SRT Ingest on Dacast: Flexible and Reliable Live Streaming
Live streaming is evolving. Broadcasters are no longer limited to studios or controlled networks, they stream from remote locations, mobile setups, public venues, and international paths.
To meet these modern demands, Dacast now supports SRT ingest alongside RTMP, which remains a core and reliable ingest protocol.
SRT (Secure Reliable Transport) is designed to enhance real-time streaming in variable or unpredictable network conditions, giving broadcasters more control, predictability, and confidence while maintaining the same playback experience for viewers.
TL;DR: Dacast now supports SRT ingest as an additional option alongside RTMP.
SRT provides predictable streaming in challenging networks, flexible workflows for mobile and remote production, and a foundation for future enhancements like multiple audio tracks and captions, all without changing delivery or playback.
Table of Contents
- What is SRT ingest?
- Why Dacast introduced SRT
- RTMP and SRT: Two Options, One Reliable Platform
- How SRT ingest works in Dacast
- When and how to use SRT ingest
- Who should use SRT?
- What this means for the future of live streaming
- FAQs
- Conclusion
What Is SRT Ingest?
SRT ingest allows broadcasters to publish live video using the Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) protocol, in addition to RTMP.
SRT is an open-source, UDP-based transport protocol built for real-time media contribution. It is widely adopted across the broadcast industry and supported by modern encoders, hardware, and cloud workflows.
With SRT ingest, broadcasters can:
- Choose the ingest protocol best suited to their environment
- Maintain consistent live delivery and playback
- Stream from mobile, remote, or international locations without changing downstream behavior
Why Dacast Introduced SRT
RTMP has been a cornerstone of live streaming for many years and remains reliable, broadly supported, and widely used.
However, as workflows expand to include mobile production, remote contribution, and international streaming, some scenarios benefit from a protocol that provides additional control over latency and transport behavior.
SRT ingest was introduced to complement RTMP workflows, not replace them, achieving the following objectives:
- Expand options available to broadcasters
- Improve stability and predictability on variable networks
- Reduce interruptions and improve viewer experience in challenging conditions
- Lay the foundation for future ingest enhancements, including multiple audio tracks, captions, and transport-level monitoring
RTMP and SRT: Two Options, One Reliable Platform
Both RTMP and SRT are established ingest protocols, each with strengths suited to different production needs.
RTMP: Proven and Reliable
RTMP is ideal for stable networks and controlled environments, including studio setups and common desktop encoder workflows. Its simplicity and broad compatibility make it a dependable choice for many broadcasters.
SRT: Flexible and Predictable
SRT is designed for real-time media contribution, with features that improve predictability in environments with variable network conditions:
- Recovery from packet loss within a controlled latency window
- Handling of network jitter for smoother delivery
- Explicit configuration for latency to meet production requirements
Rather than replacing RTMP, SRT adds flexibility for modern workflows, particularly for mobile, remote, or international production.
RTMP vs SRT: Choosing the Right Ingest Protocol
| Feature / Aspect | RTMP | SRT |
| Best For | Stable networks, studio setups, desktop encoders | Variable or complex networks, mobile, remote, or long-distance contribution |
| Transport Protocol | TCP | UDP with real-time transport controls |
| Latency Control | Implicit, depends on network conditions | Explicit, configurable to maintain predictable streaming |
| Resilience to Network Variability | Good on stable networks | Stronger on fluctuating networks with packet loss or jitter |
| Workflow Flexibility | Works well in traditional workflows | Supports modern, mobile, and remote workflows |
| Playback Consistency | Reliable | Equally reliable, with additional stability on challenging networks |
| Use Case Summary | Trusted, simple, widely supported | Adds flexibility and predictability without changing downstream delivery |
How SRT Ingest Works in Dacast
SRT ingest is fully integrated into Dacast’s new Custom Ingest (V2) pipeline, ensuring consistent processing and playback. For a detailed technical overview, see how SRT ingest works on Dacast.
Streamlined Ingest Workflow
SRT streams flow through the same production chain as RTMP:
SRT ingest → Dacast ingest server → Transcoding/ABR → Playback
This approach ensures:
- Streamers gain more predictability and stability in challenging networks
- Downstream processing, delivery, and playback remain unchanged
- Viewers experience smooth, consistent streams regardless of ingest protocol
When and How to Use SRT Ingest
SRT ingest is optional, and RTMP remains a solid choice for stable networks.
SRT is particularly well-suited for scenarios like:
- Mobile or remote production
- Public Wi-Fi or shared networks
- Venues with variable upstream quality
- Long-haul or international contribution paths
For consistently low-latency, stable networks, RTMP continues to perform reliably.
