Internet connection and recommended encoding settings

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This article provides comprehensive guidance on recommended encoding, transcoding, and network settings for live streaming with IBM Video Streaming. It outlines best‑practice configurations for cloud and local transcoding across multiple resolutions—from standard definition through HD, Full HD, and 4K—covering video and audio bitrates, codecs, frame rates, keyframe intervals, and supported profiles. The document also explains critical considerations for video resolution selection, bitrate management, frame rate matching, and audio configuration to ensure optimal stream quality and platform compatibility. In addition, it details supported streaming protocols, codec requirements, and restrictions such as interlacing and color depth. Finally, the article offers practical recommendations for network bandwidth planning and encoder hardware capacity to help broadcasters avoid playback interruptions, degraded quality, and stream failures.

Recommended Encoding Settings

Cloud Transcoding Mode Settings

For most applications, IBM Video Streaming recommends sending a single high-definition stream at 720p resolution using the settings below.

HD 720 (Primary Recommendation)

Resolution	1280 × 720
Video Bitrate	1,200 – 4,000 kbps
Audio Bitrate	128 kbps
Audio Sample Rate	44.1 kHz or 48 kHz
Frame Rate	25 or 30 fps
Video Codec	H.264 (Main Profile)
Keyframe Interval	1 second
B-frames / GOP	0–2 seconds
Audio Codec	AAC-LC
Audio Channels	Mono or Stereo

Note: Full HD (1080p) and 4K streams require significantly more encoding processing power and bandwidth. Use these resolutions only when sufficient resources are available. Insufficient resources can result in poor image quality or interrupted streams and recordings.

Supported Resolutions (Cloud Transcoding)

Quality	Resolution	Video Bitrate	Audio Bitrate	Sample Rate	FPS	H.264 Profile	Audio
HD 720	1280 × 720	1,200 – 4,000 kbps	128 kbps	48 kHz	25 / 30 / 60	Main	AAC-LC
HD 1080	1920 × 1080	4,000 – 8,000 kbps	192 kbps	48 kHz	25 / 30 / 60	Main or High	AAC-LC Stereo
4K	3840 × 2160	8,000 – 14,000 kbps	192 kbps	48 kHz	25 / 30	High	AAC-LC Stereo

Local Transcoding Mode Settings

Local transcoding allows sending multiple bitrates instead of using IBM Video Streaming cloud transcoding.

Quality	Resolution	Video Bitrate	Audio Bitrate	Sample Rate	FPS	H.264 Profile	Audio
Low	480 × 270	400 kbps	64 kbps	48 kHz	25 / 30	Baseline	AAC‑LC Mono
Medium	640 × 360	800 – 1,200 kbps	96 kbps	48 kHz	25 / 30	Main	AAC‑LC Mono or Stereo
High	960 × 540 / 854 × 480	1,200 – 1,500 kbps	96 kbps	48 kHz	25 / 30	Main	AAC‑LC Mono or Stereo
HD 720	1280 × 720	1,500 – 4,000 kbps	128 kbps	48 kHz	25 / 30	Main	AAC‑LC Mono or Stereo
HD 1080	1920 × 1080	4,000 – 8,000 kbps	192 kbps	48 kHz	25 / 30	Main or High	AAC‑LC Stereo
4K	3840 × 2160	8,000 – 14,000 kbps	192 kbps	48 kHz	25 / 30	High	AAC‑LC Stereo

Video Resolution Guidelines

Use a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Match or downscale from the source resolution.
Do not upscale beyond the original capture resolution.
Higher resolutions require more encoding power and bandwidth.

Bitrate and Frame Rate Guidelines

Video Bitrate

Variable bitrate encoding uses a target bitrate that fluctuates based on motion and complexity. High-motion content requires higher bitrates than static content.

Frame Rate

Always match the source frame rate.
NTSC: 30 fps
PAL: 25 fps
High frame rate video (up to 60 fps) is supported but may impact lower-end devices.

Codec and Encoding Requirements

Video Codec: H.264 (Main or High)
Audio Codec: AAC-LC (required)
Color Depth: 8-bit only
Keyframe Interval: Fixed at 1–2 seconds
Interlaced Video: Not supported; de-interlace before streaming

Network and Hardware Recommendations

Network

Use a wired Ethernet connection whenever possible.
Avoid congested or shared networks.
Target stream bitrate should not exceed 50% of available upload bandwidth.

Encoder Hardware

HD and high-bitrate streams require sufficient CPU/GPU resources. If you observe dropped frames or stuttering, reduce resolution or bitrate. A stable full-frame-rate stream at lower resolution is preferable to a high-resolution stream with low frame rate.

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