What Are Custom Streams and How Do They Work?

Question:

What are Custom Streams and how do they work?

Answer:

Custom Streams is a feature of our SnapStream Cloud product that allows you to automatically record a specific Live HLS or RTMP Stream continuously as long as it is actively accessible to the SnapStream Cloud instance.

• As long as the stream is Live and actively accessible to the SnapStream Cloud Instance, the system will automatically start recording that stream continuously.
• Auto Recordings from Custom Steams will be broken up into 2 hour chunks and will have a Recording Title of the Friendly name that you specified when you setup the Custom Stream.
• Auto Recordings will stop in favor of recording an Event that users can schedule for a specified Custom Stream.  The recording for the Event will start and end according to the times specified during Event creation.  Once the Event has finished recording, the system will go back to Auto Recording if the Stream is still Live.

How do you Add a Custom Stream to Record in SnapStream?

1. Sign into your SnapStream Cloud instance, and click the Streams tab.
2. Click the Add Custom Stream button. 
   NOTE:  If this Add Custom Stream button is not available to you, please contact SnapStream about adding a license to use this feature.
   
3. Enter the setup information according to the Custom Stream that you want to record.
   
   • Name:  Give this Custom Stream a Name.  Automatic Recordings will use this Name in the Title of the Custom Stream's recordings.
   • Destination Folder (available in 23.1.1 build 743 and above):  This determines what SnapStream Video folder these recordings will be saved to.
     NOTE:  The permissions of the Video Folder you select will also determine what users will be able to view this Custom Stream.
   • Transport Type:  Select RTMP or HLS
     • RTMP:  Selecting RTMP will result in a unique RTMP endpoint being generated that your Cloud instance will use to listen for the Stream to record.
       NOTE: The information below will be used to configure an encoder to send the RTMP Stream to SnapStream. Different encoders may expect this RTMP destination information entered in different ways.
       
       • RTMP URL:  The full RTMP endpoint generated for configuring your encoder.
       • ServerURL / Address / Endpoint:  Some encoders may expect this first part of the full RTMP endpoint in a separate field.
       • Stream Name / Key / ID:  Some encoders may expect the second part of this full RTMP endpoint in another separate field.
     • HLS:  Selecting HLS will prompt you to enter an HLS Source Address/URL for SnapStream to record.
       • Audio Only:  Select this option if the HLS stream is an Audio Only Stream.
         
   • Live Transcription:  Turn this ON if you want SnapStream to use the audio in the stream to generate a live Transcript as the content is being recorded.
     NOTE:  This will use the transcription minutes that you have licensed through SnapStream.
   • Test button:  use this button if the Stream is Live to view what would be recorded.
4. Click the Save button, and SnapStream will start monitoring the Stream to Auto Record this content.

How do you Create a Scheduled Event for a particular Custom Stream?

1. Sign into your SnapStream Cloud instance, click the Streams tab.
2. Locate the Custom Stream that you would like to schedule an Event for, and click the Add Event button.
   
3. Enter the relevant information for the recording of your Event.
   
   • Name:  This will be the title of the recording for your event.
   • Destination Folder (available in 23.1.1 build 743 and above):  This determines what SnapStream Video folder this Event will be saved to.
     NOTES:  The permissions of the Video Folder you select will also determine what users will be able to view this Event.
   • Start Time:  When you want the recording for this Event to start.
   • End Time:  When you want the recording for this Event to end.
   • Time Zone:  What Time Zone you want SnapStream to use when determining the recording start and end times specified above.
   • Live Transcription:  Turn this ON if you want SnapStream to use the audio in the stream to generate a live Transcript as the content is being recorded.
     NOTE:  This will use the transcription minutes that you have licensed through SnapStream.
4. Click Save.

Additional Notes:

If your SnapStream Cloud instance stops getting data from the Custom Stream for 30 seconds or more, the recording will end.  However, SnapStream will continue monitor the Stream to determine if it goes Live again and start a new recording when it does.

Applies to Version:

• Custom Streams and Events are available in versions 9.5 and above.
• Specifying Destination Folders for Streams and Events is available in SnapStream Versions 23.1.1 build 743 and above.  NOTE:  The permissions set on the Destination Folder will determine what users can view a Custom Stream or Event.