Delivering a smooth, reliable live stream at scale starts with the right distribution setup. In the latest for our YouTube channel, we walk through how to create an HLS destination in Virtual Video Control Room, giving you a powerful way to distribute live video using AWS CloudFront’s global CDN.
To get started, head to your Organization Settings in VVCR by clicking your user icon and selecting Organization, then Settings. Under the AWS CloudFront section, enable HLS caching. This step is key—it activates CloudFront and automatically creates a CDN-backed distribution using your organization’s domain (for example, yourdomain.bcr.live). Any HLS streams accessed through this URL will benefit from fast, globally cached delivery.
You’ll also notice two optional features: Web Application Firewall (WAF) and Origin Shield. WAF helps protect your HLS endpoints from potential DDoS attacks, while Origin Shield optimizes performance for high-traffic streams by reducing load on the origin. Both options offer real advantages for large-scale broadcasts, but they do come with additional AWS costs, so enable them thoughtfully based on your needs.
Once HLS caching is enabled, create a new cluster with transcoding turned on. From there, set up or select an existing stream, making sure Transcode to NDI is enabled if required for your workflow. Next, create a new destination, choose HLS Origin as the output type, and select either your original stream or a transcoding preset.
After saving, your HLS destination will begin running immediately. You’ll see both a standard preview link and a CDN-backed distribution link—use the distribution link to take full advantage of CloudFront caching, WAF, and Origin Shield. Embed this link on your website, and your stream is ready to go.
With HLS destinations in VVCR, you get scalable, secure live streaming built for modern audiences—no extra complexity required.
