# Livestream Distribution

The Livestream Distribution module allows you to forward a live stream from 3Q to external streaming platforms. It can be used to distribute an active livestream to platforms that support **RTMP** or **SRT**, including common third-party platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, and other custom streaming destinations.

{% hint style="info" %}
Livestream Distribution can be accessed either through the livestream’s control center or from the Livestream Distribution module. The module is available for booking in Module Management.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="/files/AI0fxUple3wTkkLKZVgU" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

This module is useful when a livestream should be published not only through the 3Q player, but also on external platforms or social channels.

From the Livestream Distribution area, users can:

* Create livestream distributions
* Define a source project
* Select a target platform
* Configure RTMP or SRT target details
* Enable automatic distribution
* Adjust advanced stream settings
* Monitor existing distributions

The Livestream Distribution module is available from the main navigation under **Modules**.

***

### Distribution Overview

The Livestream Distribution overview displays all configured livestream distributions.

At the top of the page, users can switch between the following views:

* **All Distributions**\
  Shows all configured livestream distributions.
* **Only with Auto Distribution**\
  Shows only distributions where automatic distribution is enabled.

The overview also provides search and filter options.

Available filters include:

* **Source Project**\
  Filters distributions by the project that provides the incoming livestream.
* **Target Platform**\
  Filters distributions by the configured external destination.

If no distributions have been created yet, the page displays an empty state with the option to create the first distribution.

***

### Creating a Distribution

To create a new livestream distribution:

1. Open **Modules** in the main navigation.
2. Select **Livestream Distribution**.
3. Click **Create Distribution**.
4. The **Create Distribution** side panel opens.
5. Complete the required fields in the **General** tab.
6. Optionally configure additional settings in the **Advanced Settings** tab.
7. Click **Save**.

After saving, the distribution becomes available in the distribution overview and, depending on the configuration, can be started manually or automatically.

***

### General Settings

The **General** tab contains the basic configuration required to send a livestream to an external destination.

#### Title

Enter a name for the distribution.

The title should clearly describe the destination or use case, for example:

* YouTube Main Channel
* Twitch Event Stream
* Partner Platform RTMP
* Backup SRT Distribution

#### Description

The description field can be used to add internal notes or additional information about the distribution.

This field is optional.

#### Source Project

Select the project that provides the livestream signal.

The selected source project is the origin of the stream that will be forwarded to the target platform.

#### Target Platform

Select the platform or destination that should receive the stream.

Depending on the available configuration, this can be a predefined platform or a custom target.

Supported destination types include platforms that accept:

* RTMP streams
* SRT streams

Common target platforms include services such as YouTube, Twitch, and other livestreaming platforms that provide ingest URLs and stream keys.

#### Server URL of the Target Platform

Enter the server URL provided by the external platform.

For RTMP destinations, this is usually the RTMP ingest server URL.

For SRT destinations, this is the SRT target address supplied by the receiving platform or system.

#### Stream Key / Stream Name of the Target Platform

Enter the stream key or stream name provided by the target platform.

Many platforms use this value to authenticate or identify the incoming stream.

The stream key should be handled carefully and should not be shared publicly.

***

### Auto Distribution

The **Enable Auto Distribution** option allows the distribution to start automatically when the selected source project receives a livestream signal.

When this option is enabled:

* The distribution starts automatically as soon as the source project receives a signal.
* The distribution stops again when there is no more signal.
* Manual intervention is not required for recurring livestream workflows.

This is especially useful for scheduled or repeated events where the same external platform should always receive the stream.

Auto distribution can be used for scenarios such as:

* Automatically streaming all events from one project to YouTube
* Sending a recurring livestream to Twitch
* Forwarding a signal to a partner platform whenever the project goes live
* Creating a persistent distribution workflow for regular broadcasts

***

### Advanced Settings

The **Advanced Settings** tab provides additional configuration options for the outgoing stream.

These settings allow users to control how the livestream is forwarded to the target platform.

#### Preview URL of the Target Platform

Enter the preview URL of the external platform.

This URL can be used to open or review the stream on the destination platform.

For example, this may be a YouTube Studio preview link, a Twitch channel URL, or another platform-specific preview page.

#### Maximal Resolution

Select the maximum resolution that should be sent to the target platform.

Available options may depend on the source stream and account configuration.

The default option is **Input Stream**, which uses the resolution of the incoming livestream.

#### Video Profile

Select the video profile used for the outgoing distribution.

The default profile is **Main**.

The selected profile determines which encoding profile is used for the outgoing stream.

#### Keyframe Interval

Set the keyframe interval for the outgoing stream.

The keyframe interval defines how often keyframes are inserted into the video stream. Some platforms require specific keyframe settings for reliable playback or ingest compatibility.

A common value is **2 seconds**, which is often required or recommended by major livestreaming platforms.

#### Extract Audio Channel

Enable **Extract Audio Channel** to separate the left and right audio channels.

This can be useful when a stream contains multiple language versions or different audio signals in separate stereo channels.

When enabled, the separated audio channels can be used differently depending on the streaming workflow.

Example use cases include:

* Separate language channels
* Interpretation audio
* Main audio and backup audio
* Different audio mixes for different target platforms

***

### Creating a Distribution from a Project

A distribution can also be created directly from a project view.

Inside a project, open the **Distribution** area and click **Create Distribution**.

When creating a distribution from a project, the current project is used as the source project. This makes it faster to configure distributions for a specific livestream.

The same general and advanced settings are available.

***

### Target Platforms

Livestream Distribution supports streaming to external platforms that accept RTMP or SRT input.

Examples include:

* YouTube
* Twitch
* Social media livestreaming platforms
* Event platforms
* Partner platforms
* Custom RTMP servers
* Custom SRT receivers

For predefined platforms, some fields may be simplified or preconfigured.

For custom targets, users need to enter the required server URL and stream key or stream name manually.

The required ingest information is provided by the target platform.

***

### Managing Distributions

Existing distributions can be reviewed in the Livestream Distribution overview.

Users can use the search and filter options to find distributions by source project or target platform.

Depending on user permissions, existing distributions can be opened, edited, or removed.

When editing an existing distribution, review the target URL, stream key, and advanced settings carefully. Incorrect values can prevent the external platform from receiving the stream.

***

### Notes

The availability of target platforms and advanced settings may depend on the account configuration and enabled modules.

External platforms may have their own requirements for ingest URLs, stream keys, keyframe intervals, resolution, bitrate, and supported protocols.

Before going live, it is recommended to test the distribution with the selected target platform.


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