Live Streaming Made Simple: The Best Hardware and Software Encoding Solutions

One of the questions I get asked most often is: “What do I need to stream reliably?”

If you’re thinking about streaming—whether for a church, business, or personal project—you’ve come to the right place. This guide provides my top recommendations for streaming hardware and software encoders based on years of personal experience. I’ve used or tested most of the items here and i trust them enough to use them for specific use cases.

I’m a firm believer in purpose-built machines. A dedicated streaming device can significantly reduce issues like lag, dropped frames, and crashes. Let’s make sure you’re set up for success! If you’re ready to upgrade or need help setting up, Callahan IT Advisors is here to help—whether you’re a church, business, or individual streamer. Let’s make streaming work for you!

Before We Begin

For a professional stream this guide assumes you already have:

• A camera

• A microphone

• A way to share your screen or other inputs to your stream.

This can be as simple as an ATEM Mini Pro or a Rodecaster Pro, depending on your setup. We’re focusing on the encoder—the device or software responsible for sending your stream to platforms like YouTube, Twitch, or Facebook.

If you’re unfamiliar with any terminology, check out the FAQ and glossary at the end!

Hardware Encoders:

(No particular order—choose based on your needs and budget.)

1. BoxCast Spark Encoder

• Price: Starting around $1,000 (plus monthly subscription)

• Specs: Built-in streaming to BoxCast platform, multi-streaming support

• Best for: Churches and small businesses needing an all-in-one solution

• Why BoxCast? Super simple setup, ideal for users with minimal tech knowledge. Pre-schedule streams, and they’ll automatically start and stop. Reliable even on low bandwidth, with plenty of input/output options.

2. Resi Mini Encoder

• Price: $1,500 - $2,000 (plus monthly subscription)

• Specs: 1080p resolution, Resilient Streaming Protocol (RSP) to prevent dropouts

• Best for: Small to mid-sized churches

• Why Resi Mini? Designed to handle poor network conditions gracefully. Pre-scheduling services is a breeze, and it auto-starts the stream. Reliable and simple!

3. Resi E1200 Encoder

• Price: $3,000+ (plus monthly subscription)

• Specs: Supports multiple outputs for large-scale operations

• Best for: Multi-site churches or organizations with synced broadcasts

• Why Resi E1200? Dependable and scalable. It’s easy to upgrade as your needs grow, and it handles multi-site streams without a hitch.

4. ATEM Mini Pro/Extreme

• Price: $500 - $1,300

• Specs: Multiple HDMI inputs, live switching, built-in encoder

• Best for: Home streamers and small productions

• Why ATEM Mini Pro? Multi-cam setups are simple, and you can stream directly with the push of a button. Great for OBS users looking to upgrade.

5. Blackmagic Web Presenter

• Price: $600 - $1,200

• Specs: Converts SDI/HDMI video to USB for live streaming

• Best for: Small, no-fuss setups

• Why Blackmagic? A great “plug-and-play” device if you want an easy step up from OBS or an ATEM Mini.

6. Teradek Prism Mobile and Flex

• Price: $2,000 - $5,000+ (Mobile), $5,000+ (Flex for studios)

• Specs: Cellular bonding, low latency, 1080p streaming

• Best for: Portable, professional on-location streams

• Why Teradek Prism? Built for field use and professional productions. Extremely reliable with bonded connections for redundancy.

7. Teradek Prism Rack

• Price: $7,000+

• Specs: Rack-mounted with bonded networks and wireless camera support

• Best for: Enterprise-level streams or large events

• Why Teradek Prism Rack? Handles redundancy, multiple inputs, and failsafe options like bonded cellular. Top-tier, but requires more setup.

8. Tricaster Mini/Pro

• Price: $4,000 - $10,000+

• Specs: All-in-one studio system with multi-cam support and graphics

• Best for: Professional studios or production teams

• Why Tricaster? A powerful alternative to the ATEM Mini for those wanting some extra graphics, and effects. Can handle USB Cameras and Mics.

9. URay Encoder

• Price: $300 - $600

• Specs: Basic H.264/H.265 streaming, HDMI input

• Best for: Budget-friendly streaming

• Why URay? It’s the Amazon favorite for basic needs. It works, but don’t expect fancy features.

Software-Based Solutions:

1. OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software)

• Price: Free

• Best for: Beginners or budget-constrained streamers

• Why OBS? Free, customizable, and easy to set up. If you’re broke, this is your solution—but you’ll need a reliable, powerful computer to pull it off.

