How to live stream to a Facebook Event

A Facebook Event is the perfect way to organize an event. Use it for everything from your next BBQ to a glitzy award-show after-party. Live video is also a great way to give people a taste of what's to come before your event (show them the event space, or have personalities talking about how excited they are for the event). And of course, it's fantastic for broadcasting your event live!

You can do all of these things and more with Webcaster X2. It live streams your HDMI camera or other source directly to your Facebook Event.

To configure and stream to your Facebook Event you need:

    • A Facebook account with permissions to post to a Facebook Event
    • Your HDMI camera to stream
    • Your Webcaster X2

    • An Internet connection with a minimum of 6 Mb/s uplink for 1080p, or 3 Mb/s for 720pClosed . Each Webcaster X2 you connect to your network needs a constant uplink bandwidth of 3 Mb/s to 6 Mb/s by default. Any popular internet speed test can help you determine the peak bandwidth you have available. We recommend allowing for at least 1.5 times the amount of bandwidth you expect to need for your live stream because other devices, including personal computers and voice over IP phone systems, can use a significant portion of your available uplink.

    • An HDMI display (that supports 1080p video)
    • A mouse
    • Optionally, a keyboard
This example shows you how to stream an HDMI camera, but you can use any other HDMI source you like (camera, computer, video mixer, etc.), as long as your source (or media) sends video at 720p or 1080p and does not have High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP), and sends audio at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz.
  1.  Connect everything.
    1. Connect your HDMI camera to the HDMI IN port.
    2. Connect your display to the HDMI OUT port.
    3. Connect your Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port. (Or configure Wi-Fi after boot up.)
    4. Connect your mouse to one of the USB ports.
    5. (Optional) Connect your keyboard to another USB port.
    6. Turn on Webcaster X2 by plugging in the power cord; Webcaster X2 executes its boot-up sequence.
    Webcaster X2 supports HDMI input signals of 720p (1280×720) and 1080p (1920×1080), progressive signals only. Interlaced signals (e.g. 720i and 1080i) are not supported. If your camera isn’t supported (or is experiencing another signal issue), the front screen and attached display show a message that says HDMI IN No Signal. Audio is supported over HDMI at 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz. Or using the (beta) USB camera feature, you can use the audio from a connected USB webcam or a plug-and-play USB microphone that is a UAC device.
  2. Choose streaming to Facebook.
    1. If the Facebook logo doesn't appear on Webcaster X2's front display, double-press the multi-function power button. See Choose the platform app you want.
  3. Ensure automatic streaming is not configured (otherwise you won't be able to choose the Facebook Event as your streaming destination).
    1. Click the Preferences icon at the lower right corner of the screen; the preferences screen opens.
    2. Scroll to the bottom of the list and ensure Start stream automatically after pairing is not checked.
    3. Click the Right mouse button to return to the main screen.
  4. If you haven't already created or joined the Facebook Event, do so now from Facebook.
  5. If Webcaster X2 is not already paired with your Facebook account, pair it.
    1. Look at the front screen display for the Facebook device pairing code or click the Facebook Pair icon if you're using an attached HDMI display.
      2. If your Webcaster X2 is already paired with your Facebook account from a previous session, your account name displays instead of a new pairing code. If no code appears, check that you still have an Internet connection or whether you are still logged in to a captive WiFi network, see Use a captive WiFi network that's password protected .
      Front screen HDMI Display
    2. Using a web browser on your computer or mobile device, go to facebook.com/device and login to your Facebook account.
    3. On the Facebook device pairing page, enter the pairing code from your Webcaster X2 in the device code field, then click Continue.

    4. On the next Facebook pop-up, choose a maximum setting for post visibility from Webcaster X2, then click OK. We recommend choosing Public.

