Configuring and Publishing your Webcast Livestream
Estimated reading: 10 minutes
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:
Remember my Decision We recommend leaving the “Remember for all cameras and microphones” checkbox unticked, as removing default devices can take a few extra clicks and delay republishing your feed should you encounter device issues or switch out your camera or microphone mid-auction.
Step 4: Check your Livestream and mute stream monitoring
You’ll now see a small black box appear inside the Auction Controls & Stream Settings tab. This is the Feed Preview window:
If you start speaking into your Microphone, you’ll hear a feed from your chosen device through your set Output device (such as your Computer’s internal speakers or any attached headphones). What you hear and what you see from the Stream Monitor is exactly what your Bidders will also see and hear on your Portal.
To prevent Noise Gate and feedback issues, float your cursor over the Stream Preview and click on the Speaker icon to mute the Stream Monitor:
Your feed is now live! You can temporarily hide the feed from your Portal by clicking the white Stop Publishing button at any time, then click Start Publishing to resume your livestream:
Once your Webcast Auction has concluded, click the white Remove Feed button to completely un-publish your Livestream:
Check your Stream If at any point you lose connection or refresh the Webcast Clerking Console, you must re-publish your Livestream. If you’re unsure whether your Livestream has been published or not, the Clerking Console will display the Start Publishing button if your feed is not currently live.
Configuring and Publishing your Livestream: Audio-only
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, leave this set at Audio:
Step 3: Publish your Livestream
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)
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 Microphone and select the Microphone (external or internal) you’d like to use, then click Allow at the bottom of the pop-up panel:
Don’t worry about selecting a Camera device, if set to Feed Type: Audio, the Livestream will only use your Microphone. Firefox is just asking for permission for both, as that is what both macOS and Windows requires.
Pick any of the Camera devices listed, your Livestream will not use your camera if you have selected Feed Type: Audio.
Step 4: Check your Livestream and mute stream monitoring
You’ll now see a small black box appear inside the Auction Controls & Stream Settings tab. This is the Feed Preview window:
If you start speaking into your Microphone, you’ll hear a feed from your chosen device through your set Output device (such as your Computer’s internal speakers or any attached headphones). What you hear from the Stream Monitor is exactly what your Bidders will also hear on your Portal.
To prevent Noise Gate and feedback issues, float your cursor over the Stream Preview and click on the Speaker icon to mute the Stream Monitor.
Your feed is now live! You can temporarily hide the feed from your Portal by clicking the white Stop Publishing button at any time, then click Start Publishing to resume your livestream. Once your Webcast Auction has concluded, click the white Remove Feed button to completely un-publish your Livestream:
Check your Stream If at any point you lose connection or refresh the Webcast Clerking Console, you must re-publish your Livestream. If you’re unsure whether your Livestream has been published or not, the Clerking Console will display the Start Publishing button if your feed is not currently live.
FAQ: Configuring and Publishing your Webcast Livestream
Q: Do I need an external webcam or can I just use the webcam built into my laptop? A: An external webcam isn’t required but it is recommended. External Webcams like the Logitech C920 give you a bit more flexibility on the position of the Webcam itself, whereas laptop’s built-in Webcam is stuck wherever the laptop is sitting.
Q: Do I need an external microphone or can i just use the microphone built into my laptop? A: We heavily recommend using an external microphone, most internal microphones are very basic and, if your laptop heats up, the audio quality for your Bidders will be poor.
Q: What hardware do I need/should I use for my Webcast Livestreams? A: We have a list of recommend hardware here on the Guide Base, click here to check it out.
Q: Can I use multiple cameras and microphones with my Webcast Livestreams? A: Yes, but it adds a bit of complexity to your setup and Livestream management. Check out our Multi-Cam Streaming with OBS guide here and shoot Alec (a.young@webtronoa.com) an email, he’ll arrange a Google Meet with you to discuss your options and guide you through the setup process.
Q: Under Live Stream, I hit Send but nothing is happening, what do I do? A: Get in touch with us at support@webtronoa.comimmediately. If your Livestream setup doesn’t progress beyond hitting Send, this may indicate an issue with your Vonage/TokBox Account or API Keys.
Q: I hit Start Publishing but nothing is happening, what do I do? A: Check that all of your external devices are plugged in securely, try unplugging them and plugging them back in, then hit CTRL SHIFT R (Command Shift R on macOS) to refresh the Clerking Console, then try setting up your Livestream again. If the problem persists, email us at support@webtronoa.com.
Q: How fast does my internet need to be to run a Livestream with Webtron? A: If you’re streaming Video and Audio, we recommend a minimum speed of 10mb p/s Download and 2mb p/s Upload speeds. However, what matters most is reliability. Make sure you stay in range of your WI-FI Router, and if you are experiencing laggy or choppy internet, get in touch with your Internet Service Provider immediately. We recommend keeping a 5G dongle handy, like a Netgear Nighthawk M6. If possible, we heavily recommend using an Ethernet connection to hardwire your clerking and livestream computer(s) to your router.
