Switchboard Glossary

Streaming Basics

Encoder

The hardware or software that captures your video and sends it to Switchboard, such as OBS, Wirecast, Ecamm Live, or LiveU.

RTMP URL (Stream URL)

The server address your encoder uses to send video to Switchboard. You'll find it on your Workflow page, below the preview window.

Stream Key

A unique code that identifies your stream. Keep it private, since anyone with your Stream Key can send video to your Workflow.

SBL Network

Switchboard's network for receiving video from your encoder and delivering it to your Destinations.

Confidence Monitor

The preview window on your Workflow page. It shows the incoming video your encoder is sending to Switchboard. What you see here is what your audience sees.

Workflows and Destinations

Workflow

The control center for your live stream. Each Workflow includes your RTMP URL and Stream Key, the Confidence Monitor, real-time stream information, and one or more Stream Groups.

Source Name

The name of the video source feeding a Workflow. For a regular Workflow, this is the Workflow's own name. For a Stream Mirrored Workflow, it shows the name of the Source Workflow sending the feed.

Stream Group

A set of Destinations inside a Workflow that you manage and start together. A Workflow can contain multiple Stream Groups.

Destination

A platform or site where Switchboard sends your live video. Examples include YouTube, Facebook, X (Twitter), Twitch, LinkedIn, Rumble, and custom RTMP or SRT destinations.

Destination Manager

The page where you view and manage all the Destinations connected to your account. To open it, select Destinations from the main menu.

Stream Title

The title and description your audience sees on each Destination. You can set it ahead of time or change it in real time.

Start / Start All

Start begins streaming to a single Destination. Start All begins streaming to every Destination in a Stream Group.

Autostart

A Stream Group setting that automatically starts streaming to that group's Destinations as soon as Switchboard receives video from your encoder. Autostart doesn't apply to Scheduled Events.

Scheduled Events

Lets you create upcoming live events on supported platforms (YouTube, Facebook Pages, LinkedIn, and X) ahead of time, so your audience can see what's coming.

Collaboration and Workspaces

PartnerShare (formerly StreamShare)

Lets partners connect their own channels to your Switchboard account through an invite, so you can stream to their Destinations without needing their logins.

Main Account (Primary Account)

The top-level Switchboard account. It's marked "MAIN" in the account switcher, and Workspaces are created from it.

Workspace

A separate space under a Main Account with its own Workflows, Destinations, and team members.

Stream Mirroring

Lets the Primary Account send live video from one of its Workflows directly into a Workspace. The Workspace can then stream that shared video to its own Destinations.

Source Workflow

The Primary Account Workflow that sends its video feed to a Workspace through Stream Mirroring. Only Workflows using the SBL Network can be a Source Workflow.

Shared Video

The option you choose when creating a new Workflow in a Workspace to receive a mirrored feed from a Source Workflow.

Stream Mirrored Workflow

A Workflow in a Workspace that receives its video from a Source Workflow. It's marked with a link icon on the Workflow Overview page and shows its Source Workflow instead of stream health or RTMP information.

Team Roles

Owner

Full account control, including billing and team management.

Co-Owner

Same powers as the Owner, except cannot view billing or remove the Owner.

Administrator

Manages Workflows and team activity, without sensitive account access.

Viewer

Read-only access.