Ustream Web Broadcast Console

Adding Polls

Polling allows broadcasters to query their audience in real time and get real-time feedback. Polling allows a maximum of five answers to be given to a question.

To execute a poll during your broadcast take the following steps:

1. Log into your Ustream account and click the green "Broadcast Now" button in the top left of the page.
2. Click the "Poll" tab on the bottom of the broadcast console.
3. Fill in your desired question and desired candidate answers you would like users to choose from.

Stream Keeps Disconnecting

If your stream keeps disconnecting, it is likely an internet issue. Achievable speeds with internet connections fluctuate. If you do a speed test and it says 900 kbps that doesn't mean that in five minutes it won't drop down to 600. So if you set your bitrate too high, say 650, and bandwidth dips below 650 then your stream will freeze or get disconnected. We recommend leaving a good amount of buffer zone to provide continuous streaming.

Configuring Sound

1. Plug in your audio device prior to opening the Ustream broadcaster window. Click "Broadcast Now" button. 2. Select your audio device from the Audio Sources drop-down menu.

a.If you have a mic plugged into the input on your computer or laptop then select "Built-in Input".

b.If you want to use the embedded webcam mic then select "Built-in Microphone".

Using An External Camera with Ustream Broadcast Console

1. Login to Ustream and click the "Broadcast Now" button.

2. When the broadcast console opens for the first time, it asks you if want to "Allow" or "Deny" Camera and Microphone access. Select "Allow". (If at any point you click "Deny" then the window will never show up again. When this occurs, you will have to reset it. To reset it: right-click on the video area, click "Settings", and select "Allow").


 

3. In the Ustream Broadcaster console, select your camera from the Video Sources drop down menu. If it is an embedded webcam then it will appear as "USB Video Class Video". If it is a plugged in DV Camera then it will appear as "DV Video".

 


 

4. Your video should appear in the Local Stream window. Make sure you have "Local Monitor" selected in the bottom left corner of the broadcast window.

5. Click "Start Broadcast" to start broadcasting and click "Start Record" to save a recording in your Ustream channel. 

Browser Keeps Crashing

There are known issues between Adobe Flash and certain cameras (like some DV cameras). To get around this, we recommend you use either Camtwist or Webcammax as they are more stable with Adobe Flash. You would have one of these programs detect your camera, then from your broadcast panel go to advanced settings, then select Camtwist or Webcammax. This should eliminate the crashing problems.

Broadcasting Video and Sound

 Configuring Camera

1. Connect the camera to your computer *before* launching your Broadcasting encoder. Ensure that no other software is accessing your camera.

2. Make sure the computer is recognizing the camera:

Windows: right-click the "My Computer" icon, clicking on Device Manager, and seeing if your camera is listed under image devices.