

If we are talking about the most basic streaming software features, then we are talking about the ability to encode and stream a single stream with one or two audio/video inputs and perhaps some basic switching between the inputs. Some of it is free, some is paid, some can do and handle a lot, and some is more basic. There is a wide variety of live streaming software available. A software-based live streaming setup consists of the streaming application installed on a computer, the audio and video sources, and some capture cards to capture the signals.

Streaming SoftwareĪs we mentioned, video streaming software implies running a program on your computer to stream video. Hardware streaming appliances are dedicated solely to encoding audio and video data into streamable content. These devices contain their own special software, computing units and video capture components inside. “hardware encoders”) on the other hand are separate, dedicated appliances that handle all the encoding. This process is called encoding (this is why streaming software are also known as “software encoders”). This software’s main function is to intake the audio/video content and convert it into streamable data. In the context of this article, by video streaming software we mean an application that is installed and runs on a computer. It’s important to understand the main implied distinction when talking about video streaming hardware and software setups. The main difference between video streaming hardware and software What are the differences between video streaming hardware and software? Which one is better? Which one should I pick? Let’s dive right into the answers to these questions. At first glance, the topic may seem intimidating and confusing, but don’t worry: we are here to help. When getting into live video production, sooner or later, the question of comparing video streaming hardware and software inevitably comes up.
