predecessors to HLS and as is inevitable with technology, there will be innumerable successors. That said, HLS live streaming still shares part of its spotlight with a handful of other protocols.

RTMP:

Real-Time Messaging Protocol, or RTMP for short, was designed at the turn of the millennium specifically for audio and video streaming. It was created by Macromedia as Flash, and when Macromedia later went on to merge with Adobe, the protocol was christened Adobe Flash. Over the last ten years, RTMP has garnered colossal success as an effective video streaming protocol. With the advent of HLS live streaming, RTMP has taken somewhat of a backseat in the video delivery space. Having said that, the majority of video hosting services still hinge on RTMP today. Streamhash incorporates RTMP in all of its frameworks.

HDS:

HDS, or HTTP Dynamic Streaming is a futuristic streaming format created by Adobe, intended to be used along with Flash. It hasn’t gained as much relative momentum, however.

Microsoft Smooth Streaming:

Not to be left behind, Microsoft’s live streaming protocol, Microsoft Smooth Streaming (MSS) works on an adaptive bitrate model, optimizing quality and output. The approach, launched in 2008, is one of the oldest adaptive bitrate mechanisms in the market. In its early days, it was used to stream the Summer Olympics of 2008. Despite its initial novelty, MSS has been outperformed by HLS live streaming in the current market context.

MPEG-DASH:

One of the most recently innovated protocols, MPEG-DASH presents many merits. Entirely HTTP-based, it allows broadcasters to implement its framework faster than ever before. Given its newness, MPEG-DASH still has a considerable way to go in reaching the corners of the streaming market. Presently, it has been embraced and applied by a number of noteworthy broadcasters. MPEG-DASH is also codec-agnostic, implying that content sent through it can be composed of virtually any encoding format.

Advantages of HLS Live Streaming:

HLS live streaming brings much value to the table. Here’s how it can help you.

Quality:

We’ve already spoken about how HLS live streaming can bring about better quality. Adaptive bitrate modeling can optimize the delivery of streams, ensuring a superior viewing experience.

Compatibility:

HLS video streaming is compatible with a large number of operating systems. Although originally tailored for iOS, HLS has evolved to be a protocol of choice for Android, Microsoft, Linux as well as a range of web browsers.

When to Use HLS Live Streaming:

HLS is a versatile, modern streaming tool that can be used universally. Despite its many advantages, the latency tethered to HLS is known to be higher than other modes of live streaming. Essentially, live streams may lose their essence owing to the lag in delivery, some being delayed up to thirty seconds. That said, this doesn’t present a concern for most broadcasters, for whom a half-a-minute lag typically holds little significance against a larger broadcasting backdrop. HLS is also required if you intend to stream to mobile handsets and tablets. With mobile devices quickly shrouding larger screens across the world, HLS becomes significant. Another point to note is that HTML5 video players do not pair with RTMP or HDS. HLS then becomes the sole option.

HLS is quickly making its way up the technology ladder, thanks to its superior features and versatility. If you’re big on video streaming and intend to set up a platform, make sure to have an HLS protocol handy. In the next five years, it’s likely to rule the online video space.