Ambistream – Building a Multi-Layer Streaming Platform from a Spark of an Idea

Before Ambistream had a roadmap, a name, or even an interface, it began with a simple question at MusicTech Lab:

“What if video could be controlled like a musical instrument?”

A Flutter app prototype.
A Chromecast on a table.
A folder full of rehearsal and training videos.

One button: PLAY ON TV.
And it worked — barely, but enough to start something bigger.

This is the story of how Ambistream grew from a curiosity into a fully-fledged streaming engine powering creative, educational, and athletic scenarios.

Platform Components

• Backend API – Django-based engine for sessions, media, metadata
• Web Frontend – Nuxt 3 platform for scene management and control
• Mobile Application – Flutter app for iOS/Android with casting capabilities
• Custom Chromecast Receiver – dedicated cast app for synchronised playback
• AirPlay Integration – native remote playback for Apple devices
• Overlay Engine – layered video + Lottie animations + UI
• Media Pipeline – ffmpeg-based transcoding for HLS and MP4
• Cloud Infrastructure – Google Cloud Run, Firebase Hosting
• Admin Panel – tools for uploading, organising and configuring scenes
• Analytics & Monitoring – Sentry, UptimeRobot, Cloud Logging

Core Features

• Layered Playback – combine video with Lottie animations in real time
• Scene Builder – timeline-based overlay configuration
• Remote Controller – control playback from phone to external display
• Chromecast / AirPlay Casting – seamless streaming to TVs and monitors
• Playback Controls – loops, slow-motion, segment markers
• Media Library – upload and manage assets
• Device Sync – synchronised playback across devices
• Offline Mode (PoC) – local caching on mobile
• User Accounts & Permissions
• Experimental Low-Latency Mode using WebRTC

Technologies Used

• Flutter – mobile client + paired controller
• Nuxt 3 & TypeScript – web platform and dashboard
• Python 3 / Django – backend API
• Google Cloud Run – scalable containerised backend
• Firebase Hosting – frontend delivery
• FFmpeg – media transcoding pipelines
• Lottie – animation overlays
• Chromecast Receiver SDK
• AirPlay – native integration
• Docker & GitHub Actions
• Sentry – error tracking

The Story: From Spark to Platform

It started with a question

In 2023, while working on several MusicTech Lab products, one theme kept coming up:
creators and coaches needed better, smarter playback tools.

• Musicians needed visual cues over their training videos.
• Swimming and sports coaches needed slow-motion loops.
• Stage performers wanted remote-controlled scenes and overlays.

But existing video players couldn’t do any of this.

So we built a tiny PoC:

• Flutter → Chromecast
• One big button
• One video

It played. It glitched.
But it proved the idea possible.

The spark was lit.

Chapter 1: R&D – The Deep Dive

Soon we were drowning in video formats:

• HLS
• DASH
• MP4
• WebRTC

Whiteboards filled with ffmpeg commands.
Chromecast logs.
Tests on old Android TVs.
Tests on new 4K TVs.

Then came the biggest question:

Should overlays be baked into the video or rendered as separate layers?

Lottie changed everything.

• Smooth
• Lightweight
• Animatable
• Perfect for cues, signals, rhythm markers, swim technique overlays

A working engine emerged:

Video (bottom) → Lottie (middle) → UI (top).

Ambistream was no longer a PoC.
It was a tool.

Chapter 2: MVP – Building the First Version

By early 2024 we had a plan.

We built:

• a Flutter controller
• a Nuxt dashboard
• a Django backend
• a custom Chromecast receiver

For the first time:

• The phone controlled the TV precisely.
• Videos synced across devices.
• Overlays played in time with the footage.
• Loops, slow-motion and cues became part of the workflow.

Ambistream evolved from an experiment into a creative instrument.

Chapter 3: Real Use-Cases Emerge

Ambistream was adopted by coaches, instructors, and content creators:

• Music training – tempo cues, rhythm markers, technique overlays
• Swimming and sports coaching – slow-motion replays with visual cues
• Live events – remote operator + layered scenes
• Education – step-by-step instructional overlays

The system became a bridge:

A mobile controller → a TV or projector → a dynamic layered canvas.

Chapter 4: Scaling Up

To reach production readiness, we built:

• Multi-device sync
• Reliable casting for Android/iOS
• Cloud Run deployment
• Media pipelines with automated transcoding
• Scene Builder with timelines
• Analytics + monitoring
• Offline caching prototype

Ambistream matured into a platform that could serve real customers.

Chapter 5: The Vision for Ambistream 2.0

Today, Ambistream is being prepared for broader release as:

• White-label solution
• Multi-tenant platform
• Production-grade streaming engine
• Customisable scene editor
• A toolkit for creators, athletes, teachers, and performers

The system started from a spark —
now it's a cornerstone product in the MusicTech Lab ecosystem.

And the story continues, frame by frame.

Services & Deliverables

• Full-stack development
• R&D and prototyping
• Product strategy
• Mobile app development
• Backend & API
• Cloud infrastructure
• Video processing pipeline
• UI/UX flows for controller and dashboard
• Ongoing improvements (Ambistream 2.0)

Client Testimonial

“Ambistream allowed us to build a synchronised, multi-layer playback system we simply couldn’t find on the market. The combination of mobile control, casting, and overlays created entirely new possibilities for training and creative work.”

MusicTech Lab Internal Team
Kraków, Poland

Summary: Streaming Innovation & Creative Control

Ambistream shows that even highly complex media systems can be developed iteratively:

• PoC
• R&D
• MVP
• Production
• White-label expansion

The platform is now used for training, creative performance, live educational formats, and internal production workflows.

If you're interested in building something similar, or want to license Ambistream 2.0,
don't hesitate to contact us.