Welcome to BoxCast! This article will show you all the steps you need to take to get started with our products and platform. If you ever have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to our friendly streaming coaches at questions@boxcast.com, or through the chat in the bottom right corner of your screen.
Start by logging in to your BoxCast Dashboard.
Add a Source
Click on the Sources tab and add a source or encoder. If you purchased a BoxCaster from us, the BoxCaster will automatically be added to your Dashboard. Learn more about adding a source.
If you plan on streaming to Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, or another social media destination, you'll want to set that up next. Go to Settings and click on Integrations. Click Add Integration to add those destinations. Learn more about streaming to multiple destinations.
Once that's set up, you'll want to schedule a broadcast. This is one of the most important steps for streaming with BoxCast. Unless you're using the Broadcaster app, you must schedule a broadcast to go live.
Schedule a Broadcast
Click on Schedule a Broadcast and fill out the information for your broadcast. Some key things you don't want to forget while scheduling are:
Adding the Correct Source: The source is your encoder. If you're using the BoxCaster, select that. If you're using RTMP, select your RTMP source. Using the Broadcaster app? Select that. This determines what device/software you plan on streaming from.
Selecting a Proper End Time: We recommend selecting an end time that's 15–30 minutes after you think the event is going to end.
For example, If you plan on broadcasting from 10–11 a.m., make the end time 11:15 a.m. This will save you if your event runs past its scheduled end time. We do have a way of adding on additional time in the Dashboard, but this protects you from having to do that in the moment. The broadcast will automatically end at the scheduled time, and if you're still streaming, it will not be broadcast to your viewers or recorded.
Scheduling Recurring Events: This article will help you schedule multiple events at a time. This is especially helpful if you stream at the same time every week.
Scheduling for Social Media: Once your social media integrations are linked in the Dashboard, you'll need to make sure that your broadcasts are set up to send to those destinations. We've got lots of information on how to do that here.
Still have questions? We have resources to learn more about the scheduling process.
Embed your stream
Once your broadcasts are scheduled, you'll want to go to the Embed tab to embed your broadcasts on your website. To learn more about embedding, click here. Most websites use the Javascript embed code, but if that doesn't work for your website, try the Inline Frame code.
If you don't plan on embedding on your website, you can skip this step.
Run a test broadcast
Schedule a broadcast, name it "test", select your source, and schedule the stream. Check out our guides below if you have trouble starting the stream with your encoder.
Congrats! You're officially streaming with BoxCast!
Want more?
The steps above cover the basics- there's so much more you can do to enhance your viewers' experience! Below are some more advanced features. Feel free to dig in and try everything out.
If you have trouble accessing any of these features, they may not be included in your current plan. Book a meeting with your customer success manager, email us, or upgrade in the self-checkout.
Have more questions?
Feel free to book a meeting with one of our friendly and knowledgeable streaming coaches from the buttons below.