Introduction
To ensure your Dacast live stream is stable and fully functional, you MUST configure your encoder to use the settings defined on this page. These settings have been chosen to ensure the maximum compatibility with the Dacast platform as well as with newer and older devices (Desktop, Mobile, SmartTVs, etc.) In this article you will find:
- Common Settings that must be used for all streaming on the Dacast platform
- Resolution & Bitrate Settings that differ based on the desired size and quality of your stream
- Unsupported Settings that must not be used or you will see problems with your stream
- Encoder Download Links to get your hands on a software encoder
1. Required Settings
The following settings are required for live streaming with Dacast, regardless of your selected resolution and bitrate:
Video Codec | H.264 (x264 may work) |
---|---|
Frame Rate | 25 or 30 |
Keyframe Interval | 2 secs (or 2x frame rate) |
Scanning | Progressive |
Encoding Bitrate | Constant (CBR) |
Audio Codec | AAC-LC |
Audio Bitrate | 128 kbps |
Audio Channels | 2 (Stereo) |
Audio Sample Rate | 48 kHz (48,000 Hz) |
2. Resolution & Bitrate Settings
Please select one of the following configurations and ensure your encoder is set up with these exact settings to help prevent streaming issues:
ULD | LD | SD | HD | FHD | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Ultra-Low Definition | Low Definition | Standard Definition | High Definition | Full High Definition |
Video Bitrate (kbps) | 350 | 350 – 800 | 800 – 1200 | 1200 – 1900 | 1900 – 4500 |
Resolution Width (px) | 426 | 640 | 854 | 1280 | 1920 |
Resolution Height (px) | 240 | 360 | 480 | 720 | 1080 |
H.264 Profile | Main | Main | High | High | High |
IMPORTANT: Due to COVID19, internet companies throttle download speeds at various times, and therefore a lower bitrate on the lower side of the range is recommended.
3. Unsupported Settings
Note that the following settings are unsupported and will break your stream:
- Baseline H.264 Profile
- Interlaced Scanning
4. Encoder Download Links
- Dacast OBS Studio
- Telestream Wirecast
- vMix
- VID Blaster