Overview
Low bitrate and buffering issues affect stream quality and viewer experience. This article covers how to identify bitrate problems using LIGR's monitoring tools, verify your internet connection is sufficient, adjust stream quality settings when bandwidth is limited, and use HLS view to see exactly what your audience is experiencing.
Check Bitrate Monitors for Drops
LIGR provides real-time bitrate monitoring in the Stream View page. To access this monitoring, click Matches in the left sidebar, find your match and expand it, click the three-dot menu next to the stream, and select View.
The Stream View page displays bitrate indicators for your input and each destination. Green indicators with KBS values confirm the stream is being received, while warning icons indicate no stream is being received.
[SCREENSHOT: the Stream View page showing bitrate indicators for the input and destinations, with a green KBS indicator and a warning icon example]
Monitor these indicators during your broadcast. Drops below recommended levels or fluctuating values signal connection problems.
Verify Internet Upload Speed
Insufficient upload speed is the most common cause of low bitrate and buffering. Your internet connection must support the bitrate configured in your stream settings.
Check your current upload speed using an internet speed test, then compare this to your stream's configured video bitrate (found in stream settings). Your upload speed should exceed your stream bitrate with headroom for stability.
If your upload speed is close to or below your configured bitrate, your connection cannot reliably support the stream quality you've set.
Reduce Stream Quality Settings
When bandwidth is limited, you can reduce your stream quality settings to match your available upload speed. To adjust stream settings, first stop your stream, since you cannot change these settings while live. Then, from the Matches section, expand your match, click the three-dot menu next to the stream, and select Configure.
There are several settings you can adjust to reduce bandwidth requirements:
• Resolution: Change from 1080p to 720p.
• Video Bitrate: Lower the configured bitrate value.
• Frames Per Second: Reduce FPS if needed.
After making changes, restart your stream and monitor the bitrate indicators to verify stability.
Switch to HLS View
HLS view shows your stream as your audience experiences it, including any buffering or quality degradation. This is more stable than WebRTC and reflects the actual viewer experience.
WebRTC provides lower latency and is better for real-time monitoring, but HLS shows stream quality as delivered to viewers.
Use HLS view periodically during broadcasts to verify audience experience, especially when you see bitrate fluctuations in your monitoring tools.
Access Stream Analytics
For detailed performance analysis, use the Stream Session Analyzer. Open the Stream View page for your stream, click the three-dot menu in the top right, and select Stream Analytics.
[SCREENSHOT: the Stream Analytics page showing the input feed stability graph and performance metrics]
This opens a new tab showing your input feed stability graph and detailed performance metrics. Use this to identify patterns in connection quality and diagnose persistent issues.