Note: Live streaming on Instagram is limited access at this time.
Instagram Live Producer allows you to go live from a desktop using streaming software (such as Restream Studio, OBS, or any other encoder).
Create high-quality content with additional cameras, external microphones, and graphics. Stream on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and more at the same time.
In this article, we will cover:
⚙️ Requirements
Streaming on Instagram is available for all Restream plans, including free.
You have to get access to Live Producer from Instagram to unlock streaming.
💡 Don't have access to Instagram Live Producer yet? Try a workaround with Yellow Duck.
Video
9x16 aspect ratio (recommended but not required)
720p at 30 fps (note: 30 fps is recommended, but Live Producer can also support 60 fps if desired. When using 60 fps, the Live Producer preview screen will still display 30 fps.)
Video bitrate range: 2,250-6,000 Kbps
Resolution: 720x1280
Alternatives (supported but not recommended): 480p at 30 fps, 360p
Audio
Sample rate: 44.1KHz
Channel layout: Stereo
Bitrate: up to 256 Kbps
🧐 How to go live on Instagram?
Open instagram.com on your desktop and click the "Create" button (a plus in a square), and select "Live video" from the dropdown menu.
❗️️You will not see this option if you don’t have access to Instagram Live ProducerEnter the title of your live video and select your audience: "Practice" will keep your stream private, and "Public" will broadcast to all your followers.
You will then see a screen that contains your unique URL and stream key.
❗️The stream key is not permanent. It will refresh for each new stream.
In a separate tab, open Restream.io. Press Edit/Add Destinations and click on the Instagram icon.
Copy your unique RTMP URL and stream key from Instagram Live Producer into the fields of your Instagram channel and click Add channel.
Press Go live in Restream Studio or your streaming software (OBS, Ecamm, etc.).
Within the Instagram Live Producer, you'll see a preview of what your stream will look like on Instagram Live. The preview can take a few seconds to display on the preview screen.
❗️Once you start to preview the broadcast, you have up to 5 hours to go live.Click “Go live” within Instagram Live Producer to start the stream. The “Comments” tab will let you read and respond to comments from viewers.
Note the Instagram comments will not appear in your Restream Chat.
🌟 Pro Tip: If you are planning to stream to Facebook and Instagram at the same time, it's best to optimize your stream to Instagram format (Portrait mode).
If you optimize the format of your stream to Facebook (Horizontal mode), it could look cropped on Instagram. When your stream is optimized for Instagram, Facebook will show black bars on the edges vs. cropping your video.To stop the stream, press "End live video" in Instagram Live Producer.
❗️ If you end your stream in the streaming software before you end your Live Producer broadcast, the live video will continue while displaying the last frame received from the streaming software.
To end your live video smoothly, stop the stream on Live Producer first before ending it on your streaming software.
🧐 How to download your stream?
You can view, share and download your stream within the Instagram Live Archive, which you can find on the Instagram mobile app.
To access the Live Archive:
While on your profile, tap the menu (3 horizontal lines) button in the top right corner.
Within this menu, tap the Archive button.
Tap the dropdown at the top of the screen and switch from "Stories Archive" to "Live Archive."
You will see your past live videos and an option to share them on Instagram or download them to your device.
🌟 Pro tip: Our recordings feature saves all your streams! You can download audio only, full video (MP4), or play the recording as a clip in another Restream broadcast.
👉 Next steps
👍 Keep exploring
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