What is Instant Live Clipping?

You know that moment when something epic happens during a live stream a jaw-dropping goal, a mic-drop moment at a conference, or the one time the drummer didn’t miss a beat at the concert and you think, "Wow, that would make an amazing clip!” Then you realize… the moment’s gone, buried under the next hour of footage. Ouch.

Over 80% of viewers say they’re more likely to engage with bite-sized video highlights than full-length live streams. That’s where live clipping comes in. It lets you capture the moment, turn it into a shareable highlight, and post it while it’s still fresh.

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What is live clipping?

Live clipping is the process of capturing and creating video highlights in real-time from an ongoing live stream. Instead of waiting for a broadcast to end, you can grab those pivotal moments like game-winning goals, keynote announcements, or viral-worthy gaffes and turn them into shareable clips instantly. These snippets are ready to post across platforms, keeping your audience engaged while the event is still unfolding.

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Why do you need an API for live clipping?

Manually extracting clips from live streams can be time-consuming, error-prone, and inefficient. That’s where APIs helps. A live clipping API automates the heavy lifting, letting you integrate this functionality natively into your application workflows.

With an API, you can:

• Streamline workflows: Trigger clipping actions programmatically, saving time and reducing reliance on manual interventions.
• Scale effortlessly: Handle multiple live streams and clip requests simultaneously, whether it’s for sports events, news broadcasts, or webinars.
• Ensure precision: Use time-stamped metadata and markers to extract the exact moments you need without digging through footage.

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Challenges of live clipping

Live clipping might sound straightforward, but under the hood, it’s a technically complex process. Developers often encounter these key challenges when building or managing live clipping workflows:

Latency issues

Real-time clipping demands low-latency processing to ensure moments are captured and delivered instantly. High latency can result in delays that defeat the purpose of live clipping, making the highlights feel outdated before they’re even shared.

Precision timing

Pinpointing the exact start and end times of a clip in a live stream is tricky. Stream buffering, varying network conditions, and timestamp mismatches can lead to clips that are off by critical seconds, missing the action or including unwanted footage.

Resource-heavy processing

Video encoding and transcoding for live streams are computationally intensive. Adding a clipping layer in real-time puts additional strain on servers, especially when handling multiple concurrent streams or high-resolution formats like 4K.

Stream interruptions

Unstable live streams or interruptions can disrupt the clipping process. Handling partial or fragmented streams requires robust error handling to ensure clips are generated correctly without corrupt data.

Multi-platform compatibility

Clips need to be tailored to various platforms, each with unique requirements for video resolution, aspect ratio, and duration. Automating this transformation in real time adds another layer of complexity.

Metadata synchronization

Synchronizing live metadata (like timestamps, captions, or markers) with video streams is essential for accurate clipping. Any desync can lead to clips that miss critical context or visuals.‍

Storage and delivery

Clips must be stored, processed, and delivered efficiently. Without optimized workflows, storage costs can balloon, and clip delivery can suffer delays, affecting viewer experience.

While these challenges might feel daunting, a purpose-built solution like the FastPix live clipping API simplifies the process, enabling developers to overcome these technical hurdles with ease. FastPix abstracts the complexities of live clipping.

Create instant live clips with FastPix: A full walkthrough

Starting a live stream and creating clips with FastPix is easy and efficient. Follow the steps below to set up your live stream, use FastPix API, and generate live clips in real time.

Step 1: Get an API access token

The FastPix live streaming API requires authentication via an API Access Token, which consists of a Token ID and Token Secret. Here's how to get your API access token:

• Log in to your FastPix organization dashboard.
• Navigate to the access token settings section.
• Click Create new access token.
• A pop-up form will appear. Complete the form to generate a new Access Token.

Once you've created the token, you'll have access to the FastPix API for live streaming.

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Step 2: Create a live stream

• Set up your environment: FastPix Access Tokens are linked to an environment. You can select the environment for your live stream.
  
• Ensure permissions: Your Access Token must have the FastPix video read and write permissions to proceed with creating the live stream.
  
• Create the live stream: Use the FastPix API by sending a POST request to the /streams endpoint. This is done with the Access Token details you generated in Step 1.

Example cURL request:

Bash

curl -X POST 'https://v1.fastpix.io/live/streams' \
   --user {Access Token ID}:{Secret Key} \
   -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
   -d '{
   "playbackSettings": {
      "accessPolicy": "public"
   },
   "inputMediaSettings": {
      "maxResolution": "1080p",
      "reconnectWindow": 60,
      "mediaPolicy": "public",
      "metadata": {
         "livestream_name": "fastpix_livestream"
      },
      "enableDvrMode": false
   }
}'

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Response example:

Json

{
   "success": true,
   "data": {
      "streamId": "fa7f8c0950ea48ebcc5ef9de8c23deaa",
      "streamKey": "3dc5d7641f918baa083a5c52a5bd9cbckfa7f8c0950ea48ebcc5ef9de8c23deaa",
      "srtSecret": "c51739512d0088d98a46925c9b74c73akfa7f8c0950ea48ebcc5ef9de8c23deaa",
      "trial": false,
      "status": "idle",
      "maxResolution": "1080p",
      "maxDuration": 43200,
      "createdAt": "2024-10-15T08:48:31.551351Z",
      "reconnectWindow": 60,
      "enableRecording": true,
      "mediaPolicy": "public",
      "metadata": {
         "livestream_name": "fastpix_livestream"
      },
      "enableDvrMode": false,
      "playbackIds": [
         {
            "id": "4e43ec52-4775-4f68-a3ff-a57d8a59bba8",
            "accessPolicy": "public"
         }
      ]
   }
}

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4. PlaybackID and stream key: Once the live stream is created, you'll receive the playback ID and stream key.

