When you set up a live event on Vimeo, you can choose between using an external encoder or Vimeo’s web-based production tools. This article walks through the web-based production tool page.
In this article:
- Select your production mode
- Layouts
- Scenes
- Production elements
- Speakers
- Videos
- Images
- Slides
- Brand
- Lower thirds
- Auto closed captions
- Polls
- Q&A
- Speaker chat
- Audience chat
- Stream output
- Stream health
- Go Live
Select your production mode
When your scenes are set and you’re ready, you can open the dropdown next to Go live to choose your production mode:
- Stream from your browser: Instantly stream live to your event page and the embedded player, requiring you to actively manage the scenes during your event. This mode is chosen by default.
- Prerecorded event: Schedule a time for prerecorded segments to automatically go live on your event page and embedded player.
- Recording only: Record your event without going live to an audience.
- Use an external encoder: If you want to broadcast your event with an external encoder and stream over RTMP/RTMPS or SRT, select this option to change your production mode.
The event player
A player displays the currently selected scene in the middle of the page.
When you create a new event, the player will be empty. All scenes added to the event are located beneath the player. Before your event goes live, you can select and edit scenes within the player. Once you Go Live, selecting a scene under the player will send it live immediately.
On the left of the page, you can see your webcam preview within the Speakers tab.
At the bottom of the page, you will find the microphone and camera settings. Select the microphone icon to turn on or off your mic. Select the camera icon to enable or disable your camera. Select the ^ icon on each button to open settings.
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If you have any additional connected inputs, such as USB microphones and webcams, they should appear under the Camera and Audio settings.
- Chrome users can utilize Effects to customize their background in the camera settings.
- Some advanced inputs may require an external encoder to function on Vimeo.
- You can also find the option to share your screen here.
Layouts
Above the event player, select Layouts to choose a layout for the scene from a set of predefined templates.
By default, the selected layout type is “auto-layout.” This layout automates the live event, continuing to set the layout on the broadcaster’s behalf.
Every layout features numbered “drop zones" for adding your content. You can drag and drop guest speakers, images, videos, and slides from the content panel into a drop zone. If the target drop zone contains another piece of content, the live event will “swap” the items between the two zones.
⚠️Note: Screen sharing is not yet supported in layouts. These content types will continue to take over the entire layout.
Scenes
Below the main player, you can add and manage the scenes for your event. This section allows you to decide what will be displayed during your event.
We recommend preparing all your scenes in the order in which they will appear, like a visual agenda, so by the time you are live, you can navigate through each scene and present each element in the order you've planned.
⚠️Note: When your event goes live, choosing a scene immediately reveals it to the audience.
Production elements
The left sidebar of the web-based production tool page includes all your production elements, such as guest speakers, videos, and graphics.
Once you add and configure all the production elements you plan to use for your event here, you can add them to the scenes so that users can see the content and any associated graphics overlays.
Speakers
You can invite guest speakers to your event, and they can join via their webcam. They can also share their screens.
Your event can accommodate up to 12 speakers, including the main broadcaster.
When Backstage is toggled off, all speakers are visible in one tab. The audience can hear all speakers, including the broadcaster (unless muted).
When Backstage is activated, you can view the speakers currently in the stream by toggling between the Backstage and Stream tabs. Only those speakers present in the stream are audible to the audience.
Videos
The Videos tab within the Media panel allows you to select videos from your Vimeo account and play them back live as part of your event.
This feature is beneficial if you prerecord your event, upload it as a video, and wish to play it live for your audience.
Select the Media button to upload a video.
Images
The Images tab allows you to upload an image to fill the player's background. Select the Media button to upload an image.
Images can occupy the background of a scene featuring multiple speakers, effectively filling any empty space between them. They can also appear alone, serving as a full-screen graphic.
Additionally, you can include up to two lines of text (for example, “The event will start soon. Stay tuned.”)
Slides
The Slides tab in the Media panel enables you to upload presentation slides in .pdf and .pptx formats for use during presentations. You can upload slide files up to 100MB in size, though only static images are supported.
Once a slide is added to a scene, both the broadcaster and any guest added to the scene can navigate back and forth through the slide deck.
Any users added to the scene will appear in a picture-in-picture alongside the slide deck, which can be hidden by turning off their video feed.
Brand
The Brand panel allows you to customize the colors of the graphic overlay and the logos that appear in your stream.
You can upload your organization’s logo, which will be featured during your event, and choose a primary and secondary color for the lower-third graphics.
Lower thirds
By default, all speakers will feature a lower third displaying their names and titles upon addition.
In addition to these, you can add extra lower thirds for particular scenes, such as preset questions for a guest or indicating the name and location of your event. Remember to include the additional lower thirds in the designated scene to ensure their visibility.
Auto closed captions
You can activate automatic closed captions for your event in this tab.
Polls
You can open a poll for your audience to participate in. Note that this option is unavailable if your production mode is set to recording only.
The poll will be in the chat module, but you can enhance the poll questions, options, and results by adding graphics to a scene in your stream.
Q&A
If your event features a Q&A session where viewers can submit and vote on questions, you can enable that option here. Please be aware that this feature is unavailable if your production mode is set to recording only.
Additionally, you can decide whether to moderate questions or permit anonymous submissions.
Like polls, viewers can engage through the chat window. However, to showcase the question graphics, incorporate the Q&A into a scene.
Speaker chat
The right side of the web-based production tool page features the chat modules. By default, the Speaker chat is open. This internal chat enables your team and guest speakers to communicate before and during your event. Your audience will not see the messages here.
Audience chat
To facilitate and oversee audience chat, select the Audience tab located on the right side of the web production tool page. This action will change from the internal speakers chat to the publicly accessible audience chat, which is disabled initially.
Note that this option is unavailable if your production mode is set to recording only.
Enabling audience chat will display all messages from your viewers' posts or emojis here. Additionally, you can select Export chat to download all messages from your event.
Stream Settings
In the upper right corner of the web-based production tool page is the stream output, showing your audience's live view. Click the Settings Gear in the upper right corner of the output window to c
You can also check the total number of live viewers during an event.
Stream health
You can monitor whether your stream is stable or unstable by checking the indicator bars in the top right corner above the stream output window, next to the stream timer. The network indicator will turn yellow or red if the connection worsens. It will be hidden if the connection quality is good.
Go Live
When you’re prepared to go live, schedule your event, or begin recording, select the Go Live button in the upper right corner to start. You can also preview your stream before going live.
Select it again to stop the stream or recording (please note that a scheduled event featuring only prerecorded segments will end automatically).