    5. On the next pop up, click OK again to authorize Webcaster X2 to post to your Facebook Pages and Groups.

      6. Note: If you have previously authorized this Webcaster X2 with your Facebook account, there are fewer Facebook messages to click through. Simply click OK to confirm that you have already authorized your Webcaster X2.
    6. The front screen on Webcaster X2 updates to indicate that it's paired with your Facebook account.
    7. To unpair the encoder, click the Facebook Unpair icon at the bottom of the screen using the mouse and click Yes.

      8. You can partly unpair the device through Facebook.

  6. Configure your live stream settings.
    1. Click the Preferences icon at the lower right corner of the screen; the preferences screen opens.
    2. Click Publishing destination in the Facebook details section; Webcaster X2 asks Facebook for a list of places to which you can publish and displays these in the Publishing destinations settings box.

    3. Select the Event you want to stream to. (Your selection is listed as the Destination at the top of the display after exiting preferences.)
    4. (Optional) Configure aspects of your Facebook post.
      • You can use Webcaster X2 to monitor Facebook comments and reactions on your attached HDMI display.
      • At the top of the screen, viewers comments are displayed.
      • At the bottom of the screen, the number of viewers and the top three reactions are listed along with the name of the user who last reacted.

      1. If not already on the Preferences page, click the Preferences icon at the lower right corner of the screen. The preferences screen opens.
      2. Check or uncheck the Show comments checkbox in the Facebook Details section.
      3. When your broadcast starts, you will see a live viewer count, reactions and comments on the chosen side of the screen.
        4. During your broadcast, click the left mouse button to show or hide the Webcaster X2 overlay (including comments, if you have your device configured to show them).
      4. Right click to exit the Preferences.
      • You can see the video title and description while watching the video:
      • The video description is also your post text:
      • You can also change your video description by editing the post from Facebook.
      • Note: During a broadcast, Webcaster X2 is not updated to reflect the current video description and video title for your live stream (e.g. if you change it using Facebook, Webcaster X2 is not updated with your changes). This option only controls the initial video description and title for your stream.
      • When you first get your Webcaster X2, the default video title is:

        • Live Video Stream Title from the Epiphan Webcaster X2 For Facebook Live

        and the default video description is:

