Frequently Asked Questions

DSI Live Frequently Asked Questions

What affects the quality of my broadcast?

Everything in your broadcast workflow affects the quality of the outgoing video.   From the camera, lighting, cables, to computer and internet speeds, all of these affect the quality of the stream.  If you are using an inexpensive web camera it will not have the same quality as a $10,000 broadcast camera.  Many inexpensive web cameras are available and will work with the DSILive encoder however they may have reduced screen size and frame rates and hence lower resolution. Consumer DV camcorders tend to be the best choice for lower budgets.  DV cameras today have great lenses and very good quality image sensors so they are a great choice for low to medium budget broadcasting

For a list of tested products go to the “start a live stream” link and click on “See a complete list of tested devices”  and check there for approved devices.  In general any DV camera with a firewire connection will work.  Most DV cameras in the consumer range will provide adequate video quality for most broadcasters.  Those requiring Television broadcast quality will need to look into more expensive cameras and quality lighting. Please email info@dsilive.net if you need help or information on getting the right equipment for your situation.  We also offer equipment packages at different cost levels to get you the system that is right for you.

What is firewire or IEEE 1394?

For DSIlive purposes it is the cable that connects the camera to the computer.

The IEEE 1394 interface is a serial bus interface standard for high-speed communications and real-time data transfer, frequently used by personal computers, as well as in digital audio, digital video, automotive, and aeronautics applications. The interface is also known by the brand names of FireWire (Apple), i.LINK (Sony), and Lynx (Texas Instruments).

IEEE 1394 was adopted as the High-Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance (HANA) standard connection interface for A/V (audio/visual) component communication and control.

Nearly all digital camcorders have included a four-circuit 1394 interface, though, except for premium models, such inclusion is becoming less common. It remains the primary transfer mechanism for high end professional audio and video equipment. Since 2003 many computers intended for home or professional audio/video use have built-in FireWire/i.LINK ports, especially prevalent with Sony and Apple's computers.

Do I need to be an experienced editor or videographer to create my own Dsilive channel?

Dsilive is breakthrough technology designed for all users, from simple, casual use to professional live production. All that is needed is the desire to communicate, inform, and entertain. If you can use blog publishing platforms like Blogger and Wordpress, you should have no problem using Dsilive.

Can I embed my channel on other websites?

The Dsilive player can be embedded on most websites, on MySpace and Facebook. Simply customize your player and paste the code into the HTML editor on the site or section of MySpace where you wish to embed it.

What do you mean when you call it "Live" Broadcasting?

With Dsilive, the viewer experiences what the producer has put on the air in less than one-five seconds. Everyone watching your channel sees exactly the same thing you see as you produce it.

How much bandwidth do I need to produce content in the Dsilive studio?

For your production needs, we suggest at least 500 Kbps or higher upstream bandwidth to stream in high quality. In most cases, using a lower quality setting you can get by with less, but we don't recommend it. You can use speedtest.net to test your connection speed.

Do I need to worry about copyright issues?

In addition to your own original programming, you can use existing copyright-free content on your broadcast. It is your responsibility to make sure the content you broadcast contains no copyright infringements. Dsilive will shut down any account that is breaching content copyrights.

What is the maximum number of viewers who can watch my channel?

We currently don't have any theoretical upper limit for the number of viewers on a channel. The maximum number of concurrent viewers that we've observed on one channel has been in excess of 500,000.

How do I connect a camera other than a webcam?

Dsilive LIVE encoder enables you to work with a large number of video devices. Choose your camera input by selecting the correct source from the dropdown menu in the video device section of the Live media encoder. If your camera is not being recognized it may be due to an issue with Flash encoder compatibility.  See list of tested devices.

What about size and format are best for my logo and banner?

Dsilive only supports still logos. The logo file should be square in .jpeg, .gif or .png format and it should not exceed 120kb. Banners should be 450px wide and can be any height.

Can I connect external devices like DVD players or video mixers to my computer and use them as a source to broadcast live instead of a webcam?

In order to capture video from an analog source you will need an analog/digital converter such as a Canopus or Pinnacle These devices will allow you to input an analog RCA or S-Video signal and will output a digital signal to your computer. These capture boards will show up as a video device on the live encoder and can be selected as the video source device. Please note that some of these devices are not meant for streaming and may cause audio loss. Please check with the manufacturer before attempting to use one of these devices with Dsilive.

I didn't receive a confirmation mail after signing up. What should I do?

A confirmation mail is sent automatically as soon as you finish signing up. If you don't receive it right away, it could be could be because of a typo in your e-mail address or the confirmation mail ended up in your spam folder. Please make sure your spam filter enables accounts@dsilive.net to reach your inbox.

Can I put the Dsilive player on a Facebook Page?

Dsilive currently only provides you with a widget embeddable on Facebook profiles. However, that might be extended to Facebook pages soon!

I forgot my username? What should I do?

You can retrieve your username from the login section in the top right of the Dsilive homepage. Click on "Login" then "Forgot password" and then "forgot username" in the following section.

Can I watch Dsilive on a Mobile Device?

Dsilive is Flash based. For now if your mobile device can support flash you should be able to view the stream.  We are working on a iPhone stream solution and hope to implement it soon!. 

How can I stream my desktop?

To stream your desktop you will need screen capture software. You can download screen capture free from the internet.  One suggested software is wirecast.

As a Dsilive Premium user can I be on a dedicated server?

Currently, we do not offer dedicated server options. To inquire about custom solutions, please email info@dsilive.net

Can I use my own CDN?

Currently, we do not offer integration of customer CDNs in order to ensure we can meet the standards outlined in our Service Level Agreement (SLA). To inquire about custom solutions, please email info@dsilive.net

What is the maximum bit rate I can stream using my Dsilive Free channel?

The maximum bitreate is a function of your upload speed.  We recommend streaming at ½ of your upload speed. Go to speedtest.net and check your upload speed.  If your upload speed is 1000 kbps then we recommend streaming at 500kbps.   This will allow overhead for network congestion and wireless connectivity etc.  

Can I restrict access to my channel page with a password?

Yes, all channels can be protected with a password.

Can I limit my broadcast to a specific geographic area (geolocation)?

Currently, you cannot limit your broadcast to a specific geographic location though it is on our development plan.

Can I offer pay-per-view with Dsilive Premium?

Dsilive does not offer a pay-per-view monetization platform at the moment though it is on our development plan.  If you would like to do pay-per-view please contact info@dsilive.net we offer several options for pay-per-view depending on your business plans.  We can do paid services or revenue sharing on bigger projects.

Can I have higher quality on-demand content??

Yes. Any on-demand content that is encoded properly will be streamed at the same quality you set your Premium channel to: standard (up to 500 Kbps), high (up to 700 Kbps), or HD (up to 1700 Kbps).

Am I allowed to create adult Premium channels??

No. Adult content violates our General Terms of Use.

When I upgrade to Dsilive Premium will old content automatically be transcoded at higher quality?

No. Any content that has already been transcoded will remain as is. To increase the quality of any existing content, you will need to re-upload the content.