PIPELINE
Professional Streaming Engine
Multi-protocol streaming infrastructure powering real-time video delivery at global scale. Stream with WebRTC, SRT, RTMP, NDI, OMT and more - all from one powerful platform.
What is PIPELINE?
PIPELINE is WAVE's core streaming engine that handles video ingestion, processing, and distribution across multiple protocols
PIPELINE solves the fundamental challenge of modern streaming: supporting multiple protocols while maintaining low latency and high quality.
Instead of building separate infrastructure for each protocol (WebRTC for browsers, SRT for broadcast, RTMP for ingest, NDI for production), PIPELINE provides a unified streaming engine that handles them all.
Whether you're streaming a live event to 100M viewers, broadcasting an esports tournament with <16ms latency, or running enterprise webcasts with HIPAA compliance, PIPELINE adapts to your needs.
How PIPELINE Works
Enterprise-grade streaming architecture built for 100M+ concurrent viewers
Accept streams from any source via RTMP, SRT, WebRTC, NDI, or OMT protocols
Transcode to multiple quality levels with GPU acceleration. Add encryption and DRM.
Deliver via global CDN with 200+ edge locations. Automatic routing for lowest latency.
Real-time monitoring with viewer metrics, quality stats, and performance insights.
Technical Specifications
| Supported Protocols | RTMP, SRT, WebRTC, NDI, OMT, HLS, DASH, CMAF |
| Video Codecs | H.264 (AVC), H.265 (HEVC), VP9, AV1 |
| Audio Codecs | AAC, Opus, MP3, Vorbis |
| Max Resolution | 4K (3840×2160) @ 60fps, 8K experimental |
| Max Bitrate | 50 Mbps (configurable higher for enterprise) |
| Latency Range | <16ms (OMT) to 30s (HLS), protocol-dependent |
| Concurrent Viewers | Unlimited (tested to 100M+) |
| Concurrent Streams | 5 (Starter) / 50 (Pro) / Unlimited (Enterprise) |
| Bandwidth Included | 100GB (Starter) / 1TB (Pro) / Custom (Enterprise) |
| CDN Locations | 200+ global edge locations across 6 continents |
| Uptime SLA | 99.9% (Starter) / 99.99% (Pro/Enterprise) |
| Support Response | Email 48h (Starter) / Priority 24/7 (Pro/Enterprise) |
| API Rate Limits | 100 req/min (Starter) / 1000 req/min (Pro) / Custom (Enterprise) |
Supported Protocols
Choose the right protocol for your use case - all protocols work seamlessly together
WebRTC
SRT
RTMP
NDI
OMT
Industry-Leading Performance
Benchmarked against competitors and industry standards
Performance Test Results
Independently verified benchmarks (November 2024)
| Test Scenario | WAVE | AWS Elemental | Wowza | Industry Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p RTMP Ingest Latency | 2.8s | 4.2s | 3.9s | 5.1s |
| WebRTC Glass-to-Glass | 280ms | N/A | 450ms | 600ms |
| SRT Low-Latency Mode | 65ms | N/A | 120ms | 180ms |
| 4K60 Encoding Speed | 0.95x | 0.75x | 0.65x | 0.5x |
| Concurrent Viewers Tested | 100M+ | 10M+ | 1M+ | Varies |
| CDN PoPs Worldwide | 200+ | 25+ | 50+ | N/A |
| Time to First Byte (TTFB) | 12ms | 45ms | 35ms | 25ms |
| API Response Time (p95) | 45ms | 180ms | 120ms | 200ms |
Customer Quote
"We were paying AWS $18K/month for MediaLive + CloudFront. With WAVE we pay $6K/month for better performance and more features. The migration took 48 hours with zero downtime."
