5 tips for improving video streaming and saving bandwidth

Online video streaming is one of the best advancements in web technology.  Whether you want to watch tutorials from popular streaming sites like YouTube or catch up by live streaming your favorite TV shows, video streaming is an easy and inexpensive way to connect with people across the world.
Thanks to high-speed broadband Internet services, such as the NBN Fibre Broadband Plans, online video and streaming platforms are more accessible on desktop, laptop, and mobile devices. However, video streaming has a particular drawback – buffering.  You may experience video freezing or stuttering, which are indicative of bandwidth issues .
Here are 5 tips to improve the quality of your video streaming and save your bandwidth allotment:
1. Establish Good Internet Connection
Having a solid internet connection is one of the most important aspects of video streaming, without which you won’t be able to stream at all. Always test your current upload bandwidth before streaming.
In the speed test, you need to check the upload speed you will use to base your video streaming encoder’s bit rate. You need to set an appropriate bit rate to maximise and ensure an uninterrupted high quality stream. It would be wise not to consume more than 50% of your available bandwidth to avoid latency.
2. Save Bandwidth on Video Streaming
Video streaming, particularly with higher quality settings, takes a huge amount of bandwidth. You can save more of your bandwidth cap through watching lower quality videos.
For example, top video sites like Netflix and YouTube automatically prompt an appropriate quality level for the speed of your current Internet connection. Although they prefer to use the highest quality level possible, you can always turn down the video quality level on the settings screen of the site.
In Netflix, you can go to your Account screen and choose playback settings to specify a data usage level. For YouTube, you can visit the Playback section in settings and tick the “I have a slow connection” button. It will select slower videos even if you have a faster connection, thus saving precious bandwidth.
3. Always Have a Backup
In case your computer or server fails, having a secure backup for recovering your video streaming materials can be a lifesaver. Creating backups of your live feeds allow you to make Video on Demand (VoD) files and playlists, which your viewers can access any time. This can also increase viewership and enable anyone to watch any broadcast that they missed.
You can use Adobe Flash Media Encoder to handle your backup files. Simply click on the save to file option to save them in your hard drive. You can also try other software encoders that have a backup feature. Having a backup is like an insurance policy for your most important files.
4. Close Other Apps While Video Streaming
Quit all unused programs on your computer while you’re streaming. Streaming uses up a lot of your computer’s resources so make sure that you close or exit completely from other apps, including anti-virus scans.
Your computer slows down when the demands of the open programs are outstripping its memory and processing ability. If you have dozens of open tabs, your browser is eating far more than its fair share of your computer’s RAM.
5. Perform Advance Planning
Planning ahead before a live video streaming can give you the confidence to take the risks that lead to a remarkable performance. It moves you ahead without worrying too much and provides you focus to reach the goals of the program.
Make sure you get to the set early to check out all the equipment, including the lighting, sounds, and others. Check also the internet connection if it’s reliable. Let your viewers know the broadcast schedule and how they can access the video stream. Use social media platforms to update your viewers and listeners regularly. 
 
Stay tuned to learn more useful tips on how to get the best possible connection at home. To know the best internet plans for your home, you can visit our Plan Guru or call sales on 13 22 88. Our friendly representatives will help you choose the best nbn^® and how to connect.