About
Kaltura Live Studio is a live event type in the Video Portal that uses a single event link for everyone. Based on each participant’s role, Live Studio automatically directs users to the correct experience, so there’s no need to manage separate moderator or attendee URLs.
With one shared link:
- Attendees land on the event page, where they can watch the live stream and use engagement tools.
- Event team members (owners, co-editors, speakers, moderators, panelists, and admins) are taken to the studio view, where they can prepare, run, and monitor the broadcast.
This role-aware entry streamlines setup and makes sure everyone arrives in the right place, ready to participate.
Live Studio events always open in the Theming layout even if the Theming module isn't enabled. You only need to enable the Theming module if you want to customize the header.
Key features
- Single event link – one link for everyone, no separate URLs to manage
- Role-aware access – everyone joins through the same link, and Live Studio automatically opens the correct view (Studio or Attendee) based on their permissions
- Flexible presenter and moderator roles – Live Studio supports presenters, webcast moderators, chat moderators, and viewers, so event teams can share responsibilities without exposing full event controls.
- Attendee-controlled layouts – Attendees can switch between layouts (for example, side-by-side or focused views), depending on the event type.
- Reliable streaming and monitoring – Studio view includes preview mode, real-time stream health indicators, and monitoring tools.
- Audience engagement tools – chat, Q&A, polls, and related media
- Recording availability – events can be watched later as VOD, unless the owner removes the recording
Session types in Live Studio
Live Studio supports two session types. The options you see depend on what your administrator has enabled. You may see only one option if your administrator has limited the available session types.
| Session type | Best for | Event team experience | Attendee experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual studio broadcast | Multi-speaker events such as town halls, all-hands, or panel discussions | Full Kaltura Room experience with green room, storyboard, chat, and collaboration | Event page with live player, chat, Q&A, polls, and related media |
| External broadcast | Single-speaker sessions or events streamed using an external encoder (RTMP) | Simplified studio page for monitoring the encoder stream and engaging through chat and Q&A | Event page with live player, chat, Q&A, polls, and related media |
Event flow: what participants see
Live Studio uses a single event page before, during, and after the session. The experience changes automatically as the event goes live.
Before the event (Lobby)
When attendees open the event link, they land on the lobby page. Depending on what the event owner has enabled, the lobby may show:
- Event title, description, and schedule
- Speaker panel
- Chat, Q&A, and related media
- A message stating that the event hasn’t started yet
During the event (Live broadcast)
When the event goes live, the page switches to the live player automatically. Attendees can:
- Watch the live stream
- Use engagement tools such as Chat, Q&A, polls, and interactions
- View presenter details and related media
- Choose between available layout options, such as focused or side-by-side views
After the event (Recording)
When the event ends, the same page becomes the VOD recording page. If the recording is removed by the owner, the page returns to the lobby view.
