How to Improve Ustream Live Videos

A number of factors impact the quality of a Ustream broadcast. Your computer's resources and Internet connection speed are critical, and insufficient resources will result in a choppy video. To improve the quality of Ustream videos, consider your equipment and use your Internet connection to its fullest. It's also important to adjust the broadcast's encoding settings so that your video is optimized for your computer, Ustream's service and your viewer's connection.

Instructions

Equipment and Connection Considerations

1. Use Ustream Producer or Ustream Producer Pro for the desktop instead of the Web Broadcast Console. Avoid broadcasting from a mobile device if you want a quality video.

2. Broadcast from a wired Ethernet connection instead of a wireless connection to establish the fastest connection. Keep other people from using the Internet connection when you are broadcasting if possible.

3. Turn off all programs on your computer that aren't necessary for the streaming broadcast so that your computer's resources are devoted to a quality stream. Close all programs that are running in the background too, such as instant messaging programs and email alert utilities.

4. Upgrade your computer, camera, microphone or lighting if needed. Install a high-end video capture card to reduce the load on your computer's CPU for increased performance and quality. Use a quality video camera and microphone instead of a consumer webcam, and make sure your scene is adequately lit.

Encoding Considerations

1. Follow Ustream's advice to test your Internet connection speed at Speedtest.net using San Jose as your test server to approximate the rate at which you can broadcast. Limit your broadcast bitrate to approximately 60 percent of the maximum connection speed returned by Speedtest.net to accommodate for drops in speed during your broadcast. Configure your bitrate in the advanced settings section of Producer or Producer Pro.

2. Estimate the connection speed your viewers will have when watching your broadcast, and reduce your bitrate further if necessary. Broadcasting at a bitrate that exceeds the capabilities of your viewer's connection speed will result in a poor viewing experience. Ustream suggests a bitrate in the 300 to 700 kbps range.

3. Reduce the quality of your audio and video signals if your video is choppy. Move the sliders in the Web Broadcast Console to lower the signal's quality.

References

• Ustream Help Center: Broadcasting Video and Sound
• Ustream Help Center: Using High-End Capture Cards with Ustream