Encoder Considerations
Most modern encoders support SRT, but behavior can vary slightly depending on:
- Encoder software and version
- Operating system (desktop vs mobile)
- Network conditions
For guidance on starting with live streaming on Dacast: How to Create a Live Streaming Channel on Dacast
Who should use SRT?
SRT ingest is designed for organizations and streaming teams that need greater flexibility and predictability at the contribution stage, especially when streaming from environments where network conditions are variable or outside their control.
It is particularly valuable for use cases where maintaining a reliable live stream is critical, even when bandwidth, latency, or packet loss fluctuate.
Ideal Use Cases for SRT Ingest
SRT ingest is designed for organizations and streaming teams that need greater flexibility and predictability at the contribution stage, especially when streaming from environments where network conditions are variable or outside their control.
It is particularly valuable for use cases where maintaining a reliable live stream is critical, even when bandwidth, latency, or packet loss fluctuate.
Ideal Use Cases for SRT Ingest
Live music, sports, and event production
Production teams streaming concerts, festivals, or sporting events often work from venues with shared or temporary network infrastructure. SRT helps maintain a more consistent ingest stream when using venue Wi-Fi, bonded cellular connections, or mixed network paths, without changing how the audience receives the stream.
Houses of worship and religious organizations
Churches and worship centers streaming services from satellite locations, outdoor events, or rented venues can use SRT to improve contribution stability when network quality varies from week to week, while preserving a smooth viewing experience for congregants.
Corporate communications and internal events
Companies streaming town halls, product launches, or hybrid conferences from hotels, convention centers, or off-site locations benefit from SRT’s ability to handle unpredictable upstream conditions, especially when relying on shared or managed networks.
Government and public sector streaming
Municipalities and public institutions broadcasting council meetings, press briefings, or public events from non-dedicated locations can use SRT to ensure more predictable ingest performance, even over long-distance or multi-hop network paths.
Education and remote learning
Universities and training organizations streaming lectures or live sessions from campuses, classrooms, or temporary setups can use SRT to support more reliable contribution when network conditions vary across locations.
When RTMP Is Still a Great Choice
For studio-based productions and environments with consistently stable, low-latency networks, RTMP remains an excellent and widely used ingest protocol. It continues to perform reliably for controlled setups where network conditions are predictable.
With Dacast, teams can choose the ingest protocol that best matches their production environment and constraints, without impacting transcoding, delivery, or playback.
Whether streaming from a professional studio, a live venue, or a remote location, SRT provides an additional ingest option that allows organizations to adapt their live streaming strategy to real-world network conditions while maintaining a high-quality viewer experience.
What SRT Ingest Enables for the Future
Beyond immediate improvements in stability and flexibility, SRT ingest lays the groundwork for future platform enhancements:
- Transport-level monitoring and diagnostics for better insight
- Enhanced predictability in real-time contribution
- Support for richer media features, including multiple audio tracks and captions/subtitles
This positions Dacast to support modern, professional-grade live streaming workflows, now and in the future.
FAQs
Does SRT replace RTMP?
No. RTMP remains a core ingest protocol on Dacast and continues to be widely used across many live streaming workflows. SRT is offered as an additional option, giving teams and organizations more flexibility to choose the ingest protocol that best fits their production environment.
Why use SRT?
SRT is designed to provide more predictable performance on networks with variable quality, such as public Wi-Fi, mobile connections, or long-distance contribution paths.
For example, a broadcaster streaming from a live event using a bonded cellular or shared venue network can use SRT to maintain a smoother, more consistent stream, even when network conditions fluctuate.
Do I need special equipment for SRT?
In most cases, no. Many modern software and hardware encoders already support SRT, including desktop and mobile solutions. Compatibility can vary by encoder version, operating system, and implementation, so it’s recommended to validate your setup before going live.
Is SRT good for mobile streaming?
Yes. SRT is particularly well suited for mobile and remote streaming, where network quality may change frequently. Its real-time transport features help maintain stable contribution when streaming from smartphones, mobile encoders, or on-the-go production setups.
Can I switch between RTMP and SRT?
Yes. With Dacast, broadcasters can choose between RTMP and SRT based on their specific workflow, without impacting downstream processing, delivery, or playback. This allows teams to adapt their ingest method while maintaining a consistent viewer experience.
Conclusion
With SRT ingest, Dacast expands the ways broadcasters can stream live:
- Flexibility for modern workflows
- Predictable performance in challenging networks
- Foundation for future media features
RTMP remains fully supported, ensuring broadcasters can rely on proven workflows while exploring new possibilities with SRT.
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