Configuring and Publishing your Webcast Livestream
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:
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:
Remember my Decision
We recommend leaving the “Remember for all cameras and microphones” checkbox unticked, as removing default devices can take a few extra clicks and delay republishing your feed should you encounter device issues or switch out your camera or microphone mid-auction.
Step 4: Check your Livestream and mute stream monitoring
You’ll now see a small black box appear inside the Auction Controls & Stream Settings tab. This is the Feed Preview window:
If you start speaking into your Microphone, you’ll hear a feed from your chosen device through your set Output device (such as your Computer’s internal speakers or any attached headphones). What you hear and what you see from the Stream Monitor is exactly what your Bidders will also see and hear on your Portal.
To prevent Noise Gate and feedback issues, float your cursor over the Stream Preview and click on the Speaker icon to mute the Stream Monitor:
Your feed is now live! You can temporarily hide the feed from your Portal by clicking the white Stop Publishing button at any time, then click Start Publishing to resume your livestream:
Once your Webcast Auction has concluded, click the white Remove Feed button to completely un-publish your Livestream:
Check your Stream
If at any point you lose connection or refresh the Webcast Clerking Console, you must re-publish your Livestream. If you’re unsure whether your Livestream has been published or not, the Clerking Console will display the Start Publishing button if your feed is not currently live.
Configuring and Publishing your Livestream: Audio-only
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, leave this set at Audio:
Step 3: Publish your Livestream
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)
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 Microphone and select the Microphone (external or internal) you’d like to use, then click Allow at the bottom of the pop-up panel:
Don’t worry about selecting a Camera device, if set to Feed Type: Audio, the Livestream will only use your Microphone. Firefox is just asking for permission for both, as that is what both macOS and Windows requires.
Pick any of the Camera devices listed, your Livestream will not use your camera if you have selected Feed Type: Audio.
Step 4: Check your Livestream and mute stream monitoring
You’ll now see a small black box appear inside the Auction Controls & Stream Settings tab. This is the Feed Preview window:
If you start speaking into your Microphone, you’ll hear a feed from your chosen device through your set Output device (such as your Computer’s internal speakers or any attached headphones). What you hear from the Stream Monitor is exactly what your Bidders will also hear on your Portal.
To prevent Noise Gate and feedback issues, float your cursor over the Stream Preview and click on the Speaker icon to mute the Stream Monitor.
Your feed is now live! You can temporarily hide the feed from your Portal by clicking the white Stop Publishing button at any time, then click Start Publishing to resume your livestream. Once your Webcast Auction has concluded, click the white Remove Feed button to completely un-publish your Livestream:
Check your Stream
If at any point you lose connection or refresh the Webcast Clerking Console, you must re-publish your Livestream. If you’re unsure whether your Livestream has been published or not, the Clerking Console will display the Start Publishing button if your feed is not currently live.
Troubleshooting Livestream Issues
Having trouble with your Livestream? Click here to view our Troubleshooting Webcast Livestream Issue guide.
FAQ: Configuring and Publishing your Webcast Livestream
Q: Do I need an external webcam or can I just use the webcam built into my laptop?
A: An external webcam isn’t required but it is recommended. External Webcams like the Logitech C920 give you a bit more flexibility on the position of the Webcam itself, whereas laptop’s built-in Webcam is stuck wherever the laptop is sitting.
Q: Do I need an external microphone or can i just use the microphone built into my laptop?
A: We heavily recommend using an external microphone, most internal microphones are very basic and, if your laptop heats up, the audio quality for your Bidders will be poor.
Q: What hardware do I need/should I use for my Webcast Livestreams?
A: We have a list of recommend hardware here on the Guide Base, click here to check it out.
Q: Can I use multiple cameras and microphones with my Webcast Livestreams?
A: Yes, but it adds a bit of complexity to your setup and Livestream management. Check out our Multi-Cam Streaming with OBS guide here and shoot Alec (a.young@webtronoa.com) an email, he’ll arrange a Google Meet with you to discuss your options and guide you through the setup process.
Q: Under Live Stream, I hit Send but nothing is happening, what do I do?
A: Get in touch with us at support@webtronoa.com immediately. If your Livestream setup doesn’t progress beyond hitting Send, this may indicate an issue with your Vonage/TokBox Account or API Keys.
Q: I hit Start Publishing but nothing is happening, what do I do?
A: Check that all of your external devices are plugged in securely, try unplugging them and plugging them back in, then hit CTRL SHIFT R (Command Shift R on macOS) to refresh the Clerking Console, then try setting up your Livestream again. If the problem persists, email us at support@webtronoa.com.
Q: How fast does my internet need to be to run a Livestream with Webtron?
A: If you’re streaming Video and Audio, we recommend a minimum speed of 10mb p/s Download and 2mb p/s Upload speeds. However, what matters most is reliability. Make sure you stay in range of your WI-FI Router, and if you are experiencing laggy or choppy internet, get in touch with your Internet Service Provider immediately. We recommend keeping a 5G dongle handy, like a Netgear Nighthawk M6. If possible, we heavily recommend using an Ethernet connection to hardwire your clerking and livestream computer(s) to your router.