In today’s streaming landscape, low latency streaming has emerged as a critical factor in delivering high-quality streaming experiences to end-users. Introduced by Apple Inc. in 2009, HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) has become the go-to solution for ensuring compatibility across browsers, devices, media servers, and players. With its adaptive bitrate streaming communication protocol, HLS offers numerous advantages that have made it widely adopted in various industries and sectors.
According to a recent report, HLS streaming usage in key verticals such as art & entertainment, computer electronics & telecommunications, and games accounts for 6.84%, 4.93%, and 4.47% respectively. This surge in HLS adoption highlights its growing popularity and emphasizes the importance of low latency streaming in the streaming industry.
Across the globe, an increasing number of websites are leveraging HLS more than ever before. As a streaming industry professional, it is crucial to have a deep understanding of HLS and its significance in achieving low latency streaming. Stay ahead of the curve by embracing the power of HLS and delivering seamless streaming experiences to your audience.
With the demand for low latency streaming on the rise, HLS continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of streaming technology. And in this blog, we will walk you through all you need to know about low latency live streaming with HLS.
On this page
What Is HLS and How Does It Work?
HLS, or HTTP Live Streaming, is an adaptive bitrate streaming protocol that has revolutionized the way streaming content is delivered over the internet. Initially introduced by Apple Inc., HLS has gained widespread popularity and is now widely adopted by various streaming platforms and services.
In the world of online video streaming, HTTP-based live streaming (HLS) stands as a dynamic technology that optimizes the streaming experience for viewers. By adapting video quality to match device capabilities, internet connection, and geographic location, HLS ensures an optimized streaming experience for all users.
HLS operates by dividing an MP4 video into smaller segments, typically around 10 seconds long. These segments are encoded and delivered via an HTTP server. This segmentation process is carried out by a stream segmenter, which generates a metadata playlist file called .m3u8. This playlist file acts as an index, allowing client devices to access the segmented media.
Within the .m3u8 playlist file, there are different types of MPEG-2 TS (Transport Stream) files, each representing a specific video stream. Users download an extended M3U playlist file containing multiple media file URIs, with each media file being in MPEG-2 TS format. As new MPEG-2 TS files are created, the playlist is updated to facilitate ongoing live streaming.
HLS has gained popularity as a viable alternative to flash videos, offering efficient video format selection, compression techniques, and improved streaming quality. With its ability to adapt to changing network conditions and deliver a seamless streaming experience, HLS has become a go-to protocol for streaming platforms, enriching the viewing experience for audiences worldwide.
HLS for Low Latency
The HLS protocol has gained immense popularity due to its reliable delivery of on-demand and live videos. In addition to its existing capabilities, HLS can now provide low latency video streaming, enhancing the real-time streaming experience for your end-users. This protocol enables scalable low-latency streaming, bringing broadcast-quality video with minimal delays across open networks.
At the live edge of the Media Playlist, HLS introduces an alternative channel for delivering media content. This channel breaks the media into smaller files known as HLS Partial Segments. These Partial Segments can be packaged, published, and added to the Media Playlist much earlier than their longer Parent Segments, thanks to their shorter duration.
Unlike conventional Media Segments that can last up to 6 seconds, Partial Segments can be as short as 200 milliseconds. This means that shortly after the previous segment publishes, the first Partial Segment can be followed by 29 more, leading to the concatenation of these 30 Partial Segments into a regular-length, 6-second Media Segment containing the same media.
By utilizing the HLS protocol with Partial Segments, you can achieve significantly reduced latency in your video streaming, providing a more immersive and real-time experience for your audience.
Reducing Latency in HLS: Maximizing Streaming Efficiency
1. Reducing the Segment Time
To optimize HLS streaming and reduce latency, consider decreasing the segment time. By default, segments are typically set to 2 seconds. However, lowering this interval further can contribute to reducing overall video streaming latency. Experiment with shorter segment times to achieve faster delivery of video chunks.
2. Lowering the Keyframe Interval
Another effective method to minimize latency in HLS is by reducing the time interval between keyframe transmissions. Rather than sending keyframes at longer intervals like 5 or 10 seconds, it is recommended to maintain a shorter keyframe interval of 2 seconds. This ensures that keyframes are sent more frequently, enabling quicker rendering and smoother playback.
3. Increasing the Number of Video Chunks
Enhance the latency performance of your HLS-based streaming by increasing the number of video chunks. By creating a robust buffer with a higher chunk count, you can mitigate potential connectivity issues and provide a seamless streaming experience to end-users. Consider increasing the chunk count to 30 or more, depending on your streaming software and network conditions.
4. Announcing Segments Beforehand
To minimize buffer offset and reduce latency, it is beneficial to announce segments beforehand. By predicting and specifying the locations of upcoming segments, the player can pre-load necessary files. This proactive approach enables the player to start streaming the next segment immediately after completing the download of the previous one. By optimizing segment placement and streamlining the buffering process, latency can be significantly reduced.
Implement these best practices to maximize the efficiency of HLS streaming and deliver real-time video experiences with reduced latency. By fine-tuning segment time, keyframe intervals, video chunk count, and segment announcements, you can enhance the streaming performance and provide an optimal viewing experience for your audience.
To unlock the full potential of HLS-based streaming and deliver an exceptional viewing experience to your audience, opt for Muvi Live. As a leading live streaming platform, Muvi Live offers a comprehensive solution tailored for HLS-based live streaming, empowering you to maximize the benefits of this dynamic technology.
Muvi Live goes beyond HLS support, providing a range of industry-grade live streaming solutions to elevate your streaming capabilities. Benefit from features like a built-in customizable CDN, seamless live stream recording, a fully customizable online video player, effortless social media integration, SEO-optimization tools, and much more. With Muvi Live, you have everything you need to create and deliver professional live streams.
Ready to experience the power of Muvi Live? Sign up to get started!