Total Cost of Ownership
Key Features
Everything you need for professional streaming
Multi-Protocol Support
8 protocols including WebRTC, SRT, RTMP, NDI, OMT - all in one platform
Ultra-Low Latency
<16ms with OMT, <100ms with SRT for real-time applications
Global Distribution
200+ edge locations worldwide with automatic routing
Enterprise Security
End-to-end encryption, SOC 2 certified, zero-trust architecture
Real-World Use Cases
PIPELINE powers streaming for enterprises worldwide
Live Events & Sports
Broadcast live events with professional quality and global reach
Gaming & Esports
Ultra-low latency streaming for competitive gaming and interactive content
Corporate Communications
Enterprise webcasts, town halls, and internal communications at scale
Telemedicine & Education
Real-time healthcare and distance learning with HIPAA compliance
Get Started with PIPELINE
Simple API to start streaming in minutes
Quick Start Example
// Initialize WAVE PIPELINE
import { WaveClient } from '@wave/sdk';
import { DesignTokens, getContainer, getSection } from '@/lib/design-tokens';
const wave = new WaveClient({
apiKey: 'your-api-key',
protocol: 'srt', // or 'webrtc', 'rtmp', 'ndi'
});
// Create and start stream
const stream = await wave.createStream({
title: 'My Live Stream',
protocol: 'srt',
quality: 'high', // auto-transcode to multiple qualities
latency: 120, // ms
});
await stream.start();
console.log('Streaming at:', stream.getPlaybackUrl());
// Monitor stream health
stream.on('stats', (stats) => {
console.log('Viewers:', stats.viewers);
console.log('Bitrate:', stats.bitrate);
console.log('Latency:', stats.latency);
});Multi-Protocol Streaming
// Stream to multiple protocols
const streams = await Promise.all([
wave.createStream({ protocol: 'srt' }),
wave.createStream({ protocol: 'webrtc' }),
wave.createStream({ protocol: 'hls' })
]);
// Single source, multiple outputs
await wave.multicast({
source: inputStream,
targets: streams
});Adaptive Bitrate
// Auto-generate multiple qualities
const stream = await wave.createStream({
protocol: 'hls',
adaptiveBitrate: {
qualities: [
{ resolution: '1080p', bitrate: 5000 },
{ resolution: '720p', bitrate: 3000 },
{ resolution: '480p', bitrate: 1500 },
{ resolution: '360p', bitrate: 800 }
]
}
});Explore comprehensive documentation and guides
Advanced Integration Examples
Production-ready code for complex streaming workflows
Automatic Failover Configuration
Ensure zero downtime with automatic failover to backup ingest servers. Critical for 24/7 broadcasts.
const stream = await wave.streams.create({
title: 'Mission-Critical Broadcast',
protocol: 'srt',
failover: {
enabled: true,
backupUrl: 'srt://backup.wave.online:9000',
switchoverTime: 3000, // ms
autoReconnect: true,
maxRetries: 5
},
monitoring: {
healthCheckInterval: 5000,
alertEmail: '[email protected]',
alertOnFailover: true
}
});
// Backup automatically takes over if primary fails
console.log('Primary:', stream.primaryUrl);
console.log('Backup:', stream.backupUrl);Multi-Platform Simulcasting
Stream to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and your own platform simultaneously from a single source.
const stream = await wave.streams.create({
title: 'Product Launch Event',
protocol: 'rtmp',
simulcast: {
enabled: true,
destinations: [
{
platform: 'youtube',
streamKey: process.env.YOUTUBE_KEY,
resolution: '1080p',
bitrate: 6000
},
{
platform: 'facebook',
streamKey: process.env.FACEBOOK_KEY,
resolution: '720p',
bitrate: 4000
},
{
platform: 'twitch',
streamKey: process.env.TWITCH_KEY,
lowLatency: true
}
],
perDestinationMetrics: true
}
});
// Get status of each destination
const status = await stream.getSimulcastStatus();
console.log('YouTube:', status.youtube.viewers);Custom Transcoding Profiles
Define custom quality ladders optimized for your content type and audience devices.
const stream = await wave.streams.create({
title: 'Sports Broadcast',
transcoding: {
codec: 'h265',
profiles: [
{
name: 'ultra_hd',
resolution: '3840x2160',
fps: 60,
bitrate: 15000,
hardwareAcceleration: true
},
{
name: 'full_hd_60',
resolution: '1920x1080',
fps: 60,
bitrate: 8000
},
{
name: 'hd',
resolution: '1280x720',
fps: 30,
bitrate: 3000
}
],
adaptiveBitrate: true
}
});Regional CDN Configuration
Select specific edge locations for optimal delivery to your target audience regions.
const stream = await wave.streams.create({
title: 'Regional Event',
cdn: {
preferredRegions: ['us-east', 'us-west', 'eu-west'],
fallbackRegions: ['ap-southeast', 'eu-central'],
geolocation: {
restrictTo: ['US', 'CA', 'GB', 'DE', 'FR'],
blockFrom: []
},
caching: {
ttl: 3600,
preload: true,
purgeonUpdate: true
}
},
routing: {
strategy: 'lowest-latency',
healthCheckInterval: 10000
}
});
console.log('Active regions:', stream.cdn.activeRegions);DRM Content Protection
Protect premium content with Widevine, FairPlay, and PlayReady DRM.
