Asking for advice: Remote stream hosting idea

I want to create a service wherein customers send video feed to a remote system that’s handling all the encoding, and sends the user’s streams to Twitch/Youtube. This idea, unless thought somehow otherwise, I’ve figured, can only be done with a custom built app that the user can do everything in.

I want to clarify the server side of this app is “remoted in” (without kb/m control) in the same fashion as the RDP protocol, or apps like Teamviewer or Parsec, and then encoding and streaming to whatever platform the user specifies. And also, receiving/syncing audio/webcam footage for the stream, this is a must.

On the user side, there would need to be an interface capable of resizing desktop feed, webcams, as well as potential for overlay pngs and browser links, as well as input fields for stream keys, etc., this all very similar in function to OBS’ capabilities.

Essentially, the idea is to offer a paid service where people can encode their stream on a remote system at no performance cost to them. I think this would be useful to potentially tons of people, however I’m completely unsure of where to get started. I feel like I have a decent understand of the server aspect of this, the only thing I’m really scratching my head on for this idea is how feasible it truly is.

Basically I’m kinda just lookin for any guidance anyone might have for me on whether on not moving forward on this is in fact worth it, or possible even. Appreciate anyone who leaves a response, and I’ll be happy to answer any questions.

Isn’t this just restream?

As in do transcoding down to various resolutions for twitch? If so, it could potentially save performance.

Encoding shouldn’t have a significant performance impact if you are using a modern gpu. The encoding quality compared to x264 is about the same

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Well, see this is the kind of information I don’t know much about… transcoding is what’s affecting performance here most of the time? When I stream, and I’m sure other people with mid-high range systems are trying, to me it seems the higher quality your settings are set in obs, the higher performance cost there is.

My goal is to give people the ability to remove the performance cost completely from obs by essentially running it on one of my remote systems, while actually getting the best quality possible, with respectable latency. Like I said, I’m unsure of the difference in individual performance effects from the broadcasting software on the system. I’m primarily concerned with applicability in a potential program that I might find development for possibly.

edit: After checking out ReStream I’m unimpressed with the personalization choices. Now it very well could be similar, though from what I’ve seen, it’s focused around multi-streaming (streaming to multiple platforms).

p.s i have a intel a770 and it rocks, personally can’t wait til av1 is mainstream.

If your goal is to offload the encoding load from the local computer, then you should know that using Parsec is even more resource intensive than doing a normal RTMP stream, and it would lower quality. There really isn’t a way to get the image off the local system without either having a local capture card or using local resources.

If your goal is to do a one-to-many stream, then something like restream running on a VPS would do the same thing, but with less quality loss than Parsec.

This idea came from the capabilities that I’ve seen RDP have recently after configuring a home server. If the video stream is coming through network wouldn’t it be the best quality? I’m thinking the app could view the system through rdp (with client consent), and capture/stream that as the desktop footage.

edit: Also the quality may in fact be diminished compared to obs in parsec, but the performance cost after my tests are way lower with the latter of two.

edit 2: Been thinking about it a little more and lookin I’ve found NDI, potentially this could be incorporated. Also a friend of mine tells me there is a way you can do a “view-only” RDP session. I’m finding multiple things showing me this could in fact be possible. I guess I just need to find someone with knowledge enough in this realm that would be willing to lend a hand, or at least offer some tidbits to help me along.