Top 5 Live Video Broadcasting Applications Under $1K Part Two
February 25, 2010 Featured, Software
Ready for part two?
#3. Wirecast -- Mac, PC -- $449
http://www.telestream.net/wire-cast/overview.htm
Wirecast is a software product produced by Telestream. One of the main reasons I put it up at #3 is that it really is quite feature rich. It is pretty much par for the course in handling a lot of the standard fair you want in a mixing program: camera switching, desktop presentation, fancy transitions (some in 3D!), and the ability to stream live video out to your favorite content delivery network (UStream, Justin.TV). It also is one of the few applications to include a live chroma keyer.
In using Wirecast I was definitely satisfied with what it could do, and it seems very much akin to UStream Producer Pro in many respects. Since Wirecast came out first I’m going to have to assume that Telestream innovated this kind of interface.. which is probably my only complaint.
For as feature-rich as they made Wirecast, having worked with actual television production equipment I was a bit disappointed at how unfamiliar things were. I suppose it’s like any software, it takes some time to figure out but to that end I just wasn’t very satisfied. Check out the demo below from YouTube and judge for yourself:
#2. Avtake CutFour DV 3, PC, $599
http://www.avtake.com/cutfour.asp
Ahh.. now we’re getting to the top. AvTake CutFour.. why are you #2 on my list? Oh yeah, because you are pretty frickin awesome! Since I was kind of biased in looking at these programs I was really looking for software that could potentially be used for producing live television broadcasts rather than just webcasts. This kind of gave an edge to any software that could do BOTH.. and CutFour doesn’t disappoint.
Featuring the ability to host multiple cameras, perform live on-screen overlays, as well as sporting a host of transitions.. this software reminds me of a pared down Tricaster. What’s nice about this software too is that if you want to really go big there is an SD version that you can buy that has the ability to output to SDI interfaces as well for that extra professional touch. Trust me, this is a software you want to love and ALMOST can..
If you had any clue how close this was to being #1 you’d be shocked.. The only trouble I had was this software was the result of some instability issues. This may have been my system, but even still I couldn’t go with this as #1 because VidBlaster (next up) has never crashed on me even once. Since the two are pretty close in feature sets, stability is more priority and #1 has to go to VidBlaster.
#1. VidBlaster Studio -- PC -- Home $195, Pro $495, Studio $995
How many software products do you know of where you can communicate directly with the developer and have them actually integrate the ideas you want? Not one of the previously mentioned products allow you direct access to the developer. In the case of VidBlaster, you get to talk directly with Mike Versteeg, the sole developer of the product. The VidBlaster website also has a pretty active forum as well where you can get support and help directly from a friendly community of fellow broadcasters.
Okay, so what about the actual software? Does it work? OF COURSE! It wouldn’t be #1 otherwise! It does have a free demo so you can check for yourself. The only consolation you have to make is a small product logo placed in the corner of your video output.
This software allows you to switch between an unlimited number of camera sources. You can also add playlists and play back any type of video your computer is capable of playing through directshow. It also has a preview and live monitor that allows you to cue up your “next” source for display while simultaneously viewing the finished product.
This software was definitely designed with the webcaster in mind. It has an integrated ability to stream to any flash-based CDN that you desire. Now that we’ve explored some of the positives, I did think that VidBlaster does have some weaknesses. Over time I found it easy to end up with a messy console arrangement. This is due largely in part to the flexibility VidBlaster has in terms of setting up the GUI. Mike did address this by giving you the ability to create and load profiles that contain pre-arranged studio setups. I also found the webcasting setup to be a little unintuitive. Perhaps this could have been too much of a rush to add new features at the expense of creating those simple types of interfaces companies like Apple are known for.
At the end of the day these complaints are relatively minor, and the software itself packs a pretty mean punch. It comes in several versions which gives you a nice upgrade path as you grow.
So there you have it. Try out some of the demos of the above software and judge for yourself. If I missed anything good please let me know. If you disagree feel free to tell me why!
Comments (6)
I think you missed MAJOR advantages Wirecast has over VidBlaster. I’ve looked at both and Wirecast was my choice in a big way.
Audio
Wirecast can handle audio inputs from any source or camera. Each one has it’s own level control, VidBlaster only handles one.
