Adaptive bitrate streaming, or ABR, is the technology that ensures every viewer gets the best possible video quality for their internet connection. It is one of the most important features of any modern streaming platform.
The problem ABR solves
Not every viewer has the same internet speed. Some are on fast broadband; others are on slow mobile connections. Without ABR, you would need to choose a single quality level for everyone. Set it high and slow connections buffer. Set it low and fast connections get unnecessary poor quality.
ABR solves this by creating multiple quality levels of your stream simultaneously. Each viewer player selects the appropriate quality based on their current connection speed.
How it works
When you send your stream to the platform, the platform transcodes it into several versions: for example, 1080p, 720p, 480p, and 360p. Each version has a different bitrate and resolution.
The viewer player starts by downloading a low-quality segment, measures the download speed, and then switches to the highest quality it can sustain without buffering. If the connection degrades, the player automatically drops to a lower quality.
Why it matters for paid streams
Buffering is the number one cause of viewer complaints and refund requests. ABR virtually eliminates buffering by adapting to the viewer connection in real time.
A smooth viewing experience, even at a slightly lower resolution, is always better than a beautiful but constantly buffering high-resolution stream.
Smooth streams for every viewer
PassCast uses Mux with adaptive bitrate streaming to ensure every viewer gets the best quality their connection can handle.
Get started free