Stream now to YouTube

You can live stream any HDMI camera or other HDMI source to your YouTube channel with Webcaster X2. For simple instructions to start streaming with default settings the first time you use Webcaster X2, see our Quick start guide.

These instructions include optional configuration steps like choosing your stream's privacy level and setting a video title.

What do I need?

To configure and stream live to YouTube you need:

• A YouTube channel that is verified and has no live stream restrictions
• Your HDMI camera to stream
• A Webcaster X2 paired with your YouTube channel, see Pair and unpair YouTube

• An Internet connection with a minimum of 6 Mb/s uplink for 1080p, or 3 Mb/s for 720p . Each Webcaster X2 you connect to your network needs a constant uplink bandwidth of 3 Mb/s to 6 Mb/s by default. Any popular internet speed test can help you determine the peak bandwidth you have available. We recommend allowing for at least 1.5 times the amount of bandwidth you expect to need for your live stream because other devices, including personal computers and voice over IP phone systems, can use a significant portion of your available uplink.

This example shows you how to stream an HDMI camera, but you can use any other HDMI source you like (camera, computer, video mixer, etc.), as long as your source (or media) sends video at 720p or 1080p and does not have High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP), and sends audio at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz.

1. Connect everything and turn on Webcaster X2
   1. Connect your HDMI camera to the HDMI IN port.
   2. Connect your display to the HDMI OUT port.
   3. Connect your Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port. (Or configure Wi-Fi after boot up.)
   4. Connect a mouse to one of the USB ports.
   5. (Optional) Connect a keyboard to another USB port.
   6. Turn on Webcaster X2 by plugging in the power cord; Webcaster X2 executes its boot-up sequence.
   Webcaster X2 supports HDMI input signals of 720p (1280×720) and 1080p (1920×1080), progressive signals only. Interlaced signals (e.g. 720i and 1080i) are not supported. If your camera isn’t supported (or is experiencing another signal issue), the front screen and attached display show a message that says HDMI IN No Signal. Audio is supported over HDMI at 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz. Or using the (beta) USB camera feature, you can use the audio from a connected USB webcam or a plug-and-play USB microphone that is a UAC device.
2. Choose streaming to YouTube.
   1. If the YouTube logo isn't visible on Webcaster X2's front display, double-press the multi-function power button. See Choose the platform app you want.
   
If your Webcaster X2 is already paired with your YouTube account from a previous session, your account name displays instead of a new pairing code. If no code appears, check that you still have an Internet connection or whether you are still logged in to a captive Wi-Fi network, see Use a captive WiFi network that's password protected .
3. If your Webcaster X2 is not already paired with your YouTube (Google) account, you can do that now. See Pair and unpair YouTube. Also ensure that Start stream automatically after pairing is not selected in the Webcaster X2 Preferences; otherwise, you can't manually start your stream whenever you want.
1. Click the Preferences icon at the lower right corner of the screen. The Preferences screen opens.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the list and ensure Start stream automatically after pairing is not checked.
4. (Optional) In the Webcaster X2 Preferences, configure optional aspects of your YouTube live stream.
   1. (Optional) Configure optional stream settings.
   Configure stream resolution
   What is stream resolution?
   • The resolution is the size of each frame and is sometimes called frame size.
   • Usually these values are expressed as a pair of values such as 1280×720. The first value describes how wide your picture is (in pixels) and the second how tall it is.
   • Some resolutions also have short forms. For instance 720p or HD means 1280×720.
   • The higher (larger) the resolution, the more data needed to accurately describe everything in your video.
   • If you have limited uplink bandwidth, you may need to stream at a lower frame size.
   • Facebook has specifications for the maximum resolution they accept. Currently this value is 1280×720 (720p).
   • You can configure the resolution that Webcaster X2 sends to YouTube, Facebook, or Twitch.
   Note: If you change the video resolution while streaming, the change only takes effect after the stream ends.
   1. If not already on the Preferences page, click the Preferences icon at the lower right corner of the screen. The preferences screen opens.
   2. Click Encoding resolution in the Stream Details section.
   3. Use your connected USB mouse to select the resolution for your live stream. For example:

   Facebook	YouTube

   Note: When you first get your Webcaster X2, the default resolution is 1280×720. If you change the settings, Webcaster X2 remembers those changes the next time you use the encoder.
   4. Right click to exit the Preferences menu.
   Configure video bit rate
   What is video bit rate?
   • The bit rate is a measure of how many bits of data are sent each second and is often referred to in Mega bits per second (Mbps) or kilobits per second (kbps).
   • The higher the bitrate, the more data per frame, and therefore the more detail you'll see in your video.
   • Higher bitrates send more data over your uplink, so sometimes having a low bit rate is necessary to avoid overloading your Internet connection.
   • Facebook has specifications for the maximum frame rate they accept. Currently this value is 4 Mbps.
   • You can configure the bit rate that Webcaster X2 sends to your streaming platform. By default, Webcaster X2 streams using 2Mbps.
   Note: If you change the video bit rate while streaming, the change only takes effect after the current stream ends.
   1. Click the Preferences icon at the lower right corner of the screen. The preferences screen opens.
   2. Click the Video bitrate option and then select a bitrate for your live stream.

