(Photo courtesy Instagram)
Now you can use popular streaming software like Streamlabs, OBS and Streamyard to go live on Instagram.
Instagram Live Producer:
Instagram has introduced a new feature called "Instagram Live Producer" which will allow users to use popular third party software to go live on Instagram. This integration opens up production features outside the traditional phone camera, including additional cameras, external microphones, and graphics.
How to use Instagram Live Producer:
This feature is only available on Instagram.com and not on mobile apps. In order to use it you'll need to open Instagram in a browser.
Video format
1. 9x16 aspect ratio (recommended but not required)
2. 720p @ 30 fps (note: 30 fps is recommended, but Live Producer can also support 60 fps if desired. When using 60 fps, the Live Producer preview screen will still display 30 fps. This is normal and we are currently investigating how to correct this.)
3. Resolution: 720x1280
4. Video bitrate range: 2,250–6,000 Kbps
5. Alternatives (supported but not recommended): 480p @ 30 fps, 360p
Audio format
The settings below are the default for most streaming platforms, including OBS:
1. Sample rate: 44.1 KHz
2. Channel layout: Stereo
3. Bit rate: up to 256 Kbps
How to setup Instagram Live Producer:
1. Select the streaming software, for example Streamlabs, OBS or Streamyard.
2. Open your streaming software and locate where to input your URL and stream key. The URL and stream key (see below for more details) will allow you to broadcast your streaming software setup directly to Instagram Live.
3. Open Instagram.com and click the “Add Post” button (plus symbol inside a square) and select “Live” from the dropdown menu.
4. Within the “Go live” screen, enter the title of your live video and select your audience.
“Public” will broadcast to your followers as a normal live video. “Practice” will not be broadcast to anyone.
5. You will then see a screen that contains your unique URL and stream key, along with instructions on how to use them.
Setup Streaming Software:
1. Within your streaming software, use your URL and stream key to add Instagram Live as your streaming endpoint.
Instagram Live will need to be added as a “Custom RTMP." Selecting custom RTMP will allow you to add a URL and stream key. The location of where to input a custom RTMP differs between platforms, but most often can be found in stream settings.
2. Once you’ve set up your stream to look how you want, start it on your streaming software. Within the Live Producer viewer on Instagram, you’ll see a preview of what your stream will look like on Instagram Live. The Live Producer preview should mirror what you’ve set up on the streaming software. The preview can take a few seconds to display in the preview screen.
3. Once you’ve seen and confirmed your preview, click “Go live” within Live Producer to start the stream. Once live, the “Comments” tab will let you read and respond to comments from viewers.
4. When you want to end the live video, click “End live video."
If you end your stream in the streaming software before you end your Live Producer broadcast, the live video will continue while displaying the last frame received from the streaming software. In order to end your live video smoothly, end the broadcast on Live Producer first before ending the stream on the streaming software.
