Unofficial Guide to Wirecast, Chapter 2: “Getting Started with Wirecast”

Wirecast comes in two different versions. Wirecast Studio is generally suitable for most users. The Wirecast Pro version offers a few more options that are necessary for specific applications that you may find useful. The lower-priced ($599) Wirecast Studio version comes standard with unlimited inputs. This includes an unlimited number of inputs from sources such as video, audio, screen capture, USB, capture cards, NDI, iOS, IP, and web stream sources. This version can handle video up to 4096 x 3072 for production and encoding. It also comes with integrated text, titles, chroma key, built-in and custom transitions, an advanced audio mixer, social media integration, and a stock media library.

Wirecast Studio ($599) offers unlimited output destinations, including native integrations designed for an easy login experience with Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter directly through the platform. You can also live stream to any RTMP destination with the custom address. When you are live streaming you can also record to your hard drive simultaneously. This is ideal for recording your production in a high quality format while live streaming in a compressed format for transport over the public internet. The multi-viewer feature is an output option available to show between 2 and 4 views on an external screen. Wirecast Rendezvous is included in this version allowing you to add two remote guests to your production at any time.

Wirecast Pro ($799) includes all of the same features as the Studio version with several enhancements. You can control PTZ cameras from within the production software in the Pro version allowing you to instantly move cameras by clicking visual thumbnails of camera locations. This edition also adds pro audio effects, sports production plus features like instant replay and scoreboards. Wirecast Pro also includes access to virtual sets and backgrounds. Output capabilities are also expanded with NDI program output, ISO recording of individual sources, and multi-track audio recording. The multi-view output also expands to a total of 17 possible views. Finally, the Wirecast Rendezvous feature expands to allow up to 7 remote guests.

Both packages come with free standard email support and upgrades to the latest version for one year. After one year, the support service can be extended, including free upgrades for $99 a year. Premium support is also available for $299 a year. This provides access to phone support and remote access services that allows a technician to identify and resolve issues remotely.

Wirecast also offers a wide variety of self-service support, including an extensive knowledge base, documentation, video demos, tutorials, and webinars.

To download Wirecast, just head to https://www.telestream.net/wirecast/, download the correct version for your computer (PC or Mac) and follow the instructions and prompts. Once the software is installed, you can enter your license key (if you have purchased it already) or use the free trial. The free trial gives you access to a full-featured version of Wirecast with a watermark on your output. This allows you to try out all the aspects of the software if you are still not ready to make a purchase decision.

• Read Chapter 1 here
• Read Chapter 2 here
• Read Chapter 3 here
• Read Chapter 4 here