Using an encoder for live streaming with Microsoft Teams
APPLIES TO: ✔️Meetings ✖️Webinars ✔️Town halls ✔️Live events
Video encoders allow users to produce Microsoft Teams live events via external hardware or software-based solutions.
Overview
An encoder takes audio and video content from various sources you use during a live event such as a camera, a microphone, a desktop screen capture, and so on. It compresses and converts that media into a suitable digital format, then sends it to Teams for live streaming to your audience. Consult our Custom Production playbook to learn more about how you can use Teams production technologies (such as NDI) with external encoders.
Production workflow when using an encoder
The workflow for producing a Teams Live Event is as follows:
For a live event scheduled in Teams or Viva Engage, the Teams Encoder option must be selected. For a town hall, the RTMP-In meeting option must be turned on. This option provisions an RTMP endpoint, which is provided with an RTMP(S) URL and corresponding stream key. The URL and stream key are used by the encoder to connect to the RTMP endpoint for the scheduled live event.
Common video encoders used for live streaming
Microsoft has validated the video encoders for live streaming with Teams in the following list.
Supported encoders
| Encoder | Website | Encoder Type | Native Caption Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| AJA HELO Plus | AJA HELO Plus | Hardware | ✔️ |
| AWS Elemental Live | AWS Elemental Live | Hardware | ✔️ |
| Blackmagic Web Presenter HD | Blackmagic Web Presenter | Hardware | ✔️ |
| Blackmagic ATEM Mini with streaming engine | Blackmagic ATEM Mini with streaming engine | Hardware | |
| BrandLive | BrandLive | Service | |
| Epiphan video Pearl Nano | Epiphan video Pearl Nano | Hardware | |
| FFmpeg | FFmpeg | Software | ✔️ |
| Haivision | Haivision Makito X4 | Hardware | ✔️ |
| Live Arena AI Producer | Live Arena AI Producer | Service | |
| Magewell Ultra Encode AIO | Magewell Ultra Encode AIO | Hardware | ✔️ |
| Matrox Monarch EDGE Series | Matrox Monarch EDGE Series | Hardware | ✔️* |
| Newtek TriCaster 2 Elite | Newtek TriCaster 2 Elite | Hardware | |
| Open Broadcaster Software (OBS Studio) | Open Broadcaster Software | Software | |
| Socialive | Socialive | Service | |
| StreamYard | StreamYard | Service | |
| Telestream Wirecast | Telestream Wirecast | Software | |
| Teradek Prism Flex | Teradek Prism Flex | Hardware | ✔️ |
| vMix | vMix | Software | |
| XSplit Broadcaster | XSplit Broadcaster | Software |
*Native caption support coming soon
Event Setup
- For Microsoft Teams live event creation steps, refer to this page
- For encoder configuration setup, refer to this guide
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