Picture in Picture
Wirecast has an A, B, C Channel for easy 3 way PiP (plus background for a 4th if you’d like. All can be easily resized, repositioned, angled in 3D space. VidBlaster PiP is very primitive by comparison
Composited shots
In Wirecast each shot (sort of like VidBlaster Camera) can have it’s own title, background, logo, audio source and PiP setup. all can be repositioned. Click from one shot to another to another rather than having to bring on logos, titles, backgrounds separately. You can build very complex shots that would be impossible to do while a show was running.
Chroma Key
You do mention that about Wirecast but the importance that plays in having a CNN like background vs one’s crappy den can’t be overstated.
Built in encoder
Wirecast has a built in encoder than can stream to Flash, Windows Media, Quicktime servers. In fact in can stream to all three at once, each with different settings. In fact you can even send multiples different settings to a server as well. You’re limited only by the power of your computer and provider bandwidth. There’s no need to send to FME. Let’s put it another way, you could stream to Livestream, Ustream, JustinTV along with a Windows Media and Quicktime server all at once if you wanted to. Of course it records to hard drive too.
Desktop Presenter
How could you miss the major Wirecast tool. You can down any number of them so that every computer on your network (Mac or PC) can send the desktop to the Wirecast streaming computer at the same time. Imagine cutting from a PowerPoint presentation on one computer to another and then maybe a Skype Video call on a third and a web page on a fourth. . . or compositing them all in one shot. Of course DTP can screencapture on the same computer as Wirecast but it can screencapture from several computers on a network all at the same time.
I can certainly say more about my Wirecast vs VidBlaster comparison but I really think you didn’t explore the depth and breadth of Wirecast. It has so many features VidBlaster doesn’t have even at it’s $995 level compared to Wirecast at $449.
VidBlaster does have a number of pre-set effects for doing PiP and can do things like quad screen picture setups. I’ll admit that the desktop presenter is a good tool and is available in several of the programs mentioned. Everybody has things that they are looking for in a program so my reviews are based on certain criteria I was looking for.
I haven’t gone in the trenches with Wirecast so my ranking is based off of experimentation with the program. While Wirecast seems more feature-complete I also found VidBlaster easier to use in many respects. Overall I gave Vidblaster the top spot for that reason.
I don’t know what school Wirecast went through to come up with their interface, but it’s a steaming pile of crap that doesn’t seem to follow any conventions used in actual TV equipment. When I want to use a mixer, I’m used to an actual piece of hardware in front of me with a selection of buttons that allows me to have a ton of power at my fingertips. Check out Newtek’s Tricaster.. they match most closely how real mixers and character generators work. Tricaster would probably be my next step up if we were getting into the under $10K range.
Also, I think the ability to use FME or even working through FME is not a disadvantage. It gives you supreme flexibility when using the actual encoder.. plus as adobe releases new versions of the encoder upgrades are as easy as downloading the new FME without having to install a new wirecast.
Nonetheless, maybe I will have to take a closer in-depth look at Wirecast for a future post.
I’m currently using Vidblaster to stream our webcam to Ustream. It’s been very reliable, but I really need the following:
Stream to Ustream or other service
Auto-switching via timer or script to live cams, pre-produced video (such as a :05 logo burst)
Livestream’s software almost has it, but requires a live person to do the switching. Obviously, I’m not going to sit in the barnyard 24 hours a day.
Also, BONUS: the ability to overlay a text feed, such as Twitter, or other updates, so I don’t need to remote into the streaming PC for every little thing.
And CHEAP. I don’t need a full-fledged tv studio, just the basics.
Vidblaster will autoswitch, but only every 30 seconds – and I can’t insert video in a loop. Also, it seems I need the full $1,000 version to do the switching.
Any suggestions?
What kind of budget do you have for this project? It sounds as though you are looking for a type of playout software that would show content on a scripted basis. This to me would seem to fall in a different category then a live switcher. I know with Vidblaster you can create video playlists, but not script switching. Are you planning to do some sort of live unattended feed?
Well, I’ve spent a small fortune on webcams and PC’s over the 2 years CabinCreekAcres.com has been running (along with BunniesforBabies.com). We originally started with updating jpegs, then got into Ustream.
This would always be live, always unattended. You can see the cam now at CabinCreekAcres.com to see what we’re doing.
I would like to switch every X seconds or minutes to other cameras, and occasionally drop in a video of some sort, like an ID or previously recorded material. The Livestream software does this, but not unattended.
Budget for software – cheap cheap cheap. I already need to buy another PC as we just had 8 baby bunnies born in that last 24 hours – and I don’t have coverage on them yet.
Thanks for choosing VidBlaster as #1 live video broadcasting application! Did you see the latest release, with chroma keying?