The Benefits of Multi-streaming

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  • You want to broadcast live to all of your followers or customers, no matter where they are. The solution is multistreaming. What is it, precisely, and how does it work? You're going to learn.

    What is Multistreaming, and how does it work?
    Multistreaming is one of those rare technical words that means exactly what it says on the tin. The practice of live broadcasting to several platforms or destinations is known as multicasting. This means you may broadcast a single livestream to your website, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms.

    Despite the fact that the phrase is simple, it might be mistaken with other terms. "Multicast" and "live multicasting," which are often used interchangeably with "multistreaming," are two of them. Here's the reality. They resemble each other.

    Multicast is a means of sending data over a network from one computer to several machines known as receivers. It occurs at the network level, so you won't even know it's there unless you're a network administrator. Multistreaming, on the other hand, is based on the same underlying notion, which is why the names are sometimes misunderstood.

    The phrase "live multicasting" refers to the practice of delivering live video to many platforms at the same time. Multistreaming is the same thing as multicasting. The two concepts are merging into a favored use, which is multistreaming, as is typically the case with language.

    How Does It Work?
    A multistream may be set up in one of two ways. One method is to transmit numerous streams directly from your encoder, while the other is to use a cloud-based service to deliver the streams on your behalf.

    -    Encoders
    Depending on what you're using, utilizing your encoder might be tough or simple. Software encoders are thought to be less dependable than hardware encoders. However, there is a cost and complexity tradeoff. Hardware encoders for multistreaming vary in price from a few hundred pounds to tens of thousands of pounds. Multistreaming is typically supported by software encoders like OBS. 

    If you want to multistream, chances are you already have an encoder that you use for single channel livestreaming. Even if you can set it up for multistreaming, you should be aware of the problems you'll encounter. One is that you'll need to make sure you have adequate bandwidth to deliver several feeds from your location. If you don't, your viewers may see low-quality video, or the stream may stop working. Whether you're using a software encoder, you should also test your computer to determine if it can handle encoding the various streams without slowing it down.

    -    Multistreaming Services in the Cloud
    If you're worried about setting equipment, having adequate bandwidth, or having a strong enough computer, you should use a multistreaming service. Companies such as restream.io and streamyard.com make things very simple. You livestream simply as you normally do when you utilize a service. The only difference is that you submit it to them instead of your chosen platform. Before passing it on, they undertake all of the effort of multiplying the stream and tailoring it for each of the platforms. One of the best multistreaming services that we can recommend to you on the cloud is VDO Panel. 

    The disadvantage is that they add to the expense. Although each of the aforementioned sites have free plans, most professional streamers will desire the capabilities that are only accessible in one of the paying levels. However, in exchange for the cost, you receive a far simpler setup and, in many cases, capabilities that enable you to connect with your audience regardless of whatever platform they watch on.

    Why should you think about multistreaming? 
    From 2018 to 2019, livestreaming increased by 12%. That's a big figure, but it pales in comparison to the growth this year. It climbed by 45% from March to April, and by a whopping 99% year over year. That increase is due to the epidemic and lockdowns, but there's little question that live streaming would have grown even without the support of bored individuals lounging on their couches.

    -    You can stream content in multiple platforms 
    There wasn't a single station where the boon went unnoticed. This may be viewed in a variety of ways, but one of them is that individuals are no longer bound to a single platform. Audiences cross platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, websites, and others. If you just livestream to one person, this may be an issue. You have no idea how many members of your audience are there, or even if they are.

    Meeting people where they are, which may be anywhere, is the solution. 
    Probably not, in any case. A livestream on LinkedIn promoting a business opportunity isn't a good match for Twitch, but it may be for YouTube or your website. The beauty of multistreaming is that it allows you to do just that. You may choose where your video appears without worrying whether your audience will see it or if they will miss it because they've gone to another platform (even temporarily).

    -    You can notify more people about your stream 
    Redundancy is another benefit of multistreaming. It's not the end of the world if one of your platforms has troubles. It simply means that you'll have to notify them through social media or email that the stream is now available on another platform. Viewers may flip over, and what might have been a calamity becomes evidence of your adaptability and resilience.

    -    You don’t have to worry about restrictions 
    You may not realize it, but having many streams makes you censor-proof. Even if your content isn't at anyway contentious, you might be taken down at any time. On the bigger sites that employ automated algorithms, this occurs all too often. You may enquire and appeal, but your event will be finished by then.

    -    Broaden Your Horizons
    The capacity to broaden your reach and broadcast to as many people as possible is the most major advantage of Multistreaming. If you're just starting started, there's no better time than now to get in and begin growing your following.
    Multistreaming improves your chances of attracting new viewers. That is the ideal option for you since you will be contacting prospective followers rather than having them contact you.

    -    It makes it easier for you to interact with the community
    Multistream platforms like Streamlabs Desktop and Melon make it simple to talk with all of your viewers at the same time. Both platforms combine communication from multiple platforms into a single window, allowing you to quickly read and communicate with anybody watching on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, or any other site.

    -    Each platform has its own set of benefits.
    Take advantage of what Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming have to offer. Each platform includes useful data and metrics for you to examine. Examine interaction across different platforms to discover whether one is more popular than the others, and then concentrate your efforts on the ones that have the most influence on your content.
    For example, you will be able to discover two different audiences on 

    -    You can save time 
    Saving time by streaming to numerous platforms is a fantastic method to do it. YouTube, for example, will save your live-streamed material into a video so that your visitors may watch it later. This will save you time since you won't have to repeatedly download and re-upload your stuff.

    This is one of the reasons why you should always post your livestream on your website. Anyone, regardless of what social or content networks they belong to, may come to your website and watch. You'll get additional advantages if you make your website the primary location for viewing your broadcast. Your visitors can see you and what you have to offer without the distractions that other platforms provide. Once they've arrived, you can provide them with the finest watching experience possible and encourage them to explore the rest of your website once the event is done.

    Final words 
    Multistreaming, in general, works out best for the majority of individuals that want to use it. However, one should not proceed without first devising a sound strategy. If you just identify as a YouTuber, your video becomes your own product, and sharing it on other platforms is generally not a smart idea. In such situation, your primary goal should be to attract new viewers to your YouTube channel.
    Multistreaming is here to stay, and its popularity is certain to expand as more people become aware of its advantages. To experience all these benefits, you need to think about using the right streaming platform that allows multistreaming capabilities. That’s where VDO Panel can assist you. It will not just help you to experience multistreaming, but many other benefits. 
    To summarize, multistreaming will result in more viewers, audience engagement, and, eventually, more followers. As a result, multistreaming is something you should think about.