Pixel Streaming Video Quality: Quality Levels, Resolution, and Bandwidth

Pixel streaming video quality depends on three things: the quality level you request, the resolution you stream at, and the bandwidth your viewer has. On Eagle 3D Streaming, you control the first two. The third decides what viewers actually see.

This guide explains each setting, the default values, and how much bandwidth to plan for. It also shows how to change quality while a stream runs.

What are the video quality levels?

Eagle 3D Streaming has four levels: low, medium, high, and ultra. The names are not case-sensitive, and every new app starts at medium, according to the video quality doc.

A level is a request, not a guarantee. The encoder delivers the best picture the viewer's connection can carry. If you request ultra for a viewer on a weak connection, they still get the best picture their line allows.

Where can you set video quality?

The most recent request wins. A change from the viewer or your page overrides the Control Panel starting level for that session. The settings bar doc describes the viewer menu.

Keep these rules in mind:

• Send iframe messages after the stream is playing. Earlier messages are lost.
• An unknown value changes nothing. The Web SDK call returns an error that lists the accepted values.
• Spectators cannot change quality. Only the person in control can.

Need to change quality from inside Unreal? The doc suggests sending a message from Unreal to your web page, then letting the page call the iframe or Web SDK. Not sure which embed to choose? Read iframe vs Web SDK, the iframe or Web SDK doc, and the Web SDK feature page. The Web SDK demo manual lets you try the calls.

Is there automatic quality?

Not yet. The doc says automatic quality, which would raise or lower the picture as the connection changes, is planned for a later release.

What about setQualityPoint?

It still works, but the doc says not to use it in new work. Lower numbers mean better pictures, and the values map to levels like this:

Other values from 0 to 51 are accepted, but their effect depends on the app's Unreal version.

How does resolution affect video quality?

Resolution sets the size of the picture. Quality sets how well each frame is encoded. Both draw on the same bandwidth.

Eagle 3D Streaming offers two modes under Browser Resolution, per the resolution doc:

• Dynamic (default). The picture matches each viewer's window and updates when the window resizes or a phone rotates, at most about three times per second. When bandwidth runs short, the stream lowers picture quality rather than size, and it does not stop.
• Custom. One fixed width and height for everyone. A mismatched window scales the picture to fit. Both boxes need a number, or the setting falls back to Dynamic.

Guests watch at a fixed size and cannot change it. Only the session starter controls resolution.

Which resolution should you pick?

The doc gives clear guidance:

• Use Dynamic when viewers are known and well connected.
• Use fixed 1280 × 720 for unknown audiences, public links, and QR codes.
• Use 1920 × 1080 unless you have a specific reason not to.
• Use even width and height values in Custom mode.
• Do not set a size larger than the viewers' screens can show.

If your picture shows empty bands around the scene, see the black bars doc.

How much bandwidth does pixel streaming need?

The resolution doc lists recommended bandwidth for the viewer's connection:

The measured figures come from 2,547 sessions at 720p and 1,305 at 1080p. The 1440p and 4K figures are estimates, since the doc reports only four 1440p sessions and one 4K session. The recommended figures sit above the busiest measured values, so connections do not stutter when the picture moves.

A single stream is capped at 20 Mbps regardless of connection speed. The cap does not touch 720p or 1080p, but it limits 4K quality.

How can you check a viewer's connection?

The connection health doc says the platform reports round trip, lost packets, jitter, bitrate, frame rate, and picture size every 5 seconds once the video starts. Your page can read them through the live connection state API.

Two practical tips from that doc:

• Run any speed test before the video starts. A test during the stream shares the connection with the video, so the picture can look blurry or stutter until the test ends. Quality recovers within seconds afterward.
• During the stream, read the live numbers instead of running tests. Reading them adds nothing to the connection.

Our guide to pixel streaming connection speed tests explains both approaches, and the connection test doc covers the details.

What if the stream still looks poor?

If frames drop, start with these:

• Low FPS in pixel streaming: 5 reasons your stream is dropping frames
• Performance optimization for pixel streaming: the complete guide
• The Optimise your app doc
• The performance FAQ and the system requirements FAQ

FAQ

What is the default pixel streaming video quality on Eagle 3D Streaming?

medium. Every new app starts there, and you can change the starting level in the Control Panel.

How many quality levels are there?

Four: low, medium, high, and ultra.

Can viewers change the quality themselves?

Yes. The settings bar has a Quality menu with Ultra, High, Medium, and Low. Spectators cannot change quality; only the person in control can.

How much bandwidth do I need for 1080p?

The doc recommends about 15 Mbps for 1920 × 1080 and about 10 Mbps for 1280 × 720.

Does a higher quality level guarantee a sharper picture?

No. A level is a request. The encoder delivers the best picture the connection can carry.

Can I change quality from my Unreal app?

Not directly. Send a message from Unreal to your web page, and let the page call the iframe or Web SDK.

Match quality, resolution, and bandwidth to your audience

Start with Dynamic resolution and medium quality, then raise the level for well-connected viewers. For public links, fix the resolution at 720p. Pixel streaming video quality is a balance between what you ask for and what the viewer's connection can carry.

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Sources

• Eagle 3D Streaming docs: Video quality
• Eagle 3D Streaming docs: Resolution
• Eagle 3D Streaming docs: Connection health
• Eagle 3D Streaming docs: Settings bar