Essential Ingredients of a Multi-Camera Live Streaming App

In recent years, the trend of live streaming has taken the world by storm. It has changed the way people view content and the way video content creators, bloggers, and streamers engage with their viewers using the power of live streaming.

With modern technology advancements, and specifically multiple-camera streaming opportunities, it’s become possible to deliver content that looks professional yet doesn’t require sophisticated equipment and pro-skills.

What it does require, though, is technologies that make live streaming possible, easy, and smooth. So, if you’re looking for the ways to build a video app that would allow users leverage multi-cam streaming, I urge you to stick with me.

A Quick Run-Through of Multi-Camera Live Video Streaming

As it comes from its name, multi-cam live streaming considers capturing what’s happening with several cameras. During the live streams, the content creator can switch between the cameras in real-time or even combine different angles so their viewers can visualize the full scope of a scene.

Say your potential live streaming app users are food bloggers or creative craft makers. With a multi-camera streaming platform and a handful of smartphones, they could easily and quite professionally stream their cooking or crafting workshops while switching between different shoots and angles.

While it should work this effortlessly for a user, what does it take to build an app for multi-cam live streaming that would work smoothly and fast, deliver high-resolution videos and exceptional viewer experience?

Well, it takes a string of things, and we’re going to drill them down in the next section.

Consider These Aspects When Building a Multi-Camera Live Streaming App

High-Resolution Multi-Camera Video Shoots

Modern smartphones and tablets allow capturing Full HD and 4K videos. Hence, content creators might want to deliver an image of nearly equal quality. So, once your multi-cam live streaming app users have enough bandwidth, it’s vital to let them stream videos of high quality.

However, streaming video is pretty demanding for the bandwidth, and if you’re adding three or four more streams, things might get really complicated. At this point, it’s essential to ensure that a user can choose the video resolution. It might be especially important if a content creator is going to stream their videos to Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, Twitch or other social platforms.

At the same time, all the technical processes behind video streaming and processing shouldn’t cause any complications for a streamer. Make sure that video resolution optimization and capacities scaling work automatically and smoothly and don’t cause any noticeable hiccups for an app user.

Support for Multiple Sources

Along with smartphones, multi-cam live streaming app streamers might want to use other sources of video, for instance, webcams, IP cameras, and other devices. While working on the live streaming app, envisage that. Ensure you’re providing a streamer with a technical opportunity to connect different devices easily and capture video and audio in real-time.

Low-to-No Switching Latency

When it comes to live streaming, any sort of latency may entirely destroy the user experience, whatever sleek and user-friendly the platform’s interface is. The same is valid for latency spotted when switching between the cameras. Hence, it’s essential to ensure that your multi-camera streaming app is backed by a reliable tech solution that eliminates any video freezes and stuttering — along with a video streamer’s stress. As for camera switching, a pro tip here is to keep latency by 250 ms max.

Video Transitions and Visual Effects

When all the essentials are covered, it might be a good idea to provide your video creators with nice-to-haves — for instance, visual effects and video transitions. All these components can help your app users make their video streaming look professional, just like TV broadcasting. Besides, such elements as pop-up banners and running lines can help content creators personalize their streams, add valuable information, promote services and goods, or place lead generative content pieces. Again, the crucial thing there is to make sure that all these add-ons don’t compromise the image quality and streaming speed.

Final Thoughts

I hope this piece has shed some light on several essential aspects, whether you’re just thinking of building a multiple-camera live streaming app from the ground up or exploring how to upgrade a platform that exists and operates.

The bottom line here: start with flawless technology. Dive into technical details and best practices and pick the right solutions and integrations that deliver superior resolution, smoothly support a handful of video sources, allow you to tackle latency, and bring your app users — and hence their viewers — the best possible experience.

If you’d like to learn more about what it takes to build or refurbish your multi-camera live streaming platform, check out how DataArt can help or leave your inquiry.

Author: Max Kalmykov
Vice President of Media and Entertainment Practice at DataArt

Originally published on https://www.dataart.com/blog.