What Is Ingest Server?
The streaming platform's server that receives your live stream data. Choosing the closest server reduces latency and dropped frames.
An ingest server is the entry point where your stream enters the platform's infrastructure. Twitch, YouTube, and Kick have ingest servers worldwide. Connecting to the closest server minimizes network latency and reduces the chance of dropped frames. In OBS, you can select your ingest server in Stream settings. Most platforms offer 'Auto' selection that picks the best server, but manually selecting the closest one can sometimes improve stability.
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Related Terms
RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol)
The standard protocol used to send live video from your encoder to streaming platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Kick.
Latency (Stream Delay)
The time delay between something happening on your screen and viewers seeing it. Typically 2-15 seconds for live streams.
Buffering
When a viewer's player pauses to download more data because the stream bitrate exceeds their download speed.