SRT and RTMP ingest and live stream relay
A live stream starts with reliable ingest from the studio. We accept your stream over SRT and RTMP or pull it from an address the studio provides, keep a backup source ready and reconnect without human intervention.
SRT or RTMP: which to choose
SRT is a modern protocol for sending video over the public internet. It recovers lost packets, copes with an unstable studio uplink and encrypts the stream. For a TV channel's live broadcast, we recommend SRT.
RTMP is simpler and supported by any software encoder, such as OBS or vMix. It works well when the studio's connection is stable or you need to launch quickly. Our platform accepts both protocols, and you can switch at any time.
Three ways to deliver your signal
- The studio pushes the stream to us: we provide an SRT or RTMP address and a stream key for your encoder
- We pull the stream ourselves: if the studio serves the signal from its own address, as Astana TV does, our server connects to it and holds the connection
- We pull from your existing CDN: if the stream is already distributed as HLS somewhere, we take it from there during the migration
Backup and reconnection
If the studio signal drops, the server reconnects on its own as soon as it's back. For channels where continuity matters, we set up a backup source: a secondary studio line or a stream from another location. When the primary signal is gone for more than 30 seconds, viewers are switched to the backup automatically, and when the studio returns, the stream switches back.
The control panel shows ingest health for each channel: bitrate, stability and when the last dropout occurred.
FAQ
What bitrate should the studio send?
For 1080p, 6–8 Mbit/s in H.264 is enough; for 720p, 3–4 Mbit/s. We build the adaptive bitrate ladder for viewers ourselves, so the studio only needs to send one stream.
How much latency does SRT add?
We use a 4-second buffer, which is enough to ride out packet loss on the studio uplink. End to end, from studio to viewer, that comes to about 20 seconds.
Does the studio need a static IP?
Not if the studio pushes the stream to us. If we pull the stream from the studio, we need a permanent address to connect to.
See also
See your channel live on our platform in one day
Tell us how you broadcast today: your signal address or a link to your stream. We'll come back with a test connection and a tour of the control panel.