Multi-Source Live is a powerful feature in CommentSold that allows you to add an additional live feed to your broadcast, giving you more flexibility and control over how your live sales are presented to shoppers. Whether you want to highlight product details, feature multiple angles, or bring in a guest host, Multi-Source Live makes it easy to enhance the live shopping experience.
Why Use Multi-Source Live?
- Showcase products from multiple angles. Add a second camera feed to display close-ups or different perspectives without disrupting your main broadcast.
- Feature multiple models or product variations. Show different sizes, colors, or styles side-by-side to help shoppers make informed purchasing decisions.
- Invite a guest host. Collaborate with a co-host to engage shoppers, demonstrate products, or bring in expert insights.
- Control how your feeds appear. Choose from fullscreen, split screen, or picture-in-picture views to customize the shopper experience.
How Multi-Source Live Works
Two Feeds in One
With Multi-Source Live, your two feeds appear in the same frame, and you have full control over their layout. You can switch between different display modes depending on what best showcases your products.
No CS Broadcast App Needed
Instead of using the CS Broadcast app, you’ll launch a browser-based camera using links from your Multi-Host Live Sale Overview. This simplifies the setup process and allows you to easily add a second feed from another device.
Add a Second Feed Anytime
You don’t need to add the guest before going live. If needed, you can introduce the additional feed while on-air via the Multi-Source Live Sale Overview.
Full Control Over Additional Feeds
You decide when and how the additional camera feed appears to your shoppers. Turn it on when showcasing products that need an extra view and turn it off when it's not necessary.
Inviting a Guest Host
Multi-Source Live isn’t just about adding camera angles—it also allows you to invite a guest host to join your live sale. Below, we walk through how to: Multi Multi-host multihost
- Send an invitation link to a guest host.
- Manage their feed during the broadcast.
- Control their appearance in the live sale layout.
By using Multi-Source Live, you can create a more dynamic and engaging shopping experience, making it easier to showcase your products and interact with your audience in real time.
Go Live with Multi-Source
Your first step is to start your host feed. At this stage, you’re simply transmitting your audio and video feeds to the Live Sale Overview for a preview–these feeds are not live yet.
There are three ways to start the feed: by scanning a QR code, copying and sending a link, or using the device where you or a team member are managing the sale.
Step 1: Start Your Live Stream
- Select Live in the side menu of your CommentSold dashboard.
- Select Multisource Live from the options listed at the top of the page.
- Select how you wish to start your host feed.
- Scan QR Code. Scan the QR code using the camera on the device the host will use to transmit the audio and visual feeds. The host will be prompted to log in using their CommentSold credentials.
- Copy Link. Select this option to copy the browser-based broadcast link to your device. You can then text or email it to the main host’s device. This is a great option if your main host is in a different location than the team member managing the live sale. A main host will be prompted to log in using their CommentSold credentials.
- Go Live on This Device. If the host plans to use the device where they’re viewing this page to broadcast their feeds, they can select this button or select the QR code to launch the browser-based broadcast window in a new tab.
Step 2: Invite & Manage Guest Hosts (Optional)
Once you have the host’s stream preview visible on your Live Overview, you can launch the broadcast browser window on your guest device. You won’t be asked to log in on this device.
- Select Invite Guest at the bottom of the Live Stream Setup section.
- On the Live Link Invitation pop-up, you have two options:
- Scan the QR Code. Scan the QR code using your device’s camera and choose the option to Share the link. This will allow you to send the link to the guest device via email, text, or other options available on your device.
- Copy Live Link. Copy the live link to your desktop clipboard, then paste it in a message or email to the guest device.
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On the guest device, tap the link. This launches a broadcast camera window on the device’s browser. If this is the first time using this device, you’ll need to allow the broadcast app to use the device’s camera and microphone. You can then tap the red record button to share the feed to your Multi-Source Live Sale Overview. If your guest is in the same room as the host, we recommend muting the feed at this stage to remove background noise and echo. |
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Remove the Guest Feed from Your Live Sale
You have two options when removing the guest feed from your live sale: send the feed back into a “waiting room” or “off-air” state or end the guest feed completely.
