Broadcasting on TV is a specialised business but broadcasting over the web (or webcasting as it also known) is becoming increasingly popular with a large number of publishers. Webcasting can be a publishing channel by itself but can also serve to draw the attention to other publishing channels like web, mobile, tablet, and even print. Webcasting can be done using a webcam, but for best results a professional camcorder seems to give the results that you’ll want to get your message across. On Mac OS X, there are two products that support webcasting: BoinxTV and Wirecast 4 Pro. Of these two, Wirecast 4 Pro is the only one developed by a company with a background in broadcasting technology.
Wirecast 4 was released by Telestream in November 2010. The software comes in two versions. The standard version costs 445.00 USD and includes support for multiple cameras, broadcasting your desktop for presentations. The software can directly broadcast to uStream, Justin.tv, Stickam.com, LiveStream, Sermon.net, Brightcove, Akamai, Limelight, BitGravity, Wowza, and yet other webcasting services (some depending on you having a membership with them).
Supported broadcast services
The standard version has MainConcept H.264 encoding and On2 VP6 Flash encoding built-in. It provides support for capture video cards (DeckLink, Intensity Pro, etc) and offers over 30 lower-third designs. HD video input is optional.
The Pro version, the one which we review here, has all of the standard functionality and adds more high-end features. It costs 995.00 USD. The Standard version includes functionality BoinxTV lacks, but it’s the Pro version that puts the software in a league of its own. Its high-end features include support for Telestream’s Pipeline network capture device, for IP cameras (such as the Sony SNC-RZ50), scoreboards, 3D virtual studio sets, and advanced audio controls. HD video input is built-in.
Wirecast 4 Pro works like a charm and its high-end features will appeal to many professional and semi-professional webcasting professionals and businesses. The upgrade certainly is worth the money, and if you don’t already have a webcasting application on your system, it’s a good idea to download the demo and see what it can do for you. If you o have BoinxTV and you’re feeling constrained by its capabilities, you too should try the demo; it might make a big difference.
The interface
In the two months that I have tested the software I have experienced all of its power and limitations — there are some, of course — but never once has the software let me down or crashed on me. The conclusion of my testing is that Wirecast 4 Pro is a professional broadcasting application that will appeal to many users, especially when their objective is to create real-time shows via a web service that can compete with much more expensive TV broadcasts. Wirecast 4 is a dream for software trainings, sports events, entertainment, and as an original and engaging form of advertising for online products and/or publications.
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