const stream = await wave.streams.create({
title: 'Premium Content',
drm: {
enabled: true,
providers: ['widevine', 'fairplay', 'playready'],
encryption: 'aes-256-ctr',
keyRotation: {
enabled: true,
intervalMinutes: 60
},
tokenAuth: {
required: true,
expirationMinutes: 120,
singleUse: false
}
},
watermarking: {
enabled: true,
visibleText: 'CONFIDENTIAL',
forensic: true // Invisible tracking
}
});
// Generate viewer token
const token = await stream.generateViewerToken({
userId: 'user-123',
maxDevices: 2
});Multi-Camera Production
Switch between multiple NDI camera sources in real-time during live broadcasts.
const production = await wave.productions.create({
title: 'Live Concert',
sources: [
{ name: 'Camera 1', protocol: 'ndi', url: 'ndi://cam1' },
{ name: 'Camera 2', protocol: 'ndi', url: 'ndi://cam2' },
{ name: 'Camera 3', protocol: 'ndi', url: 'ndi://cam3' },
{ name: 'Graphics', protocol: 'ndi', url: 'ndi://gfx' }
],
output: {
protocol: 'srt',
quality: '1080p60'
}
});
// Switch cameras
await production.switchSource('Camera 2');
// Picture-in-picture
await production.enablePiP({
main: 'Camera 1',
pip: 'Camera 3',
position: 'bottom-right'
});Real-Time Analytics Webhooks
Receive real-time notifications for viewer milestones and stream events.
const stream = await wave.streams.create({
title: 'Event Stream',
webhooks: {
url: 'https://api.company.com/webhooks/stream',
secret: process.env.WEBHOOK_SECRET,
events: [
'stream.started',
'stream.ended',
'viewers.milestone', // 1K, 10K, 100K, 1M
'quality.degraded',
'connection.lost'
],
retryPolicy: {
maxAttempts: 3,
backoffMs: 1000
}
}
});
// Webhook payload example:
// {
// event: 'viewers.milestone',
// streamId: 'str_123',
// milestone: 10000,
// timestamp: '2024-11-17T...'
// }Adaptive Quality Auto-Tuning
Automatically adjust bitrate and quality based on network conditions.
const stream = await wave.streams.create({
title: 'Adaptive Stream',
quality: {
autoTune: true,
target: {
latency: 100, // ms
bufferHealth: 0.95,
packetLoss: 0.001
},
adjustmentStrategy: 'aggressive',
metrics: {
measureInterval: 5000,
adaptInterval: 2000
}
},
viewer: {
autoQualitySwitch: true,
switchThreshold: {
up: 2000, // Upgrade if >2s buffer
down: 500 // Downgrade if <500ms buffer
}
}
});
// Monitor adjustments
stream.on('quality:adjusted', (data) => {
console.log('New bitrate:', data.bitrate);
});Redundant Backup Recording
Record to multiple regions simultaneously for disaster recovery.
const stream = await wave.streams.create({
title: 'Critical Event',
recording: {
enabled: true,
redundancy: {
enabled: true,
regions: ['us-east-1', 'eu-west-1', 'ap-southeast-1'],
verifyIntegrity: true
},
format: 'mp4',
quality: 'source', // Record at source quality
retention: {
days: 90,
autoArchive: true,
archiveClass: 'glacier'
}
},
liveRewind: {
enabled: true,
windowMinutes: 120
}
});
// Access recordings
const recordings = await stream.getRecordings();
console.log('Available in:', recordings.regions);Comprehensive Error Handling
Production-grade error handling with automatic recovery and alerting.
try {
const stream = await wave.streams.create({
title: 'Production Stream',
errorHandling: {
autoRecover: true,
maxRetries: 5,
retryStrategy: 'exponential',
fallbackProtocol: 'rtmp',
alerting: {
email: ['[email protected]'],
sms: ['+1234567890'],
slack: 'https://hooks.slack.com/...'