2. VMix

• Price: $60 (Basic) - $1,200 (Pro)

• Best for: Small productions needing more features than OBS

• Why VMix? Cleaner interface and better audio control than OBS. Loads of fun features and customizations.

3. Wirecast

• Price: $599 (Studio), $799 (Pro)

• Best for: Semi-professional productions

• Why Wirecast? Great for live events with polished overlays. A simple upgrade from OBS if you need more control.

4. Restream

• Price: Free (Basic) to $299/month (Professional)

• Best for: Multi-destination streaming

• Why Restream? Expand your reach by streaming to multiple platforms. Can work alongside OBS for even more flexibility.

5. XSplit Broadcaster

• Price: Free to $200 (Lifetime)

• Best for: Gamers and casual streamers

• Why XSplit? Fun features tailored for gamers. A great OBS alternative for gaming streams.

6. ProPresenter

• Price: $400+

• Best for: Churches and presentation-heavy streams

• Why ProPresenter? Perfect for adding lyrics, slides, and visuals. It’s more demanding on hardware, so be ready with a strong computer.

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Final Recommendations:

Churches:

Small/Medium: BoxCast Spark

Multi-Site: Resi E1200

Home Streamers:

Single-Cam: OBS

Multi-Cam: ATEM Mini Pro

Portable/Professional Streams:

Teradek Prism Mobile or Flex

Large-Scale Streams:

Teradek Prism Rack with bonded cellular backup

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Glossary & FAQ

What is an encoder?

A device or software that converts video/audio into a streamable format.

Streaming Protocols:

• RTMP: Standard for most streaming platforms

• SRT: Low-latency streaming

• HLS/DASH: Used for on-demand or adaptive streams

Bitrate

• Definition: The amount of data transferred per second in a stream, usually measured in Kbps (kilobits per second) or Mbps (megabits per second).

• Why It Matters: Bitrate affects video quality. Higher bitrates deliver clearer, higher-resolution streams but require more bandwidth. A low bitrate can result in pixelation and buffering.

• Typical Values:

  • 720p: 2,500 - 5,000 Kbps

  • 1080p: 4,500 - 9,000 Kbps

  • 4K: 15,000 - 25,000 Kbps

Codecs

• Definition: Short for "coder-decoder," a codec compresses and decompresses digital video and audio data.

• Why It Matters: Different codecs affect file size, quality, and compatibility with platforms.

  Common Video Codecs:

  • H.264/AVC: The most widely used codec for online video, balancing good quality with low bandwidth usage.

  • H.265/HEVC: A more efficient codec offering better compression than H.264, often used for 4K streaming.

• Common Audio Codecs:

  • AAC (Advanced Audio Codec): Standard for most streaming platforms.

Frame Rate

• Definition: The number of video frames displayed per second, measured in FPS (frames per second).

• Why It Matters: Higher frame rates result in smoother video, especially for fast-moving content like sports or gaming.

  Common Frame Rates:

  • 24 FPS: Standard for movies and cinematic content

  • 30 FPS: Common for TV and most online videos

  • 60 FPS: Ideal for gaming, sports, or high-motion events

H.264/AVC (Advanced Video Codec)

• Definition: A codec standard for compressing video, providing good quality with efficient bandwidth usage.

• Why It’s Popular: It’s supported by nearly all devices, from smartphones to professional broadcast equipment.

• Use Cases: Streaming on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook Live, and most other platforms.

H.265/HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Codec)

• Definition: A newer, more advanced video codec than H.264, offering up to 50% better compression without significant loss in quality.

• Why It’s Useful: Ideal for 4K streaming or when you need to save bandwidth.

• Considerations: Not as widely supported as H.264, so check platform compatibility.

Resolution

• Definition: The number of pixels in each frame of a video, typically expressed as width x height (e.g., 1920x1080 for 1080p).

• Why It Matters: Higher resolutions offer better picture quality but require more bandwidth.

• Common Resolutions:

  • 720p (HD): 1280x720

  • 1080p (Full HD): 1920x1080

  • 4K (Ultra HD): 3840x2160

Simulcasting

• Definition: Streaming to multiple platforms simultaneously, such as YouTube, Facebook Live, and Twitch, using the same video feed.

• Why It’s Important: Increases your audience reach without needing multiple streams.

• How It’s Done:

  • Using services like Restream or hardware encoders with multi-streaming capabilities.

  • Some software encoders like Wirecast and OBS (with plugins) support this as well.