   

   3. Right click to exit the Preferences.
   See viewer comments
   What does show comments do?
   • You can use Webcaster X2 to monitor YouTube video comments on your attached HDMI display.
   • At the top of the screen, viewers comments are displayed with most recent at the bottom.
   • Below the comments you can see thumbs up and thumbs down count, as well as a count of total views and live viewers.
   
   1. If not already on the Preferences page, click the Preferences icon at the lower right corner of the screen. The Preferences screen opens.
   2. Check or uncheck the Show comments checkbox in the YouTube Details section.
   3. When your stream starts, you will see a live viewer count and comments on the chosen side of the screen.
   
   During your live stream, click the left mouse button of your mouse connected to Webcaster X2 to show or hide the Webcaster X2 overlay (including comments, if you have your device configured to show them).
   4. Right click to exit the Preferences.
   Configure your stream's privacy
   What does setting the stream privacy do on YouTube?
   • You can use Webcaster X2 to configure the privacy of the video streamed to your YouTube channel.
   • The stream's privacy setting affects who is notified of your live stream as well as who can see it.
   • You can also change the stream's privacy setting from the YouTube Live Dashboard once your stream is live.
   • Note: During a broadcast, Webcaster X2 is not updated to reflect the current privacy level of your live stream (e.g. if you change it using YouTube, Webcaster X2 is not updated with your changes). This option only controls the initial privacy setting of your stream.
   1. If not already on the Preferences page, click the Preferences icon at the lower right corner of the screen. The Preferences screen opens.
   2. Click Privacy in the YouTube Details section.
   3. Select an initial privacy setting for your live stream.
   
   4. Note: When you first get your Webcaster X2, the default privacy setting is Private to avoid accidentally streaming something you didn't mean to stream. If you change the settings, Webcaster X2 remembers those changes the next time you use the encoder.
   5. Right click to exit the Preferences.
   Set a video title
   Where is the video title used on YouTube?
   • You can see the video title while watching the video (see below the video):
   
   • The video title is also visible (and editable) from your live dashboard (see the Basic Info section) :
   
   • And the video title is also used in other YouTube locations like on your list of videos, in search results, etc.
   • You can also change your video title and add a description by editing the text from the YouTube live dashboard.
   • Note: During a broadcast, Webcaster X2 is not updated to reflect the current video video title for your live stream (e.g. if you change it using YouTube, Webcaster X2 is not updated with your changes). This option only controls the initial video title for your stream.
   When you first get your Webcaster X2, the default video title is:
   • Live Video Stream Title from the Epiphan Webcaster X2 For YouTube
   1. If not already on the Preferences page, click the Preferences icon at the lower right corner of the screen. The Preferences screen opens.
   2. Click Video Title in the YouTube Details section.
   3. Use your USB keyboard or the on-screen keyboard to type a title for your video.
   
   4. Click OK to save your changes (or Cancel to go back without saving).
   5. Note: When you first get your Webcaster X2, the default Video title is generic. On subsequent uses, Webcaster X2 automatically uses your the most recent title you entered (or if you don't change it, it continues to use the default).
   6. Right click to exit the Preferences.
   2. Click the Right mouse button to exit the Preferences and return to the main screen.
5. (Optional) Configure further aspects of your Live stream through YouTube.
   1. Open a browser window on your computer, tablet or mobile device.
   2. Go to the YouTube live dashboard www.youtube.com/live_dashboard.
   3. Add a description for your video, set privacy level, choose a thumbnail, or choose a category for your live stream.
6. Begin your broadcast! Do one of the following to start streaming:
   1. Click the Start icon .
   2. Press the multi-function power button once.
   3. Press Space on a connected keyboard.

   The screen updates to let you know how long you have been streaming, and the green LED on Webcaster X2 begins to flash.

   The info bar at the top shows the streaming destination is Stream Now.

   

   During your broadcast, click the left mouse button to show and hide the Webcaster X2 overlay (including comments, if you have your device configured to show them).

7. When your live broadcast is complete, do one of the following to stop streaming:
   1. Click the Stop icon , then confirm that you wish to stop streaming.
   2. Press the multi-function power button once.
   3. Click Unpair to log out of your YouTube (Google) account (you will need to re-pair before using Webcaster X2 again.)
   4. Click the Webcaster X2 Exit icon to leave the YouTube streaming application.
   5. Turn off Webcaster X2 by pressing and holding the multi-function power button for 7 seconds.
   By default, if you turn off the device without unpairing, your Webcaster X2 is still paired with your YouTube (Google) account next time you turn it on. You can change this behavior by following the steps here: Stay paired with Facebook.