Achieving Low Latency Contribution in Streaming Video Workflows
If latency in your streaming video workflows is keeping you up at night, you should know that there are solutions. Low latency is the cornerstone of successful video contribution, whether it be in broadcast, enterprise, or defense situations.
How do you achieve this coveted low latency in your workflows? Let’s take a quick look at latency, and then dive into the solution you need to keep your glass-to-glass latency under 200ms.
The problem that latency presents in streaming video workflows
We’ve all seen it before. I’m talking about the interview on television where the interviewer and person being interviewed are talking at the same time. They’re talking over each other, attempting to be heard and/or hear the other person. But the delay, because of latency, is so pronounced, that they end up talking at the same time.
Many of you will know about latency and what’s causing this to happen. For those who don’t, let’s take a quick look.
The subject of latency was tackled by a podcast called Ways of Hearing in an episode entitled, “Time.” And while the subject of latency in this podcast was mostly about audio, one of the stories they told related directly to the subject of latency in broadcast situations. Their definition of latency was as clear as any I’ve ever heard. So, what is latency?
According to the podcast, “latency is the lag in digital communications introduced by the time it takes a computer [or any other digital device] to process them.” And while computers process information very quickly, analog time still moves faster.
At the end of the day, it takes time for a device to translate what is happening in the world into a digital transmission. Then translating that digital information into analog so that we’re actually able to perceive it is what slows everything down.
Whether it’s in an interview situation, or another video contribution workflow in which time is of the essence, reducing latency from streaming workflows is something that those who work with video strive for every day. Low latency is what we’re all working towards.
How Do You Get Low Latency Video Contribution?
In the video below, Haivision’s Sten-Erik Gruman breaks latency down further, and explains how it affects contribution workflows. And so that you know how to solve the problem, he’ll take you through how the Makito X family of encoders and decoders helps you to keep latency low, and expectations high. Just click on the play button to learn more!
