Zoom is often the live video platform of choice for business meetings, panel discussions and other streaming situations where multiple screens need to be broadcast at once.
You will need to connect Zoom to a Stream Engine for the best results and most professional production. We explain what a Stream Engine does here. We recommend Wowza for this thanks to its high quality video output and reduced latency (the delay between something happening in front of camera and your audience seeing it).
1. First steps
In order to use Zoom with Wowza, you will need a Zoom Pro and Wowza Cloud account.
You can look at their plans here:
Always ensure you are using the latest version of Zoom, and be aware that Wowza charges are based on the number of streamed hours you use.
Getting started on Wowza
Once you have opened an account on both it’s time to connect Zoom to Wowza, and then Eventcube.
Open Wowza, and Log in, and select Live Streams (or Add Live Stream if this is your first time using Wowza).
Add a live stream.
Name your stream in the box provided — we recommend using the same name as the event you have created in Eventcube for this.
Now, choose the closest Location to where your stream is coming from if your specific location isn’t displayed as a server option.
Click Next.
Choose Other RTMP where it says Camera Encoder.
Next, select Push Stream and Push Directly to Wowza Streaming Cloud.
We would recommend selecting Yes on the option for a HLS stream with reduced latency.
Do not alter the Aspect Ratio.
Depending on whether you want to record the stream, choose to Record the stream, or not.
Make sure you have opted to Disable Authentication.
Check your settings match ours:
Click Next.
Configuring Playback Settings
Select Video Source and Transcoder Settings from the menu.
You should use the following settings for Zoom streams:
Deactivate the countdown timer, as we have one built-in to Eventcube.
Hosted Page Settings
For the first option, Select No — you do not need Wowza Streaming Cloud to host a webpage, as this is done in Eventcube.
Now hit Review Settings, make sure the options are correct:
If you are happy click Finish.
2. Connecting Zoom to Wowza
Zoom Source
Open up Zoom and Sign In — we now need to get the source information from your video stream and connect this to Wowza.
In Zoom, click on Settings, then Meeting.
Click the In Meeting (Advanced) section, and enable Allow live streaming meetings.
Tick Custom Live Streaming Service.
If you want, write some text in the box provided to describe the stream, although this is not necessary.
Setup A Meeting
Now head to Host A Meeting in the Zoom menu.
You will need to choose the best stream setting for your needs, we’ve gone for With Video On — so the meeting will be using the host’s webcam for video output.
You could also choose audio only (With Video Off) if you only want to broadcast sound, or Screen Share Only if you need to broadcast the meeting host’s device screen, rather than what the webcams are filming.
Accept the popup asking you to Launch Zoom.
When the Zoom app loads, select More and then Custom Live Streaming Services, which will be at the bottom right.
This will load another new page, entitled Live Stream Zoom Meeting To A Custom Service.
Back on Wowza
Hit Start Your Live Stream Now on Wowza, and confirm.
Copy the Primary Server number as displayed, then paste this into the Streaming URL page on Zoom.
Note — you must remove the last section of the number, which will look something like this: 34.94.218.133.
Now, copy the Wowza Stream Name into the Streaming section on Zoom.
Finally, add the web address of your Eventcube Store to the Live Streaming Page URL on Zoom.
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