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How to Use Flow Session

Flow Session is Flow Labs' real-time review room for high-quality remote collaboration. It's built for colourists, directors, DPs, editors, and producers who need low-latency, high-fidelity streaming.

What is a Flow Session​

A Flow Session is a room for live streaming and real-time collaboration. You stream into the room using WHIP, and viewers receive your video with minimal delay.

Key points:

  • Viewers receive exactly the same quality and bitrate you send.
  • Anyone with the link can join as a viewer. No account required.
  • Each session has its own viewer link.

Creating a Session​

  1. Log in to your Flow account at dashboard.flowlabs.live.
  2. Select Start new session (for an instant room) or join an existing Personal Room.
  3. Name your session (helps you identify it in your dashboard).
  4. Click Create.
  5. Flow generates a unique WHIP ingest URL for your encoder.

You stream from your encoder into the WHIP URL, not directly from Flow.

Joining a Session​

As a Host​

  1. Go to dashboard.flowlabs.live
  2. Create a new session or select a Personal Room
  3. Click Join or Start Session
  4. Configure your audio and video settings
  5. Click Join Meeting

As a Participant​

  1. Click on the session link shared with you
  2. Enter your name
  3. Allow browser permissions for camera and microphone
  4. Configure your audio and video settings
  5. Click Join Meeting
Guest Access

Participants don't need a Flow Labs account. They can join as guests with just the link.

After creating a session, you will see a viewer link. Share this with your collaborators.

  • Viewers do not need a Flow account.
  • Desktop browsers (Chrome or Edge) give the best experience.
  • Mobile works, but desktop is strongly preferred for review.
  • Viewers can join before you go live and will see a waiting state.

Session Interface​

Control Bar​

The control bar at the bottom includes:

  • Microphone: Toggle on/off and pick an input device.
  • Camera: Toggle on/off and pick a camera.
  • Share Screen: Share your screen, window, or browser tab.
  • Chat: Open the chat panel.
  • Participants: View and manage participants.
  • Streaming Controls (moderator only): Manage WHIP stream inputs.
  • Volume Controls: Adjust playback volume when a stream is active.
  • Session Notes: Capture notes during the session.
  • Leave: Exit the session.

Participant View​

  • Grid View: See all participants in a grid layout.
  • Spotlight: Pin specific participants or the livestream to focus on it.
  • Fullscreen: Hide the UI for focused viewing; move your mouse to reveal controls.

Chat & Messaging​

Use the chat panel to send messages, share links, and keep a written record of discussions.

Screen Sharing​

  1. Click the Share Screen button
  2. Select what to share: Entire Screen, Window, or Tab
  3. Click Share

Note: Screen sharing is for presentations and collaboration. For high-quality streaming review, use the WHIP ingest instead.

Moderator Controls​

If you're the host/moderator, you have additional controls:

  • Participants drawer: Mute or kick participants. Approve or reject join requests.
  • Streaming Controls drawer: Manage WHIP stream inputs. Copy the URL and Stream Key.
  • Session Notes drawer: Capture notes for the session.

Streaming with WHIP​

Flow uses WHIP (WebRTC Ingest) for real-time streaming with minimal delay.

  • Flow does not transcode your stream. Viewers receive exactly what you send.
  • Flow supports high bitrates, but match your bitrate to your audience's network conditions.
  • What you send is what they see.

See the Encoder Setup page for detailed configuration.

Network Considerations​

Because Flow forwards your stream without transcoding, viewers must be able to download the same bitrate you upload. For mixed networks, target ~6 Mbps at 1080p for best compatibility.

Latency​

Host-to-viewer latency is typically 0.3 to 1.0 seconds. No transcoding means we avoid the multi-second delay common on other streaming platforms.

Quality Tiers​

Quality TierTarget BitrateNotes
Flow Lite (future)~3 MbpsFor unstable or slow networks
Flow Standard (future)~6 MbpsBest stability across typical networks
Flow Studio (current)~10 MbpsHigh quality for grading sessions

See Pricing for credit costs per quality tier.

Best Practices​

Before Joining​

  • Test your camera and microphone
  • Ensure good lighting
  • Use headphones to prevent echo
  • Check your internet connection

During the Session​

  • Mute when not speaking in large meetings
  • Use chat for links and notes
  • Enable "Do Not Disturb" on your device

For Hosts​

  • Join a few minutes early to test setup
  • Share the agenda in chat
  • Manage participants proactively

Troubleshooting​

Viewer issues​

  • Buffering or stutter: Ask the host to lower bitrate; use a stronger connection.
  • Black video: Confirm the host is live and using a supported format.
  • Audio missing: Check tab/system audio; ask the host to confirm their audio routing.

Host issues​

  • Viewers report buffering: Lower your encoder bitrate.
  • Black video or audio loss: Verify the WHIP URL and Stream Key are correct.
  • Problems persist: Check the Encoder Setup page or contact support.

For more help, see the Troubleshooting guide.

Glossary​

  • Host: The person streaming into the session using an encoder.
  • Viewer: Anyone watching the session via the shared link.
  • Bitrate: The amount of data per second in your stream.
  • WHIP: A low-latency ingest protocol for WebRTC.
  • WHIP URL: The URL your encoder streams into.
  • Session: A room that hosts a live stream and allows viewers to join.
  • Credits: The usage currency for Flow. See Pricing for details.