Wirecast streaming: Everything you should know
If you love video streaming, you will love Wirecast, InEvent, and OBS. They are all video streaming software. Due to Wirecast’s popularity, we will delve into its functionality in detail and then compare it to the other two, so you can decide which streaming software works for you.
What is Wirecast?
Created in 2004, Wirecast is a top tool for modern-day video streaming. And even though it was released eighteen years ago, it has continued to evolve due to regular updates that make it fit the demands of modern video production. It is a live streaming production tool available to both Windows and Mac users for live streaming. It is an excellent choice for anyone on a small budget or who wants a highly versatile live streaming solution.
What is Wirecast used for?
Wirecast is used for high-quality live streaming. It is popular because it is stable, reliable, and easy to use. It is ideal for live streaming on Facebook, YouTube, sports, and many more platforms.
Is it free to use?
No. Wirecast is paid for, although it has a trial version like most other software solutions. It comes in two categories: the pro version, which costs $799, and the studio version, which is $599. You receive infinite inputs, up to 4K resolution, and unlimited outputs with either version. Utilizing Wirecast Rendezvous also gives you access to a built-in stock media library that is prepared to be customized for your production and allows you to incorporate up to two remote guests into your production.
How to Livestream using Wirecast
With the background on Wirecast, we can now go straight into how to use this tool to Livestream, using any of the compatible video streaming platforms.
Below are the live streaming steps using Wirecast:
Step 1
Click on Wirecast to open it. Wirecast was built to be flexible, and there are a variety of possible workflows for producing videos. It will help to play around with the screen layout when you open it to get a sense of its many possibilities. Ensure your hardware, cameras, microphones, and other equipment are installed, connected, and ready to go.
Step 2
On the top half of your screen, there should be two windows for Wirecast. The preview window is located on the top left. Your live window is at the upper right. Your layers should go on the bottom half. Camera, Audio Source, Desktop Presenter, and Previously Recorded File are the four choices for the layers.
Step 3
Click the “camera” icon after choosing the layer that will show the live video. Click “add” after selecting the camera you want to utilize.
Step 4
You must now turn on the audio. Place your cursor over the + sign on the layer and select the “speaker” icon. Use the layer beneath the one you selected for the video. This, in our view, is more advisable. The layers rise as they filter. Nothing else, including your video, will therefore mask the audio. Add the gear, such as a microphone, installed in Step 1.
Step 5
Now, you’re almost there! At this stage, you can include a photo or other graphic in your live stream. To achieve this, click the “document” symbol while hovering over the plus sign. Then, click “add picture shot” to access your files and choose the desired picture. To edit the newly created shot, double-click on it.
Step 6
You can now start streaming! In the top left corner, click the “stream” button. This will launch the “Output settings” window. Select the service of your choice from the list of live streaming services.
Step 7
The moment you click OK, a new window will open. Use your account information to log into your live streaming service. If you don’t already have an account, click the sign-up link to create a new one.
Step 8
At this stage, you can choose to alter the bitrates, encoding size, and kilobytes per second. Voila! You’re now live streaming with Wirecast!
System requirements
We will outline below the system requirements for Wirecast. These requirements are the minimum.
- Operating System – Windows 10 1809 or higher, Windows 11 21H2, macOS Catalina 10.15 or higher
- Processor – Intel® 6th Generation1 or newer CPU2 – or AMD Ryzen™ 1000 Series or newer CPU2; Apple M1 or newer
- Memory – 8 GB of RAM
- Hard Drive – 7200 RPM Hard Drive (HDD) for record to disk
- Graphics Card – Intel HD3, 2 GB video memory, DirectX 11 capable; Apple Silicon: 8 GB of unified memory
- Internet Bandwidth – Recommended: Total bitrate needed x 2 = Required upload bandwidth
- Network Ports – You may want to check that the following ports are open for traffic on your network:
80 (HTTP/HTTPS),
443 (SSL),
1935 (RTMP),
2935 (RTMPS),
3478 (STUN/Rendezvous),
5349 (STUN/Rendezvous),
5353 (mDNS for NDI sources),
5960-59xx (NDI port range, one port for every NDI source in use),
7272 (Remote Desktop Presenter),
49152-65535 (WebRTC Media/Rendezvous – randomly selected).
Wirecast vs. InEvent
InEvent and Wirecast are similar because they are both live streaming software for broadcasting live events, but they still have some significant differences. We will compare Wirecast and InEvent under the following metrics:
Ease of use
InEvent is easier to use than Wirecast. With InEvent, you can create a broadcast by simply dragging and dropping media files into the timeline.
Features
InEvent offers more features and flexibility than Wirecast. With InEvent, you can create custom layouts and add an unlimited number of cameras, graphics, and videos. You can also use InEvent to stream to multiple platforms simultaneously, including Facebook Live, YouTube Live, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Twitch. TV. On the other hand, Wirecast is more limited in features and customization. Wirecast only allows you to add two video sources and four audio sources. You can also only stream to one platform at a time. However, Wirecast does offer some unique features, such as live captions and Chroma Key.
Video output
InEvent produces a higher quality video output than Wirecast. This is because InEvent uses a more powerful encoding engine than Wirecast.
Input sources
InEvent supports more simultaneous input sources than Wirecast. This means that you can have more cameras and other audio sources connected to your computer and streaming at the same time.
Reliability
InEvent is more reliable than Wirecast. InEvent has been tested and proven to work with all major live streaming providers, such as Facebook Live, YouTube Live, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Periscope.
Wirecast vs. OBS
First, their similarities. Wirecast and OBS do the same thing: they are used for live video streaming. Both also have the green screen effect and the chroma key feature.
Furthermore, they are equipped with features for advanced video effects, such as color variations, output image controls, and resizing. The two software are also equipped with audio effect adjustments.
However, there are many areas where the two software differ. And this is important for users’ knowledge so they can align their video streaming needs, their budget, and the offerings from either software.
We will compare Wirecast and OBS below:
Price
OBS is free. You don’t need to pay for it. Wirecast, on the other hand, is paid for. But Wirecast’s pricing is fair for all the value it brings. And as we already said before, it comes in two categories: the pro version, which costs $799, and the studio version, which is $599. If you are on a budget below the Wirecast range, you know where to look between both software. It is also worth noting that Wirecast comes with a trial version that lasts one month.
Set up
Wirecast is easier to set up compared to OBS. Because it has an intuitive interface, you may not even need to watch a tutorial video before setting it up. The same can’t be said of OBS, which comes without built-in presets, forcing users to study video tutorials before they can set it up.
System requirements
As outlined earlier, Wirecast requires a robust system to run smoothly. We outlined previously the minimum requirements for the operating system, CPU, processor, memory, hard drive, etc., needed for Wirecast. But OBS does not require sophisticated systems. It can run on computers with less sophistication and not shut down the CPU, a significant reason it is popular amongst gamers.
New features
OBS has a drag and drop functionality, which helps users drag all the stream parts from various sources onto the timeline. Although Wirecast includes these editing features as well, using them typically requires more work from the user and is done manually. To move the sliders, you must exert effort. Beginners usually find this challenging.
Conclusion
Wirecast is a good tool for live video streaming, with a reasonable price for all its features. It requires a robust system to run smoothly, unlike OBS, which can run on less powerful systems. But InEvent is best suited for enterprise and professional needs. It is also more reliable than Wirecast and OBS because it works with all the major live streaming providers.
Check here for where to find the necessary information for your next live stream.
About the Author / Chinedu Ekeke
