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Mac Console: Using the Live Broadcasting Quality Indicator

You can monitor broadcast quality in real time as you're streaming video.

Good network connectivity is essential for quality video streaming. With the SlingStudio Console Live Broadcasting Quality Indicator, you can monitor live broadcast network quality in real time as you're streaming your program.

With SlingStudio Console for Mac, you can access the Live Broadcasting Quality Indicator in either of two ways:

  • From the Console main screen;
  • From within the SlingStudio Console Dashboard.

Accessing the Live Broadcasting Quality Indicator from the Console main screen

To review the SlingStudio Console Live Broadcast Quality Indicator:

  1. Set up a live streaming project and begin streaming.
    Note that the Program window shows broadcast information along its bottom edge.
  2. Along the bottom edge of the Program window, click the word QUALITY.
    The LIVE BROADCASTING QUALITY INDICATOR opens.

Accessing the Live Broadcasting Quality Indicator from the Dashboard

You can also access the Live Broadcasting Quality Indicator from the SlingStudio Console Dashboard:

  1. Set up a live streaming project and begin streaming.
  2. Click the Dashboard icon in the lower-right corner of the Console main window. Or choose Dashboard from the Window menu.
    The Dashboard window opens.
  3. In the lower-left corner of the Dashboard, you see the LIVE BROADCASTING section.
  4. Click Stream Quality (in blue type).
    The Live Broadcasting Quality Indicator opens.

What does the Live Broadcast Quality Indicator display?

The Live Broadcast Quality Indicator displays:

  • Overall Broadcast Quality rating.
  • Recommended program bit rate given your stream and current network conditions.
  • An option to Change the current Program bit rate.
  • The broadcast bit rate setting that you've set—this is the Program Bit Rate that you've specified in Project Settings.
  • A live display of the bit rate that the network is currently providing—this is the stream upload bit rate, or the network bandwidth that's available to upload your live stream via your Internet connection.

You can use color codes to determine network quality at a glance:

GOOD: When your Internet connection's network bandwidth is good, then the stream upload bit rate should be the same as the program bit rate that you specified for your project. The Live Broadcast Quality Indicator shows your stream is in the GOOD, or green zone.

MARGINAL: When your Internet connection's network bandwidth starts fluctuating, it is a warning that your current Internet connection might not be able to maintain a stream upload bit rate that is as high as your chosen Program Bit Rate. This is indicated by your stream being in the MARGINAL, or orange zone.

POOR: If your Internet connection's network bandwidth gets even poorer, then the Indicator goes into the POOR, or red zone.

Solutions for MARGINAL or POOR network quality:

  • If possible: Before you begin streaming, try to connect to a network that offers a sustained, high-quality Internet connection with good bandwidth.
  • Reduce the Program Bit Rate that you've chosen until the Indicator is back in the GREEN zone.
    Shortcut: Do this using by clicking the Change Program bit rate link.
  • Switch the Internet connection to network that offers better sustained bandwidth.
    IMPORTANT: Switching networks interrupts live streaming.

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