| Criterion | WebRTC | RTMP |
|---|---|---|
| Transport latency | ~100 ms | 3–30 s |
| Direction | Bidirectional | Unidirectional |
| Audio | Opus 48 kHz (music) | AAC (often voice) |
| Interactivity | Jam, rehearsal, talkback | Broadcast only |
| Viewer access | Browser, no install | Player or third-party app |
| Best music use case | Interactive concert, group rehearsal | Relay to mainstream platforms |
When is WebRTC preferable to RTMP one-way ingest?
RTMP excels pushing a finished mix outbound — WebRTC excels closed loops among musicians. You pick the pairing that matches choreography.
Which network hygiene keeps latency predictable?
Favor ethernet, mute unused tabs hogging uplink, and schedule heavy downloads away from rehearsals. Gniark surfaces performance tuned for artistry, yet physics still demands wise routing.
Does low latency unlock hybrid gigs?
Remote collaborators can punch in cues alongside on-site PA without perceptible slapback. Audience streaming can still leverage separate paths if latency budgets differ.
How does this relate to conferencing apps?
Meeting apps optimise speech bandwidth and aggressive suppression — bad news for cymbals or bowed strings. Consult our comparative pages when stakeholders ask plainly.
Frequently asked questions
WebRTC or RTMP for music live streaming?
WebRTC fits when you play, rehearse, or interact in real time (~100 ms latency). RTMP remains useful to relay to YouTube or Twitch. Gniark Live prioritizes WebRTC + Opus 48 kHz for music.
What latency should bands expect?
Expectations hinge on geography and routing — test before mission-critical rehearsals.
Can we combine WHIP ingestion with musicians in-browser?
Yes — plan engineering using our OBS/WHIP resources when hardware mixers anchor the feed.
Does mobile safari work?
Mobile browsers fluctuate — desktop Chrome/Firefox/Edge combinations remain rehearsal gold standards.
Is Dolby Atmos or spatial mandatory?
Stereo-friendly Opus suffices for many acts — immersive audio remains future roadmap chatter unless you bespoke it externally.
Is WebRTC suited to interactive concerts?
Yes when the audience or musicians must react in real time. RTMP can complement as a delayed relay.
Do viewers need to install an app?
No. The browser is enough, which reduces drop-off before the concert starts.
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