}
}
});
// Event monitoring
stream.on('error', async (error) => {
logger.error('Stream error:', error);
if (error.recoverable) {
await stream.recover();
} else {
await stream.switchToBackup();
await notifyOpsTeam(error);
}
});
stream.on('warning', (warning) => {
// Handle degraded performance
if (warning.type === 'high_latency') {
stream.adjustQuality('lower');
}
});
} catch (error) {
// Handle fatal errors
console.error('Stream creation failed:', error);
await fallbackToPreviousStream();
}Pricing
PIPELINE is included with all WAVE plans
Starter
- 5 concurrent streams
- 100 GB bandwidth/month
- WebRTC, SRT, RTMP protocols
Professional
- 50 concurrent streams
- 1 TB bandwidth/month
- All protocols including NDI
- Priority support
Enterprise
- Unlimited streams
- Custom bandwidth
- All protocols + OMT
- 24/7 dedicated support
Why Customers Switch to PIPELINE
See how PIPELINE compares with AWS Elemental, Wowza, Mux, and building in-house
| Feature | WAVE PIPELINE | AWS Elemental | Wowza | Mux | In-House |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | 5 minutes | 2-3 hours | 1 hour | 30 minutes | 2-4 weeks |
| Protocols Supported | 8 | 3 | 5 | 4 | Varies |
| Ultra-Low Latency (<50ms) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | Maybe | |
| Global CDN Included | Separate | ✗ | ✗ | ||
| Auto-Scaling | Manual | Limited | DIY | ||
| Starting Price/Month | $99 | $299+ | $199 | $199 | $5K+ infra |
| Free Tier | ✗ | Trial Only | Trial Only | ✗ | |
| 99.99% SLA | 99.9% | 99.5% | DIY | ||
| 24/7 Support | Pro+ | Enterprise | Enterprise | All Plans | None |
| Developer Experience | Excellent | Complex | Moderate | Good | High Effort |
From AWS Elemental
"Migrated in 2 days. 60% cost savings, better latency, simpler management."
- GlobalSports Network, 500 concurrent streams
Read migration guideFrom Wowza
"Setup complexity reduced by 80%. Engineering team can focus on features, not infrastructure."
- StreamCorp, 10K daily streams
Read migration guideFrom In-House
"Saved 3 engineer-years of maintenance. Now we innovate on features, not infrastructure."
- EdTech Startup, 50K students
Read migration guideFrequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about PIPELINE
What streaming protocols does PIPELINE support?
PIPELINE supports all major streaming protocols: RTMP, SRT, WebRTC, NDI, OMT, HLS, and DASH. RTMP is perfect for industry-standard ingest from tools like OBS Studio. SRT provides secure, low-latency transport with error correction (20-300ms). WebRTC enables browser-based streaming with 100-500ms latency. NDI offers broadcast-quality video over IP for production workflows. OMT (our proprietary protocol) delivers ultra-low latency under 16ms for real-time applications like gaming and interactive experiences.
Can I stream to multiple platforms simultaneously?
Yes, PIPELINE's multi-destination streaming lets you broadcast to YouTube, Facebook Live, Twitch, and other platforms simultaneously from a single source. You can configure multiple RTMP outputs, each with custom encoding settings. This eliminates the need to run multiple encoders and significantly reduces bandwidth requirements. Professional and Enterprise plans support unlimited simultaneous destinations. Starter plans support up to 3 destinations.
What's the maximum stream quality supported?
PIPELINE supports up to 4K resolution (3840×2160) at 60fps with bitrates up to 50 Mbps. We support H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and AV1 codecs for optimal quality and bandwidth efficiency. Adaptive bitrate streaming automatically generates multiple quality levels (1080p, 720p, 480p, 360p) from your source, ensuring smooth playback for viewers on any device or connection speed. GPU-accelerated encoding handles high-quality streams efficiently.
How do I connect my OBS Studio to PIPELINE?
Connecting OBS Studio is simple and takes less than 2 minutes:
- Log into your WAVE dashboard and create a new stream
- Copy your unique RTMP URL and Stream Key
- In OBS, go to Settings → Stream
- Select "Custom" as the service
- Paste your RTMP URL in the Server field
- Paste your Stream Key in the Stream Key field
- Click OK and hit "Start Streaming" in OBS
Your stream will appear live in the WAVE dashboard within seconds. We recommend starting with 6000 Kbps bitrate for 1080p streams.
What happens if my stream drops?
PIPELINE includes enterprise-grade reliability features to prevent stream interruptions. Automatic reconnection attempts to restore your stream within 3 seconds if the connection drops. Backup streaming lets you configure a secondary ingest server that takes over automatically if the primary fails. Our 99.99% uptime SLA is backed by redundant infrastructure across 200+ edge locations. Real-time health monitoring alerts you to potential issues before they impact viewers. Professional and Enterprise plans include multi-path streaming with automatic failover for mission-critical broadcasts.
Can I record streams for later viewing?
Yes, PIPELINE automatically records all streams to VAULT for on-demand playback. Recordings are available within minutes of stream end and stored securely in the cloud. Live DVR lets viewers pause, rewind, and replay live streams in real-time. You can configure retention periods from 7 days to unlimited storage. Recordings support the same adaptive bitrate playback as live streams. Create highlight clips, generate thumbnails, and share recordings via embed codes or direct links. All recordings are delivered via our global CDN for fast, reliable playback worldwide.
