Every live broadcast relies on two core components: an Encoder (the software or hardware app that captures your audio/video signal) and a Destination (the channels where your viewers watch, such as YouTube, Facebook, or your website).

Switchboard Live acts as the bridge between them. By setting up a Stream Group in your workflow, you can send one single feed from your encoder to unlimited platforms simultaneously, saving bandwidth and eliminating setup complexity.

Follow the step-by-step guide and video walkthrough below to set up your account and launch your first multi-destination stream.

Step 1: Access your workflow.

When you log in to your Switchboard account, you'll land on the dashboard. Click Stream Now to access your workflow.

Step 2: Create a Stream Group.

A Stream Group brings together everything you need for your live stream broadcast: your destinations, your title and description, and your Start Streaming buttons. You can create as many Stream Groups as you like to keep different streams or events organized.

1. Click Create a Group.

2. Give the group a name (for internal use within your Switchboard account only).

3. Provide a stream title. Optional: Add the date to your stream title; it will be included at the end of the title when you go live.

4. Provide a description. Describe what viewers can expect, including key topics, special guests, hashtags, or other relevant information.

5. Choose a category to help classify your video on YouTube.

6. Click Save and Next.

Step 3: Connect Destinations to the Stream Group.

Destinations are the platforms you're streaming to, such as social channels like YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Rumble, and Instagram. Switchboard also supports custom RTMP and SRT destinations.

1. Click Connect More.

2. Choose a platform from the list.

3. Log in to the platform and authorize access.

4. Follow the prompts until you reach the Success screen, then click Close.

5. Repeat to add additional destinations (for example, a YouTube channel, a LinkedIn profile, and a Facebook Page).
   For Facebook, you'll see a list of Pages you can access; check the box for the Page you want and click Add.

6. Once you've connected all your destinations, click Next.

7. 💡 Pro-Tip: Expand Reach with PartnerShare
   Need to broadcast on a partner's or sponsor's channel? Use PartnerShare to invite external partners to stream your broadcast to their channels via an opt-in link, without sharing account passwords. PartnerShare also lets you invite sponsors or partner organizations to stream your broadcast on their channels, reaching a wider audience. They opt in through a link; no password sharing required. Learn about PartnerShare here.

8. Click Done to finish creating your Stream Group with its title, description, and destinations.

Step 4: Connect your live streaming encoder.

Switchboard is compatible with many encoders, including OBS, vMix, LiveU, Ecamm, Zoom, Wirecast, Blackmagic Design, and more. Switchboard supports RTMP, RTMPS, and SRT.

1. Find the streaming information for your workflow, located below the confidence monitor. RTMP is selected by default.

2. Copy the RTMP URL and paste it into your encoder's stream settings.

3. Copy the Stream Key (click the dots to reveal it and confirm it matches) and paste it into your encoder's stream settings.

Step 5: Test the connection.

Start sending video from your encoder into Switchboard to confirm the connection. This does not push your live video to any destinations; it only tests the connection between your encoder and Switchboard.

You'll know the connection is successful when:

• Video appears on the confidence monitor.

• Stream health appears below the confidence monitor.

• The workflow header reads "Start your destinations to go live."

• The Start button changes from dark green to bright green.

Step 6: Go live and start multistreaming.

Once you've tested your connection and your video source is displaying on the confidence monitor, you're ready to start multistreaming. Switchboard supports an unlimited number of destinations, and you can start them all at once or one at a time.

• Option A: Start All Destinations Simultaneously (Recommended)

  1. Click the Group Actions button at the top right of your Stream Group.

  2. Select Start All from the drop-down menu.

  3. Status badges for all destinations will switch to Live.

• Option B: Start Destinations Individually

  1. Click the individual Start button next to a specific destination to go live to one platform at a time.

🎉 Congratulations! You are now live and multi-streaming with Switchboard.