HowTo Do an OB From Your Laptop: Difference between revisions

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This is a bit of a long section, but you only need to do it once.

To do an OB from your laptop, you'll need a ~~couple pieces~~ of software~~. The first is~~ butt - it stands for "Broadcast Using This Tool" and its acronym makes it hilariously un-Google-able. Track it down and install it.

To do an OB from your laptop, you'll need a piece of software, butt - it stands for "Broadcast Using This Tool" and its acronym makes it hilariously un-Google-able. Track it down and install it.

You'll also need OpenVPN to access the broadcast servers (because, for obvious reasons, Computing don't like it when anyone on campus can stream to them). Look for the Community Edition, not the new "OpenVPN Connect" app which is hopelessly crap and probably won't work. The Community Edition isn't much better, but at least it works, which is a major upgrade.

Once you've got it, crack it open (ha!) and set up the profile. Click the settings button, and under "Servers" click "New". Fill it in with the following details:

~~To set it up you'll also need some files from Computing (namely, the profile, CA certificate, and client certificate and key - if~~ you're not sure what these mean don't worry!). Ask your nearest friendly neighbourhood compuneer for these. If they stare at you blankly, point them to [https://ury.org.uk/ceedox/computing:wisdom:outside_broadcasts this Ceedox page] (you may not be able to access it~~, but they should).~~

~~Once you have everything you need~~, crack open the OpenVPN app, right-click on its taskbar icon, choose "Import File", and browse to the <code>.ovpn</code> file your friendly neighbourhood compuneer gave you. Now, right-click it again and choose "Connect". If everything went according to plan, you should see a success message and you should still have an internet connection. If it ~~didn't go according to plan, ask your friendly neighbourhood compuneer for help.~~

~~Now it's time to crack~~ open ~~butt~~ (ha!) and set up the profile. Click the settings button, and under "Servers" click "New". Fill it in with the following details:

Name: ''whatever''

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Port: 7070

Password: ''ask your friendly neighbourhood compuneer''

IceCast mountpoint: <code>OB-~~line~~</code> '''(caps matter!)'''

IceCast mountpoint: <code>OB-Line</code> '''(caps matter!)'''

IceCast user: <code>source</code>

Save it all. While you're at it, head over to the Audio tab and set streaming bitrate to at least 192K.

Save it all. While you're at it, head over to the Audio tab and set streaming bitrate to at least 192K. Also, check it's using the right audio input - it should be your mixer or audio interface.

== Streaming ==

Now you're ready to start the stream, whether just to test it all works, or to actually go live! To fire it up, ~~check you're connected to the VPN, and~~ click the play icon in butt (not the record icon - common mistake). After a few seconds the "Stream Time" should start ticking up. To check that everything has gone to plan, go to [https://ury.org.uk/timelord] and check that the OB box at the bottom has lit up. If it has, you're good to go! When the time comes for your OB, just switch the studio (or, more likely, ask Computing to do it) and you're live!

Now you're ready to start the stream, whether just to test it all works, or to actually go live! To fire it up, click the play icon in butt (not the record icon - common mistake). After a few seconds the "Stream Time" should start ticking up. To check that everything has gone to plan, go to [https://ury.org.uk/timelord] and check that the OB box at the bottom has lit up. If it has, you're good to go! When the time comes for your OB, just switch the studio (or, more likely, ask Computing to do it) and you're live!

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 This is a bit of a long section, but you only need to do it once.
-To do an OB from your laptop, you'll need a couple pieces of software. The first is butt - it stands for "Broadcast Using This Tool" and its acronym makes it hilariously un-Google-able. Track it down and install it.
+To do an OB from your laptop, you'll need a piece of software, butt - it stands for "Broadcast Using This Tool" and its acronym makes it hilariously un-Google-able. Track it down and install it.
-You'll also need OpenVPN to access the broadcast servers (because, for obvious reasons, Computing don't like it when anyone on campus can stream to them). Look for the Community Edition, not the new "OpenVPN Connect" app which is hopelessly crap and probably won't work. The Community Edition isn't much better, but at least it works, which is a major upgrade.
+Once you've got it, crack it open (ha!) and set up the profile. Click the settings button, and under "Servers" click "New". Fill it in with the following details:
-To set it up you'll also need some files from Computing (namely, the profile, CA certificate, and client certificate and key - if you're not sure what these mean don't worry!). Ask your nearest friendly neighbourhood compuneer for these. If they stare at you blankly, point them to [https://ury.org.uk/ceedox/computing:wisdom:outside_broadcasts this Ceedox page] (you may not be able to access it, but they should).
-Once you have everything you need, crack open the OpenVPN app, right-click on its taskbar icon, choose "Import File", and browse to the <code>.ovpn</code> file your friendly neighbourhood compuneer gave you. Now, right-click it again and choose "Connect". If everything went according to plan, you should see a success message and you should still have an internet connection. If it didn't go according to plan, ask your friendly neighbourhood compuneer for help.
-Now it's time to crack open butt (ha!) and set up the profile. Click the settings button, and under "Servers" click "New". Fill it in with the following details:
   Name: ''whatever''
@@ Line 27: / Line 21: @@
   Port: 7070
   Password: ''ask your friendly neighbourhood compuneer''
-  IceCast mountpoint: <code>OB-line</code> '''(caps matter!)'''
+  IceCast mountpoint: <code>OB-Line</code> '''(caps matter!)'''
   IceCast user: <code>source</code>
-Save it all. While you're at it, head over to the Audio tab and set streaming bitrate to at least 192K.
+Save it all. While you're at it, head over to the Audio tab and set streaming bitrate to at least 192K. Also, check it's using the right audio input - it should be your mixer or audio interface.
 == Streaming ==
-Now you're ready to start the stream, whether just to test it all works, or to actually go live! To fire it up, check you're connected to the VPN, and click the play icon in butt (not the record icon - common mistake). After a few seconds the "Stream Time" should start ticking up. To check that everything has gone to plan, go to [https://ury.org.uk/timelord] and check that the OB box at the bottom has lit up. If it has, you're good to go! When the time comes for your OB, just switch the studio (or, more likely, ask Computing to do it) and you're live!
+Now you're ready to start the stream, whether just to test it all works, or to actually go live! To fire it up, click the play icon in butt (not the record icon - common mistake). After a few seconds the "Stream Time" should start ticking up. To check that everything has gone to plan, go to [https://ury.org.uk/timelord] and check that the OB box at the bottom has lit up. If it has, you're good to go! When the time comes for your OB, just switch the studio (or, more likely, ask Computing to do it) and you're live!