Simulcast Sessions Setup | Planadar Help
Simulcast Sessions Setup Guide
What is a Simulcast Session?
A simulcast session is broadcast simultaneously to both in-person attendees in the room and virtual attendees watching online. Both audiences experience the same content in real-time.
Setting Up Simulcast Sessions
Step 1: Enable Simulcast on Session
- Go to Session Management
- Create new session or edit existing
- Toggle Enable Simulcast ON
- Configure stream settings
Step 2: Set Capacities
- In-Person Capacity: Physical room limit
- Virtual Capacity: Stream viewer limit (or unlimited)
- Total capacity = In-person + Virtual
Step 3: Configure Streaming
- Select streaming provider:
- YouTube Live
- Zoom Webinar
- Vimeo Livestream
- Custom RTMP
- Enter stream URL/key
- Test connection
Step 4: Enable Interactive Features
- ✅ Live Chat (unified)
- ✅ Q&A (mode-tagged questions)
- ✅ Polls (both audiences vote)
- ✅ Reactions (real-time feedback)
Technical Requirements
In-Room Setup
- Camera(s) capturing speaker/stage
- Professional audio capture
- Encoder/streaming computer
- Reliable high-speed internet (50+ Mbps upload)
- Backup internet connection
For Virtual Viewers
- Modern web browser
- Stable internet connection
- Recommended: 10+ Mbps download
Managing Live Simulcast
Before Session Starts
- Test stream 30 min early
- Verify audio levels
- Check camera angles
- Confirm chat moderation ready
- Brief speaker on virtual audience
During Session
- Monitor stream health indicators
- Watch both chat streams
- Relay virtual questions to speaker
- Acknowledge virtual audience
- Handle tech issues quickly
After Session
- Stop stream gracefully
- Save recording
- Download chat logs
- Review attendance analytics
Best Practices for Speakers
Engaging Both Audiences
- Look at camera periodically (for virtual viewers)
- Verbally acknowledge online questions
- Repeat questions before answering
- Use slides/visuals for clarity
- Pace content for all viewers
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring virtual audience entirely
- Poor audio quality
- Blocking camera with movement
- Not repeating audience questions
- Rushing through content
Measuring Simulcast Success
Key Metrics
- Peak concurrent viewers (split by mode)
- Average watch time
- Chat participation rate
- Q&A questions submitted
- Poll response rates
Analytics Access
- Go to Hybrid Analytics
- Select session
- View mode-split metrics
- Export detailed report
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Stream buffering | Reduce quality, check bandwidth |
| Audio issues | Check cables, levels, echo cancellation |
| Chat not syncing | Refresh, check connection |
| Video frozen | Restart encoder, switch to backup |
Pro Tip: Always have a backup streaming setup ready to go!