Pre-Show Testing
In vyb, we provide tools to allow you to test all of your audio and video setups.
For deeper technical specifications, visit Video Streaming Technical Details
To perform testing, do the following:
Navigate to the event in your dashboard.
From the Action Menu select “Go To Event”
“Make Test Recording” allows you to record 30 seconds of audio and video, which will be sent to vyb’s servers and then available for playback.
“Test Event” allows you to send a link to multiple people before the event, and they can listen/watch the current feed.
When you select Test Event, you will be offered the type of stream. You can use Webcam for your built in webcam or a direct USB connection from external connection like an ATEM MINI. For higher quality, select Streaming Software.
When you select Streaming Software, you will be given the Stream Settings.
Copy and paste those stream settings into OBS or any other streaming HW/SW.
For Security, every time you start streaming, you will need to get a new key. The server will not change.
After selecting your source, you’ll get a screen with the URL of the test event. This URL will change every time you start a test event.
Copy and send this URL to your phone or other people that are helping you test.
Example of viewing the event in test mode on a phone.
If instead of seeing the test event screen you see the general event screen, that means you are not logged in. Follow the steps below.
A few things to note about Test Event:
- Anyone helping to test the event must be have an account and be logged in to vyb. That account can be a fan account.
- If you are using an iPhone w/Safari, note that Safari by default is in private mode and simply clickng the URL will open a that is not logged in. To work around this, do the following steps:
- First, log in to vyb on Safari
- Message or email the url to the iPhone
- Copy the URL and paste it over the top of the URL for the tab where you are logged in.
- Now you will be at the event and viewing it to test
If you click the test event link and you show up at the event screen instead of in the test mode
Testing is available until 15 minutes before the events starts.
Running the Show
To run the show, 15 minutes before the show starts, the “Start Event” button will go active. Once pressed, you will get the same choice to pick the type of stream.
Just as in testing above, if you are using stream settings, copy and paste the new stream key as you start the stream.
You will start the stream in vyb and then use Start Streaming in OBS or other HW.
Network/Upload bandwidth
Minimum recommended upload: 10 Mbps (roughly 1.6× your stream bitrate)
Comfortable upload: 15 Mbps or higher
Wired ethernet is strongly preferred — WiFi introduces jitter and packet loss that causes dropped frames even when your speed test looks fine
Test your upload speed at the venue or location before going live, not just at home
5G/Cellular Backup
Most professional streamers run a cellular connection as a backup — or primary — when venue WiFi is unreliable or wired ethernet isn’t available
5G (mid-band or mmWave) can deliver 50–300 Mbps upload in good conditions, well above what vyb requires
A dedicated mobile hotspot is preferable to tethering from your phone — it keeps your phone free and maintains a more stable connection
Bonded streaming: pros often use hardware encoders (Teradek, LiveU, YoloBox) or apps (Speedify, Calix) that bond multiple connections — WiFi + 5G simultaneously — for maximum reliability. This is worth considering for high-stakes shows.
Cellular signal varies dramatically by venue. An outdoor festival with 10,000 people will saturate nearby towers.
Check signal before the show, not during.If you’re relying on 5G, use a hotspot with an external antenna port and a window-mounted antenna where possible — especially in concrete venues
Video
Protocol: RTMPS (secure/recommended), RTMP
Codec: H.264 (x264), Baseline or Main profile. High profile supported but not required.
Keyframe interval: 2 seconds — hard requirement. OBS calls this “Keyframe Interval = 2.”
B-frames: Disabled — do not enable
Rate control: CBR (Constant Bitrate) required — VBR will cause buffering and dropped frames
Max bitrate: 6,000 Kbps for partners
Recommended bitrate by resolution:
- 1080p60 → 4,500–6,000 Kbps
- 1080p30 → 3,500–5,000 Kbps
- 720p60 → 3,500–5,000 Kbps
- 720p30 → 2,500–4,000 Kbps
Frame rate: 30 or 60 fps.
Resolution: Max 1920×1080.
Pixel format: YUV 4:2:0
Audio
Channels: Stereo recommended. Mono accepted.
Codec: AAC-LC
Sample rate: 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz
Bitrate: 128 Kbps stereo (minimum); 160–192 Kbps recommended for music
Software / Encoder Settings
OBS Studio (most common, free, recommended)
- Encoder: x264 (software) or hardware encoder if available (NVENC for NVIDIA, AMF for AMD, VideoToolbox for Apple Silicon)
- Rate control: CBR
- Bitrate: match your target from the spec above (e.g. 6,000 Kbps for 1080p60)
- Keyframe interval: 2 seconds — set explicitly, do not leave on “auto”
- CPU usage preset (x264 only): veryfast or superfast — slower presets look better but will drop frames if your CPU can’t keep up
- Profile: Main or Baseline
- B-frames: 0
- Audio encoder: AAC, 192 Kbps, 48 kHz, stereo
Hardware encoders (Blackmagic/NVENC / AMF / VideoToolbox)
- Prefer hardware encoding if your GPU supports it — offloads the CPU, more stable under load
- Set “Max Quality” or “Quality” preset in NVENC; avoid “Performance” mode
- AMD AMF: Solid alternative on AMD cards; same CBR and keyframe rules apply
- Apple VideoToolbox: Strong choice on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3); handles long streams well without thermal issues
- Blackmagic Design: ATEM Mini Pro and ATEM Mini Extreme are the go-to hardware switchers for professional music streaming — handle multi-camera switching, built-in encoding, and direct RTMP output without a separate computer. The ATEM Mini Pro ISO also records all inputs locally as a safety net. Pairs well with Blackmagic cameras but works with any HDMI source.
- Same CBR, keyframe interval = 2, and B-frames = 0 rules apply regardless of encoder or switcher
Streamlabs
- Built on OBS under the hood — same settings apply
- Settings are in the same locations; output and video tabs are identical in structure
- Slightly higher resource usage than OBS Studio
XSplit
- Supported but less common in music/live performance contexts
- Same CBR and keyframe rules apply; found under Stream Settings → Output
Mobile streaming (iPhone / Android)
- Apps: Larix Broadcaster (free, pro-grade), Streamlabs Mobile, Prism Live
- Larix is the strongest choice for manual control — lets you set exact bitrate, keyframe interval, and CBR
- On mobile, cap bitrate at 4,000 Kbps for 1080p30 — mobile encoders are less efficient than desktop
- Use 720p60 or 1080p30 rather than 1080p60 on mobile — thermal throttling on long streams will degrade quality
- Lock your phone orientation before going live
- Airplane mode + WiFi or hotspot only — an incoming call will kill your stream on most setups
General tips across all software
- Do a full test stream before any show — stream to a private/unlisted GoLive and watch the playback
- Monitor your encoder’s dropped frames counter during the stream; anything above 1–2% means something is wrong
- Close all background applications — browsers, cloud sync, video calls — before going live
- If you’re on a laptop, plug into power; encoding on battery triggers thermal throttling