How do I monitor stream health and performance?
PIPELINE provides comprehensive real-time monitoring through the PULSE dashboard. Track viewer count, bitrate, buffer health, dropped frames, and network conditions in real-time. Set up custom alerts via email, SMS, or webhooks for critical events like quality degradation or connection loss. Access detailed analytics including geographic distribution, device types, and viewer engagement patterns. Professional and Enterprise plans include advanced diagnostics, historical trending, and exportable reports. Our API provides programmatic access to all metrics for integration with your existing monitoring tools like Datadog, Grafana, or New Relic.
What are the differences between streaming protocols?
Each protocol is optimized for different use cases:
- RTMP: Industry standard for ingest (3-5s latency), works with all encoders like OBS Studio
- SRT: Low-latency (20-300ms) with error correction, ideal for unreliable networks
- WebRTC: Browser-native (100-500ms), best for interactive applications
- NDI: Broadcast-quality (<100ms) for production workflows with multiple cameras
- OMT: Ultra-low latency (<16ms), perfect for real-time gaming and esports
- HLS/DASH: Scalable delivery with adaptive bitrate, 3-30s latency for mass distribution
Choose based on your latency requirements, viewer devices, and network conditions. PIPELINE supports protocol switching without reconfiguration.
Can I use my own CDN or edge locations?
Yes, Enterprise plans support bring-your-own CDN (BYOC) integration. Connect your existing Cloudflare, Fastly, Akamai, or custom CDN infrastructure. PIPELINE can push streams to multiple CDN origins simultaneously for redundancy. You can also deploy WAVE edge nodes in your own data centers or colocation facilities for maximum control and compliance. Hybrid configurations let you use WAVE's global CDN for most viewers while routing specific regions through your infrastructure. Our engineering team assists with custom CDN integrations and performance optimization.
Do you support custom transcoding and processing?
Absolutely. Define custom transcoding profiles with specific resolutions, bitrates, codecs, and frame rates. Add overlays, watermarks, and graphics during encoding. Inject pre-roll and mid-roll ads with frame-accurate timing. Apply real-time filters like color correction, brightness adjustment, and noise reduction. Professional plans support custom FFmpeg filters for advanced processing. Enterprise customers can deploy custom encoding pipelines using our SDK for specialized workflows like multi-language audio tracks, closed captions, or AI-powered content moderation. GPU-accelerated processing ensures real-time performance even with complex transformations.
What happens if there's a CDN outage in my region?
PIPELINE's intelligent routing automatically detects CDN node failures and reroutes traffic to healthy edge locations within milliseconds. Our anycast network ensures viewers connect to the nearest working server with zero manual intervention. Multi-CDN failover is included in Professional and Enterprise plans, distributing load across multiple CDN providers for ultimate reliability. Real-time health checks run every 5 seconds to identify issues before they impact viewers. Historical uptime tracking and incident reports provide full transparency. Our 99.99% SLA includes financial credits if we fail to meet availability commitments.
Can I schedule streams in advance?
Yes, PIPELINE includes advanced scheduling capabilities. Create streams days or weeks in advance with specific start and end times. Automatic stream activation ensures your broadcast begins exactly when planned, even if you're not online. Configure pre-stream countdown pages and holding screens with custom branding. Set up recurring streams for regular events like weekly shows or daily broadcasts. Scheduled streams automatically generate preview pages and embed codes for promotion. Post-stream actions like automatic recording, email notifications, and social media publishing can be configured per schedule. Calendar integration syncs with Google Calendar, Outlook, and other scheduling tools.
What Customers Say About PIPELINE
See how PIPELINE powers streaming for leading organizations
SportsTech Inc
Live Sports Broadcasting
“PIPELINE's ultra-low latency enabled real-time audience interaction we couldn't achieve before. Our engagement metrics jumped 300% within the first month of deployment.”
Michael Chen
CTO
Complete Your Streaming Stack
PIPELINE works seamlessly with other WAVE products
VAULT
Automatically record your streams for on-demand playback. Store, manage, and deliver VOD content globally.
Explore Auto-RecordingPULSE
Real-time analytics and insights for your streams. Track viewers, engagement, and performance metrics.
View Real-Time InsightsCONNECT
Build custom streaming applications with our comprehensive APIs, SDKs, and webhooks.
Explore Developer APIsReady to Start Streaming?
Join the WAVE platform and enterprises using WAVE PIPELINE