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Live streaming

Keep your broadcast on air with a backup stream

Send the same broadcast a second time from another encoder or another internet connection, so viewers stay on air when the main feed drops.

Before you start

  • Your account is on the PRO or VIP plan. On FREE and STAR the Backup stream block is shown dimmed with a Pro mark and a See plans link.
  • Your stream receives video over RTMP, SRT or WHIP. A stream on CAMERA has no Connection panel and no backup.
  • You have a second encoder or a second copy of your streaming software, ideally on another internet connection.
  • Both encoders can send identical settings: the same resolution, codec, H.264 profile, frame format and audio. Only the video and audio bitrate may differ.

Steps

  1. 1
    Open the dashboard, click STREAMS in the tab row and click the gear icon on the card of your stream.
  2. 2
    In the right column, open the Connection panel. Under Primary stream you see the address your main encoder uses; below it is the Backup stream block.
  3. 3
    RTMP stream: copy the Backup URL and the RTMP key from the Backup stream block into your second encoder.
  4. 4
    SRT stream: copy the Backup URL from the Backup stream block — the SRT address already carries everything the encoder needs.
  5. 5
    WHIP stream: the backup input is RTMP. Copy the Backup URL and the RTMP key into an encoder that sends RTMP.
  6. 6
    Start the main encoder and then the backup encoder. There is no switch to turn on: the backup arms itself when the second encoder actually starts sending.
  7. 7
    Click the gear on the Backup stream block to choose what happens after a switch. Return to primary automatically (the default) goes back to the main feed once it has stayed stable for 10 seconds; Stay on backup keeps the broadcast on the backup until you switch back; Return manually only waits for your button.
  8. 8
    While the broadcast is on air, the same window offers Switch to primary and Switch to backup. A command is applied once that input is healthy.
  9. 9
    Start your broadcast as usual. If the main feed is lost, viewers are moved to the backup in the same player, without reloading the page.

Expected result

Both blocks of the Connection panel show an incoming signal, and pulling the cable of the main encoder leaves your watch page playing from the backup.

Common problems

Start is unavailable and the tooltip says the backup signal does not match the primary.

The message names the setting that differs. Set the backup encoder to the same resolution, codec, profile, frame format and audio as the main one, or stop the backup.

Copy on the Backup URL shows a message about PRO and VIP instead of copying.

Backup streaming is part of the PRO and VIP plans. Use See plans to move to one of them.

The broadcast stays on the backup after the main encoder came back.

Open the gear on the Backup stream block. With Stay on backup or Return manually only selected, press Switch to primary, or choose Return to primary automatically.

Switch to primary and Switch to backup are greyed out.

They work only while the broadcast is on air. Before the start, only the return setting can be changed.

Keep your broadcast on air with a backup stream | DCAST Docs