Welcome to the Playdeck Cloud & Remote Productions guide. As modern broadcasting shifts toward decentralized workflows, Playdeck allows you to operate seamless playout from anywhere.
Whether you host Playdeck on a cloud virtual machine or feed remote video signals into a local studio, our software adapts to your infrastructure. This guide covers REMI models, pure cloud playout, and hybrid workflows, helping your team collaborate globally with minimal latency and high reliability.
In this article:
→ System Requirements & Network Architecture
→ Remote Inputs
→ Remote Outputs
→ Remote Control & Automation
→ Troubleshooting & Best Practices
System Requirements & Network Architecture
Running a stable remote production requires solid infrastructure and network tuning. Ensure your setup meets the following criteria for a broadcast-ready performance:
Bandwidth: A stable internet connection with at least 15-20 Mbps dedicated upload/download speed per HD stream.
Firewall & Ports: Open specific ports for incoming remote signals (e.g., standard SRT ports) to prevent firewall blocks.
Cloud VMs: When running Playdeck in the cloud (AWS, Azure, vMix Cloud), use instances with dedicated GPU acceleration (e.g., NVIDIA) for fluid video encoding.
Network Stability: Always prefer fixed Ethernet connections over Wi-Fi to eliminate packet loss during live transmission.
Remote Inputs
Bringing external video feeds into your Playdeck playlist from remote locations is seamless with modern IP protocols. Playdeck supports various low-latency input formats:
SRT (Secure Reliable Transport): Use SRT Caller or Listener modes to ingest secure, high-quality video streams over unpredictable public networks.
RTMP / RTSP Ingest: Easily pull live streams from external media servers, hardware encoders, or remote IP cameras directly into your live timeline.
NDI Bridge: Connect separate local networks over the internet to securely share NDI video sources across different physical locations.
Remote Outputs
Playdeck allows you to distribute your playout signal to various cloud destinations and remote monitoring tools simultaneously:
Cloud CDNs: Stream your output directly to major cloud platforms like YouTube Live, Twitch, Facebook Live, or custom RTMP/SRT media servers.
Master Control Switchers: Send high-quality, low-latency SRT feeds from Playdeck directly to remote cloud switchers or broadcast centers.
Virtual Devices: Use virtual camera and audio drivers to route Playdeck’s output into video conferencing tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams for instant client monitoring.
Remote Control & Automation
Managing your playout from a distance is straightforward using Playdeck’s built-in network features and external integrations:
Web User Interface: Access and fully control the Playdeck application remotely using any standard web browser on your smartphone, tablet, or secondary PC.
API & External Triggers: Connect external software or controllers via HTTP or TCP commands to automate your playback over local networks or secure VPNs.
Companion Integration: Leverage Bitfocus Companion to map Playdeck actions to physical Stream Decks or virtual buttons located anywhere in the world.
Troubleshooting & Best Practices
Ensure a flawless remote production by following these operational guidelines and troubleshooting steps:
Optimize SRT Buffers: If you experience video stuttering over unstable connections, increase the SRT latency/buffer setting to compensate for packet loss.
Monitor CPU & GPU: Keep an eye on system resources when running Playdeck in virtualized cloud environments; ensure video encoding does not overload the instance.
Audio & Video Sync: Use the internal audio delay settings in Playdeck to match incoming remote video feeds that might have different network propagation delays.
Fallback Strategy: Always configure a backup loop or an emergency graphic overlay in your playlist to automatically play if a remote input stream drops out.
