Streaming and encoder settings
The encoder settings dialog is where you tell CeraLive how to capture and compress your video before it goes out over the network. Open it from the Live screen by tapping the encoder card.
Most of the time you won’t need to touch these settings after your first setup. The mode presets cover the most common scenarios, and CeraLive handles bitrate adjustments automatically while you’re live.
Mode presets
Section titled “Mode presets”The dialog opens with a grid of presets. Each one is a tuned combination of resolution, frame rate, codec, and a sensible starting bitrate for that profile.
When to use a preset: Pick one that matches your content and your connection budget. A 1080p/60fps preset uses more bandwidth than a 720p/30fps one. If your connection is limited or unstable, start lower and work up.
Presets that your hardware doesn’t support appear greyed out with a note explaining why. You can still see them, but you can’t select them.
Selecting a preset fills in the Advanced controls below it. If you then change any of those fields manually, the preset indicator clears and your settings become “Custom.”
Advanced settings
Section titled “Advanced settings”Tap Advanced / Custom to expand the individual controls. These let you fine-tune beyond what the presets offer, or build a configuration from scratch.
Input mode
Section titled “Input mode”What it controls: Which video source CeraLive captures from. This might be a USB camera, an HDMI capture device, or another connected input.
When to change it: When you switch cameras or capture cards, or when you want to use a different input than the one currently selected. The available options depend on what’s physically connected to your device.
Changing the input mode while a stream is running takes effect on the next start, not immediately. CeraLive shows a badge next to the field when that’s the case.
Resolution
Section titled “Resolution”What it controls: The pixel dimensions of the video you’re sending. Higher resolutions carry more detail but require more bandwidth and processing.
| Resolution | Typical use |
|---|---|
| 720p | Reliable choice for limited connections or older hardware |
| 1080p | Standard for most live streams |
| 4K / 2160p | High-detail content where your connection and hardware support it |
When to change it: Lower the resolution if your stream is dropping frames or your connection can’t sustain the bitrate your content needs. Raise it when you have headroom and want more detail.
Options your hardware or input source doesn’t support appear disabled with a reason. Changing resolution while streaming takes effect on the next start.
Frame rate
Section titled “Frame rate”What it controls: How many frames per second CeraLive sends. Higher frame rates make motion look smoother but increase the data your stream needs.
Common choices are 30 fps and 60 fps. Some inputs also support 25 fps or 50 fps for broadcast-standard content.
When to change it: Use 60 fps for fast-moving content like gaming or sports. Use 30 fps when you need to conserve bandwidth or when your content doesn’t have much motion. Frame rates your input doesn’t support appear disabled.
Changing frame rate while streaming takes effect on the next start.
Video codec
Section titled “Video codec”What it controls: The compression format used to encode your video. CeraLive supports H.264 and, on hardware that can handle it, H.265.
- H.264 is the universal choice. Every platform and player supports it, and it works well across a wide range of bitrates.
- H.265 compresses more efficiently, so you can get similar quality at a lower bitrate. It requires hardware acceleration on your device. If your hardware doesn’t support H.265 acceleration, the codec label shows a warning and encoding will put significant load on the CPU.
When to change it: The codec is set by your active preset. If you’re on a preset that uses H.265 and you see a high-CPU warning, switch to an H.264 preset instead. You can’t change the codec independently of the preset in the current version.
Bitrate
Section titled “Bitrate”What it controls: The maximum amount of data per second CeraLive sends for your video, measured in kilobits per second (kbps). Higher bitrate means better image quality, but it also means more demand on your connection.
The slider and the number field are linked. Both snap to the range your hardware supports, so if you type a value outside that range it gets adjusted automatically. CeraLive shows a note when that happens.
When to change it: Set the bitrate to roughly 70–80% of your available upload speed. This leaves room for network overhead and the bonding layer to work without saturating your connection.
If you’re seeing compression artifacts or blocky video, raise the bitrate. If your stream is dropping or stuttering, lower it.
You can change the bitrate while a stream is running. The new value takes effect immediately without restarting.
Automatic bitrate adjustment
Section titled “Automatic bitrate adjustment”CeraLive monitors your bonded connections continuously. When it detects that your available bandwidth has dropped, it reduces the bitrate automatically to keep the stream alive. When conditions improve, it can raise the bitrate again up to the maximum you’ve set here.
Think of the bitrate setting as a ceiling, not a fixed target. CeraLive works within that ceiling and adjusts downward as needed to avoid dropped frames or a broken stream.
Bitrate overlay
Section titled “Bitrate overlay”What it controls: A small on-screen display burned into the video showing the current bitrate. It appears in the corner of your stream output.
When to use it: Useful during testing or when you want viewers or a production team to see live bitrate data in the video itself. Turn it off for a clean broadcast.
Starting and stopping a stream
Section titled “Starting and stopping a stream”Once your encoder settings are saved, go back to the Live screen to start your stream. The Start button becomes active when you have a video source selected and a server destination configured.
Tap Stop to end the stream. CeraLive finishes sending any buffered data before closing the connection.
Settings that require a restart (input mode, resolution, frame rate) take effect the next time you start a stream. The bitrate is the only setting you can change while live.