How to Stream Using ManyCam RTMP Server

ManyCam is an RTMP encoder that is compatible with Dacast for live streaming.

Table of Contents

What is RTMP?

RTMP stands for Real-Time Messaging Protocol, and it is part of the technology that makes live streaming possible. The predecessor of Adobe originally developed this Transmission Control Protocol-based technology to work with the Adobe Flash player.

In this guide, we will teach you how to stream Dacast using the ManyCam RTMP-enabled encoder. This encoder’s main use is for live streaming from a webcam. If you don’t have this encoder installed already you can easily download it on the ManyCam website. This is a free version available with limited features.

For a general encoder setup guide, please read our dedicated post.

How to Set Up the ManyCam Encoder

To get started, log into your Dacast account. Select the channel you want to stream on and click “Encoder Setup”:

Locate the required credentials. You’ll need the server URL, stream key, username, and password, as pictured below:

In this example, each of these credentials is as follows:

Server URL: rtmp://5a593eaa-e86d-2e01-c800-b74de440eb83.dacastmmd.pri.lldns.net/dacastmmd
Stream Key: e448bec06c5c49bbbe82bdeb170fc32f_3500
Username: 3807906125
Password: 5dcea51493374995

From there, open ManyCam and click on the “Stream” icon as shown below:

Next, click on “+ Add Custom Server” as shown below:

Please name your Dacast channel (in this example we have named it Dacast) and fill out the fields using the credentials from the encoder setup page from your Dacast account:

Enter your Server URL under “Server”
Enter your Stream Key under “Stream Key”
Enter your Username under “Login”
Enter your Password under “Password”

Make sure you toggle the “Access Required” button to the right so you can input the login and password. Here is what it should look like:

Once you have filled in all of those fields, you should be able to click the “Create” button to move forward. If the “Create” button is not clickable, the information has not been entered properly. Once your channel is created, you will be back on the page below, and you will see Dacast:

Click on ‘stream’ to start the stream. It is important when running a live stream, that you do an upload speed test first so you can easily adjust the video bitrates on your encoder. Setting it too high for your upload speed would cause playback issues with the stream. On ManyCam you can adjust the video bitrates accordingly on the “Streaming Settings” section:

Put in the video bitrate of your choice.

Required Encoder Settings

Please always use the required encoder settings we have put together to ensure a smooth livestream experience for your viewers.

VIDEO CODEC	H.264 (x264 may work)
FRAME RATE	25 or 30
KEYFRAME INTERVAL	3 secs (or 3x frame rate)
SCANNING	Progressive
ENCODING BITRATE	Constant (CBR)
AUDIO CODEC	AAC-LC
AUDIO BITRATE	128 kbps
AUDIO CHANNELS	2 (Stereo)
AUDIO SAMPLE RATE	48 kHz (48,000 Hz)

Resolution & Bitrate Settings

Please select one of the following configurations and ensure your encoder is set up with these exact settings to help prevent streaming issues:

	ULD	LD	SD	HD	FHD
Name	Ultra-Low Definition	Low Definition	Standard Definition	High Definition	Full High Definition
Video Bitrate (kbps)	350	350 – 800	800 – 1200	1200 – 1900	1900 – 4000
Resolution Width (px)	426	640	854	1280	1920
Resolution Height (px)	240	360	480	720	1080
H.264 Profile	Main	Main	High	High	High

If you have any questions about Manycam, video encoding, or need help with this Dacast feature, feel free to contact us directly. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources:

Jose Guevara

Jose is a part of the Dacast Customer Onboarding team and started working with the company in 2016. He has vast experience in customer service/engagement and live streaming support.