How Much Bandwidth Do I Need for My Broadcast?

Resi’s Resilient Streaming Protocol (RSP) makes it possible for your audience to have an excellent viewing experience even if you have a slow internet connection. When configuring an encoder preset (Learn more), take your upload speed into account and select settings that will give your end users the best experience possible.

First, find what upload speed your internet connection has. To determine it, use an internet speed checker like Fast.com. 

Your internet service provider (ISP) will inform you what your download and upload speed should be. Several factors influence the upload bandwidth, including how many people are connected to your network and their activities. Therefore, we recommend checking the actual speed when you configure your encoder preset.

How Much Upload Bandwidth Do I Need for My Broadcast (Hardware Encoder)? 

To determine the upload bandwidth required for your broadcast, create or edit an encoder preset - a set of input and output settings your hardware encoder will use to capture, store, and send content to the cloud. Learn more.

1. Navigate to Settings > Encoder Presets.
2. Click + Add Preset in the top-right corner.
3. Configure the encoder preset details. Learn more
4. Configure the number of video channels and bitrate per channel,

Bitrate is the amount of content that’s being encoded per second. Selecting a lower bitrate per video channel will enable you to encode content and broadcast with a slower internet speed. Studio recommends a bitrate range per video channel based on your input and output format. 

A higher bitrate per channel will encode content for a higher resolution broadcast, but requires more upload bandwidth for you to encode and broadcast. When broadcasting to the web, end users will also require more bandwidth to view at higher resolutions. Keep in mind the area your general audience resides and available internet access when configuring your encoder preset.

Using 2 video channels will double your total bitrate (the combined bitrate for all video and audio channels)  and will increase the internet upload bandwidth you’ll need to encode and broadcast.

5. Select the number of audio channels and bitrate per audio channel.

The total combined bitrate will also increase when you increase the bitrate per audio channel and if you add additional audio channels.

6. Once you’ve configured the encoder preset, scroll to the bottom of the page to see Resi’s Bandwidth Recommendation Calculator.
7. On the left is the total combined bitrate. This is calculated by how many video and audio channels you’re encoding as well as the bitrate per audio/video channel. 
8. To the right of that is the internet upload bandwidth you need to provide a seamless live broadcast without buffering. 

Resi calculates your required internet upload bandwidth as 2.5 times the total combined bitrate of your broadcast. 

If you’re seeing buffering, lower the bitrate per channel

If you or your end users are experiencing buffering issues due to internet speed, Resi recommends lowering the bitrate your encoder preset is configured to use.

1. Navigate to Settings > Encoder Presets
2. Click the encoder preset you want to edit.
3. Select the edit icon in the top-right.
4. Lower the video bitrate per channel. This will decrease the total combined bitrate of your broadcast and the upload speed required for a seamless viewing experience.
5. When you’ve reached the internet upload bandwidth you need, click Save. 
6. Using that encoder preset will now require less internet upload bandwidth to encode. 

How Much Upload Bandwidth Do I Need for My Broadcast (Software Encoder)?

If you’re using ProPresenter, you don’t need to configure an encoder preset in Studio because the encoder settings are in ProPresenter. You can access the required upload speed from the capture settings in ProPresenter.

1. Navigate to ProPresenter > Preferences > Resi.
2. Click Open Capture Settings.
3. In the capture settings, click the Resolution drop-down menu.
4. The number of Mbps next to the resolution you want to encode and broadcast with is the internet upload bandwidth you need to provide a high-quality stream.
5. Select the resolution you want. When you click the resolution drop-down menu again, the resolution you selected will have a checkmark next to it, signifying that’s what you’ll encode and broadcast. 

Troubleshooting

In some cases, your internet speed may be lower than it should be, causing buffering. Resi has seen customers have success turning off the guest Wi-Fi during events. Doing so provides more dedicated local bandwidth to encoding and broadcasting because less people are connected and using it. 

If you’re still experiencing internet bandwidth problems, Resi recommends contacting your ISP. If your ISP is unable to provide support, contact our technical support team.