Do you remember that feeling when you first realized that your go-to production suite just added one of those features that eliminated a painfully laborious part of your workflow (and all the headaches that came with it)?
There are simply few better feelings than shrugging off the tedium and spending your time and energy actually being creative.
But that means you’ve likely also suffered the other end of the spectrum: pouring yourself into your work for months on end, ready to showcase your ability to bring a collaborative vision to fruition… only to watch in agony as Frame.io and the internet tag team against you, lagging your project into ab… so… lute… ob… scur… i… ty.
Whether you’re trying to share footage, dailies, or trailers, get feedback on in-progress game development, or collaborate with others, lag is the killer of all things productive.
Here are the most popular workarounds (and one powerful alternative) to live stream Frame.io without lag, ensuring a smooth editing session.
Why streaming Frame.io usually causes lag
Consumer-grade video conferencing tools commonly lack the processing power for smooth media collaboration. Several factors create this performance bottleneck.
Competing performance priorities
When video is shared through certain conferencing tools, those platforms often compress the feed to prioritize bandwidth and stability. This happens by either inherently reducing the frame rate or downsampling the resolution to maintain a higher frame rate. This causes the playback to be choppy or laggy, even if the original video plays smoothly in Frame.io.
Competing network priorities
Frame.io needs consistent, high-speed internet for smooth playback, especially with source files or high-resolution proxies. Live streaming consumes most of your upload bandwidth. When both compete for the same connection, lag is inevitable.
Let's say you're streaming a 4K trailer review. Frame.io needs 25 Mbps for smooth playback, while your Zoom stream requires 15 Mbps upload. If your connection only provides 30 Mbps upload, one will suffer.
Overloading CPU/GPU
Both Frame.io and streaming software demand heavy processing power. Playing back high-resolution video while encoding a live stream often maxes out your system resources.
Your computer might handle Frame.io perfectly alone, but add live streaming and encoding, and performance drops significantly.
Browser memory/threading availability issues
Frame.io runs in your browser, competing with other tabs and processes for memory and processing threads. When you're streaming while running multiple browser tabs, Frame.io often buffers or freezes as resources run out.
CPU/GPU vs bandwidth
Audio and video compression reduces network load but increases CPU strain for decoding. Even high-end machines on fast networks must compromise somewhere in the streaming process.
Despite these issues (and more), it is still possible to stream Frame.io without lag. So let’s dive into those solutions and workarounds.
5 ways to live stream Frame.io without lag
Evercast
While the workarounds below still work for some, Evercast is a more effective solution. Why?
Instead of cobbling together multiple tools to handle conferencing, live streaming, and feedback, Evercast delivers all of it in a single, studio-approved platform. Not only does it reduce complexity, but also minimizes the risk of technical issues and creates a smooth, efficient production pipeline.
Built with creatives, post-production teams, agencies, and even stakeholders in mind, Evercast enables frame-accurate streaming up to 4K at 60fps with ultra-low latency and up to 10-bit 4:4:4 color fidelity. Combined with powerful features like multi-source input, interactive annotations, and session recording, it allows creative teams to collaborate as if they were in the same room—even when spread across multiple continents. Just ask Jorge Gutiérrez, creator/writer/director of Maya and the Three:
“As if created by the editing gods, Evercast saved our production on ‘Maya and the Three!’ Our brilliant editor Myra López and I loved collaborating on it so much we might never be in the same room again.”
With security approval from every major studio and around-the-clock support, Evercast doesn’t just match the needs of high-end productions—it anticipates them.
Pros
- Broadcasts up to 4K/60fps from virtually any source, including live cameras, any creative software, and media files, all in real-time with globally low latency (<100ms)
- Offers industry-leading, studio-quality streaming with full-spectrum audio and multi-channel surround sound, as well as color precision up to 10-bit 4:4:4 color (when streaming from Blackmagic DeckLink or local files)
- Designed for seamless collaboration, with features like real-time annotations, group chat, screen sharing, and session recording with interactive playback
- Endorsed by top studios, game developers, and ad agencies for its enterprise-level security, including encryption, watermarking, and SSO integration
- Around-the-clock white glove technical support for urgent needs and uninterrupted workflows
- Seamlessly integrates across platforms with access through Chrome or dedicated apps for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Apple TV
Cons
- Tailored for professional-grade workflows, which may be excessive for casual or hobbyist use
- Premium pricing reflects its enterprise-level features (though flexible project-based billing is available)
To see all the benefits this platform offers, you can learn more about Evercast here, or book a personalized demo for your next editing session.
