The beginner's guide to low latency streaming

We are all acquainted with the delays when it comes to video data transmission.

What exactly is low latency? Do you need to reduce latency for all your live occasions? We'll answer this question and more in this guide.

An introduction to the low latency

Low latency means that there is a minimum delay that video data transfers between your player and the viewers' screens.

The lower time to transmit data results in a better viewing experience and facilitates interaction. However, here's the problem to get low latency: you need to compromise with less resolution or better quality video.

Thankfully, not every live event demands very low latency.

You need it in live streaming activities to allow for real-time interaction and viewing experience. When you live stream the audience is expected to keep track of what's happening or participate in the live stream throughout the events. Therefore, you cannot afford to pay for excessive latency, and have to stream in less than 4K resolution.

While this is low latency streaming in its simplest form, let's dig deep into the particulars of how and how to achieve it.

What exactly is low latency?

When translated, latency literally means 'a delay in transfer.'

For the purposes of video latency, it refers to the length of amount of time that it takes for the moment you capture your video on your camera until it is played on your players' viewers.

Thus, low latency means reduced time to transfer video content to point A (your headquarters for streaming) towards point B (your audience's players).

Similarly, a high latency will take longer for transmission of video data from live streamer's audience to the.

What is considered low latency?

Based on industry standards, the minimum latency for live streaming is less than 10 seconds and streaming broadcast television can be anywhere between 2-6 seconds. Depending on your use case, it's even possible to attain ultra-low latency which lies between 2 - 0.2 seconds.

But why do you need the lowest latency when streaming video? It's not necessary to have high latency on every live stream that you host. But you do need it for each interactive live stream.

It's all about the amount of interaction that your live event demands.

If your event is such things as a live auction then you'll require a the lowest latency to stream your event. Why? to ensure that all interactions are displayed in real-time - not with delays as that can result in unfair advantage.

We'll look into more of these use cases next.

What are the times you require low latency streaming?

The more live participation your event demands the less transmission time you need. In this way, guests can enjoy the experience in real-time with no delay.

These are some instances where it is necessary to stream at a low-latency:

• Two-way communicationssuch as live chatting. This is also true for live events in which Q&As are part of the.
• Live-streamed viewingis important, just like online video games.
• Required audience participation. In the case of gambling on sports and live auctions.
• Real-time monitoring. This includes, for instance, search and rescue missions bodiescams of military level, baby and pet monitors.
• Remote operation which require constant connectivity between a distant operator and the machinery they manage. Example: endoscopy cameras.

What are the best times to utilize low latency streaming

To summarize the various scenarios we explored above You need low latency streaming if you're streaming either:

• Content that is time-sensitive
• Content that requires an immediate interaction with the audience and engages them

However, why shouldn't you use low latency on all of your videos? After all, the lower the delay in your content getting to your viewers, more effectively, right? However, that's not the case. Low latency does comes with disadvantages.

They include:

• The low latency can compromise quality of the video. Why is this? High video quality slows the process of transmission due to the large file size.
• It's basically buffered (or preloaded) content available in the line. This leaves little room for error should there an issue with the network.

In the event of live streaming, a streaming service like rapidly preloads content prior to streaming to viewers. In this way, if there's a network problem, plays the buffered content, permitting the slowdown caused by the network to recover.

When the network issue is resolved The player will download the highest possible video quality. However, all this happens in the background.

In other words, viewers will enjoy the same high-quality, uninterrupted replay experience, unless obviously, a significant error on the network occurs.

If you select a low latency, however you'll see less replay video to be prepared by the player. There's a little chances of error if a network issue strikes suddenly.

However, the high level of latency can be beneficial in certain circumstances. For example, the increased time-lag allows producers opportunity to block inappropriate content and profanity.

Also, in situations where there is no compromise in quality video broadcast, raise the latency ever so slightly so you can offer an excellent viewing experience, and have some room to correct errors.

How is latency measured

The definition of low latency streaming as well as the applications for it in the past Let's look at how you measure it.

Technically, low latency is determined by a measurement unit known as the round-trip duration (RTT). It denotes the time it takes a data packet to go from A to B and to be returned to the source.

To calculate this method, the best way to do it is to include video timestamps and ask your teammate to view the live stream.

Request them to search for the exact time frame that will appear on their screen. Now take the time stamp's date from the date the person was able to see the exact frame. That will calculate your latency.

Alternatively, ask a teammate to watch your live stream and record a particular cue when it comes. Now take the time you performed the cue on your live stream as well as the time your designated viewer saw it. This should give you the latency, but not as precisely like the previous method. It's good enough for a rough notion.

How do you decrease the video latency

What are the steps to achieve the lowest latency?

The truth is that there are several elements that influence the speed of your video. From the settings for encoders to the streaming protocols you're using various factors play a part to play.

Let's take a look at these factors and the best way to maximize them for reducing streaming latency while making sure your quality video doesn't take an enormous hit.

• Internet connection Type. Your internet connection is what determines your data transfer rates and speeds. That's the reason why ethernet connections are more suitable for live streaming than wireless and cell data (it's better to have those as your backups though).

• Bandwidth. A high bandwidth (the amount of data which can be transmitted at one moment) is less crowded and a faster speed for internet.

• Size of video files. Bigger sizes require more bandwidth in transferring from one point to B. This increases the speed and also the duration of.

• Distance. This is how far away you are from your Internet source. The more close you are to the internet source closer to the source, the more quickly your video stream will transfer.

• Encoder. Pick an encoder which helps to keep your latency low by communicating signals through your device to your receiving device in as short an amount of time as is possible. However, make sure that the encoder you pick works with the streaming service you use.
• Streaming protocol or the protocol used to transfer the data you've collected (including audio and video) from your workstation to viewers' screens. For achieving low latency, it is necessary to choose a protocol for streaming that minimizes data loss, while introducing less latency.

Now, let's review the streaming protocols you can pick from:

• SRT: This protocol effectively transfers high-quality video over long distances with very low latency. But, as it's new, it's still being adopted by tech including encoders. What's the solution? Use it in combination with another protocol.

• WebRTC: WebRTC is great for video-conferencing but has some compromises on video quality as it is focused on speed , primarily. But the problem is that most players can't be used with it as it requires an intricate setup process to be deployed.
• Low-latency HLS is great to use for latencies that are low, ranging from 1 two seconds. It's therefore perfect for live streaming with interactive features. However, it's still in the development stage, and therefore it's not yet supported for implementation. process.
  

Live stream with low latency

Low latency streaming is entirely possible with a fast internet connection, a high capacity, best-fit streaming technology, and an optimized encoder.

What's more you can reduce the distance between your computer and internet connection and using smaller video formats will help.