Quick Start

Use this guide to create your first OctoStream livestream, confirm playback, and decide what to do next.

1. Choose your source

Start by deciding how video will enter OctoStream.

Use Pull from camera if you have an RTSP URL from a camera, DVR, NVR, or encoder.

Use Push from OBS or encoder if OBS Studio or a hardware encoder will publish video to OctoStream over RTMP.

If you are using OBS, the dedicated walkthrough is Push a live stream from OBS to OctoStream.

2. Create a livestream

Open the OctoStream dashboard and go to Live Streams.

Click Create Stream.

Choose the source type:

  • Pull from camera for RTSP.
  • Push from OBS or encoder for RTMP publishing.

Give the stream a recognizable name, then continue through the review step and create the stream.

3. Add source details

For Pull from camera, paste the RTSP camera URL. Include the username and password in the URL if the camera requires authentication.

Example format:

rtsp://user:password@camera-host:554/stream-path

The RTSP URL must be reachable by OctoStream. A camera that only works on your local network will need port forwarding, VPN/tunnel access, or another way for OctoStream to reach it.

For Push from OBS or encoder, OctoStream creates the RTMP publish URL after the stream is saved. Copy that URL from the stream card or RTMP publish setup dialog, then paste it into OBS or your encoder.

4. Confirm playback

Open the stream from the dashboard.

For an RTSP pull stream, OctoStream should begin preparing browser playback after the stream is created.

For an RTMP push stream, playback becomes available after OBS or the encoder starts publishing to the OctoStream RTMP URL.

The stream overview gives you:

  • A dashboard preview.
  • A public watch page URL.
  • An embed code.
  • Stream management actions.

5. Share or embed the stream

Use the Watch page URL when you want a simple public page viewers can open directly.

Use Embed code when you want to place the live player on your own website.

If your site should only allow embeds on specific domains, configure allowed domains for the stream before sharing the embed code broadly.

6. Add destinations when needed

Open Manage Stream, then go to the Destinations tab to restream the same source to external RTMP platforms.

You can add destinations such as:

  • YouTube
  • Twitch
  • Facebook Live
  • Twitter / X
  • Custom RTMP

For X setup, follow Restream to X (Twitter) Livestream with OctoStream.

7. Configure optional controls

After the stream is working, review these tabs:

  • Schedule: control when the stream is available on live and embed pages.
  • Recordings: enable recording and play back saved footage from the dashboard.
  • Destinations: add or remove restreaming targets.

Troubleshooting the first setup

If playback does not appear:

  • For RTSP, confirm the URL is correct and reachable from outside your local network.
  • For RTMP push, confirm OBS or the encoder is actively streaming to the OctoStream publish URL.
  • Wait a few seconds after starting the source; live playback and external destinations can take a short time to connect.
  • Check that the stream is enabled and that any schedule allows playback at the current time.

If you need help onboarding a camera or source, use the dashboard support page.