Best practice for Simulive Events

Learn how Simulive could work for your next event.

The WorkCast Platform, as well as running live events, also allows you to run Simulive events. These events use pre-recorded media to play out to the audience at a scheduled time. As such, they are set up as though they are a 'live event' but without the need for any interaction at the point of the broadcast from the event organizer or presenters.

Key Requirements

• Who can create a Simulive?
  • Producer user types have access to create a simulive, Host user types do not have this option available to them.
• Media Type
  • The recorded media (MP4) must be available within your account to be able to attach to your event.
    IMPORTANT: Please ensure your media uses the following settings:
    • Video no more than 750 kbps
    • mp4 h.264 using profile "Baseline"
    • Video frame rate 25 (FPS)
    • Audio no more than 128kbps
    • AAC audio profile
    • We would recommend that your media file includes a minimum of 30 seconds of space with no content at the very start. This will assist with the pre-roll on the stream before the session content is transmitted. We would suggest this to be in the format of a holding slide with a logo.

• • • Please make sure you add a minimum of 1 minute of space with no content at the end of your media, such as a holding slide with a logo.
    • Audio Sample Rate 44100/48000

• Minimum/Maximum Media Length
  • The length of the media must be a minimum of 1 minute and a maximum of 3 hours. The WorkCast Platform will not display media outside of these requirements as options to attach to your event.
• Event Duration
  • The duration of the event will be dictated by the length of your attached media; if you schedule a live event with a 1-hour duration and attach a 42-minute piece of media, the event will run for 42 minutes.
• Can I use the Phone Bridge?
  • You have the option to dial-in to the phone bridge during the simulive broadcast to speak over the media live.
    Please note you will only be able to speak up to the length of the media, this is due to the fact the broadcast will automatically end once the media concludes.
    For example, if your media is 42 minutes and you want to dial/join the phone bridge to do a live Q and A, it would need to take place within those 42 minutes.
    To do a live element on a simulive - a Q and A at the end, you would need to allow an extended section on your media containing no audio but just a slide, this is so you can record your audio live over this.
    We do recommend you make a note of the full duration so you do know how long you have left for the Q and A and you ensure not to be cut off mid-sentence if you try to go over the allotted time. 
• Previewing your Simulive
  • You can preview your media within the WorkCast studio prior to your event.
  • Please note: Preview is only available prior to the event up until the length of the media plus 15 minutes.
    For example, if the media is 30 minutes long, the last point you can preview the media in the Media Hub is 45 minutes prior to the event start time.
  • The preview will display inside the Media Hub for presenters and will also broadcast to your audience on the main event landing page. We would suggest that you lock the auditorium page via the event interactions pod within the WorkCast studio while you are in preview mode.
  • We would recommend that you preview your media from end to end.
• Event Start Time
  • Once your is media attached, the event will begin at the start time you have set. The stream may start within 90 seconds prior to the start time to ensure the best attendee joining experience.
• Post Event
  • The Auto On-Demand option after the event has successfully completed.
  • Your event listing page and individual event page will indicate this is now available.
  • You may experience up to an additional aproximate 60 seconds added to the end of the On-Demand version of your recording. This can be trimmed, should you require, by navigating to Media within your account, selecting the On-Demand piece of media, and clicking 'Trim'.
• Using Polls in your Simulive
  • You can configure polls in your Simulive event prior to your event taking place.
  • Please ensure to add your polls in only once your media has been attached.
  • Polls will automatically be pushed to your audience at pre-configured times set against the length of the media.

Setting up a Simulive Event (Producer user)

Simply follow the steps below to create a Simulive event.

1. Create Event

Create a Live Event from the Create Events tab within your account. Set a date, time, and duration, and click proceed.

2. Set to Simulive

Navigate to your event, and within Event Setup select the Simulive radio button option. You will then see a popup appear, close the popup, and hit Save.

3. Upload/Attach Media

You should now see the Slides tab has changed to Media. A holding piece of media is attached by default. You are then able to select the Choose Existing button underneath the holding media to attach your desired piece of media. If you do not see a Choose Existing option then there are no MP4 media available within your account.

4. Previewing Event

Once you have attached your media hit Publish Draft. You can now hit the Run Event button to launch the WorkCast Studio. The Media Hub tab will show you a countdown clock until the event begins. If you are within the available preview time you can hit Preview to see your media play. This will broadcast in the Media Hub and on the event's Auditorium page.

If you choose to preview your media we advise locking your Auditorium temporarily until you have completed the preview process. This prevents any viewers who may be visiting your auditorium page at that time from seeing your broadcast content.

To do this, visit the Auditorium Interactions module within the WorkCast Studio. Be sure to unlock the Auditorium once complete so viewers can access the page on the broadcast date.

Once in preview mode, the bar under the media player will turn red and have the message displaying "Session in progress" and a blue stop button. This is will allow you to stop the preview of media at any time you wish.

5. Final Checks

• The scheduled event date, time, and duration are correct.
• The correct piece of media is attached to the event (especially if multiple different edits have been uploaded).
• Any polls have been added to the event ready to be pushed out during the live event (added via Extras tab).
• The draft of your event has been published.
• The auditorium has been unlocked if previously locked.

Your event will now be broadcast within your auditorium page at the scheduled start time.