10 Ways to Maximize Streaming Performance

Aug 26, 2023

Estimated Read Time: 4-6 minutes

By Rob Chilton

When it works, technology is amazing! When it doesn’t, it can be downright frustrating. Fortunately, we’re utilizing top web and video hosting services to provide you near-perfect performance on our end. If you’re experiencing streaming playback issues, it's likely related to one or more local factors that can be easily resolved. Here are 10 ways to improve your streaming performance.

1. Display Method: Direct or Casting?

Sometimes, we think the problem is the internet connection when it’s actually the display method. To better understand this, let’s discuss two common display methods:

Direct Display: This refers to connecting your source device (desktop, laptop, etc.) directly to your display device (TV, smart screen, projector, etc.) using a wired connection, such as HDMI.
Casting Display: This is when your source device (desktop, laptop, etc.) sends the video signal wirelessly to your casting device (Chromecast, Apple TV, Miracast, etc.) which then sends the video signal directly to your display device (TV, smart screen, projector, etc.) using a wired connection, such as HDMI.

Direct display is your best option. Casting complicates streaming because the video signal jumps wirelessly from the source device to the casting device. Then, the casting device decodes the signal before sending it to the display device.

If you’re casting, keep in mind that not every make and model of source device works the same with every make and model of casting device. For example, a small number of users have reported issues casting video from an Apple MacBook to an Apple TV, but not from an Apple iPhone or iPad to an Apple TV.

Experiment with different devices to see which provides the best results. In general, higher-quality devices perform better.

2. Refresh Your Browser Before Each Class or Playback

Avoid dragging the scrub bar from the end of the video to the beginning to replay the lesson.

Instead, refresh your browser between classes in order to establish a fresh and stable connection with our host. This has been reported by many users to solve playback issues, especially later in the day.

3. Quit All Other Open Applications & Browser Tabs

Quit—not just close—all other open applications, especially those related to email. On Apple (and some PCs), clicking the “X” isn’t enough. You will need to right-click each application and select “Quit” to fully close them, or they will run in the background.

In the browser you're using to stream, close all additional browser tabs.

Your goal is to free up your bandwidth, which is the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over your internet connection. For instance, your internet plan might offer speeds of 100 Mbps, but if your device has multiple open applications and browser tabs, they will share the available bandwidth, reducing what’s left for streaming. Also, keep in mind that other devices on your localized network will also use the same bandwidth.

4. Clear Your Browser’s Cache

This one works surprisingly well! Sometimes the data stored on your device from your browsing history, known as cache, can cause issues with streaming. It's like “virtual gunk” in your “network’s plumbing.” Follow these instructions to clear your cache:

Google Chrome - https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/32050
Mozilla Firefox - https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-clear-firefox-cache
Microsoft Edge - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/learning-center/how-to-manage-and-clear-your-cache-and-cookies

5. Try a Private or Incognito Browser

Streaming while in a private or incognito browser has been reported to improve performance for some users.

6. Disable “Auto” Resolution

Disabling “Auto” resolution may resolve certain playback issues. This is because “Auto” runs continually in the background, attempting to optimize resolution to match your network. While "Auto" may be a great feature at home, it’s not ideal for high-traffic networks such as schools.

7. Try Another Internet Browser

Sometimes, things run better on different browsers. Here are three of the internet’s top-rated browsers available for free download:

Google Chrome - www.google.com/chrome/
Mozilla Firefox - www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/
Microsoft Edge - www.microsoft.com/edge

8. Try an Alternate Internet Connection

The strongest internet connection is a wired connection. That means you are running a physical ethernet cable from the wall to your computer. If you’re not sure how to do this, contact your tech department.

As a test, you can also try using your cellular data or a mobile hotspot. Assuming you have good cell service, if the playback is better on your mobile device or hotspot, then the problem is likely your campus internet.

9. Report the Issue to Our Service Provider

Next time you experience an issue, right-click the video and select the option “Report a problem.”

Our service provider can only investigate problems if they know they exist. Please take a moment to report your issues! (Note: Readymade Music does not receive these reports. Inform us directly via email.)

10. Report the Issue to Your Tech Department

Many school’s these days are 1-to-1, which means every student has a school-issued device. This puts a huge strain on your Wi-Fi network! To further complicate the issue, both students and teachers commonly log their personal devices into the building's network. There could be thousands of devices connected to your school’s Wi-Fi, eating up bandwidth at any given moment!

Report persistent issues to your organization's technology department. Most tech departments will dispatch a technician to troubleshoot issues and require technicians to resolve issues before they can close them out. Your organization has to know there's a problem in order to improve or fix it!

Conclusion

We want you to have the best experience possible with Readymade Music. If after troubleshooting, you’re still experiencing issues, email us directly, and we'll talk through your setup to help you find a solution!

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About the author:

Rob Chilton is the creator and owner of Readymade Music, LLC and its content. Previously, Chilton was a middle school band director from 2007-2021. His most recent teaching position was the Head Band Director at Killian Middle School in Lewisville, Texas from 2014-2021.

Under his direction, the Killian Honors Band was named the 2018 Texas Music Educators Association CC Honor Band and performed at the annual 2018 TMEA Clinic/Convention. In 2019, the Killian Honors Band was invited to and performed at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago. Additionally, the Killian Honors Band was named a National Winner in the Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors Project in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Chilton is a graduate of Southern Methodist University where he had the opportunity to study music education under the tutelage of Lynne Jackson and Brian Merrill. During his years as a middle school band director, Chilton continued his professional growth under the guidance of his primary clinicians, John Benzer and Brian Merrill.

Chilton’s mission for Readymade Music is to promote the overall well-being of music education and support school music teachers by providing solutions to help make teaching music more efficient and inspirational while increasing engagement for 21st century learners.