How to stream over RTMP on Android?

Streaming over RTMP on Android

Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) is a widely used protocol for streaming audio and video over the internet. This article will guide you on how to stream over RTMP on your Android device.

Prerequisites

• Android Studio
• An RTMP server (e.g., Wowza, Red5, FMS)
• A camera capable of recording video

Choosing an RTMP Library

Several libraries are available for RTMP streaming on Android. Here are some popular options:

1. librtmp

• A mature and widely-used library written in C.
• Requires JNI (Java Native Interface) for integration with Android.

2. Wowza GoCoder SDK

• A commercial SDK specifically designed for streaming with Wowza Media Server.
• Provides easy integration and features for advanced streaming.

3. Ant Media Server SDK

• A free and open-source SDK for streaming with Ant Media Server.
• Offers various features for live streaming, recording, and transcoding.

Setting up the Project

Follow these steps to set up your Android project for RTMP streaming:

1. Create a New Project

Start a new Android Studio project with an empty activity.

2. Add the Library

Choose your desired RTMP library and integrate it into your project. For example, for librtmp, follow these steps:

• Download the librtmp source code from GitHub.
• Create a new module in your project named “librtmp” and copy the source code files into the module’s “jni” folder.
• Modify your “build.gradle” file (Module: app) to include the native library:

  android {
      ...
      sourceSets {
          main {
              jniLibs.srcDirs 'libs'
          }
      }
  }
  

• Add the “librtmp.so” library file to the “libs” folder of your project.
• Rebuild your project.

Streaming Code

Here’s an example of how to stream video using librtmp:

package com.example.rtmpstreaming;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.util.Log;
import android.view.SurfaceView;

import com.example.rtmpstreaming.librtmp.RTMP;

public class MainActivity extends Activity {

    private static final String TAG = "MainActivity";

    private SurfaceView surfaceView;
    private RTMP rtmp;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        surfaceView = findViewById(R.id.surfaceView);

        rtmp = new RTMP(0);
        rtmp.setConnectionListener(new RTMP.ConnectionListener() {
            @Override
            public void onConnectionSuccess() {
                Log.d(TAG, "RTMP connection established");
            }

            @Override
            public void onConnectionFailed(String reason) {
                Log.e(TAG, "RTMP connection failed: " + reason);
            }
        });
        rtmp.setVideoListener(new RTMP.VideoListener() {
            @Override
            public void onVideoData(byte[] data) {
                // Handle video data
            }
        });

        // Configure RTMP settings
        rtmp.setStream(streamUrl); // Set your RTMP stream URL
        rtmp.connect(streamUrl);

        // Start streaming
        // ... (Implementation depends on your camera and encoder)

        // Stop streaming
        rtmp.disconnect();
    }
}

RTMP Servers

Here are some popular RTMP servers you can use for streaming:

Comparison of Libraries

The best library for your needs depends on your specific requirements. Consider these factors:

Conclusion

Streaming over RTMP on Android allows you to broadcast live audio and video content to viewers. By choosing the appropriate library and following the steps outlined above, you can easily implement this feature in your Android applications.