Multi-Destination Live Stream Setup: New Channel Guide

In this article, we will review our Simulcast feature and show you how to configure your encoder to broadcast a stream across multi-destinations.

Setting up a Multistream

In order to stream to multi-destinations, you must first send the stream to your Dacast ingest point, we will then broadcast the stream to all other destinations. If you wish to use an existing Dacast channel, please visit this article.

Step 1 – Create a live stream 

Create a live stream (default RTMP) on the Dacast platform.

Step 2 – Engagement tab

Using the Engagement tab in that specific stream settings, go to our “ Simulcast” section and define an external stream destination.

This stream destination is provided by the external platform (Youtube, Facebook, Twitch).

Example: the YouTube stream definition screen

This stream key has to be copied over in the DACAST Simulcast destination box. Click on “Connect”, add the destination – here “Youtube”, and enter the stream key from the Youtube interface

Then click “Save”.

If successful, the new Simulcast tab now displays the destination:

This implies that the Dacast platform is aware it has to forward the stream to one new destination Youtube, on top of the usual CDN delivery point.

The initial Dacast Stream encoder setup can be retrieved and used in your encoder.

Important note for checking setup:

When setting a Multistream destination, the ingest destination URL CHANGES.

It changes from a default URL such as:

rtmp://rtmp-live-ingest-us-east-1-singularity.dacast.com/ABR1080v1 

to a Dacast URL such as:

rtmps://live-ingest-1.dacast.com/live/

Please check and update your encoder setup when the multi-destinations will be created.

Testing the stream

Be sure you have enough Simulcast allowance. If not, you can contact our customer success team.

You have to: 

1 – Make sure your encoder setup is configured correctly, using the dacast.com/live URL

2 – Have a browser page opened on the Dacast shared URL or on the stream Preview

3 – Have a browser page opened on the Youtube/Facebook/Twitch page where the stream must show

4 – Have your stream from your encoder

If your stream appears on all platforms, congratulations you’re all set up!

On this screen capture: 

• Top left: the OBS encoder
• Bottom left: YouTube
• Right: Dacast Preview

Feel free to contact our support team directly to discuss your specific needs. We’re here to help, and we will walk you through any technical questions you may have.

We also offer a 14-day free trial of Dacast, with no credit card required. It’s a risk-free way to test out our platform today. If you’re interested in trying the platform for yourself, sign up for our free trial today.

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