--- title: "What Is a Live Encoder? Definition and Examples | RentAnOTT" description: "A live encoder compresses a camera or production feed in real time and sends it to a streaming platform. See the types, key settings and how to add redundancy." url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/live-encoder" markdown_url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/live-encoder.md" category: "Live & linear" updated: "2026-10-05" --- # What is a live encoder? A live encoder is the hardware or software that takes a live video feed from a camera or production mixer, compresses it in real time and sends it over the internet to a streaming platform, most often using RTMP or SRT. ## Types of live encoder The first three are contribution encoders: they send one high-quality stream to the platform. The platform then transcodes it into the adaptive ladder. - Software encoders: applications on a computer, flexible and inexpensive, suited to studios and small events - Hardware encoders: dedicated boxes with video inputs, built to run reliably for hours - Mobile and bonded encoders: units that combine several cellular connections for outside broadcasts - Cloud encoders: the platform's own service, which receives your feed and creates the quality levels viewers get ## Settings that matter - Codec: H.264 is the safe choice for contribution - Bitrate: around 4 to 8 Mbps for 1080p, constant bitrate - Keyframe interval: two seconds, so the platform can segment cleanly - Frame rate and resolution: match the source - Audio: AAC at 128 kbps or more ## Reliability The encoder and its internet connection are the single point every viewer depends on. Use a wired connection with upload capacity at least one and a half times the bitrate. For important events, run a second encoder on a second connection to the platform's backup ingest, so that a failure switches over instead of ending the stream. ## Live encoder on RentAnOTT Live channels and events are included on the RentAnOTT Growth and Scale tiers and are a $119/month add-on on Launch. Ingest details for your encoder are part of onboarding. [See features](https://www.rentanott.com/features). ## Related terms - [RTMP](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/rtmp) — RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) is a protocol for sending live video and audio over the internet with low delay. It was created for Flash video and is now used mainly for contribution: carrying a live feed from an encoder to a streaming platform. - [Live streaming](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/live-streaming) — Live streaming is delivering video over the internet as it is captured, so that viewers watch an event while it is happening, with a delay of a few seconds rather than after a recording has been uploaded. - [Transcoding](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/transcoding) — Transcoding is converting a video from one encoded format into another. On a streaming platform it means taking an uploaded file or a live feed and producing the several resolutions and bitrates needed for adaptive playback on every device. - [Low-latency streaming](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/low-latency-streaming) — Low-latency streaming is live streaming configured so that the delay between something happening in front of the camera and appearing on the viewer's screen is a few seconds, instead of the 10 to 30 seconds typical of standard internet streaming. - [Bitrate](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/bitrate) — Bitrate is the amount of data used to represent one second of video or audio, measured in kilobits or megabits per second (kbps or Mbps). A higher bitrate carries more detail and produces larger files and higher delivery costs. - [Live event](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/live-event) — A live event is a single scheduled stream with a defined start and end, such as a match, a concert, a conference or a premiere. Unlike a linear channel it does not run continuously, and unlike on-demand video everyone watches it at the same time. ## Further reading - [Pricing](https://www.rentanott.com/pricing) - [Choosing a live streaming player](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/live-streaming-player) - [Video bitrate calculator](https://www.rentanott.com/tools/video-bitrate-calculator) ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I need a hardware encoder? Not for most events. A software encoder on a capable computer is enough. Hardware earns its place for long-running channels and where reliability is critical. ### What bitrate should a live encoder send? For 1080p, about 4 to 8 Mbps. Send the highest quality your connection can sustain comfortably; the platform creates the lower qualities. ### What is the difference between an encoder and a transcoder? The encoder compresses the camera feed and sends one stream. The transcoder, on the platform, turns that stream into several quality levels for viewers. All 163 terms: [Streaming and OTT glossary](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary). ## Book a demo Tell RentAnOTT what you are launching. The team walks through the platform and maps the path to go-live around your catalog, markets and revenue model. Book a demo: https://www.rentanott.com/contact ## More from RentAnOTT - [Home](https://www.rentanott.com/index.md) — What RentAnOTT is, what every plan includes, and how launch works - [Features](https://www.rentanott.com/features.md) — Every core feature and optional add-on - [Pricing](https://www.rentanott.com/pricing.md) — Platform tiers, apps, add-ons, usage rates and example bills in INR and USD - [Free tools](https://www.rentanott.com/tools.md) — OTT app builder and calculators for streaming revenue, bandwidth, bitrate and pricing - [Insights](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs.md) — All streaming business articles - [Glossary](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary.md) — Definitions of streaming and OTT terms - [Book a demo](https://www.rentanott.com/contact.md) — Talk to RentAnOTT about your launch Full site in one file: https://www.rentanott.com/llms-full.txt