Today’s topic is live stream encoders. And for this edition we will be covering software encoders. For those of you interested in hardware encoders please keep an eye out for the next edition of the Lightcast Academy Newsletter.
Now, whether you’re preparing for your first live stream or have been broadcasting live streams for years, the live stream encoder you choose and the settings you use are of great importance to your live streaming success.
We won’t be promoting any particular brand of encoder over another, but we will be sharing a few different varieties that continue to work well for many of Lightcast’s clients as well as the setup tips that would be considered optimal from our perspective.
Let’s begin… 
Did someone say FREE?! OBS!
If you are just starting out with live-streaming and are on a budget, or you’re unsure if live-streaming is something you want to continue, or are just simply reluctant to invest a large amount of money in the beginning... These are all certainly legitimate reasons to search for a FREE option and why many Lightcast clients recommend OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software)!
It is important to remember that this is an open source software. Please don’t expect the same professional quality level, reliability and features as more sophisticated software encoders such as Wirecast, but there are several Lightcast clients that run it on a dedicated PC or Mac!
Get OBS for FREE here: https://obsproject.com
...how about vMix?
This robust live stream encoding software offers a similar level of complexity as its OBS and Wirecast, but does offer a comprehensive knowledge base as well as a one time user fee and free updates for a year after purchase. vMix also has the ability to add multiple cameras, videos, images, audio, web streams, Powerpoint, and much more. As software encoders go, it is recommended as a solid performer.
Get vMix 60 day FREE Trial here: https://www.vmix.com/software/download.aspx
And Now...Wirecast!
The most often recommended of the software encoders is Wirecast. This reliable, solid performer comes highly recommended and will start in the neighborhood of $600 for one license. It is important to ensure that you have the latest version of Wirecast and that you run it on a dedicated machine - ideally a high-performance iMac with plenty of CPU power and Memory. The computer that you choose to use for your encoder operation should have no other task while streaming. This is important in order to avoid streaming quality issues.
You will want to be mindful of the intricacies of external A/V interfaces or capture devices. Blackmagic is certainly a good choice for an A/V interface, however, you will only want to use one if you have an expert on staff who knows the complexity and wide range of configurations of pro-grade A/V interfaces. It is important to remember that the smallest oversight in the configuration of a high-end A/V interface or converter can be detrimental to your best software encoder setup and give you a poor live-stream experience.
If you do have uncertainty then you can use your PC's or Mac’s HDMI input, or a very simple SDI converter if needed. Clients who have been successful in this level of live-streaming typically have someone on staff who is proficient in computer software, hardware, your network infrastructure and A/V interface between the A/V sources (cameras, audio mixer, video switcher) and your PC or Mac.
And here is how you can get Wirecast easily: http://www.telestream.net/wirecast/overview.htm
Important Note
When selecting your software encoder it might be helpful to know that Lightcast is a destination partner for OBS, vMix, and Wirecast.
Why does this matter? Well, for you it means less work! When setting up your OBS, Wirecast, or vMix encoder for streaming you will simply need to select Lightcast.com in the settings instead of manually populating the CDN access point URL’s.
Happy Streaming!
Your Lightcast Customer Success Team