5 Software Options to Power Your Livestream
Some of our top picks for software options to power your livestream have the basic live streaming features and recording features like single-destination RTMP streaming, multiple video sources and layouts, chroma key (i.e. green screen), live switching, and custom transitions. To get more news about
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But each software option on our list has their own pros and cons. When picking your live streaming software, consider what you need and do not need for your setup.
OBS Studio
OBS, or Open Broadcaster Software, is an open-source project that offers a powerful solution for live streaming. This is a great option, too, for the budget-conscious because OBS is open source and free to use. Though OBS does not have advanced features that other professional paid software options might have. However, OBS has many live streaming essentials to put together a fully functioning broadcast.
One of the best parts of OBS Studio is how customizable it is. The community, which works on the project, is constantly adding new features and plugins. If you are willing to dig into OBS and mess with the customizations, you can truly make a project that works for you and your needs. OBS will not, however, offer you things like virtual sets, guest hosting, and multi-streaming.
One of the big downsides? If you do need help urgently, there is no central customer support team to help you out. Of course, there is a community that will help if they can - but other paid products will offer customer support to figure out the functionality. For more tech-savvy users, this won’t be a problem. There are plenty of guides available online, too.
StreamLabs OBS
StreamLabs OBS has only recently become a mainstream tool for live streaming. Prior to this, StreamLabs was mostly used by gamers in addition to other streaming software solutions. However, the new StreamLabs OBS is a combination of StreamLabs and OBS as an open-source solution.
StreamLabs OBS is similar to OBS Studio, but has a much more user-friendly interface with a better design. All the processes are grouped together in the StreamsLabs Dashboard and the processes have been improved, from OBS Studio. For example, StreamsLabs OBS has social widgets (that include chatboxes, game alerts, and more), free overlays, audio filters, video editors, and more.
Lightstream
Lightstream is a powerful and simple-to-use, browser-based streaming platform that works best if you don’t necessarily have a strong computer to back it up. Their website even says so, and they call themselves “the Google Docs for live video production.” Lightstream Studio works almost entirely in the cloud, but all the compositing and encoding is done on Lightstream servers. That means less CPU usage for your computer.
Lightstream is also free, but has plenty of great features, like guest hosting, remote scene switching, live chat support, and much more. Your projects will be saved in the cloud, and you won’t have to start all over when you have a new live stream project. In addition, the Lightstream Studio software will automatically pick the best encoding settings on your computer and work with your own settings to keep your stream steady and strong.
Wirecast
Wirecast is a professional-level live stream option packed with plenty of features for the hefty price tag. The studio program has guests hosting capabilities, animated titles and graphics, unlimited encoding of video sources, streaming to different servers and platforms, and more. The pro version has even more features, with high-resolution ISO recording, 3D virtual sets, instant replays, and much more. Wirecast comes with a high price tag, though you can try it out with a free trial (with a watermark).
XSplit
This more advanced encoding software option may require prior knowledge, but the clean, intuitive interface offers affordable and easy-to-use live streaming capabilities. XSplit comes in two versions: XSplit Broadcaster and XSplit Gamecaster. Both of these programs will allow you to live stream, though the Gamecaster is a slightly more stripped down version of the program with essentials. XSplit has a number of features that make it a great option, including a VCam tool (where users can blur, replace, or remove their backgrounds).
