When you unbox the Spark Encoder, you will receive:
12V power adapter
Clip-on stand
Clip-on wall-mount, which is tripod and VESA compatible
Setting up Spark
Watch the video below, or read on to learn how to set up Spark.
Start by powering your unit on with the 12V power adapter. Allowing it to power up could take anywhere from 20-30 seconds. If this is the first time using your unit, you will need to walk through our onboarding process. If not, you will be directed to the home screen.
Onboarding with Spark
You will want to start by connecting Spark to the internet via ethernet or wifi. Although we recommend streaming via ethernet for a more stable connection, the Spark can also stream reliably over wifi with HEVC compression and built-in BoxCast Flow.
Next, connect an HDMI or SDI signal for video (depending on which version of the Spark you have). If you plan on bringing in audio via HDMI or SDI, you are ready to start streaming. If you plan to bring in audio via 1/4 inch or 3.5mm, you will want to connect those now. Once you are finished connecting your inputs, you will be directed to the home screen.
Now that your Spark has an internet connection and a video/audio input, it's time to run a test in the BoxCast Dashboard. Once you log in, you will click on Schedule.
Now click Quick Test and select your Spark as the video source. Once selected, click Start Test Broadcast.
Allow the Spark encoder about 30-45 seconds to configure, and once your broadcast goes live, your Spark ring will light up green (this is the default and can be adjusted). This test broadcast can only be seen inside the BoxCast Dashboard.
Make sure you are not sending a black screen, color bars, or a slideshow to the Spark Encoder for the test because this will make your diagnostics look lower than they are. We recommend sending a camera feed of a stage or the camera pointed at you. This will give Spark a true test from a network standpoint.
To make sure that your test broadcast is live, you can click play inside the BoxCast Dashboard. Remember, there will be a 45-60 second delay on the live stream.
There are three main things you want to check on your test broadcast to ensure you are ready to stream your main broadcast.
Do you have a video feed?
You can confirm this on the device's screen as soon as you plug your cable into Spark. You can tap the video preview to make it go fullscreen for a better view. If you can see your video, you're good to go! Also, you can play the stream in the Dashboard to confirm the video is coming through.
Do you have an audio feed?
You can check if your stream has sound by looking at the audio bars on the screen and seeing if they're moving. Another way to verify this is by plugging headphones directly into your Spark. If you hear sound there, then your stream should have sound too. If you need to make any adjustments, you can adjust the gain directly on the screen for any analog sources.
Is your internet stable enough for the live stream?
If you’re not actively streaming, you can run a network speed test directly from the Spark touchscreen. You can also look in the diagnostics tab of the Broadcast Details page. This will show you how much internet speed Spark is receiving. To have a successful 1080p live stream, we recommend 5mbps of upload speed.
Once these three things are confirmed, you are ready to schedule your broadcasts in the BoxCast Dashboard and begin using Spark!