Create together remotely, in real time
OBS + NDI
Using an OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) with an NDI (Network Device Interface) allows you to split tasks across multiple devices—optimizing performance before merging feeds into a high-quality video stream.
For example, you might run Frame.io on one computer while video conferencing on another. By routing the editing output to your conferencing setup, you maintain quality without overloading a single system.
Pros
- Seamlessly integrates with Zoom for client and team-friendly feedback and collaboration
- Greater control over audio and video settings than typical consumer-level streaming platforms, allowing for higher-quality streams
Cons
- Increases system and process complexity, as well as potential points of failure
- Virtual camera features may not be suitable for high-end projects
- Relies on local network routing, which can add latency due to non-optimizing conferencing tools
- Requires setup of moderately complex plugins, tools, and platform specific software
For a more detailed breakdown of this solution, check out our article on using NDI for streaming.
Zoom + NDI
Integrating NDI with Zoom significantly enhances the platform’s capabilities, surpassing what Zoom alone can offer. By offloading video processing and routing tasks across multiple devices, this setup allows for higher-quality, low-latency streams. It creates a more effective and professional workflow—enabling creatives and collaborators to share polished visuals in real time without overburdening a single machine.
Pros
- Offers improved streaming control compared to standard Zoom screen sharing
- Delivers high-resolution video (up to 1080p) with minimal latency
Cons
- The 1080p cap may not meet the resolution needs of many video professionals
- Involves technical setup and regular maintenance, including configuring the NDI and associated tools, as well as managing settings within the Zoom Web Portal
- Requires specific Zoom prerequisites, including an active Zoom Rooms license and controller, compatible hardware, and NDI-supported tools
- Forces editors to choose between streaming their NDI feed or their webcam, which can hinder clear, real-time communication
- Audio control within Zoom is limited, which may be insufficient for more demanding production and creative workflows
For a more detailed breakdown of this solution, check out our article on how to use Zoom Rooms + NDI for streaming.
Zoom + OBS
OBS is a free and open-source tool widely used for live streaming and screen recording. As one of the most budget-friendly options, it proves greater control over video quality and presentation than a typical Zoom meeting. Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux, it’s accessible to a wide range of users across platforms.
While OBS can improve visual output, it doesn’t offer the streamlined features or built-in collaboration tools found in more specialized solutions. Its technical demands and limitations can also pose challenges, especially in fast-paced or feedback-heavy environments.
Pros
- Cross-platform compatible
- Free/cost-effective for individuals and small teams
- Better video quality than standard Zoom sharing
Cons
- High CPU usage may cause performance issues during live sessions
- Reliability can suffer due to integration gaps between OBS, Zoom, and individual user setups
- Interface is unintuitive and can be difficult for new users to navigate
- Requires manual setup and ongoing updates for both OBS and Zoom
- No built-in tools for comments or annotations, making communication and feedback more often stop-and-go than real-time
For a more detailed breakdown of this solution, check out our article on how to use OBS with Zoom for streaming.
Remote desktop
Remote desktop platforms such as Splashtop and Jump Desktop offer a wide range of options. Regardless of the provider, the core experience is largely the same: remote access to another machine, as if you were sitting in front of it—which can be especially useful for high-performance, graphics-intensive workflows.
That said, while remote desktops may excel in scenarios that demand direct control and responsiveness, they tend to fall short when used as a collaboration platform, as their limitations often overshadow their strengths.
Pros
- Often includes robust security protocols for secure connections
- Well-suited for hands-on work involving graphics or high CPU demand
Cons
- Primarily designed for single-user control, not for collaborating across assets, storage, or workspaces
- Providing or requesting remote access can raise concerns, especially when sensitive data is involved
- Lacks built-in tools for meetings and collaborative work alike, as it requires separate software for conferencing, communicating, and multi-user, hands-on activities
Although there are undoubtedly plenty of workarounds that allow you to live stream Frame.io without lag (or any other high-quality media production projects), ultimately, there is really only one solution that avoids compromise and provides all the essential features in one streamlined, professional-grade package: Evercast.
Learn more about Evercast here.
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