How to Multi-Stream
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Think of all the sites out there you can multi-stream LIVE content – Glimesh, YouTube, Twitch, Facebook Gaming, Trovo, and probably many more! These are all fantastic streaming sites, each with their own sets of pros, cons, audiences and benefits.
When you’re just starting out, or even just trying to diversify your content, it can be hard to pick your service of choice. So what do you do? Stream to a different platform every time until you find a fit for you? That seems like a bit of a hassle to try one after another before you find the right fit(s).
So instead let’s talk about multi-streaming and get your content out there! In this article we will go over all of the following:
- What is Multi-Streaming?
- Can Affiliates and Partners Multi-Stream to Different Platforms?
- Is Multi-Streaming Easy?
- How do you Multi-Stream?
- Mirvan’s Multi-Streaming Setup Walkthrough
🔓 | How to Start Streaming on Twitch in 4 Easy Steps | How to Stream on YouTube | How to Stream on Instagram | How to Stream on TikTok | How to Stream on Facebook Gaming
What is Multi-Streaming?
Multi-streaming is where a content creator broadcasts their livestream to multiple platforms at once.
A lot of times, this is done to:
- Increase reach
- Compare platform performance
- Find existing audience on multiple platforms to sustain engagement
- Build a diverse income
- Funnel views back to a main stream like Twitch or YouTube
Can Affiliates and Partners Multi-Stream to Different Platforms?
Legal Disclaimer: The information in this content is for general informational purposes only, and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information given should be construed as either a) legal advice, or b) a substitute for engaging legal counsel. You should always consult a lawyer regarding legal questions. This content does not create an attorney-client relationship between us. Any particular outcome is based on the facts and circumstances of each particular case and applicable laws in your jurisdiction.
Before we take a dive into the ‘how-to’ on multi-streaming, let’s talk about some legal stuff. One of the first things you do before making any drastic changes to your content like this is take a look at any Affiliate or Partner contracts you may have entered into with your main platform.
Twitch Multi-Streaming Rules
Twitch does not allow Partners or Affiliates to multi-stream to major competitors and any live content from an Affiliate or Partner has a 24 hour exclusivity clause attached to it.
This means you cannot broadcast simultaneously to another major competitive platform while you’re streaming to Twitch, and you have to wait 24 hours before posting any clips or VODs of that content anywhere else when recycling content.
Twitch won’t stop you from streaming somewhere else: you can start a stream on Twitch, end that stream, and then immediately start streaming something else on YouTube. You just can’t stream to both at the same time per your Affiliate/Partner Agreement on Twitch.
You are allowed to multi-stream on short form or mobile services like TikTok or Instagram Live however. Be sure you read your Affiliate agreement or Partner contract in detail and consult legal counsel before signing anything.
Other platforms may have similar restrictions as well! Always check your agreements/contracts for exclusivity clauses that might limit your ability to multi-stream.
🔓 | Diversify Your Content | How to Grow Your Twitch Stream
🔐 | Module: Tools for Analytics | Module: Important Metrics & Why Numbers Matter | Module: Alternative Income Sources | Module: Importance of Social Media Platforms | Module: Understanding Discoverability | Module: How to Get Discovered Outside Twitch
Is Multi-Streaming Easy?
If you’re already used to streaming, multi-streaming is as easy as 1-2-3. Whichever sites, software, and solution you choose will have their own specific steps. A creator that wants to multi-stream needs to:
- Set up accounts on platforms that support live streaming
- Pick the multi-streaming solution that works best for them
- Set up the multi-streaming solution
- Go live
Now you just have to pick where you want to stream; Twitch, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok – there are a ton of places you can take advantage of multi-streaming.
How do you Multi-Stream?
Once you select your platforms, you need to figure out which multi-streaming solution works best for you. There are several ways to get your content out to your platforms.
Options for Multi-Streaming:
Multi-Streaming Software
The quality of your stream will depend on the hardware in your streaming rig, as each stream destination will take up more CPU processing power and upload bandwidth.
Cons of Multi-Streaming Software
This solution can be very demanding on your computer, and is less reliable than using a hardware encoder.
Examples of Multi-Streaming Software
- Wirecast
- vMix
- *NEW* OBS vis Vertical plugin by Aitum
Brand New Easy OBS Multi-Streaming Hack Just Dropped 🔥
If you already use OBS and are looking to multi-stream one horizontal platform like Twitch or YouTube and one vertical platform like Instagram or TikTok LIVE, you should download the Vertical plugin for OBS!
We have a full guide for this super easy OBS multi-streaming tool: Aitum Vertical Plugin for OBS 29+
Hardware Encoders
A hardware encoder is a device that takes your livestream data and can send it to multiple destinations. These devices are very reliable and do all of the heavy lifting when processing your stream.
Cons of Hardware Encoders
The cost can be a bit prohibitive, though, and the quality of your stream will depend on your available bandwidth.
Examples of Multi-Streaming Hardware Encoders
- Pearl-2 by Epiphan Video
Cloud-Based Multi-Streaming Solutions
This is the method that I use, and is great for creators that are new to multi-streaming. It’s cost-efficient and there are several options to choose from.
Examples of Cloud-Based Multi-Streaming Solutions
- Aircast
- Melon
- Streamlabs
These solutions are no more demanding on your resources than streaming to one platform, and are fairly simple to set up.
Mirvan’s Multi-Streaming Setup Walkthrough
Once you’ve chosen your Multi-Streaming solution, it’s time to set it all up and get started! I’m going to walk you through my setup process for Multi-Streaming so you can get a feel for the process!
MirvansMusings
he/him
Mirvan is a writer for SolarStream. Father of 3 by day, variety & charity streamer by night, Mirvan is a man of simple tastes.
“Since I use Aircast, a Cloud-Based solution, those are the instructions I’ll use.”
➡️Log in to your Aircast account
➡️Go to your Stream Profile page
➡️Set up your input and output
➡️Select all the platforms you would like to multi-stream onto, set up your stream keys accordingly
➡️Go live on all those platforms
Setting Up Stream Input
Aircast has two different ways of getting your input stream: Either through an RTMP Input that you’ll set up in your OBS settings, or by streaming to one platform and letting Aircast re-stream to other platforms.
If you use one of your platforms as an input, it has to be either a Twitch stream, a Theta.tv stream, or a Glimesh stream. Twitch and RTMP inputs will also give you the option to auto-start the outputs whenever you go live, which helps save an extra step or two.
Setting Up Stream Output
After setting your Stream Input, you need to add your outputs. With Aircast, there are two plans: Essential (£2.00 GBP) and Streamer (£5.00 GBP). With the streamer plan you get unlimited outputs to stream to. When you click the “Add Stream Output”, you’ll see about 12 different platforms to choose from, including Facebook, Twitch, YouTube, and Steam. Select the platform you’ll be multi-streaming to, and enter the stream key for that platform. Repeat as necessary until you have all of your platforms ready.
Once all of your Outputs are set up, it’s time to go LIVE! If you don’t have Aircast set up to auto-start when you go live, you’ll need to have the Stream Profile page open so you can hit the “Start All” button, or hit the Start button next to the different outputs if you want to multi-stream to only certain ones.
Now that you know how it works, it’s time to find your favorite method of multi-streaming and get started! There are so many places to put your content to find growth in the industry and multi-streaming is a great way to do that.
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