Webinar is a single-track event format that can last up to 8 hours. Compared with multi-track event formats, webinars offer limited features and settings, ensuring quick and easy setup. This guide explains the differences between two webinar styles, Stage and Session, and how to set them up.
Tip: To explore the difference between a webinar and other event formats, refer to our guide on Choosing the right event format: Webinar, Virtual, Hybrid, and Onsite.
Webinar style
When creating a webinar, there are two styles available: a Stage for a professional stream powered by a backstage studio or a Session to bring your attendees on screen for a live interactive experience.
Navigate to Setup > Basics in your Event Dashboard to access and adjust the fundamental webinar settings, including the webinar style and areas. You can change these settings at any time without losing any associated data.
Stage setup
The Stage is powered by our built-in RingCentral Events Studio. The backstage link is available when selecting this option.
Alternatively, you can set up an RTMP stream when using other broadcast software. Navigate to the RTMP tab and click Generate RTMP setup. This action will provide both Preferred and Backup RTMP URLs and Stream Keys. For more information on configuring an RTMP stream, refer to our guide on Required RTMP streaming encoder settings.
Session setup
In a Session-style setup, you can configure access and specify the maximum number of participants who can join the screen.
- Unmoderated Session: Attendees can join the screen freely. Only Organizers have access to various engagement tools.
- Moderated Session: Organizers and assigned Moderators have access to various engagement tools and approve/decline Attendees' requests to join the screen. For more information on how to moderate a standard Session room, refer to our guide Moderating a Session or an Expo Booth.
- Moderated Session + Studio: Organizers and assigned Moderators use a built-in production studio to start a broadcast and approve/decline Attendees' requests to join the screen. For more information on how to moderate the Studio, refer to our guide Moderating RingCentral Events Studio.
How do I record my webinar?
You can also select whether to record your Session broadcast. This option is enabled by default. If needed, navigate to the Event Dashboard > Setup > Basics to disable it. To learn more about recordings, refer to our guide on Accessing recordings.
Enabling/disabling webinar areas
Click Show webinar areas next to the selected Session style to enable or disable additional areas and set where your attendees will land first when entering the virtual venue. Depending on the goals and nature of your event, you can choose any combination of these areas or all of them. Stage or Session will be enabled by default based on the selected Session style.
- Reception can be used as a lobby where people learn about the event and get oriented. It will show the event schedule and speakers added to your event. Additionally, you can add a welcome message and sponsors in the Event Dashboard > Setup > Reception page.
- Replay allows you to show event recordings to attendees during and after the event for up to 12 months. To publish your existing recordings to the Replay area, go to the Event Dashboard > Recordings.
- Custom Area adds an additional icon to your event navigation and links to an external page of your choice.