Custom RTMP

What is Custom RTMP?

RTMP is a comprehensive protocol designed by Adobe Systems for transmitting audio, video, and data over the Internet. A custom RTMP, as the name suggests, refers to a user-defined RTMP configuration that allows for personalized settings and controls. This approach provides flexibility in broadcasting live streams to various platforms that may require specific configurations that aren’t supported by standard RTMP settings.

What Is It Used for?

Custom RTMP is mainly used for live broadcasts that require specific platform configurations. Here are a few uses:

Integration with Non-Standard Platforms: Many live-streaming platforms might require specific server URLs and stream keys that the default settings don’t support. Custom RTMP allows broadcasters to configure these settings manually.
Enhanced Control over Streaming Quality: Users can tweak bitrate, resolution, and other parameters to match the capabilities of their network and target audience for optimal streaming quality.
Multi-Platform Broadcasting: Custom RTMP settings enable simultaneous broadcasting to multiple platforms, expanding the reach and engagement of the stream.

Want to see how you can set up your own custom live streaming solution with Cloudinary? Check out our documentation for our Live Streaming API.

Why Is Custom RTMP Important?

In an ecosystem that’s continuously evolving with new platforms and technologies, custom RTMP stands as an important tool. It bridges the gap between standard streaming protocols and the unique requirements of emerging platforms.The rising popularity of live streaming across education, gaming, and business means reliable, customizable streaming is vital, making custom RTMP solutions even more important.

The Bottom Line

As live streaming continues to grow in importance across various fields, having a reliable and customizable protocol like custom RTMP is integral for content creators aiming to stand out in the increasingly competitive digital landscape. Whether you’re streaming a conference, a gaming session, or a virtual event, mastering custom RTMP may just be the key to unlocking unparalleled streaming success.

QUICK TIPS

Kimberly Matenchuk

In my experience, here are tips that can help you better implement and optimize custom RTMP setups beyond the basics covered in the article:

1. Use adaptive bitrate encoding with RTMP push
Custom RTMP configurations should integrate adaptive bitrate logic from the encoder side (e.g., OBS or Wirecast) to ensure viewers with variable network conditions receive a stream suited to their bandwidth, reducing buffering without server-side logic.

2. Test RTMP ingest endpoint stability under load
Before going live, stress-test your custom RTMP endpoint with simulated concurrent streams using tools like rtmpdump or FFmpeg loops. This helps identify instability in your ingest server or network path that could crash during actual high-traffic sessions.

3. Secure stream keys with tokenized authentication
Instead of using static stream keys, protect your RTMP endpoint with expiring, token-based URLs (JWT or HMAC-based) to prevent unauthorized rebroadcasting and stream hijacking—a common issue on public RTMP services.

4. Use timecode embedding for synchronized multi-angle streams
If you’re streaming multi-camera feeds to different RTMP endpoints, embed timecode or timestamps in your streams. This allows synchronized playback or post-production merging without desync artifacts.

5. Bridge RTMP with SRT for better reliability
While RTMP is widely supported, it’s not the most resilient. Use an SRT-to-RTMP gateway to ingest streams using Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) and rebroadcast via RTMP—ensuring lower latency and higher fault tolerance.

Last updated: Apr 30, 2025