Better Live Streams with DVR Mode for Time-Shifting

Live time-shifting, also known as DVR (Digital Video Recorder) mode, allows viewers to interact dynamically with live streams by enabling features like pausing, rewinding, and fast-forwarding. This functionality is similar to traditional DVR systems and is especially useful for scenarios where viewers may want to revisit specific moments or catch up after interruptions.

FastPix’s live time-shifting feature ensures a seamless viewing experience while offering broadcasters flexibility to enable or disable these capabilities based on the type of content being streamed.

Why implement live time-shifting?

Live time-shifting elevates the user experience, giving viewers more control over live content.
Here’s why it’s worth enabling:

Benefits to viewers

Pause and resume: Viewers can step away from the stream without missing anything.
Rewind moments: Replay specific sections to catch missed details or relive important highlights.
Fast-forward: Skip ahead after pausing or rewinding to rejoin the current live broadcast.

Ideal use cases

Live sports: Replay pivotal moments like goals, touchdowns, or critical plays.
Webinars and conferences: Allow participants to revisit sections for better understanding.
Breaking news: Ensure no key updates or critical segments are missed.

Modes of operation

FastPix supports two operational modes for time-shifting. These modes are configurable based on the nature of the live stream and the level of interactivity desired:

DVR mode (`enableDvrMode: true`)

Time-shifting controls are enabled: Viewers can pause, rewind, and fast-forward live streams.
Use case: Ideal for interactive streams like sports events, educational sessions, and news broadcasts where viewer control enhances engagement.

Non-DVR mode (`enableDvrMode: false`)

Time-shifting controls are disabled: The stream runs in real-time, and viewers cannot pause, rewind, or fast-forward.
Use case: Best suited for live scenarios where immediacy is critical, such as live auctions or interactive gaming streams.

How to enable live time-shifting in FastPix

Enabling live time-shifting in FastPix is straightforward and requires specifying input settings in your livestream creation request.

Include DVR mode in the payload

When creating a livestream, configure the enableDvrMode parameter in the request payload. If set to true, DVR functionality is enabled. If omitted, the default value is false.

Example payload for creating a livestream:

{ 
  "playbackSettings": { 
    "accessPolicy": "public" 
  }, 
  "inputMediaSettings": { 
    "maxResolution": "1080p", 
    "reconnectWindow": 60, 
    "mediaPolicy": "public", 
    "enableDvrMode": true, 
    "metadata": { 
      "livestream_name": "fastpix_livestream" 
    } 
  } 
}

What happens after enabling time-shifting?

System validation

FastPix validates the enableDvrMode parameter in the request.
If set to true, DVR controls are enabled. If set to false, only real-time playback is available.

Stream playback behavior

DVR mode: The live player displays a seek bar, allowing viewers to pause, rewind, and fast-forward the stream.
Non-DVR mode: The player operates in real-time, and no seek bar is shown.

Sample response

Here’s an example of the response you’ll receive upon successfully creating a livestream with DVR mode enabled:

{ 
  "success": true, 
  "data": { 
    "streamId": "9d29c6d13d9e96133536dd217bfaf635", 
    "streamKey": "*********", 
    "srtSecret": "**********", 
    "trial": true, 
    "status": "idle", 
    "maxResolution": "1080p", 
    "maxDuration": 43200, 
    "lowLatency": false, 
    "createdAt": "2024-09-20T11:55:19.472529Z", 
    "reconnectWindow": 60, 
    "enableRecording": true, 
    "mediaPolicy": "public", 
    "metadata": { 
      "livestream_name": "fastpix_livestream" 
    }, 
    "enableDvrMode": true, 
    "playbackIds": [ 
      { 
        "id": "e37e66a3-090a-4ac6-83ef-b45c03d7a39c", 
        "accessPolicy": "public" 
      } 
    ], 
    "srtPlaybackResponse": { 
      "srtPlaybackStreamId": "play9d29c6d13d9e96133536dd217bfaf635", 
      "srtPlaybackSecret": "***********" 
    } 
  } 
}