Gradual supports any streaming service or encoder that can output an RTMP stream and Zoom is a familiar and reliable service.
Currently, Gradual does not have a native streaming service, so if you are livestreaming into an event you will need to connect the event stage(s) to a streaming service to feed the video to the event attendees.
Learn more about streaming to Gradual here.
Event Stage(s) URL and Stream Key
The Stream RTMP URL and Stream Key are the two pieces of information you'll need from your event dashboard.
RTMP URL: This will never change for your Gradual account, and is considered the address you're streaming to.
Stream Key: This changes for each stage and is considered the password for the event's specific stage.
Navigate to the Stage Settings tab within the event dashboard, and select 'View' beside the stage you're linking to the streaming service. Have this tab open when setting up the streaming destination.
Enable livestreaming in the Zoom account
You must enable livestreaming in your Zoom settings, within the account that will be hosting the call. These updates to settings must be done in the Zoom browser versus the Zoom app.
Navigate to the browser profile of the Zoom account and select Settings from the left-hand side navigation menu.
In the top search bar search for 'Livestream' and toggle the "Allow livestreaming of meetings" to the right to turn on (it should turn blue).
Ensure that 'Custom Live Streaming Service' is selected, and you're all set to livestream from any meetings hosted by this Zoom account.
Set up the Zoom meeting to stream to the Event
The Zoom meeting can be set up as any style of meeting or webinar but we suggest creating it in the browser versus the app so you can configure the livestreaming during the build.
Build the Zoom meeting to your specifications (date, time, etc.) and select 'Save'.
💡 Pro Tip: Select 'Automatically record meeting' in the Advanced Options of the meeting to ensure that your content is recorded as Gradual does not record your livestream.
Within the Zoom meeting, select the 'Live Streaming' tab in the upper navigation and 'Configure Custom Streaming Service'. A pop-up will appear with fields you will need to complete to ensure the stream feeds to the Gradual event.
From your Gradual Dashboard, navigate to the event, to Event Setup, to Stages, and select 'View' beside the Stage you'd like this Zoom call to stream to (most events will only have one stage).
Have that page open in another tab or browser, as you'll need the information provided for the next step.
Using the 'Copy' button in Gradual, copy the information below and paste it into the required fields in the Zoom popup:
Stream RTMP URL (Gradual) = Stream URL (Zoom)
Stream Key (Gradual) = Stream key (Zoom)
Early Access Event Link (Gradual) = Livestreaming page URL (Zoom)
You do not need to select 'Custom streaming service requires authentication to broadcast'.
Ensure they match exactly (make sure there are no leading or trailing) or the stream will not work. Then select 'Save'.
You can also configure this while live in the Zoom meeting by starting the meeting, navigating to the three-dot 'More' icon in the bottom menu, and selecting 'Live on Custom Live Streaming Service'. You will then follow steps 3 through 5 to enter in the correct information and select 'Go Live' to start Livestreaming.
Start streaming from Zoom
We suggest you start the Zoom meeting early, gather all speakers to the room, and ensure their video and audio feed are working properly before going live from Zoom into the event.
Start the Zoom meeting and any users you want to be on screen, and on audio should be on video, and unmuted. Anyone that is off video and muted will not appear in the stream.
💡 Pro Tip: Hit 'Record' before you go live to ensure your content is recorded as Gradual does not record your livestream.
Select the three-dot 'More' icon in the bottom menu and select 'Live on Custom Live Streaming Service'. Once that is selected, you are live.
This will populate a notification to all users in the Zoom meeting that the call is being livestreamed, and will pop up a Zoom browser linking you (the host) to the event feed.
Mute the Gradual stream by selecting the microphone at the lower left of the video feed.
Know that there is a 20-30 second delay from Zoom to Gradual and you can change who is featured on screen in Gradual by turning their video and audio on and off.
Video & Audio on = their Zoom video streams to Gradual
💡 Pro Tip: Have someone monitoring the chat that can relay any messages or questions to those in the Zoom meeting.
Troubleshooting
If you receive an error message in the Zoom call when trying to go live, and the stream is not working we suggest checking that the streaming URL and streaming key are accurate.
Zoom may indicate an error through a pop-up in the Zoom browser that reads "Unable to live stream to the custom service" in red. At the base of that screen is a direct link to update the URL and key (shown in yellow below).
Follow that link to navigate back to the custom streaming service inputs, copy the Stream RTMP URL and Stream Key from the Gradual dashboard again, and paste them into the correct fields in Zoom. Select 'Go Live!' to try again.
End streaming through Zoom
When you are ready to end the stream, select the three-dot 'More' icon in the bottom menu and select 'Stop Live Stream'. It will take about 20-30 seconds for the feed to end on the Gradual side.
Note: Gradual does not record your livestream. You will need to be sure your session is recorded in whatever service you are using to stream to Gradual.
Video Guide
Here is a video walking you through this process: