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Webinar Video
Download the Webinar PDF Resource Document Updated 11/25/2020
I recently found another product comparable to the line of ATEM Mini's, YoloBox Pro. A great comparison video of the ATEM Mini's and YoloBox Pro can be found here:
https://youtu.be/uOpBIz6nZ50 Updated 01/05/2021
Our Streaming Options
Sign up for ACC Streaming
Pricing for ACC Streaming
Here is the pricing for our Live Streaming service:
There is a one-time setup fee of $85 to configure the server and create the account for a new stream.
Our Media Streaming Packages:
Media streaming packages include the option for both live and archived streaming. Below is a table that will help clarify the offerings. Purchasing of the packages gives you BOTH live and archived streaming capability!
Entry level - Most churches use this level of service.
Cost: $24.95 per month
Includes: additional 20 gigs file storage
Includes: 80 gigs of bandwidth
Suggested stream quality: up to 400 Kbps
Suggested audience: 100 concurrent viewers, 400 viewer hrs/mo
Overages $1.30/GB
Mid level - Large churches use this level of service.
Includes: 40 gigs file storage (archived media)
Includes: 160 gigs of bandwidth
Suggested stream quality: up to 600 Kbps
Suggested audience: 200 concurrent viewers, 800 viewer hrs/mo
Overages $.65/GB
High level - Used for big events like Camp Meetings.
Cost: $99.95 per month
Includes: 80 gigs file storage (archived media)
Includes: 320 gigs of bandwidth
Suggested stream quality: up to 800 Kbps
Suggested audience: 400 concurrent viewers, 1600 viewer hrs/mo
Overages $.40/GB
Other Streaming Options
Other Paid Options
Note: If you are live streaming through a desktop or laptop computer you will most likely have to install some form of software. We recommend the free and open source OBS studio or similar software in order to stream though it. Other services may have or recommend a different software encoder.
Before You Begin
The use case is to be able to transmit your media live on the internet. You need some hardware and a connection to the Internet:
- A video camera that can connect to your computer or HDMI if you are connecting to a video encoding device
- You will need a computer, or a video encoding device
- If you are encoding from a computer, you will need encoding software. We suggest: Open Broadcaster Software.
- You need a good quality connection to the Internet. Ask for a 2 gig upload speed or better. (A smaller upload size could work, but you will need to decrease your upload stream size in that case.)
- Live Streaming Media Account from YouTube, Vimeo, or Our Streaming Service via SimpleUpdates.
Note: Some may ask, what kind of computer do you suggest? We have found streaming from a MAC computer to mobile devices to be hassle free, but a PC can also work. This needs to be a computer that is "fast" and not something you get as a donation, or out of storage. A medium to high end computer not older than 3 years would be perfect.
Configuring OBS Encoder Software
The encoding software we suggest is the free Open Broadcaster Software, and once you have it installed on the encoding computer, you can enter settings, and put in the information sent to you via email when you signed up for the Live Streaming Service.
Install the OBS encoder software.
Open OBS, and go to Preferences > Streaming, and enter these values from the welcome email:
1. Stream Type: Custom Streaming Server
2. URL: rtmp://wowza.aws.simpleupdates.com/live/<acct name>
3. Stream key: <acct name>
4. User name: <acct name>
5. Password: <acct password>
We have several customers that also use the paid and capable vMix encoding software.
How to Add a Non-ACC Live Stream to Your Website
If you are using our live streaming service provided by SimpleUpdates then we set up the live stream on your website for you.
Depending on what other services you may choose to go with, most provide you with a snippet of code that you can add to your website. This code snippet will allow your viewers to watch your live stream directly on your website. Here are the typical steps to adding the code to your website:
- Start by copying the HTML code from your streaming service.
- logging into your website.
- Create or go to the page you want to add the live stream.
- Click the “Edit” at the top of the page.
- Click inside the editable region (blue bordered area) where you want to add the live stream.
- Just to the left of where the cursor is blinking you will see the black “Add Block” square with a white plus (+) in it. Click this button.
- A box will appear with a list of blocks you can add. Select the “HTML” option.
- A new larger box will show up on your screen. Click inside this empty box a nd then paste your copied code into it.
- Look through your code carefully for any “http://” and change it to “https://”.
- Click the save button at the bottom
- Finally, publish the page.
Test your live stream to make sure everything is working as it should.
Resources For Live Streaming
- Small Church? Here is what you need to start streaming now!
- A full guide on what equipment you will need
- 10 Biggest Streaming Churches And The Software They Use
- A Beginner’s Guide to Church Live Streaming
- Video on How to Live stream on YouTube from start to finish
- Video on How to Live Stream on Facebook
- Video on Live Streaming With OBS for Churches
Frequently Asked Questions about the ACC Streaming Service
Q: Are there any ads in our stream?
A: NO ads! The only thing that is viewed is what you send to the server via your encoder.
Q: Do you limit the number of viewers that can watch a stream?
A: We do NOT limit your viewing audience. Your stream has the full power to reach as large an audience as you have available. We only charge by the bandwidth used.
Q: Is there an easy way to have the video player show up on the website?
A: If you have a Adventist Church Connect powered website, anyone can see the live stream by visiting the media page. If there is a live stream running, the player will appear at the top of your media page automatically. You can also make a live streaming media block anywhere on your site, and there show the live stream.
Q: Can we use a hardware encoder such as a Tricaster or VT5?
A: Yes, many of our customers use various hardware encoders. Please verify with the hardware that it can push to an RTMP stream. Some units call this option "flash stream" or "push flash". In the hardware encoder, enter your stream push url as sent to you in your welcome email when you signed up for live streaming. Also enter your stream user name in the account field. For setup instructions, check out:
https://www.wowza.com/docs/how-to-connect-the-newtek-tricaster-to-wowza-streaming-engine
Q: What happens if I signup for an Entry Level package, and the audience grows over time to be a Mid Level package?
A: You will be charged at the rate of your plan per Gig overage.
Q: Where do we upload our archived media files?
A: Upload them to your SimpleUpdates powered website in the "media" collection. You can also host media on Vimeo or YouTube, and still include a link to these files within your media collection.
Q: How do we get our archived videos to play on our website?
A: From YouTube or Vimeo, just paste in the media URL onto a page. The media player shows up like magic. You can also use a media block in any content area of your site.
Connection / Quality Testing
Q: We are getting the picture, but it seems halting, and like there is something not right. What can we check?
- A: The first thing to check is the quality of your Internet connection. Packet loss is parts of the "conversation" that just come up missing, like as if the postman threw away every tenth or so letter at random. Latency is how long a packet takes to be delivered (speed), and jitter is a term that defines how sloppy or variable the available bandwidth is. Pristine one minute and poor the next is not all that helpful. You can tree free online Internet quality tests.
- A: Next, we suggest you inspect the resources on the encoding computer. Bring up the CPU and RAM monitor while encoding, and verify that you have 50% or more idle. If you are pegged at 100%, then you need a better encoding computer to handle the complex process of video encoding.