May 2020 Summaries

Low latency is essential for live streaming applications such as video chat, distance learning, and live auctions, where fast stream delivery ensures a positive user experience. Achieving consistent and scalable low latency is challenging due to the nuances of live streaming video. Red5 Pro and Videon have collaborated to offer real-time latency live video streaming by utilizing Videon’s hardware-based live streaming encoder. This partnership enables the implementation of an ultra-low latency workflow using Videon’s VersaStreamer 4K encoder and Red5 Pro’s Real-Time Streaming platform. Testing has shown latency results consistently under 500ms, with the lowest at 147.5ms, which allows for smooth real-time interaction between viewers and broadcasters. The process involves setting up the hardware, configuring the Red5 Pro software, and optimizing the Videon VersaStreamer settings for best performance. This setup provides a robust solution for applications requiring real-time viewer interaction, combining Red5 Pro’s cloud-based streaming capabilities with Videon's encoding technology to deliver low latency video streaming to a wide audience.

Over-the-top (OTT) service providers are increasingly shifting away from traditional public Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) to private, cloud-based alternatives to improve the streaming quality of premium video content. This trend is driven by the rising demand for live streaming, which is projected to account for 52.5% of total CDN traffic by 2024, surpassing on-demand content. Several companies, including Anevia, Harmonic, MediaKind, Synamedia, Vecima, Velocix, and Red5 Pro, offer various cloud CDN platforms that promise ultra-low latency and high-quality performance, utilizing technologies like containerized virtualization and edge-based processing. Red5 Pro stands out by providing extremely low latency solutions that cater to the interactive, real-time requirements of modern streaming applications, such as esports and live gaming. As the OTT landscape evolves, service providers must consider the benefits of private CDNs versus public CDNs, with the ultimate goal of achieving efficient and interactive live streaming capabilities that meet consumer expectations for real-time experiences.