How to Host Live Streams on VKontakte From Your Computer
VK live streams are a convenient and engaging way to chat with friends and followers. Real-time videos will bring more authenticity and emotion to your conversations.
Live streams function like ordinary videos and can be added to your profile or community page, sent in messages, posted to your wall, embedded on an external website and so on. Viewers and creators can interact in the live stream chat.
You can use live streams to:
- chat with friends, followers and other viewers.
- play video games with a live audience.
- entertain viewers with your talents.
- organize educational events and seminars.
- host live coverage of events.
- set up 24-hour live broadcasts.
- and much more.
Note: this article is devoted to live streams on desktop and laptop computers.
If you want to launch a live stream from your mobile device, check out this article here: How to Host a Live Stream on VK From Your Mobile Device (only available in Russian).
Contents
- Live Streams in Browser for Getting Started Quickly With No Complicated Settings
- Live Streams with Special Programs for Professional Streamers
- How to Prepare for a Live Stream
- How to Set up an Live Streaming App
- Technical Requirements for Live Streams
- How the Name, Description, Thumbnail and Category of the Live Stream Can Help
- FAQs
Live Streams in Browser
Launch streams with no complicated setup:
- Go to the Videos section on your profile or in your community, click the Live button and select Webcam.
- Write the stream title, upload a thumbnail and add a category. This will help our algorithms select a suitable audience for you.
- Check the Stream preview box to test your video and audio before the live stream starts.
- Check the Notify when stream starts box so your friends and followers get notified once the live stream has begun.
- Click Save and Start live stream in the player.
Browser streaming supports up to 4K resolution and 60 FPS. There are no time limits, so you can stay live as long as you need. You can even share your live stream player on third-party websites, and a recording of the stream will appear in your Videos section after it has ended.
Live Streams with Special Programs
Launch live streams using apps that make it possible to stream video and audio from a computer or laptop screen, and use additional professional video equipment.
For example, the following programs can be used to host live streams on VKontakte:
- Open Broadcaster Software (OBS)
- XSplit
- WireCast
- Player.me
We suggest trying out different options and selecting the most convenient one for you. Note that these are third-party programs, and any questions that may arise regarding them can only be handled by their developers.
How to Prepare for a Live Stream
Live streams need to be created and set up before being launched. To do this:
1. Open the web version of VKontakte in the browser of your desktop or laptop computer.
2. Go to the Videos section of your profile or community, click the Live button and select App.
Live streams can be launched either with a one-time or a permanent stream key. The first will allow you to host several streams at the same time, while the second is used for launching regular live streams without needing to change any settings.
Live streams with a permanent key will have a standard name (LIVE: community_name) and default privacy mode, i.e., no restrictions. The name and settings in this mode can’t be changed. If this is the right mode for you, copy the URL and stream key (KEY) and launch the live stream in your program.
We will talk a little about how to set up a live stream for those who prefer to use a one-time key.
- Add a title, upload a thumbnail and select a category.
- You can select the start time and automatic end time for the stream. If the player with a scheduled live stream is published in advance, a countdown to the start will be shown there. Users who aren’t your followers will also see a special Remind me about stream button.
If you select the Stream preview box during the next steps and launch the stream, you’ll be able to go live by simply pressing Publish instead of using the timer. You’ll also be able to launch the stream after the timer has run out. Until this happens, viewers will see a message about your live stream starting soon.
We recommend leaving a cushion when setting up the second timer as the live stream will end sharply at the given time, even if you haven’t closed the stream yet. You can also edit the time during the stream should any delays occur.
Are you ready to launch a live stream right away? In that case, you don’t need to change anything in this setting.
- Open the Encoder settings.
- Copy the URL and stream key.
Never share the URL and stream key with anyone! They can be used by anyone with access to them to host a live stream as you. If necessary, you can generate new settings in the window for creating or editing a live stream.
Your information will be hidden by default so it isn’t seen by third parties. Copy it to your clipboard using the button and paste it in your live stream program.
7. Without closing the browser, open your program for live streams and paste the information there (you can read more about setting up streaming apps below).
8. Go back to the browser and check the Stream preview box to test your video and audio before the live stream starts. Only you will see the stream contents in this mode. Other users will be shown a standard overlay.
9. Check the Notify when stream starts box so your friends and followers (or only followers if the live stream is hosted by a community) get notified once your live stream starts. This option is only available once every hour. If you launch another live stream less than an hour after the start of the previous one, you won’t be able to send out a notification.
10. Press Save to finish creating the live stream and to check the contents for the upcoming stream.
11. Launch the stream in the live stream program.
12. Return to the browser and open the player of the newly created live stream.
13. Make sure that the video and sound are working properly.
14. Press Publish once you’re ready to go live.
Once the live stream becomes available for everyone within the player, your friends and followers will receive a notification that it has started, and a chat will appear where your viewers can discuss things during the stream.
