Efficient tools to build your streaming infrastructure
We've published a new video describing how to stream HEVC to YouTube with Larix Broadcaster, here it is!
Please also take a look at Phone Takeover: Replacing Pro Cameras in Live Streaming article which shows how a modern phone can be used instead of low- and mid-tier cameras for live production.
We're excited to introduce the latest innovation in Nimble Streamer: the Out-of-Process Mode for Live Transcoder scenarios. Designed to tackle stability challenges, this feature takes streaming technology to new heights.
The Out-of-Process Mode isolates the transcoding process from Nimble Streamer's core. This allows Nimble to restart transcoding scenarios without disrupting the entire system. It helps in cases like these:
As a result, with this feature now you can avoid any un-expectected issues. For example, you may upgrade to a new NVENC driver and not be afraid that it will crash the entire server.
So this flexibility translates to uninterrupted streaming operations and efficient streams troubleshooting.
First, make sure the latest version of Nimble Streamer and Transcoder is running. Upgrade them as described in our OS-specific documentation.
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| Enabling out-of-process transcoding |
Navigate to a list of Transcoder’s scenarios, and click on "pencil" edit icon. Click the "Out-of-process" checkbox in the appearing dialog box and then click OK button. Alternatively, you may set this checkbox while editing a Transcoder’s scenario, via the same edit icon.
At this moment, Nimble initiates a separate process called nimble_scenario_transcoder, in which the scenario will be running. It's completely detached from Nimble Streamer, and can be shut down or restarted without interruption of any other input or output streams. The re-instating occurs automatically, as Nimble is monitoring the flow of incoming and outgoing frames on the Encoder. If these frames cease to appear in the output, the scenario is automatically restarted.
In conclusion, Nimble Streamer's Out-of-Process Transcoder Mode marks a huge step towards bolstering stability in streaming scenarios. We invite you to experience it firsthand. As we continue to innovate, we highly value your feedback to further refine and enhance our offerings.
AOMedia Video 1 codec, or AV1, is a free codec that is being widely adopted by the streaming media industry. Its support is now provided by various hardware and software products.
Nimble Streamer software media server now supports AV1 codec in various transport protocols and delivery options.
Currently the conventional live streaming protocol to deliver AV1 is RTMP. Using Enhanced RTMP spec, it's possible to deliver AV1 as well as HEVC content.
Nimble Streamer supports Enhanced RTMP to receive AV1 from any source that supports this technology.
It's also possible to receive AV1 via MPEG-TS-based protocols:
However, since it's not standardized yet in MPEGTS transport, this is available only for the sources powered by Nimble Streamer (see output section below).
Having AV1 taken into the Nimble Streamer instance, you may generate various output options.
You may generate MPEG-DASH live streams that your customer are able to play on various platforms.
Our own SLDP low latency delivery technology may also carry AV1 and play it in the browsers using SLDP HTML5 Player.
Nimble Playout - a technology for server playlist generation - supports AV1 for MPEG-DASH output. So you may combine various sources with that codec.
Nimble DVR also allows recording of AV1 from available sources and providing playback via MPEG-DASH.
Last but not least, you may restream AV1 via RTMP. In addition, you may publish SRT in all output modes to other Nimble Streamer instances.
Notice that you may transmux your AV1 VOD files to MPEG-DASH VOD streams. Along with live streaming this covers a wide variety of streaming use cases.
Install Nimble Streamer today and try this feature in action.
We continue improving AV1 feature set to add decoding and encoding capabilities.
Let us know of your thought and feedback about AV1 usage.
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Softvelum team is excited to announce that we have added Zixi protocol support to our Larix Broadcaster app for iOS. This is a great feature that will help you stream high-quality video over the internet with more reliability.
Zixi protocol is a software-based platform that enables reliable transmission of broadcast-quality HD video over unmanaged Internet connections and private IP networks. Zixi uses advanced error correction techniques to manage jitter, packet loss, and latency, ensuring error-free video delivery. With Zixi protocol support, you can stream to Zixi-enabled destinations, such as Zixi cloud services, Zixi Broadcaster servers, or Zixi Player. This opens up new possibilities for high-quality and low-latency live streaming from anywhere in the world.
