Use the Wirecast encoder to send a single bitrate live stream

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Warning

Update your Azure Media Services REST API and SDKs to v3 by 29 February 2024. Version 3 of Azure Media Services REST API and client SDKs for .NET and Java offers more capabilities than version 2. We’re retiring version 2 of the Azure Media Services REST API and client SDKs for .NET and Java.

Action Required: To minimize disruption to your workloads, review the migration guide to transition your code from the version 2 API and SDKs to version 3 API and SDK before February 29th, 2024. After February 29th, 2024, Azure Media Services will no longer accept traffic on the version 2 REST API, the ARM account management API version 2015-10-01, or from the version 2 .NET client SDKs. This includes any 3rd party open-source client SDKS that may call the version 2 API. Learn about the latest version, starting with the Media Services v3 Overview.

This article shows how to configure the Telestream Wirecast live encoder to send a single bitrate stream to AMS channels that are enabled for live encoding. For more information, see Working with Channels that are Enabled to Perform Live Encoding with Azure Media Services.

This tutorial shows how to manage Azure Media Services (AMS) with Azure Media Services Explorer (AMSE) tool. This tool only runs on Windows PC. If you are on Mac or Linux, use the Azure portal to create channels and programs.

Note

Encoders must support TLS 1.2 when using RTMPS protocols. Use the Wirecast version 13.0.2 or higher due to the TLS 1.2 requirement.

Prerequisites

Tips

  • Whenever possible, use a hardwired internet connection.
  • A good rule of thumb when determining bandwidth requirements is to double the streaming bitrates. While this is not a mandatory requirement, it helps mitigate the impact of network congestion.
  • When using software-based encoders, close out any unnecessary programs.

Create a channel

  1. In the AMSE tool, navigate to the Live tab, and right-click within the channel area. Select Create channel… from the menu.

    Screenshot shows Create channel selected from a menu.

  2. Specify a channel name, the description field is optional. Under Channel Settings, select Standard for the Live Encoding option, with the Input Protocol set to RTMP. You can leave all other settings as is.

    Make sure the Start the new channel now is selected.

  3. Click Create Channel.

    Screenshot shows the Create a live channel dialog box.

Note

The channel can take as long as 20 minutes to start.

While the channel is starting, you can configure the encoder.

Important

Billing starts as soon as Channel goes into a ready state. For more information, see Channel's states.

Configure the Telestream Wirecast encoder

In this tutorial, the following output settings are used. The rest of this section describes configuration steps in more detail.

Video:

  • Codec: H.264
  • Profile: High (Level 4.0)
  • Bitrate: 5000 kbps
  • Keyframe: 2 seconds (60 seconds)
  • Frame Rate: 30

Audio:

  • Codec: AAC (LC)
  • Bitrate: 192 kbps
  • Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz

Configuration steps

  1. Open the Telestream Wirecast application on the machine being used, and set up for RTMP streaming.

  2. Configure the output by navigating to the Output tab and selecting Output Settings….

    Make sure the Output Destination is set to RTMP Server.

  3. Click OK.

  4. On the settings page, set the Destination field to be Azure Media Services.

    The Encoding profile is pre-selected to Azure H.264 720p 16:9 (1280x720). To customize these settings, select the gear icon to the right of the drop-down, and then choose New Preset.

    Screenshot shows the Choose a template dialog box with BlobTrigger selected.

  5. Configure encoder presets.

    Name the preset, and check for the following settings:

    Video

    • Encoder: MainConcept H.264

    • Frames per Second: 30

    • Average bit rate: 5000 kbits/sec (Can be adjusted based on network limitations)

    • Profile: Main

    • Key frame every: 60 frames

      Audio

    • Target bit rate: 192 kbits/sec

    • Sample Rate: 44.100 kHz

      Screenshot shows the Encoder Preset for AzureTest1.

  6. Press Save.

    The Encoding field now has the newly created profile available for selection.

    Make sure the new profile is selected.

  7. Get the channel's input URL in order to assign it to the Wirecast RTMP Endpoint.

    Navigate back to the AMSE tool, and check on the channel completion status. Once the State has changed from Starting to Running, you can get the input URL.

    When the channel is running, right-click the channel name, navigate down to hover over Copy Input URL to clipboard and then select Primary Input URL.

    Screenshot shows the Copy Input U R L to clipboard option for Primary Input U R L.

  8. In the Wirecast Output Settings window, paste this information in the Address field of the output section, and assign a stream name.

    Screenshot shows Output Settings.

  9. Select OK.

  10. On the main Wirecast screen, confirm input sources for video and audio are ready and then hit Stream in the top left-hand corner.

    Screenshot shows the Wirecast Stream button.

Important

Before you click Stream, you must ensure that the Channel is ready. Also, make sure not to leave the Channel in a ready state without an input contribution feed for longer than > 15 minutes.

Test playback

Navigate to the AMSE tool, and right-click the channel to be tested. From the menu, hover over Playback the Preview and select with Azure Media Player.

Screenshot shows Playback the Preview with Azure Media Player option selected.

If the stream appears in the player, then the encoder has been properly configured to connect to AMS.

If an error is received, the channel needs to be reset and encoder settings adjusted. See the troubleshooting article for guidance.

Create a program

  1. Once channel playback is confirmed, create a program. Under the Live tab in the AMSE tool, right-click within the program area and select Create New Program.

    Screenshot shows the Create program option selected.

  2. Name the program and, if needed, adjust the Archive Window Length (which defaults to four hours). You can also specify a storage location or leave as the default.

  3. Check the Start the Program now box.

  4. Click Create Program.

    Note

    Program creation takes less time than channel creation.

  5. Once the program is running, confirm playback by right-clicking the program and navigating to Playback the program(s) and then selecting with Azure Media Player.

  6. Once confirmed, right-click the program again and select Copy the Output URL to Clipboard (or retrieve this information from the Program information and settings option from the menu).

The stream is now ready to be embedded in a player, or distributed to an audience for live viewing.

Troubleshooting

See the troubleshooting article for guidance.