        • Live Video Stream Description from the Epiphan Webcaster X2 For Facebook Live
      1. If not already on the Preferences page, click the Preferences icon at the lower right corner of the screen. The preferences screen opens.
      2. Click Video Title in the Facebook Details section.
      3. Use your USB keyboard or the on-screen keyboard to type a title for your video.
      4. Click OK to save your changes (or Cancel to go back without saving).
      5. Repeat the same process for the Video description and click OK to save your description.
        6. Note: When you first get your Webcaster X2, the default Video title and Video description are generic. If you change the settings, Webcaster X2 remembers those changes the next time you use the encoder.
      6. Right click to exit the Preferences.
      • Facebook offers two types of live streams.
        • Continuous streams for long-running broadcasts (meant for 24x7 or long running streams)
        • Live event broadcast (with a time limit of up to 4 hours)
      • Note: Facebook does not save continuous streams for video on demand after your live event is complete.
      1. If not already on the Preferences page, click the Preferences icon at the lower right corner of the screen; the preferences screen opens.
      2. To broadcast a continuous stream: click the Continuous stream checkbox in the Facebook Details section. When using this option, Facebook will not save a copy of your video for replay after your broadcast.
      3. To broadcast an event less than 4 hours in length: uncheck the Continuous stream checkbox in the Facebook Details section. Facebook will create a video for replay after your live broadcast is complete.
        4. Note: When you first get your Webcaster X2, the default setting is not to use a continuous stream. If you change the settings, Webcaster X2 remembers those changes the next time you use the encoder.
      4. Right click to exit the Preferences.
      • By default, after your broadcast is complete, Facebook makes your live broadcast into a post on your Timeline, Event, Group or Page. For continuous streams, this post does not contain a playable video (because Facebook doesn't save a video for continuous streams), it only contains a screen capture of the view and the comments from the video (but video playback is black).
      • Sometimes, you may not want to keep the comments and blank post. For continuous streams, Webcaster X2 can be configured to automatically delete the Facebook post after broadcast so you don't have to remember to log in to Facebook to do it.
      1. If not already on the Preferences page, click the Preferences icon at the lower right corner of the screen; the preferences screen opens.
      2. Click Delete post after stop (continuous streams only) in the Facebook Details section.
      3. After your broadcast ends, Webcaster X2 deletes it from your configured publish destination (Timeline, Event, Group or Page).
        4. This option is only has an effect if you have configured Webcaster X2 for continuous streaming.
      4. Right click to exit the Preferences.
    5. (Optional) Configure your stream settings.
      • The resolution is the size of each frame and is sometimes called frame size.
      • Usually these values are expressed as a pair of values such as 1280×720. The first value describes how wide your picture is (in pixels) and the second how tall it is.
      • Some resolutions also have short forms. For instance 720p or HD means 1280×720.
      • The higher (larger) the resolution, the more data needed to accurately describe everything in your video.
      • If you have limited uplink bandwidth, you may need to stream at a lower frame size.
      • Facebook has specifications for the maximum resolution they accept. Currently this value is 1280×720 (720p).
      • You can configure the resolution that Webcaster X2 sends to YouTube, Facebook, or Twitch.
      Note: If you change the video resolution while streaming, the change only takes effect after the stream ends.
      1. If not already on the Preferences page, click the Preferences icon at the lower right corner of the screen. The preferences screen opens.
      2. Click Encoding resolution in the Stream Details section.
      3. Use your connected USB mouse to select the resolution for your live stream. For example:
        4. FacebookYouTube
        Note: When you first get your Webcaster X2, the default resolution is 1280×720. If you change the settings, Webcaster X2 remembers those changes the next time you use the encoder.
      4. Right click to exit the Preferences menu.
      • The bit rate is a measure of how many bits of data are sent each second and is often referred to in Mega bits per second (Mbps) or kilobits per second (kbps).
      • The higher the bitrate, the more data per frame, and therefore the more detail you'll see in your video.
      • Higher bitrates send more data over your uplink, so sometimes having a low bit rate is necessary to avoid overloading your Internet connection.
      • Facebook has specifications for the maximum frame rate they accept. Currently this value is 4 Mbps.
      • You can configure the bit rate that Webcaster X2 sends to your streaming platform. By default, Webcaster X2 streams using 2Mbps.
      Note: If you change the video bit rate while streaming, the change only takes effect after the current stream ends.
      1. Click the Preferences icon at the lower right corner of the screen. The preferences screen opens.
      2. Click the Video bitrate option and then select a bitrate for your live stream.

      3. Right click to exit the Preferences.
    6. Click the Right mouse button to return to the main screen.
  7. Begin your broadcast! When you are ready to start streaming, do any of the following things to start your live stream:
    1. Click the Start icon .
    2. Press the multi-function power button once.
    3. Press Space on a connected keyboard.

    The screen updates to let you know how long you have been streaming, and the green LED on Webcaster X2 begins to flash.

    The info bar at the top shows the streaming destination is your selected Event.

    During your broadcast, click the left mouse button to show and hide the Webcaster X2 overlay (including comments, if you have your device configured to show them).

  8. End your broadcast . When your live broadcast is complete, you can stop streaming by doing any one of the following things:
    1. Click the Stop icon , then confirm that you wish to stop streaming.
    2. Press the multi-function power button once.
    3. Press Space on a connected keyboard.
    4. Click Unpair to log out of your Facebook account (you will need to re-pair before using Webcaster X2 again.)
    5. Click the Webcaster X2 Exit icon to leave the Facebook streaming application.
    6. Turn off Webcaster X2 by pressing and holding the multi-function power button for 7 seconds.
    By default, if you turn off the device without unpairing, your Webcaster X2 is still paired with your Facebook account next time you turn it on. You can change this behavior by following the steps here: Stay paired with Facebook.
You can also use Webcaster X2 in pre-configured mode with manual or automatic start.