Larix provides full range of Zixi streaming in addition to other protocols like NDI, SRT or RTMP. Both AVC/H.264 and HEVC/H.265 video codecs are supported. Zixi is also supported in Larix Grove, a technology that uses QR codes to generate connections within Larix Broadcaster. So you can distribute connection details to remote contributors by either sending a QR code or a URL via email or messenger.
Zixi support is part of Larix Premium in-app subscription for just $9.99 per month. Without Premium, you can stream for up to 5 minutes via Zixi.
Larix Broadcaster is developed by Softvelum, a company that provides innovative solutions for live streaming and media delivery. Learn more about Larix Broadcaster and other Softvelum products.
Recently, Veovera Software Organization has released a new Enhanced RTMP spec.
This spec extends the capabilities of RTMP to deliver the content encoded with H.265/HEVC and AV1 codecs.
Some finally, the new generation of codecs can be delivered using this proven technology. Considering lower bandwidth needed to throughput AV1 and HEVC, this can tremendously reduce the costs of delivery and ownership in general.
HEVC was supported in our products for a long time using other protocols, while AV1 was available only for VOD via DASH. Now our team has implemented this new RTMP spec across our products to help our customers improve their infrastructure.
Let's see what we can do for you.
RTMP feature set works the same way as before while being able to carry new codecs:
So whatever use cases you have with RTMP, the new HEVC and AV1 codecs will go in smoothly.
This brings some new interesting combinations.
Generating live MPEG-DASH with AV1 content is one of them. DASH is supported by a large number of players on various platforms, as well as AV1 decoding, so you can make live AV1 streaming for end users now. The setup is the same, so if you have it in place, you don't need to change anything.
This also opens ability to re-publish HEVC stream to YouTube from Nimble, it works as any other republishing. See also Larix description below for details of this use case.
Read more about AV1 live streaming support in this article.
Notice that previous non-standard RTMP spec extension is still supported via a respective parameter.
Larix Broadcaster mobile apps
Larix supports HEVC as part of Larix Premium in-app subscription. It could be previously delivered via SRT, RIST and RTSP.
Now, RTMP can carry HEVC as well. So is your destination supports RTMP HEVC, Larix will deliver it properly.
This significantly decreases the required bandwidth so your users may stream better quality streams with the same device and network.
Notice that YouTube supports the new spec, which means that you can publish RTMP with HEVC to YouTube Live platform with all the benefits mentioned above. The setup is the same as before, just enter your YouTube streaming parameters as described here, subscribe for Larix Premium and enjoy streaming!
And of course, you can also stream HEVC with RTMP into Nimble Streamer. If you notice any other software that supports new spec, let us know so we could test it and describe here.
Get Larix Broadcaster on your mobile device:
Notice that previous non-standard RTMP spec extension can still be enabled via Connections / settings menu.
Dante support has been discontinued in Nimble Streamer as of November of 2024.
The information below is irrelevant.
Nimble supports two scenarios of processing Dante audio.
Thus you can process Dante audio and integrate it into your live production environment seamlessly with low cost of ownership.
This article will be updated with latest links and more use cases and related features, stay tuned for updates in our social networks.
Let's see how you can set up Dante and add it into your workflow.
At the moment, Dante technology is only available in Nimble Streamer for Windows. The minimum version of Nimble Streamer is 4.0.1-1. Dante is processed by Live Transcoder for Nimble Streamer so you'll need to obtain a respective license. Also, you have to purchase Dante license to make Nimble work with it.
Here are the steps you need to follow in order to start processing Dante with Nimble on your Windows machine.
We assume you will pass steps 1-3 easily within a few minutes using our instruction, so we'll focus on setting up Dante in Nimble Streamer and activating a license.
To receive Dante, you need to set up Nimble Live Transcoder to obtain the audio and transform it into other codecs suitable for your use cases.