To end a live stream, first stop it in the program, then press Stop streaming above the live stream player. If the stream contents don’t reach the VKontakte servers within 15 minutes, the live stream will end automatically.
After the live stream has completely ended, a video with the recorded stream will appear in place of the player, which users can rewind, fast forward and comment on like a regular video.
Important: if you press the Stop streaming button before stopping the stream in the program, the current stream will end, and your stream contents will appear in a new player that is created automatically.
If you stop the stream and decide to continue again after 15 minutes, the live stream will also appear in a new, automatically created player.
How to Set up a Live Streaming App
How you set up your live stream depends on the program you use. As a rule, you need to go to the broadcast settings and paste the URL and stream key you copied when preparing the live stream on the web version of VKontakte.
If you don’t want to set up the streaming app, you can go live from your mobile device or launch a live stream right from your browser.
Technical Requirements for Streaming
We recommend using the following video, audio and bitrate settings.
Video Settings
Recommended video settings for live streams on VKontakte:
- Resolution: 1280×720, 1920×1080, 4K.
- Protocol: RTMP
- Encoder: x264.
- Bitrate: see table below.
- Bitrate control: CBR, VBR.
- FPS: up to 60.
- CPU usage preset: veryfast.
- Pixel aspect ratio: square.
- Scan: Progressive. Interlacing is not supported.
Keyframe interval: one second for regular live streams, two to four seconds for live streams with active quality selection feature (only available for verified and prominent creators).
Audio Settings
Recommended audio settings for live streams on VKontakte:
- Bitrate: 128 kbit/s.
- Channels: stereo.
- Encoder: AAC.
- Sampling rate: 44.1 kHz.
Note: MP3 audio format is currently not supported. We strongly recommend not using it for live streams on VKontakte!
Bitrate Settings
Recommended bitrate settings for live streams on VKontakte:
Video resolution — Recommended video bitrate
1280×720 (30 FPS) — 1,500–4,000 kbit/s.
1280×720 (60 FPS) — 2,250–6,000 kbit/s.
1920×1080 (30 FPS) — 3,000–6,000 kbit/s.
1920×1080 (60 FPS) — 4,500–9,000 kbit/s.
3840×2160 (60 FPS) — 20,000–25,000 kbit/s.
We recommend checking your stream contents in the Stream preview mode after making any changes to the settings to make sure your video and audio are streaming without any problems. You can read more about this mode above under How to Prepare for a Live Stream.
How the Name, Description, Thumbnail and Category of the Live Stream Can Help
The thumbnail of your live stream can tell a user a lot about the upcoming stream, for example, when it starts and what it will be about. Upload an image in 16:9 format with a recommended size of 1920×1080 pixels.
A good name for your live stream can help users understand what it will be about while not revealing too much so that viewers keep watching the stream until the end. In addition, we don’t recommend writing the name and description in all caps, as this is more likely to push your audience away instead of drawing them in.
The category of your live stream can help the algorithms select the right viewers who may be interested in the subject matter of your live stream.
FAQs
Can I restrict the live stream audience?
When creating or editing a live stream from your personal page, you can select which users will see the stream. You can make it available to everyone, to friends and friends of friends, only to friends or only to yourself. You can also select certain friends or lists of friends you want to allow or deny access to the live stream.
Live stream audience settings are currently not available for communities.
Can I restrict comments on live streams?
Additional privacy settings are available for chats in live streams from a personal page. You can allow comments for all users, friends and friends of friends, only friends, only yourself or certain friends and lists of friends.
During a live stream from a community, you can enable or disable viewers’ comments at any time in the live stream editing window.
How long can a live stream last?
The maximum duration for a live stream whose recording is automatically saved after it has ended is eight hours. If your live stream lasts longer than that, only the last eight hours of the stream will be saved in the recording after it has ended.
Can I create an endless live stream?
We have made available the Endless live stream feature, which allows live streams to not end if the live stream contents don’t reach the VKontakte servers for more than 15 minutes. This is primarily useful for 24-hour live streams for TV channels and radio studios. After this feature is enabled, your live stream will only end if you press the Stop streaming button yourself. This type of live stream can last as long as you need, but no recording of the stream will be saved.
How can I embed a live stream player on an external website?
To embed a live stream player on a third-party website, open the live stream in the web version of VKontakte and press Share. Select the Export tab in the window that appears. If necessary, edit the video size in the corresponding field, after which, copy the HTML code and paste it on the website.
Can I host the same live stream in several communities or on several platforms?
Standard VKontakte tools don’t provide for such functionality. However, you can use a third-party service for multi-threaded live streams. Note that some options may be for money.
What do I do if I experience problems with the live stream?
Check the live stream settings again. If you’re sure that everything is set up correctly and according to the instructions, please contact VK Support and provide a detailed description of the problem with attached screenshots or a video of the issue.
Article in Russian – https://vk.com/@vkvideonews-create-stream-desktop.