Using an encoder for live event streaming with Microsoft Teams
Note
We're currently still supporting live events. While we still recommend you to upgrade to Teams town halls to take advantage of new features and experiences, your users can continue to schedule events. For more information, see Updates for Town Hall in Microsoft Teams and Teams Live Events.
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. The encoder compresses and converts that media into a suitable digital format, and sends it to Teams for live streaming to your audience. To learn more about how you can use Teams production technologies (such as NDI) with external encoders, see our Custom Production playbook.
Production workflow when using an encoder
Here's the workflow for producing a Teams Live Event:
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 creates 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 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, see Plan and schedule a live event.
- For encoder configuration setup, see Configuring encoders for live event streaming in Microsoft Teams.