CPU Hungry Software Switchers at DVinfo.net

Chris Harding · April 4th, 2017, 08:15 PM

We have been using Livestream Studio as a switcher and also to stream out to the CDN but you have to have a crazy fast machine to handle even a modest stream (LS specify a 6 core i7 as minimum!!)

I have seen a simple way to solve this by using the switcher just to do the mix and then send the output to a second HDMI "monitor" output on the computer ... the HDMI monitor is actually a hardware encoder (we use our Livestream Broadcaster Pro) but I'm sure that the Teradek encoders would work as well. This way you can use a modest laptop to bring in the video and then let the hardware encoder do the hard work. On my quad i7 there is no way I can use the switcher to stream any higher than around 2,6mbps without the CPU usage climbing to over 100% (and then the stream stops) but with the external encoder being fed from the HDMI port (as if it was an HDMI camera output) I can easily do a decent 5 mbps HD stream with no issues.

Anyone else using a software switcher and going out to an encoder ?? Seems to work pretty well without having to go out and buying a $4000 gaming laptop!!

Craig Seeman · April 4th, 2017, 11:10 PM

Hmm, I use Telestream Wirecast which can using Intel QuickSync and NVENC (on Windows with NVIDIA GPUs). I often stream to two destinations (Facebook, Periscope/Twitter) and do a local ProRes recording as well. CPU stays under 70%. This on a late 2013 laptop. Newer ones are even more efficient.

April 4th, 2017, 08:15 PM	#1
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	CPU Hungry Software Switchers We have been using Livestream Studio as a switcher and also to stream out to the CDN but you have to have a crazy fast machine to handle even a modest stream (LS specify a 6 core i7 as minimum!!) I have seen a simple way to solve this by using the switcher just to do the mix and then send the output to a second HDMI "monitor" output on the computer ... the HDMI monitor is actually a hardware encoder (we use our Livestream Broadcaster Pro) but I'm sure that the Teradek encoders would work as well. This way you can use a modest laptop to bring in the video and then let the hardware encoder do the hard work. On my quad i7 there is no way I can use the switcher to stream any higher than around 2,6mbps without the CPU usage climbing to over 100% (and then the stream stops) but with the external encoder being fed from the HDMI port (as if it was an HDMI camera output) I can easily do a decent 5 mbps HD stream with no issues. Anyone else using a software switcher and going out to an encoder ?? Seems to work pretty well without having to go out and buying a $4000 gaming laptop!!

April 4th, 2017, 11:10 PM	#2
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	Re: CPU Hungry Software Switchers Hmm, I use Telestream Wirecast which can using Intel QuickSync and NVENC (on Windows with NVIDIA GPUs). I often stream to two destinations (Facebook, Periscope/Twitter) and do a local ProRes recording as well. CPU stays under 70%. This on a late 2013 laptop. Newer ones are even more efficient.