Nowadays, a majority of VOD businesses now focus on low latency video streaming. Do you know why? Reduced buffer time, seamless streaming, and a better viewing experience are just a few of the benefits.
With competition becoming increasingly fierce, it has become more critical to prioritize the customer experience to sustain your market position. Streaming quality and customer experience are inextricably linked, and low-latency streaming solutions can help you provide the best possible experience.
It doesn’t matter whether you have an OTT business or another VOD monetization platform – using a low latency video streaming services is an excellent way to take the viewer experience to the next level. But what exactly a low latency streaming is (low latency streaming meaning), and how can it be achieved to improve customer experience? Here, we will help you get everything you need about a low latency video stream.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
So, What is Low Latency Video Streaming?
The time delay between input and output is known as latency, commonly referred to as lagging. In videos, it’s often referred to as “glass to glass.” It determines how long it takes for a live video stream to transfer from the front glass of the camera lens to the viewers’ computers. While some latency in video streaming is unavoidable, it is best to keep it as low as possible. A Low Latency network, however, should be kept within 100 ms to ensure a seamless streaming experience for your audience.
What Is the Root Cause of Video Low Latency?
The duration of video delay is determined based on the low latency video streaming protocols and encoding formats used. Several processes can influence low latency streaming between video recording and display. Some of them are as follows:
Poor Internet Connection:
The video may lag or buffer if the connection is slow or unstable. The most common cause is a lack of bandwidth.
Low-Quality Hardware:
Low-quality hardware is another possible cause of latency. It consists of a video camera, encoder, and decoder. If any of these components is underpowered, latency will take place, stopping the audience from enjoying real-time streaming.
Weak Encoding Method:
To effectively compress video signals over the internet, the video data must get compressed during the encoding process. If this operation is performed incorrectly, video quality may suffer, and latency may increase.
Distance:
The greater the distance, the longer it will take for the signal to reach the viewer. Therefore, streaming video from another country gets delayed.
Server Load:
Latency can also be affected by the number of users watching the video and the server load. When the server is overloaded, the video may lag.
Streaming Protocol Issues:
Latency can be caused by the streaming protocol as well. There may be delays if the protocol is not optimized for dynamic adaptive streaming.
Content Delivery Network (CDN) Issues:
A CDN is a computer system to deliver content to viewers. Incorrect CDN operation can result in video streaming latency. So, for video streaming platform, use the best CDNs.
What Impact Does Latency Have on Streaming Video?
When streaming video, latency can cause a range of issues, including:
Synchronization Problems:
One of the most common issues is high latency, which causes video and audio to be out of sync. It’s because audio signals travel faster than video signals. As a result, the audio frequently precedes the video, which can interfere with lip-syncing while enjoying real time video streaming low latency.
Buffering:
Latency is another common issue that can cause the video to buffer or pause while loading. Viewers may become impatient while waiting for the video to catch up. The audience may leave and never return to the video.
Poor Video Quality:
Latency can degrade video quality in some cases because the video signal may get compressed more than necessary to reduce latency. As a result, the video may seem pixelated or blurry.
Rewinding and Fast-Forwarding:
Latency can make video rewinding and fast-forward more difficult. It is because the video data must return to the viewer before proceeding.
Best Ways to Ensure Ultra-Low Latency Video Streaming
There are several ways to ensure a low latency streaming solution, including:
- Improved Internet Connection
Improving the internet connection is one of the most effective ways to reduce the latency of live streams. A video streamer can accomplish this by increasing bandwidth or using a more stable connection. A stable internet connection can help ensure uninterrupted live video streaming.
- Make Use of High-Quality Hardware
Using high-quality hardware, such as a powerful camera, ultra-low latency video encoder, and decoder is another way to reduce latency. It can help shorten the time required to compress and decompress video data.
- Improved Encoding Process
Another way to reduce latency is through improved encoding, which can be accomplished by using a more efficient codec or lowering the frame rate.
- Reduce the Distance
Reduce the distance between the viewer and the video source to reduce latency. However, it is accomplished by streaming from a nearby server or by leveraging a CDN.
- Adaptive Streaming Protocols
Using adaptive streaming protocols, such as low latency HLS, DASH, and WebRTC is another way to reduce latency. The time it takes for the video to buffer can be reduced with the use of these low latency streaming protocols.
Summing Up
No matter whatever low-latency protocol or low latency video streaming software you use, you’ll want streaming technology that gives you fine-grained control over latency, video quality, and scalability while remaining flexible. When comparing low latency streaming platforms, look for those that support low-delay streaming. However, you can use various techniques to achieve ultra-low latency, including high-quality hardware, encoding procedures, adaptive streaming protocols, and others.
