I’ve been streaming events and games for awhile now. I first started off with the Webcaster X2. I got a couple of these devices because, at the time, I didn’t know much and this encoder seemed like the simplest way to stream something. It was indeed, but the tradeoff was that it was somewhat limited in what it could do as far as graphics and overlays.

After getting familiar with streaming, I started to use OBS a bit more to stream video games. I suppose OBS could be considered the encoder amongst other things. I guess it’s an all-in-one streaming program. Good with overlays and production, in general, but the one tradeoff is that you need a computer to run it and a means to input your cameras to the computer. If you’re using USB cameras, this isn’t much of an issue. If you’re using actual cameras that have HDMI or SDI outs, then you need to figure something out. I’ll get back to this later.

So OBS was okay if I was mostly streaming something from the computer itself, but for live events I thought I needed something else. I ended up getting a SlingStudio. This thing is pretty cool. You can use an iPad to run it. It’s like an encoder and a camera switcher and a production app, all-in-one. You could even use cell phones as wireless cameras for video sources. You could wirelessly use camcorders and DSLR cameras that have HDMI also, although it would require a transmitter called a SlingStudio CameraLink. That’s pretty cool, especially if you wanted lots of wireless cameras.

But what if you didn’t need so many wireless cameras? What then? You get a Blackmagic Design ATEM mini switcher. It works pretty good, although this is a less mobile solution than the SlingStudio, because you need a monitor and OBS, and therefore a laptop. And all the cameras need to be wired up with HDMI. This is how you get the HDMI cameras inputted to a computer, use a switcher like this. It connects to the computer via USB.

Eventually, the Webcaster X2 got discontinued. Not much information from the company; they just said they have issues with supply. Eventually, the SlingStudio gets discontinued also! This is somewhat of a bummer as it is a good system.

I’m now looking at the LiveU product which is an encoder and a bonded modem/connection solution. It has taken me a bit to understand how it works. It is almost like a Webcaster combined with modems, because you can encode and upload or stream your camera source directly to whatever website or destination with just a push of a button. It also can connect to wifi, and a couple of modems. So to use this equipment, you need the LiveU device itself, you need a monthly subscription for bonded cellular thingamajig ($45), and you also need data plans for the 2 celluar modems. I think that’s about it.

I’m seriously considering the LiveU but I’m thinking whether or not I actually need the bonded cellular connection. For sure, it must be a robust connection, but if I have decent wifi, that should be enough, I’m guessing. The data plan, though, feels steep for the amount of streaming I’m doing now. I’m sure I might revisit this later in the year.