Understanding Latency in Hardware-Based Video Streaming Solutions

Dreaming of sending pristine stream quality live video to every screen without any buffering? Want millions of viewers watching your broadcasts?

Let’s start with latency. Latency kills live streams. There’s nothing worse than experiencing delay from real-life to your viewer’s screen. When latency is high, viewers tune out.

…and compound that problem by…

Streaming more than one channel.

When you’re running a broadcast operation with a multi-channel video encoder there are several challenges to managing delay.

Hardware-based workflows are designed from the ground up to obliterate latency. If you know how hardware works behind the scenes you can drastically improve any live stream.

In this guide you’ll learn

How Latency Impacts Streaming Video
Hardware vs. Software Encoding
Multi-Channel Video Encoders Reduce Latency
5 Ways to Decrease Latency

What Latency Means in Video Streaming

Let’s define latency.

Latency in video streaming is how long it takes for a video signal to go from camera to screen.

Yep. Simple enough.

But did you know there are different types of latency? Each link in the streaming chain incurs encoding latency. Then network latency. Followed by playback latency. The TOTAL buffering time equals all three of these delays added together.

For example, conventional HTTP-based streaming protocols such as HLS can add 15 to 30 seconds of delay!

If you’re streaming live sports, auctions, voting or anything requiring real-time content… that’s just not acceptable.

Think about it…

If your stream lags 25 seconds, half your viewership will lose interest and click away. Buffer times between 2 to 3 seconds causes 28% of viewers to abandon the stream. Every additional second hundreds of thousands of viewers will tune out.

Latency matters. It’s the #1 reason people stop watching your stream. Everything you do to reduce delay enhances the viewer experience.

Why Hardware Encoders Perform Better than Software

There are two types of encoders: hardware and software. The right tool for the job is hardware encoders every single time.

Software encoders use the CPU within a computer to convert video from camera into an encoded format. Encoding happens in software on general purpose hardware.

Hardware Encoders have their own dedicated processing chips built specifically for encoding video. Because of this, hardware solutions offer:

Faster encoding speeds
Lower latency
Higher reliability

Companies like Thor Broadcast specialise in multi-channel video encoder hardware. Streaming multiple channels into one solution drastically reduces the delay from camera to viewer.

Hardware encoders are ALWAYS better when low latency and reliability are important.

Imagine you’re running a hardware encoder on a laptop versus using a standalone hardware encoder.

The laptop is working on many things at once. While encoding your live stream it’s also running the operating system, any background apps you have open and internet services.

Now look at a hardware encoder. All it does is ONE thing incredibly well. It’s specialized at encoding videos as fast as possible without delay.

How Multi-Channel Streaming Reduces Latency

Did you know…

Most broadcasters don’t encode a single video channel. Houses of worship, stadiums, schools, universities and enterprise campuses run multiple feeds at the same time. That’s where multi-channel video encoders come in.

They take care of several inputs inside one hardware device. Imagine reducing workflow complexity by encoding 4, 8, 16 or even 24 streams within one box.

Here’s why multi-channel encoding helps reduce latency:

Encoding video takes time. A high-quality encoder can handle multiple HD or even 4K streams all within the same unit. By keeping all of your channels in one box you minimize the delay between source footage and distribution.

Benefits of a multi-channel video encoder include:

Ability to process multiple streams concurrently
Low-latency output on each channel
Decreased chance of hardware failure
Support for low-latency protocols like SRT & RTMP

It’s no surprise that the demand for multi-channel video encoding continues to rise. The global video encoder market is valued at $2.55 billion and is expected to reach $3.2 billion by 2030.

Professional grade encoding doesn’t get much attention. But for live streaming video, it’s one of the most important pieces of equipment you’ll have.

5 Ways to Reduce Latency in Streaming Video

Ready for your information overload? Here are five hardware-based solutions to reduce latency.

1) Choose the Right Protocol

The streaming protocol you choose makes a HUGE difference in latency. As mentioned earlier, HTTP-based streaming like HLS adds significant lag time.

Consider using low-latency protocols like:

SRT
RTMP
WebRTC

Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) is an incredibly robust streaming protocol. It was designed from the ground up to limit latency.

With built-in error correction, encryption and minimal overhead, SRT keeps video going where other protocols fail.

SRT enables latency times of just one second.

2) Optimise Encoder Settings

Encoding settings can also impact your stream’s latency.

Tick these two boxes and you’ll see noticeable improvements:

Small GOP Size – Larger Group of Pictures means more delay. Smaller GOP sizes improve latency across any stream.
Bitrate vs Resolution – Make sure you’re not using more bitrate than you need to at your desired resolution.

3) Use a Dedicated Hardware Encoder

You should be doing this anyways.

If you’re encoding video streams in ANY capacity you should be using a dedicated hardware encoder.

4) Minimise Network “Hops”

Hops are every server, router and network switch your stream encounters before reaching the viewer.

Too many hops = latency.

Using a high-quality CDN with edge servers near your audience can reduce buffering time.

5) Regular Testing, Testing, 1,2,3

Set a schedule to monitor your latency numbers. Like any software or hardware, delay can creep up over time.

There are a few tools you can use to monitor your stream’s latency. If you want the most accurate reading, use glass-to-glass latency testing.

Reduce Latency and Improve Live Streams

Latency kills video streams. Don’t let encoding delay drive away your viewers. Invest in a hardware-based streaming solution that offers you control over every setting and meets your specific needs.

Think about it… Does your streaming vendor meet the following criteria?

Eliminate latency wherever possible
Provide hardware-based encoding solutions
Support multiple video streams simultaneously
Offers LOW LATENCY streaming protocols
Have a process for regular monitoring and testing

If you answered YES to every question. You’re in good hands!

If not, keep searching until you find the right fit. A streaming vendor that cares about your bottom line will want to help you improve your latency.

Don’t settle for delayed video. Reduce buffering for your streams today.