The Stream key is crucial for connecting broadcasting software to the FastPix servers. Keep it secure to prevent unauthorized use.
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Step 3: Start broadcasting

• Set up RTMP broadcasting software: To stream live, use RTMP-compatible software such as OBS (Open Broadcaster Software).
  
  
• Configure the broadcasting software:
  • RTMP Server URL: rtmps://live.fastpix.io:443/live
  • Stream Key: Use the Stream Key obtained in Step 2.
• Start streaming: Once your RTMP software is configured, start the broadcast. FastPix will update the stream status to active

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Step 4: Generate live clips from the stream

Live clipping allows you to capture and share moments from your live stream in real time. To create clips:

• Access the stream URL: Use the Playback ID you received in Step 2 to form the stream URL.

Example Stream URL:

https://stream.fastpix.io/<playbackId>.m3u8

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• Add query parameters to define the clip: Specify the start and end times in seconds to define the clip's duration.

Example:

https://stream.fastpix.io/<playbackId>.m3u8?start=10s&end=40s

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This URL will create a clip from 10 seconds to 40 seconds of the live stream.

Please note: The maximum duration for a live clip is 30 seconds. Any clip requests exceeding this duration will be trimmed to 30 seconds.

Step 5: Stop broadcasting

• Stop the stream: To stop streaming, simply end the RTMP session in your broadcasting software.      
• Automatic disconnect: If the stream exceeds the reconnect window, or after 12 hours, the stream will automatically disconnect, and its status will change to idle.

For more detailed explanation please check out our guide: API documentation.

Use cases of live clipping

Sports broadcasting clips

A sports platform is streaming a live football match. During the match, a player scores a last-minute, game-winning goal that electrifies the stadium. The sports platform production team uses live clipping to capture the goal and create an instant highlight clip. Within seconds, the clip is shared across the platform’s social media channels and sent out via push notifications to the platform’s app users. This real-time sharing not only boosts viewer engagement but also drives traffic to the platforms, increasing ad revenue.

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News broadcasting clips

A news channel is live-streaming a press conference where a major political figure is expected to make a significant announcement. As the announcement is made, the news team quickly clips the key moment using the live clipping feature. The clip is immediately uploaded to the channel’s website and shared on social media, allowing viewers who missed the live broadcast to catch the important news. The rapid response enhances the channel’s reputation as a timely news source, increases viewer loyalty, and attracts new subscribers to their digital services.

Corporate webinars and events clips

A technology company is hosting a live webinar to launch a new product. The webinar includes a keynote presentation, live demos, and a Q&A session. During the webinar, the marketing team uses live clipping to create highlight reels of the most impactful moments—such as the unveiling of the new product and customer testimonials during the Q&A. These clips are instantly shared on the company’s social media platforms and embedded in follow-up emails to attendees. The clips are also repurposed for future marketing campaigns, allowing the company to maximize the ROI from the live event.

Entertainment and music concerts clips

A popular music festival is being live-streamed, featuring multiple artists performing across different stages. As each artist performs, the event’s media team uses live clipping to create short, shareable clips of the most memorable moments—like a surprise duet or an artist’s hit song. These clips are instantly posted on social media, driving real-time engagement and encouraging fans who aren’t at the festival to tune into the live stream. The quick turnaround also allows the festival organizers to attract sponsors who want to be associated with high-visibility content.‍

Religious services and events

A large church is live-streaming its weekly service, which includes a sermon, worship music, and community announcements. The media team uses live clipping to capture key parts of the sermon that resonate deeply with the congregation. These clips are shared on the church’s social media platforms, allowing those who couldn’t attend to engage with the message. Additionally, the clips are used in the church’s weekly newsletter and as promotional content for future services, helping to build a stronger connection with the community and attract new members.

Educational webinars and online courses clips

An educational platform is live-streaming a guest lecture from a renowned expert as part of an online course. During the lecture, the platform’s team uses live clipping to highlight key insights and moments where the expert shares valuable information. These clips are then made available to students immediately after the session, enabling them to review important content at their convenience. The clips are also shared on social media to attract potential students and promote the course, enhancing the platform’s visibility and enrolment rates.

Tips for maximizing live clipping impact

Live clipping offers broadcasters a powerful way to engage viewers and create immediate value from live streams. By effectively leveraging live clips, content creators can enhance user engagement and unlock new monetization opportunities. Below are key strategies for maximizing the impact of live clipping:

Monetization opportunities

1. Sponsored clips for social media
   By creating instant live clips from key moments during a broadcast, broadcasters can capitalize on social media reach. These clips can be sponsored by brands, allowing broadcasters to generate revenue from advertisers seeking exposure on highly engaging content.
2. Exclusive highlights for paid subscribers
   Offer exclusive access to live stream highlights or key moments captured through live clipping as part of a subscription service. By restricting these clips to paid subscribers, broadcasters can enhance the value of their subscription model and incentivize new sign-ups.
3. Ad placements in shared clips
   Integrating advertisements within live clips provides an opportunity for monetization. Whether placed at the beginning, middle, or end of clips, ad placements can be used to generate revenue from third-party advertisers, while still maintaining the focus on the engaging content of the live clip.

By strategically using live clipping, broadcasters can increase viewer interaction, boost content sharing, and maximize revenue potential through multiple monetization avenues.

Final words

Live clipping isn't just about capturing moments; it's about transforming the way content is delivered and consumed. From driving real-time engagement to maximizing content reach across platforms, live clipping offers a dynamic tool for content creators and broadcasters.

FastPix offers everything you need to enhance your live streams, from instant clipping to simulcasting. Check out FastPix’s live streaming solutions and see how we can help you build workflows that capture every moment with precision and deliver them effortlessly to your audience.

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