Click on Transcoder top menu, you'll see transcoder scenarios page.
Click on Create new scenario to see a blank scenario where you can add video and audio inputs, add transformation filters if needed and then set up encoders to produce the output.
To have Nimble receive Dante, drag and drop new audio source and choose Dante in the respective dialog.
Enter Dante name which will be used in your Dante scenarios, such as license activation and routing with other Dante-powered devices.
Then add audio encoder element and link it to your Dante input. Nimble provides various audio codecs, and in order to test the scenario you can choose AAC audio with default settings.
Once you save scenario and it's synced to Nimble instance, you'll be able to connect to audio stream using any supported audio protocol.
To define the protocols you can go to Nimble Streamer top menu / Live streams settings to open the respective page.
Here you may set up either global server setup for output protocols or define specific application setting. In our case we define live application with Icecast, audio-only HLS and SLDP.
You may also re-stream this output via RTMP republishing or SRT publication, please refer to the respective docs for details.
If you have any live stream input in your Nimble Streamer instance, you can use it as a sourse for Dante output. You may use any protocol like RTMP, SRT, NDI, WebRTC, Icecast or any other from the list of supported technologies.
In our case we have a live stream available, this page can se accessed via Nimble Streamer top menu / Live Streams.
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| Active live stream input |
Now we need to set up a transcoder scenario. To generate Dante output. As mentioned in previous case, click on Transcoder top menu, you'll see transcoder scenarios page. Then click on Create new scenario to see a blank scenario.
In this new scenario, first add an Audio source to decode your audio source stream. There you need to use the name of your input stream. In our case it's /live/stream/ (see picture below).
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| Transcoder scenario for Dante output |
Then you need to drag and drop Audio output. There you choose Dante in the respective dialog.
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| Dante output settings |
Those of our customers who use Dante, know the licensing procedure very well, so we'll show basic steps and device mapping.
First, the Dante stream at Nimble instance will become visible as a new unlicensed device.
Start Dante Activator to start the license purchase process.
Choose the number of channels you'd like cover and proceed with the purchase.
Now the license is activated and our new device can be used properly.
After that you can route your audio to other devices. In our case we route Nimble's Dante output into a Dante-powered speaker.
You can contact Audinate support team for more information about activating Dante license.
Once you have Dante being active and mapped, your device will be able to receive or send data, becoming part of your live streaming production and content delivery infrastructure.
We'll be improving this feature set and will provide with more use cases so you could use Dante with better return of investments.
Let us know of your experience of using Dante.
Nimble Streamer, Live Transcoder, NDI support in Nimble Streamer,
Larix Broadcaster now has NDI®|HX2 support!
Please also take a look at Phone Takeover: Replacing Pro Cameras in Live Streaming article which shows how a modern phone can be used instead of low- and mid-tier cameras for live production.
Since the first release of the first Nimble Streamer server in April of 2012, our team has always been focused on the quality, performance and availability of the product. As for the monetization aspect, we tried to stay low cost in order to be an affordable solution. The price per core instance was gradual up until 2017 and never exceeded 10 USD. In 2017 we set it precisely to 10 USD to make things simple. We kept these low prices despite the increasing costs of development and maintenance as well as overall pricing trends of our streaming media industry.
Now, a decade after our server introduction, we are increasing the price for Nimble Streamer server.Larix Broadcaster mobile apps for Android and iOS have become very popular among live streaming community in the last several years and they are widely used in all sorts of scenarios and setups.
It has one-of-a-kind set of connectivity features which includes the support for SRT, RTMP, RTSP and RIST, allowing for multiple simultaneous connections to several destinations. It also supports Talkback, pause and stand-by modes, audio-only streaming and more.
Now we introduce WebRTC support via WHIP signaling in Larix Broadcaster.
You may ingest WebRTC into any software capable of processing it via WHIP. This includes the following names:
Please also take a look at Phone Takeover: Replacing Pro Cameras in Live Streaming article which shows how a modern phone can be used instead of low- and mid-tier cameras for live production.
