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Wowza Streaming Cloud: Getting Started with Wowza Video

The Wowza Streaming Cloud name is historical; current setup uses Wowza Video. Follow the OBS-and-RTMP steps, check the settings that change behavior, and verify playback before sharing.

By DocumentaryTube Team 6 min read
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To start a live stream with the service historically called Wowza Streaming Cloud, create a live stream in the current Wowza Video interface, connect a camera or encoder using its generated connection details, and verify playback before sharing. The product and current setup documentation are branded Wowza Video; the detailed first-stream tutorial is marked Legacy. This guide follows its OBS-and-RTMP workflow and flags setup choices that differ in the current quick setup.

Before you begin

You need access to a Wowza Video account or trial and a video source, such as a camera, encoder, or capture device. OBS Studio is the software-encoder example in Wowza’s tutorial; the steps below send video over RTMP. A separate webcam purchase is not required if you already have a usable source.

Wowza says its interface works in modern browsers that support HTML5 and CSS3 and recommends the latest Chrome, which it says has been tested most extensively. The current quick setup also lists SRT, RTSP, WebRTC, and stream-from-file inputs, as well as setup options for certain encoders and IP cameras; available choices depend on the input type. Wowza Video getting-started guide · Wowza Video quick setup

Create a live stream in Wowza Video

  1. Sign in to Wowza Video and select Add Live Stream.
  2. Enter a descriptive stream name. Choose a broadcast location close to your video source that supports the features you need. Wowza says proximity can reduce network distance and latency. The tutorial says the suggested location is based on your browser’s time zone, so check it rather than assuming it is nearest your camera or encoder.
  3. Choose Other RTMP for the OBS workflow. Complete the remaining source and transcoder options shown for your account and location. Other RTMP encoders can use a similar connection workflow.
  4. Decide whether to create a hosted page. In the tutorial, Yes is selected as a convenient way to test playback without building a separate webpage. The tutorial says you cannot add this hosted-page choice after stream creation. If you choose not to create one, you can use the supplied embed code or playback URLs with your own webpage or player.
  5. Review the configuration and finish creating the stream.

Choose the settings that affect your workflow

Input protocol and region

Select an input supported by your source. Wowza’s current quick setup documentation lists RTMP, SRT, RTSP, WebRTC, and stream-from-file; available options vary by input. The processing region is where Wowza Video transcodes and processes the stream. For RTMP, the quick setup documentation says a region may be selected automatically near the source. Review the displayed region and confirm it suits your needs.

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Autostart and autostop

In the current quick setup flow, RTMP autostart is available and enabled by default. With it enabled, a valid encoder stream starts the live stream; autostop can stop it after the encoder stops sending valid RTMP. Wowza says autostart cannot be edited after initial stream creation and that enabling it prevents transcoder security authentication. Check the options shown during creation: this behavior differs from the legacy tutorial’s manual sequence of starting Wowza Video and then OBS.

Adaptive bitrate or passthrough

Adaptive bitrate creates multiple renditions for different playback conditions. Passthrough sends the source rendition without transcoding and does not create adaptive bitrate renditions. Wowza says passthrough requires a 24×7 subscription and is not available in every broadcast location, so confirm eligibility in your account before choosing it. Consider whether you need multiple renditions and whether your plan and region support passthrough. Wowza passthrough documentation

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Push or pull

For some RTMP and RTSP sources, the current quick setup describes options to push directly to a transcoder or pull through a CDN endpoint. Which choices appear can depend on the source and RTMP autostart setting. Use the option compatible with how your encoder sends or exposes its stream rather than assuming every source supports both.

Connect OBS to the stream

  1. Open the stream’s Overview page in Wowza Video and locate Source Connection Information. Keep the generated server, stream name, username, and password private.
  2. In OBS, open Settings → Stream. Set Service to Custom.
  3. Copy Wowza’s Primary Server into OBS’s Server field, and copy Stream Name into Stream Key.
  4. Enable Use authentication. Enter the generated Source Username and Source Password in the corresponding OBS fields.
  5. Configure OBS to capture your camera or capture device, save the settings, and make sure the intended source is visible in OBS before going live.

These connection values are generated for your stream. Do not substitute another stream’s details or publish them; anyone with usable connection credentials may be able to send content to that stream.

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Start, test, and stop the broadcast

  1. For the manual workflow in Wowza’s tutorial, start the live stream in Wowza Video first, then click Start Streaming in OBS. If you configured current RTMP autostart, follow the behavior shown for that stream instead.
  2. Check that a preview appears in Wowza Video. The tutorial says its preview thumbnail updates every five seconds.
  3. Open the stream’s Hosted Page URL and click play to confirm playback from a viewer’s perspective. The stream’s Statistics panel displays connection, transcoding, and delivery metrics.
  4. When the event is over, stop the stream in Wowza Video and stop OBS. Wowza warns that transcoding charges accrue while a stream is started even when it is not actively receiving content. Its tutorial says idle streams are automatically stopped after 20 minutes, but you should stop the stream yourself when finished.

Use a hosted page or your own player

A hosted page is a simple playback check and sharing option. If you selected no hosted page, the tutorial says you can use the embed code or playback URLs with an external webpage or player. Settings made for Wowza’s player may be disregarded when you use your own player, so validate playback in the player your viewers will actually use.

Keep Wowza Video and Streaming Engine distinct

Wowza Video is the cloud service used in this guide. Wowza Streaming Engine is separate media-server software; it can act as an encoder or source or connect to Wowza Video. Do not put a Streaming Engine server IP or its default RTMP port into Wowza Video’s cloud connection fields. The Engine guide documents its own source authentication and server URL, application, and stream-name fields; it notes that port 1935 is Streaming Engine’s default RTMP streaming port. Wowza Streaming Engine connection guide

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Troubleshoot common setup problems

  • OBS cannot connect: Check that Service is Custom, and that the Server and Stream Key match the current stream’s Primary Server and Stream Name. If authentication is enabled, verify the generated Source Username and Source Password. Recheck the stream’s connection information rather than reusing old credentials.
  • The stream does not start when OBS sends video: In the manual tutorial workflow, start the stream in Wowza Video before starting OBS. In the current quick setup flow, check whether RTMP autostart is enabled; that setting changes the start behavior and is not editable after initial creation.
  • The stream starts but viewers see no playback: Confirm that Wowza’s preview appears, then test the Hosted Page URL and click play. If using your own player, test there too; player-specific settings may not carry over.
  • The broadcast location or processing option is unavailable: Available inputs and features vary by location and account. Recheck the source type, selected region, and account eligibility; passthrough, in particular, is limited by subscription and location.
  • Unexpected transcoding charges continue: Stop the live stream in Wowza Video when done, even if OBS has stopped sending content. Wowza’s tutorial warns that charges accrue while a stream remains started.

Or let it run in the cloud

If your goal is a prerecorded YouTube channel that stays live around the clock, StreamNeo is a different workflow from Wowza Video’s camera-and-encoder broadcast: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops uploaded videos from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home; it does not stream from a camera and supports YouTube only.

  • Any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps streams as made, at one flat price per slot with no re-encode or quality tiers.
  • Automatic recovery is included if YouTube drops the stream.
  • The first day is free with no card, once per account. The monthly option is $9.99 per month.

See StreamNeo or its plan details. For the free first day, create a StreamNeo account.

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