This new feature allows moderators and speakers of a Backstage session to communicate with each other in a secure and private chat. The private chat is accessible only to them, ensuring that conversations remain exclusive to the intended audience.

The private chat has all the features that are available in the usual session live discussions, including reactions, answering messages, and file uploads. This means that moderators and speakers can collaborate and share information with each other in real-time.

Furthermore, when a message is sent, the chat box opens automatically. This feature ensures that everyone in the Backstage is aware of the ongoing conversation and can join in if needed.

In summary, the private chat for moderators and speakers inside the Backstage is an essential feature that enhances communication and collaboration. It makes it easier for moderators and speakers to work together and deliver an outstanding session experience for all attendees.

Try it out today!

Previously, we’ve updated the Studio to ensure that every time a session is updated, it’s automatically reflected in real-time in the Event App.

This new release provides the same real-time functionality that now includes any updates to the session’s streaming schedule including date and/or time.

Now, users won’t have to refresh the session details page to see the updated session’s streaming availability date and/or time.

See the example below and watch the session’s length update in real-time:

If you have set up an RTMP Session using a third-party provider or through our own Backstage solution, and if you recorded it with the option enabled from the Session details in Studio, it is now possible to turn it into an On-demand Session.

How to turn an RTMP Session into an On-Demand Session?

When your Session is over, you now have a new “Convert to on demand” button just below the Format option in the Session details within Studio:

Clicking on it will open the following pop-up window:

From this window, you are able to select which recording you want to use, click on “Save changes” and it’s created like magic. Your Session has now been converted into an on-demand Session and it will display the recording you selected.

We completely revamped our Sessions editor in Studio to make it easier to use, clarify all the session formats we provide, and have a smoother session creation/edition path.

Session creation is now much easier, thanks to new format list options when creating one.

Depending on the format chosen, the pop-up window will ask you to upload a video, refer a video URL, etc. The creation path is now much more guided.

Once the session is created, all the session format settings are collected in a new tab “Format & video” which allows you to focus only on this information.

The session creator/editor layout has been turned into a two-column layout to make the navigation and comprehension easier.

We also added alert messages while updating and changing the session format. This way, potential mistakes are reduced:

Also, trying to update any session date (the session date itself or the streaming availability date), a brand new pop-up window will open that gathers all the date parameters to help make those changes easier:

In the Sessions list in Studio, we also added an indicator next to the session format value in the “Format” column with additional information.

This way:

• For an on-demand session, you can know whether it is:
  • A video file
  • An embedded video
• For a livestream session, you can know whether it is:
  • An RTMP
  • A Backstage Session
  • An embedded video
• For a prerecorded session, you can know whether it is:
  • A video file
  • An embedded  video

We are introducing the ability to disable session feedback. This means that the feedback block on the session detail page will be hidden, and attendees registered to the session will not receive a notification inviting them to rate it.

Collecting feedback is important to improve the quality of events. However, we recognize that some organizers prefer not to collect feedback for various reasons, like if the session is about a sensitive or confidential topic.

To disable session feedback, simply go to the “Preferences”  tab within your Session in Studio and toggle off the “Ask for feedback after the session” parameter:

This will remove the feedback block from the session detail page and prevent attendees from receiving the feedback notification.

We believe that this new feature will provide more flexibility for organizers and help create a better overall experience for attendees.

What is RTM?

RTM stands for “real-time monitoring”, a method of observing and analyzing different types of data as it is being accessed, manipulated, and viewed by another party. Once accessed, the information is accurate at the moment it's viewed.

Swapcard is working to implement RTM at different levels in all available apps.

This particular deployment implements real-time updates for the Session date in the Session details. Now, when the organizer edits Session dates in the studio, it reflects immediately in the event app for attendees without the need to refresh their page.

• This first version implements ONLY the start date and end date including the time of the session.
• Dates are automatically updated when you view the Session details in the event app. This feature is not meant to update the dates of a specific Session when you’re viewing the list or using the grid view.

Still to come:

• Session banner placeholder dates with RTM
• Session streaming dates with RTM

We are really excited to introduce our speaker Backstage: an easy and powerful tool to power your streams. 

With this in-house backstage, Swapcard becomes even more all-in-one, so it reduces the set-up time and the number of providers you need to deal with. 

From everyday in-person streaming to professional keynote broadcasting, Backstage can do all this and more.

Using our best technology and our HD low latency stream RTMP protocol (Swapcard streaming), Backstage is closing the gap (and the need) for a third-party studio or streaming app.

The goal of Backstage is to provide a tool to generate and edit live streams into Swapcard by inviting speakers to the session and deciding which speaker takes the stage.

Up to 99 speakers can be invited and 16 at a time can share the center stage!

To enrich the streams, Backstage allows users to share moderator and participant screens.

Two versions of Backstage are available right now: one for moderators and one for speakers. Moderators are the creators of sessions and therefore have the option to create a Backstage session and invite speakers. Speakers can then join to start participating in an event app session.

Professional hardware can be used to enhance our 1080 HD videos by selecting any connected hardware like mics and cameras. This equipment can be selected and swapped out while on a stream.

Seamless live streaming with high-definition video and crystal-clear audio is of course at the center of Backstage, allowing a low-latency stream with integrations for the community to quickly participate and interact.

Full and easy integration with Swapcard Studio allows users to create a session and start streaming in a matter of seconds.

To access Backstage as a creator, simply create a session and select “Live Backstage” : 

Users added in the studio session as speakers can participate as they join.

Speakers can easily join via an invite link or by simply opening the event app and navigating to the session. Once in the session, invited speakers will see a button prompting them to join the stage. Clicking on the “Join Backstage” button will redirect the speaker Backstage. Now, the speaker only has to wait for the moderator or directly join the Backstage session.

