Exploring Owncast: A Unique Alternative to Twitch for Live Streaming
by Josh Bailey
This week I explore Owncast, an open source self-hosting solution for live streaming. Owncast gives creators like me complete control by allowing us to set up and run our streaming server.
I walk through the simple setup process - from signing up for a VPS provider like Hetzner to completing the one-click Owncast install in under 10 minutes. Then we dive into customizing every aspect of the platform from the admin panel.
Options include setting your instance name and description, uploading a custom logo, tweaking video quality presets, and more. I also cover social features and how to interact with followers, as well as accessing advanced customization through CSS and scripts.
By the end, I've transformed a default Owncast server into a fully customized live-streaming platform tailored to my needs and style. For any independent creators looking for alternatives to centralized services, Owncast provides a powerful open-source option worth checking out. Tune in to hear my full review!
00:00 Introduction to OwnCast
01:02 Overview of OwnCast
05:24 Integration with the Fediverse
07:53 Alternatives to OwnCast
09:21 Setting up OwnCast on Hetzner
13:42 Creating an Account on Hetzner
19:03 Logging in to the Server
19:33 Setting up OwnCast on Hetzner
22:31 Customizing Your OwnCast Instance
23:31 Changing the Password and Stream Key
25:30 Configuring Video Settings
27:00 Adding a Logo and Offline Message
28:57 Filling Out Instance Details
32:21 Hiding the Viewer Count
33:50 Controlling Search Engine Indexing
34:20 Indexing and Directory Listing
35:19 NSFW Content and Directory Visibility
36:18 Customizing Flavor Text
37:42 Using Markdown Syntax
39:09 Taking Time to Familiarize with Owncast
40:08 Chat Settings and Join Messages
41:36 Established Users Only
42:33 Blocking Offensive Names and Spam
43:02 Rocket Chat and GitHub for Help
44:27 Custom Emojis and CSS Theming
45:34 Configuring Social Features
47:51 Browser and Custom Notifications
49:20 Blocking Instances and Domains
50:49 Adding Social Links
53:04 Viewer List and Chat Log
54:35 Customizing Appearance with CSS and JavaScript
55:34 Integrations and WebHooks
56:34 Customizing Notifications
58:30 Managing Followers and Blocking Users
01:05:28 Conclusion and Q&A