How to stream multi-language live video

You can easily stream live video with multiple audio tracks for your multi-language audience using an encoder device that supports multiple RTMP outputs over the same RTMP connection. 

Configure your encoder

1. Look up your RTMP URL and Channel Key

Look up your RTMP URL and Channel Key on the Encoder settings page of your channel on the IBM Video Streaming account dashboard. Simply go to Dashboard » Channels » (the channel of your choice) » Broadcast settings » Encoder settings:

2. Set up one video track on your encoder

Open the configuration page of your encoder device. Create a video-only output (without audio). Enter the RTMP URL and Channel Key as needed. If a single URL is requested, enter:

[RTMP URL]/[Channel Key][Unique Number]

Unique Number is simply an integer number unique among the RTMP outputs you are using simultaneously with the same Channel Key. For example: 1, 2, 3.

Example: rtmp://1234.fme.ustream.tv/ustreamVideo/1234/123456789ABCDEFGH1

Note: if this output contains audio track, then its language will be set to Default audio language of the channel, and should not be overridden by a different Language Parameter.

3. Set up multiple audio-only tracks on your encoder, one for each language

For each language you want to stream, follow these steps:

1. Look up the Language Parameter in the Appendix below.
2. Create an audio-only output (without video). Enter the RTMP URL and Channel Key as needed, but add a language specific suffix at the end (|language=[Language Parameter]). If a single URL is requested, enter:
   [RTMP URL]/[Channel Key][Unique Number]|language=[Language Parameter]
   For example: rtmp://1234.fme.ustream.tv/ustreamVideo/1234/123456789ABCDEFGH3|language=en-GB
3. Repeat this for each language that you want to stream.
   
   NOTE: The platform only supports 5 concurrent languages/audio tracks including the primary.  Adding more than 5 audio tracks could result in stream instability and issues with the platform. Please also ensure that all sources are coming from the same encoder and broadcaster's IP.

Configure your default broadcast language

Select the language that viewers will hear by default when the Player starts playing your live video. Simply go to Dashboard » Channels » (the channel of your choice) » Broadcast settings » Encoder settings:

Make sure you select a default audio language that you actually ingest live.

Video recordings of your multilingual live video stream will contain all properly streamed audio tracks, and will also inherit this default audio language setting.

Review audio languages while streaming live

Double check the languages that viewers can select from while watching your live video. After starting your encoder to live stream multi-language video, simply go to Dashboard » Metrics and monitoring » Live monitoring » (the channel of your choice).

In the Stream setup section you can see real time information on the languages that are being ingested properly.

Review multi-language video recordings

When streaming multi-language live video, your content is recorded automatically. All properly ingested audio tracks are stored in the recording and viewers can select which language to play in the on-demand video just like when watching it live.

For each of your multi-language videos you can review and edit the language tags for each stored audio track. You can also change the default audio language of the recorded video.

Appendix: List of language codes for your encoder

For each language you would like to stream live, add the Parameter value from the sheet below (eg. "en-US" for US English) to the end of the stream key of the audio track you are about to stream with your encoder device.