Parts of a workflow page

The Workflow Page is split into two (2) components:

Encoder Workflow Pane (left) and the Destinations Pane (right).

Workflow Pane

The Encoder Workflow Pane allows the selection and configuration of the encoder (RTMP information), viewing the Confidence monitor, and checking the stream's status.

Workflow (Source) Name: Populated with the name of the live streaming software (encoder). It's an internal label and can be changed to whatever you like.

Workflow Drop-down Menu:

From the drop-down menu, you can quickly switch between the various encoder workflows in your account, add a new workflow, or view all encoder workflows to monitor all inbound streams.

Above the preview window, click the arrow to open the drop-down menu. From there, you have several options:

• Click on one of the listed workflows to open it.

• Create a new encoder workflow (ingestion point) in your Switchboard account.

• You can view all of the encoder workflows in your Switchboard account.

Confidence Monitor ( preview window)

A live preview display that verifies the current video Switchboard receives from a connected live streaming software (encoder).

By default, the confidence monitor will display the Switchboard RTMP URL and Stream Key, the information needed to connect to a third-party live streaming platform, for the specific workflow.

The video content will display on the confidence monitor when the live streaming software is sending content to a workflow.

• If the Switchboard Confidence monitor shows no activity and the status doesn't display “Encoder Connected,” it means we are not receiving any data from your encoder. Consequently, we cannot send video to your destinations.

RTMP URL: The (RTMP) address to the Switchboard Live server.

Press the "Copy" button and paste the RTMP URL into the stream settings of the live streaming software.

Note: Each encoder (live streaming software) is a little different; they may call the RTMP URL any of the following: “Stream URL,” “RTMP Address,” or “Server URL.”

Stream Key: A unique code used to identify the specific workflow.

Press the "Copy" button and paste the Stream Key into the stream settings of the live streaming software.

Reveal or Hide Stream Key

By default, the Stream Key is hidden. Click on the field to reveal the stream key.

Reset Stream Key

If you need to reset the stream key, click the reset stream key button (double arrow ). A confirmation window will display; click confirm to reset the stream key.

Very important - If you reset the stream key, copy and paste the new value into the live streaming software you are using.

Source Tab

Below the source tab, you'll see the status between the live streaming software and the specific workflow.

Stream status: Not receiving Video 

Your live streaming software is not sending video to this specific workflow.

Stream Status: Encoder Connected

There’s a successful connection between your live streaming software and this specific workflow. You're ready to go live to the destinations added to the workflow.

Settings Tab

The Settings Tab allows you to rename the encoder workflow, change the source color, or permanently remove this specific workflow from the Switchboard account.

Rename the workflow

Click the “Settings” tab, then type in the field to rename the workflow.

Change the source color

Click the “Settings” tab, then click on the color box to change the source color.

Delete Workflow

Click the “Settings” tab, then click the "Delete Workflow to delete a workflow from the Switchboard Cloud Account permanently.

A pop-up warning window will display, asking you to confirm the action. Click “Confirm” to permanently delete the workflow from the Switchboard Cloud Account.

Destination Pane

The Destination Pane allows you to select and configure your destination's metadata by selecting a Template, adding and managing Destinations tied to this workflow, and monitoring your Destination's Status.

Destination Header Bar: The Destination Header Bar shows your streaming status, error messages, and the option to Create a New Stream Group. 

Encoder status

No Video Present: You’ll need to start streaming from the live streaming encoder to this specific Encoder Workflow to go live.

Video Present: This means you are ready to go live because video content comes through from the live-streaming software.

Live Streaming: Messaging displays that you are active and live streaming.

Error messages: If there is an issue going live to a destination or a connection has been lost between the live streaming encoder and this workflow.

Create New Button

Stream Groups enable grouping destinations based on user preferences. For example, creating a destination group for going live to certain channels on specific days of the week can be a helpful approach. You can create multiple Stream Groups on a workflow page.

Help button

Use the help button to access the knowledge base or submit a ticket

Live Streaming status visual indicator

Active Destinations: Total number of active live destinations on the workflow.

Total Number of Viewers: Total number of viewers currently watching the live stream.

Timer: Length of time for the current live-stream broadcast. 

Stream Groups: 

Groups allow you to connect and store your social destinations ( YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, X(Twitter), LinkedIn, etc.), add and edit titles & descriptions, and turn on/off the AutoStart feature.

Stream Group Header:

Group Name: 

Name the group to identify within a given workflow quickly. The group name is an internal label, only visible to the Switchboard account user.

Stream Title

Adding stream titles and descriptions can further help keep branding consistent. Stream titles are applied per destination group.

The stream title will be published along with the live video to natively added destinations, like YouTube, X, Facebook, Twitch, LinkedIn, and Rumble.

Check out this resource to Learn how to add stream titles for your live streams.

Auto-Start Status:

Automatically starts the stream for destinations in the group that have this turned on. Turn this feature on or off before sending video from the encoder into your Switchboard account. 

Check box:

Used to select all the destinations in the desired group.

You can Select All destinations to Start/Stop streams or Remove Destinations from a workflow simultaneously.

Select All -> Go Live

This will start the stream for all selected destinations at the same time.

Select All-> Remove All

This will remove all of the selected destinations at one time.

Edit Group Button:

Click the Pencil icon to open the edit the group window, allowing you to change the group name, enable autostart, update the metadata ( stream title and description), add destinations, and add Partner Destinations.

Collapse/Expand Group

Click the carrot to open or close the group. This button is helpful if your workflow has a lot of groups and destinations, and you want to focus on a specific destination group.

Add Destinations

Click the Add Destinations button located at the bottom of the Stream Group.

A new window will open, giving you the option to add existing destinations to the group ( both regular and Partner Destinations) or use the Connect More button to authorize new destinations to the Switchboard Account.

New Destinations: This gives access to the other destination types that can be added to the group.

Existing destinations: This gives access to destinations already saved to the Switchboard account.

Destinations

Icon: Each destination has a unique icon doubling as a link to that platform's page.

Status Indicator: Displays the status of the destinations tied to your current workflow.

When you start the live stream, the destination will enter a start streaming state, indicated by the yellow pulse.

Visibility Toggle:

You can change the stream's visibility for destinations like YouTube and Facebook profiles. Click on the visibility toggle to change the status.

• YouTube destinations have three states: Public, Unlisted, and Private.

• Facebook personal profiles have two states: Public and Private.

• Note that Facebook Pages are public by default, a setting set by Meta.

Viewers:

Number of viewers for the specific destination type while live streaming.

Watch Icon:

Click the watch icon to open and view the live broadcast video on the social platform.

Info Button:

Clicking the info button opens the destination info menu, providing access to detailed information about each destination and direct links to the live video if you are live streaming.

Go Live: Everyone's favorite button!

The Go Live button will remain gray and change to green when the workflow detects incoming live video from the live streaming encoder.

Start streaming to a destination by clicking the Go Live button.

End Stream:

Pat yourself on the back after completing a successful live broadcast.

To stop streaming to a destination, click the Stop Streaming button.

Remove Destination:

Click the remove destination to remove the destination from the group. Note that this action removes the destination from the stream group; the destination still exists in the Switchboard account.