Speakers and moderators alike have the option to select hardware while in the waiting room or when in the stream. They can also toggle mute or unmute and turn the camera on or off.

Moderators can decide who takes the center stage and who is on the stream by simply toggling the user switch to on. A default layout template will be available for now, and different ones will be available at later dates.

The option to go live or end a stream on the event app is also for the moderators to decide by simply clicking the “Go live” button in Backstage. There is no need to be present in Studio. If moderators wish to have control of ramp credentials, stream data, and so on, they can continue using all of the existing features in Studio for RTMP.

Both Speaker and Moderator versions are accessible at any time from mobile and web.

Screensharing into the Backstage

As a moderator or a speaker, you can share your screen with Backstage.

On the Backstage platform, a new button just below the main stage allows you to share your screen:

Once you click on it, a pop-up from your browser will ask which screen or window you would like to share, and then it will appear in the bottom list as shown below:

At any time, while any speaker is sharing their screen, the moderator (and moderator only) will be able to invite the person screen-sharing on the main stage.

The Main Stage layout will then automatically adapt to allow for maximum space of the screen sharing.

Available features now in our first version

Moderator view with functionalities:

• Toggle speakers on or off stage
• Mute/unmute self
• Mute/unmute speakers
• See participants in speaker reel
• Set moderator on or off stage
• Add up to 16 speakers to live canvas
• Set up a studio session with Backstage functionality
• Go live on event app from Backstage
• Invite users within a community from Studio to participate in Backstage session
• Stream to event app using Swapcard RTMP
• Option to select a third-party provider if Backstage is not a preference
• Closed captioning in stream through Backstage
• Screensharing

Speaker view with functionalities:

• Jump from event app to Backstage as speaker, if invited
• Mute/unmute self
• Stream to event app using Swapcard RTMP
• Closed captioning in stream through Backstage
• Views depending on if speaker is on live canvas or in waiting room
• Waiting room
• Waiting view for speaker
• Screensharing

Upcoming features

Backstage will continue to add features in the future

• Private chat among moderator and speakers
• Display the session live discussion (chat, questions, polls) in backstage
• Select from a list of banner formats and be able to enter text to show in stream 
• Select from a list of template formats to change the format of the stream 
• Upload a logo and a background to the stage
• Upload a video file to stream it live
• Backstage as a sandbox (for pre-recording a session)

This new feature allows organizers to upload pre-recorded video sessions into the Studio as if the sessions were actually live-streamed. This helps organizers increase their time-management and efficiency while still producing engaging sessions.

After uploading a video file (Please refer here: https://release.swapcard.com/upload-video-file-for-pre-recorded-session-4GB7AQ), organizers can choose to simulate a live stream and still use all the key features of a Swapcard stream, including HD streaming, live chat, analytics, etc.

The stream will be treated as if it were live. This will give the user access to streaming options in the event app with similar capabilities to a live RTMP stream.

To stream a simulated live, after uploading a file, an organizer only has to switch the toggle to “On” in the “Simu-live” toggle.

The organizer has the ability then to set up a start date and stream will start at given date as a live stream on the event app.

The only restriction the organizer has for setting up  a “simulated live” event is that the session has to be created at least 30 mins before the start of the session, so internally, Swapcard has enough time to process the file.

Uploaded videos will be played in event app as currently is the case with streaming provider, in this case as a live stream, having the user no control on timeline on event app and only showing once on designated set time by organizer.

The user, after setting playback session time and availability start date, will be able to select whether this is a public stream or a private one, .This will function as current functionality, making the stream available within set time. If no availabilty end date is set session end date will be used.

This new feature gives users the ability to upload videos into the studio for streaming in the event app using the new “Pre-recorded” section.

The organizer can now upload any videos with the following specifications:

• Mp4, MOV, m4v, Mkv
• Max file size of 3 GB
• 3 hours in length
• HD quality (1920x1080p)

Once uploaded, by selecting the “Pre-recorded” format and then selecting “Video files” as the live streaming provider, validation will occur for the given specifications. A preview window will then be shown once the video has been uploaded. This preview will include basic controls (play/pause, navigate through video, video length, and volume controls), giving users the ability to watch a preview of the uploaded video.

Users have the option of deleting the video and uploading a new video in its place. Only one video is allowed at a session

Uploaded videos will be played in the event app the same way a streaming provider is currently played.

After setting the video’s playback session time and availability start date, users will be able to select whether to make the stream public or private, as well as select and set the video’s availability start date and availability end date. In line with the current functionality, the stream will be available within a designated period of time. If no end date is set, the session’s end date will be used in its place.

Closed captioning is now available for all Swapcard streams and simu-live pre-recorded sessions.

A new button (CC) is shown within the player in the event app, whether it is a Swapcard stream or a simu-live pre-recorded session

There are two types of closed captioning being added to Swapcard streaming (RTMP) and pre-recorded sessions using video upload.

Basic Closed Captioning: Auto-generated standard quality subtitles, English language only. This is set by default on the player in the event app. Users can enable it at no extra cost by pressing the CC button embedded in the player.

Professional Closed Captioning: A powerful AI tool supported by a professional to monitor each session and provide high quality subtitles. The closed captioning professional will be correcting the live closed captions provided with no delay, for $290 per hour. We require at least 3 days advanced notice in order to assign a closed captioning professional to your session. Specific words can be submitted to teach the AI and assist the professionals to be 100% accurate with the closed captions.
NB: Translations are available in 28 languages for on-demand and pre-recorded videos. For live session, only English is available for now.

CC will be shown on both the Web platform and mobile apps. It will also be provided in the Studio app’s preview window.