Preparing your Computer for Webcast Livestreaming

Feed Type – Video or Audio?

With Webtron, you have the option of running Livestreams using Video and Audio, or Audio-only.

Which format you decide to use is entirely up to you, but regardless of Feed Type, we recommend using Firefox.

Why Firefox?

Chrome (and by extension Chromium-based browsers like Edge, Brave, Arc etc.) can struggle with Source Selection, especially if the device you are using has existing hardware like a built-in Webcam or internal Microphone.

Whilst you can select which device you’d prefer Chrome to use, Chrome will often fall-back on using whichever Webcam or Mic your device bestows with Default status.

When you’re setting up your Livestream for the first time, Firefox will ask permission to use your Camera and Microphone, with the option to then select which Camera and which Microphone you’d like Firefox to use:

Setting a default Camera and Microphone in Windows 11

If you would prefer to stick with Chrome or Edge and you are also using Windows 11, you can disable your redundant Cameras and Microphones inside Windows Settings.

Disabling Cameras in Windows 11

To disable your device’s internal Webcam, press the Windows button on your keyboard or click the Windows button on your Taskbar, then open the Settings app:

From the Home page, look to the left-hand side of your screen and click the Bluetooth & devices option:

You’ll now see a list of various different device types, click on the Cameras option:

The Cameras menu will display a list of all of your connected and virtual Cameras. Click on the name of the Camera you’d like to disable, then click the Disable button next to the camera preview window:

Clicking Disable will communicate to your apps that this Camera cannot be used.

Disabling Microphones in Windows 11

To disable unneeded Input devices in Windows 11, float your cursor over the bottom-right of your Taskbar, then right-click on the Speaker icon and left-click Sound settings:

You’ll now see the Sound settings menu divided into two sections, Output and Input. Microphone devices are Input devices, scroll down and, for the Input device you would like to disable, click on the at the end of the row:

This will open the Input’s Properties menu, to disable an input/microphone device, click the Don’t Allow button at the top-right of the Properties menu:

Repeat this for all Input devices you don’t want to use.

Disabling Audio Enhancements in Windows 11

By default, Windows 11 will now attempt to apply Audio enhancements to your input/microphone devices. Depending on the age of your device and it’s configuration, these enhancements can disruptive or have unintended side effects. We’ve encountered noise gate issues with two of Windows 11’s Audio enhancements:

• Automatic Gain Control
• Voice Focus

We recommend opening the Sound Settings > Properties menu for your input/microphone device and seeing Audio enhancements to Off:

Configuring and Publishing your Livestream: Video and Audio

Step 1: Open the Webtron Dashboard and navigate to the Webcast Clerking Console

Once you’ve downloaded and installed Firefox, open the Webtron Dashboard. Once logged in, click on your Auction Title on the Dashboard Home page, then click the green Webcast Console button at the top-right of your screen:

Step 2: Open the Auction Controls & Stream Settings tab

After the Clerking Console loads, look to the top-right of your screen and click on the Auction Controls & Stream Settings tab:

Once you’ve opened the tab, you’ll find the Live Stream section towards the middle-right of your screen. First, click the Feed Provider dropdown and select WebRTC (HTML5 Streaming):

Then below Feed Provider you’ll find the Feed Type dropdown, click on the dropdown next to Feed Type and select Video:

Step 3: Publish your Livestream

Ignore Feed ID and leave Archive Session unticked.

Under the Feed Type dropdown, click the white Send button:

After clicking Send, you’ll see a confirmation message stating “A webrtc feed is configured but no streams are currently being published“, click the white Start Publishing button beneath the message:

Step 3A: Select your Stream Hardware (Firefox only)

After clicking Start Publishing, you’ll now see a Permissions box pop-up at the top-left of your screen, Firefox will be asking for permission to use a Camera and Microphone device.

Click on the dropdown next to Camera and select your Webcam or External Camera Device, then click on the dropdown next to Microphone and select your Microphone (external or internal):

Once you’ve set your stream devices, click Allow at the bottom of the pop-up panel: