Elgato Game Capture HD streams your gameplay with the click of a button, using any RTMP (Real Time Messaging Protocol) ingest server.
You can therefore use streaming services other than Twitch, YouTube and Ustream by entering a specific RTMP URL and Stream Key.
RTMP Live Streaming
Elgato Game Capture HD has a RTMP Live Streaming option in the Live Streaming section. When you first start the software, Live Streaming is not yet setup.
RTMP Live Streaming - Sign In to existing account
To use RTMP Live Streaming, press the "+" button next to the Account option and select rtmp://
RTMP Live Streaming - Stream Bit Rate and Available Bandwidth
Before you start streaming, you can also adjust the bandwidth used to send data to Ustream.
Move the slider to the right to increase the Bit Rate, which will make the video appear sharper.
At the bottom of the Live Streaming section, there is a small icon with a pair of tools on it. Pressing that button calls up a special Settings window.
You have four choices for the Maximum Resolution:
360p
480p
720p
1080p
If you are using a high resolution (720p or 1080p) video, and you lower the Bit Rate significantly, Elgato Game Capture HD will automatically switch the stream over to an optimal resolution. This is to maintain the highest visual quality for the chosen Bit Rate - for example, a 1080p stream with a very low Bit Rate will always look worse than a 720p stream with the same Bit Rate.
Please Note - You cannot use a Bit Rate that is higher than your available Upload bandwidth. Your Upload speed is determined by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
You may have a fast Download bandwidth, like 10Mbps, but your Upload bandwidth is likely to be much lower, like 1Mbps.
To find out your available Upload and Download bandwidth, please use a service like http://www.speedtest.net
RTMP Live Streaming - Start Streaming
Once you have entered your RTMP account, and have selected your Status Message and Bit Rate, then you can start Live Streaming.
Press the Live Streaming button to Start and Stop streaming.
When you start Live Streaming, the button will have a small green light on it.
Once Elgato Game Capture HD has fully connected to a server, your Live Gameplay will immediately start. The Live Streaming section will also have a red ON AIR icon.
RTMP Live Streaming - Live Commentary
If you'd like your voice over to appear on the stream, be sure to enable the Live Commentary feature in the Capture section of Elgato Game Capture HD.
For more information about the Live Commentary feature, please see this article:
How do I use Live Commentary with Elgato Game Capture HD?
You can therefore use streaming services other than Twitch, YouTube and Ustream by entering a specific RTMP URL and Stream Key.
RTMP Live Streaming
Elgato Game Capture HD has a RTMP Live Streaming option in the Live Streaming section. When you first start the software, Live Streaming is not yet setup.
By default, no Account is listed in the Live Streaming section.
RTMP Live Streaming - Sign In to existing account
To use RTMP Live Streaming, press the "+" button next to the Account option and select rtmp://
A Custom RTMP Streaming URL window will come up:
To connect to your RTMP streaming service, you will need to enter your:
Account Name
RTMP URL
Stream Key (Optional)
This information is usually provided via the account settings of your streaming service. For example, if you are using Ustream, then you can find the RTMP URL and Stream Key in the "Remote" tab on your Ustream dashboard.
Some RTMP services don't have a specific Stream Key - the necessary information to connect may be built into the RTMP URL, or a key may not be needed. In that case, no separate Stream Key needs to be entered.
Your RTMP service will then be accessible via the Live Streaming section of Elgato Game Capture HD.
To connect to your RTMP streaming service, you will need to enter your:
Account Name
RTMP URL
Stream Key (Optional)
This information is usually provided via the account settings of your streaming service. For example, if you are using Ustream, then you can find the RTMP URL and Stream Key in the "Remote" tab on your Ustream dashboard.
Some RTMP services don't have a specific Stream Key - the necessary information to connect may be built into the RTMP URL, or a key may not be needed. In that case, no separate Stream Key needs to be entered.
Your RTMP service will then be accessible via the Live Streaming section of Elgato Game Capture HD.
RTMP Live Streaming - Stream Bit Rate and Available Bandwidth
Before you start streaming, you can also adjust the bandwidth used to send data to Ustream.
The Live Streaming section has a Bit Rate slider.
Move the slider to the right to increase the Bit Rate, which will make the video appear sharper.
At the bottom of the Live Streaming section, there is a small icon with a pair of tools on it. Pressing that button calls up a special Settings window.
The Maximum Resolution option lets you control the quality of the video stream.
You have four choices for the Maximum Resolution:
360p
480p
720p
1080p
If you are using a high resolution (720p or 1080p) video, and you lower the Bit Rate significantly, Elgato Game Capture HD will automatically switch the stream over to an optimal resolution. This is to maintain the highest visual quality for the chosen Bit Rate - for example, a 1080p stream with a very low Bit Rate will always look worse than a 720p stream with the same Bit Rate.
Please Note - You cannot use a Bit Rate that is higher than your available Upload bandwidth. Your Upload speed is determined by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
You may have a fast Download bandwidth, like 10Mbps, but your Upload bandwidth is likely to be much lower, like 1Mbps.
To find out your available Upload and Download bandwidth, please use a service like http://www.speedtest.net
RTMP Live Streaming - Start Streaming
Once you have entered your RTMP account, and have selected your Status Message and Bit Rate, then you can start Live Streaming.
Press the Live Streaming button to Start and Stop streaming.
Next, Elgato Game Capture HD will look for your RTMP server. RTMP Live Streaming automatically selects the best server, and it can't be assigned manually.
This process may take up to one minute, or more. The Live Streaming button will turn into a spinning icon.
This process may take up to one minute, or more. The Live Streaming button will turn into a spinning icon.
RTMP Live Streaming - Live Commentary
If you'd like your voice over to appear on the stream, be sure to enable the Live Commentary feature in the Capture section of Elgato Game Capture HD.
For more information about the Live Commentary feature, please see this article:
How do I use Live Commentary with Elgato Game Capture HD?