How to stream multi-language live video

You can easily stream live video with multiple audio tracks for your multi‑language audience using an encoder device that supports multiple RTMP outputs over the same RTMP connection.

Configure Your Encoder

1. Look up your RTMP URL and Channel Key

Look up your RTMP URL and Channel Key on the Encoder settings page of your channel on the IBM Video Streaming account dashboard.

Navigate to:
Dashboard » Channels » (your channel) » Broadcast settings » Encoder settings

2. Set up one video track on your encoder

Open the configuration page of your encoder device and create a video‑only output (without audio).

• Enter the RTMP URL and Channel Key as required.
• If a single URL is requested, enter:
  [RTMP URL]/[Channel Key][Unique Number]

The Unique Number is any integer that is unique among the RTMP outputs using the same Channel Key (for example: 1, 2, or 3).

Example:

rtmp://1234.fme.ustream.tv/ustreamVideo/1234/123456789ABCDEFGH1 

Note: If this output contains an audio track, the language will be set to the Default audio language of the channel and should not be overridden using a Language Parameter.

3. Set up multiple audio‑only tracks (one per language)

For each language you want to stream:

1. Look up the Language Parameter in the Appendix below.
2. Create an audio‑only output (without video).
3. Enter the RTMP URL and Channel Key, and append the language parameter:
   [RTMP URL]/[Channel Key][Unique Number]|language=[Language Parameter]

Example:

rtmp://1234.fme.ustream.tv/ustreamVideo/1234/123456789ABCDEFGH3|language=en-GB 

Repeat this process for each language you want to stream.

Important: The platform supports a maximum of five (5) concurrent audio tracks, including the primary track. Adding more than five audio tracks may result in stream instability. All sources must originate from the same encoder and broadcaster IP.

Configure Your Default Broadcast Language

Select the language that viewers will hear by default when the player starts playback.

Navigate to:
Dashboard » Channels » (your channel) » Broadcast settings » Encoder settings

Ensure the selected default audio language is actively ingested during your live stream.

Recorded videos will contain all properly streamed audio tracks and will inherit this default audio language setting.

Review Audio Languages While Streaming Live

After your live stream starts, verify that audio languages are being ingested correctly.

Navigate to:
Dashboard » Metrics and monitoring » Live monitoring » (your channel)

In the Stream setup section, you can view real‑time information about the ingested audio languages.

Review Multi‑Language Video Recordings

All multi‑language live streams are recorded automatically.

• All properly ingested audio tracks are stored.
• Viewers can select their language during on‑demand playback.
• You can edit language tags for each stored audio track.
• You can change the default audio language for recorded videos.

Appendix: Language Codes for Your Encoder

For each audio‑only stream, append the appropriate language parameter (for example, en‑US for U.S. English) to the end of the stream key.

• Not applicable (music): mis
• Multilingual (varying): mul
• English (US): en-US
• English (UK): en-GB
• French: fr-00
• Spanish: es-00
• Portuguese (Brazil): pt-BR
• Japanese: ja-00
• Chinese: zh-00

The full list of supported language parameters includes all standard ISO‑style region and language codes (for example: de-DE, fr-CA, es-MX, ar-EG, hi-00, ru-00, ko-00, and many others).