- Select the red X in the top-right corner of the guest feed.
- On the Remove Guest Host from Live pop-up, select your desired option:
- Send to waiting room. This option sends the feed to the “backstage” or “off-air” area where it can be added back later. To add it back in, simply select Add to Live to add them back.
- Remove and deactivate invite link. This option removes the guest feed from the live and ends the device’s connection to the live sale. If you need to add the feed back, you’ll need to re-invite the device.
- Select Remove Guest Host.
Step 3: Choose Which Products You Want to Sell
When it comes to selecting products for your live sale, you have two options: you can create a product selection ahead of the live sale or you can scan or add items on the fly.
If you wish to feature a product selection in your live sale, then you will need to create a product selection prior to going live. You'll also want to order these items in the order you wish to feature them during the sale.
- Locate the Products section on the left side of your overview, beneath your live broadcast preview.
- Select Choose Product Selection from the options listed. Learn how to create a product selection here.
- From the pop-up window, select which product selection you'd like to feature in the live sale.
- Select Next.
Dynamic product selection allows you to create product selections on the fly by entering or scanning items during your live sale. This approach gives your shop the flexibility to add items before or during the sale and to adapt which products you feature based on the response you're getting from your viewers.
- Locate the Products section on the left side of your overview, beneath your live broadcast preview.
- Select Use Dynamic Selection from the options listed.
- Choose your products.
- Using a scanner? You can scan the barcode of an item to pull up the details and feature it in your live sale.
- Adding items on the fly? Simply select Add Product at the top of this section to view available products. When you find one to add, select the Add button at the right of the item's row. You can also search for an item by the item name or SKU.
Items you've scanned or added will appear under the Products header. Simply select a product when you're ready to feature it in the live overlay at the top of your live sale broadcast. If you scan items, you can expect a 10-15 seconds delay before the product displays in the live overlay.
If you need to make any last-minute edits to an item, select the product’s name. This will open a new window where you can make changes.
You'll have the option to save your dynamic product selection when you end your live sale. Note that a product selection is required if you wish for shoppers to shop the live sale replay.
Step 4: Choose Where to Go Live
- Locate the Real-Time Comments section on the right side of your overview, and select Choose Where to Go Live.
- Choose whether to Go Live Normally or to Copy & Paste Your Stream URLs. You would choose the second option if you wish to live stream on Facebook using stream keys.
- Select the checkboxes next to the channels where you want to broadcast your live sale.
- When you are ready to ✨ GO LIVE ✨ select Go Live in the bottom-right corner of the pop-up window.
Add the Guest to Your Live Sale Broadcast
Once you start a live sale, the guest feed moves to a “backstage” or “waiting room” area. You will need to add this source to your live sale broadcast.
- Locate the guest host feed to the right of the main feed and select Add to Live.
- In the Add Guest to Live pop-up, choose how you wish the guest feed to appear:
- Full screen. The solid blue option on the left will show the host or the guest as the primary feed. You can select the rotate icon on the right side of the pop-up to reverse which feed appears full screen.
- Split screen. Divide the screen equally between the host and the guest. Feeds stack on top of each other and selecting the rotate icon on the right side of the pop-up changes which feed appears at the top.
- Picture-in-picture. Have the guest feed appear in the bottom-right corner of the host’s feed. Select the rotate icon on the right side of the pop-up to swap the feed locations.
- Once you choose your desired appearance, select Add to Live.
When your guest is live, you will see a red recording icon in the top-left corner of the feed. Your main preview will also reflect the view you just chose.
Manage How Customers See Your Screen
Beneath the main feed, you’ll see three options that control how the host and guest feeds appear. These options are identical to those offered when you added the guest to the live.
- Full screen. The solid blue option on the left will show either the host or guest as the primary feed.
- Split screen. Divide the screen equally between the host and guest. Feeds stack on top of each other.
- Picture-in-picture. Have the guest feed appear in the bottom-right corner of the host’s feed.
With each option, you can select the rotate icon to the right of the options to switch perspectives (i.e., feature the guest host feed as primary with the host feed as the picture-in-picture image).