Find out how much data your live stream will use and the upload speed you need, from a phone, a computer or a camera encoder.
Viewers don't use your upload. EventLive's network sends the video to each of them. Each viewer uses up to 1.4 GB an hour in 720p, or about 0.3 GB at 432p on a slow connection.
100 viewers watching the whole stream use 200 viewer hours of the 5,000 included with each event.
The most each setup sends to EventLive, with audio, and the upload speed to have for one camera.
| Streaming from | Data per hour | Upload speed |
|---|---|---|
| EventLive app on iPhone or iPad (720p) | up to 0.9 GB | 3 Mbps |
| EventLive app on iPhone or iPad (1080p) | up to 1.3 GB | 5 Mbps |
| EventLive app on Android (720p) | up to 1.2 GB | 4 Mbps |
| EventLive for Mac or Windows (1080p) | up to 1.3 GB | 5 Mbps |
| OBS, a camera or an encoder (720p)at 3 Mbps | up to 1.4 GB | 5 Mbps |
| OBS, a camera or an encoder (1080p)at 6 Mbps | up to 2.8 GB | 10 Mbps |
The formula: data per hour in GB = bitrate in Mbps × 3,600 seconds ÷ 8 bits per byte ÷ 1,000, or simply the bitrate × 0.45. The recommended upload speed leaves 50% headroom over the bitrate, because upload speed rises and falls and a speed test shows the best moment.
EventLive turns your stream into several quality levels, and each viewer's player picks the one their connection can keep up with.
| Quality | Bitrate | Data per viewer per hour |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p1080p stream | 3.5 Mbps | about 1.6 GB |
| 720p1080p stream | 2.5 Mbps | about 1.2 GB |
| 432p1080p stream | 0.6 Mbps | about 0.3 GB |
| 720p720p stream | 3 Mbps | about 1.4 GB |
| 432p720p stream | 0.6 Mbps | about 0.3 GB |
The EventLive apps adjust the quality to your upload speed while you're live, so a slow venue connection lowers the picture instead of stopping the stream. EventLive for Mac and Windows show the speed at the top, and every app saves a full-quality copy on your phone or computer.
“I had to livestream a wedding from a venue with limited WiFi and very slow LTE. This apps automatic compression really did a good job of staying connected and keeping things looking great.”
From a phone, about 1 GB an hour in 720p and up to about 1.3 GB an hour in 1080p. An encoder sending 1080p at 4 to 6 Mbps uses about 2 to 3 GB an hour. To work it out yourself, multiply the bitrate in Mbps by 0.45 to get GB per hour.
The person streaming needs upload speed: the video goes from your phone or computer to the internet. Viewers only need download speed. Most home and venue connections have far less upload than download, so check the upload number in your speed test.
At least 3 Mbps for 720p and 5 Mbps for 1080p. With an encoder sending 1080p at 6 Mbps, 10 Mbps is ideal. Each extra camera on the same connection needs the same again. Recommended and minimum upload speeds
The EventLive apps lower the quality to match your connection instead of stopping the stream. They also save a full-quality copy on the phone or computer, which you can upload afterwards if the stream had problems. Connection problems during a stream
Yes. A good 4G or 5G signal often works better than crowded venue Wi-Fi. Check that your plan has enough data for the whole event, including your test, and that it isn't slowed down after a monthly limit. Streaming on mobile data
Not to EventLive. Streams play at 30 fps, or 25 fps for 25 and 50 fps sources, so 60 fps uses more upload without a smoother picture. Send 1920×1080 at 30 fps and 4 to 6 Mbps. Recommended encoder settings
No. You send one stream, and EventLive's network delivers it to every viewer. Each event includes 5,000 viewer hours, for example 2,500 people watching for two hours. After that it's US$20 for every extra 1,000 viewer hours, and ticketed events have no limit. How viewer hours work
Run a speed test at the venue, on the network you'll use, at about the time of day you'll stream. Then start a free test stream in the EventLive app and watch the signal indicator. Check your connection
Start a free test stream from the venue and see how your upload speed holds up before the day.
