Universal Capture (UC) lets you Live Stream any Capture by selecting it as an option before starting a recording.

Start an Ad Hoc Live Stream

1. Launch Universal Capture.
2. Log in (if not already authenticated).
3. Click the pencil icon or title to launch the Capture Details dialog box.
4. Enter a Title, add a Description or Tags as desired.

5. Select a recording Quality for the capture as desired. For more information on quality options, see Universal Capture Recording Quality.

   Best Practice: A / D / V, A / V / V, and A / D / D recordings can be processor-intensive. Run tests to ensure your computer and input devices produce output that meets your standards.

6. Select a Publishing and Class location.

   The publishing location and class selection lists are searchable for long lists. Click into the field and start typing to search.

   You must select a section for the capture. You cannot save your changes unless you select a publishing location.

7. If applicable, enter a Duration for the capture. (Does not apply to UC: Personal, see the section below)

   Note: Upcoming scheduled captures limit the Duration field. Captures can be initiated for any duration (up to the 8-hour maximum) until the next recording is scheduled to start. They will automatically stop to allow the previously scheduled capture to occur.
   

8. Click the Live Stream checkbox.

9. Optionally, click the Live Captioning checkbox.

   Note: Live Captions are limited to a maximum duration of 4 hours.

10. Click SAVE to return to the preview screen.

    The preview screen is updated to show the Live selection.

11. Select and preview the inputs you want to capture.

12. Click Record.

    A countdown appears after which the Universal Capture window minimizes and the capture begins. See Controlling a Capture for details on additional options during a recording.

After clicking Record, it may take a minute or two for the Live stream to begin as it connects to or starts up a streaming server, even though UC is actively recording. During this time, students in the Classroom will see a "Waiting for Live Stream" message. In the Universal Capture window, also referred to as the UC UI (Universal Capture User Interface), instructors will see a similar message that counts down the estimated time remaining until the live stream begins.

How do I know that my recording is live streaming?
• A LIVE badge will appear in the UC UI. • A magenta LIVE badge will appear next to the new class in the Class List.

When checking the Class List, this may be a good opportunity to add a presentation, check live attendance, manage Q&A, etc. See Live Streaming for Instructors for more details.

Network and Bandwidth Requirements

Live streaming your recordings may be affected by network and bandwidth limitations, which can degrade performance.

Important: Users are not limited to any specific quality options. If you are planning to stream the capture Live, we do not recommend selecting Highest Quality; live streaming performance is likely to suffer, particularly for users with lower or shared bandwidth.
In general, if you are unsure which quality to select or would like more information on recording quality, see Universal Capture Recording Quality.

Best Practices

• Use a wired network connection
• Do a single-stream recording (A / D or A / V)
• Limit the usage of other potentially conflicting or intensive applications
• Select a lower recording quality
• Ensure your computer meets the general Universal Capture Specifications

Live Streaming Upload Requirements

• Up to 2.0 Mbps for single-stream
• Up to 6.0 Mbps for dual-stream
• Outbound UDP ports to be open

Not sure?
Check to see that your upload speed meets our requirements here: Global Broadband Speed Test
Check whether your ISP (Internet Service Provider) is blocking or filtering outbound UDP traffic here: Is my ISP filtering my outgoing network ports?

See Live Streaming Data Rate & Usage and Port Configuration for Live Streaming for specific details.

Universal Capture: Personal Specifics

Universal Capture: Personal provides the same ad hoc live streaming capabilities as managed capture devices (UC: Classroom, Pro, Pod), but with two specific differences and a couple of additional items to note.

1. To save on network resources, UC: Personal uploads and publishes your live recording once the Capture is complete, rather than in the background during the ongoing recording, as it does with VOD. If the Class needs to be available to students immediately, ensure the upload is complete before closing your laptop or shutting down your computer.
2. As with VOD recordings in UC: Personal, there is no Duration to set for your Capture beforehand. When you start an ad hoc live stream, UC will keep recording and streaming until you stop it, you close the application, or the 4-hour system limit is reached.
   
   
3. If you try to close the application during an active capture, you will be prompted to confirm that you want to stop recording and / or streaming.
   
4. Even though you can, we do not recommend that you live stream at the Highest quality.

Universal Capture: Personal requires you to be working online to stream live. Working offline is not supported.