Easy streaming using Blackmagic Design capture cards

Connecting a camera source

You’ll need a Windows or MacOS computer – laptop or desktop. Most desktop towers have PCIe slots on the motherboard; Blackmagic Design’s range of Decklink and Intensity PCIe cards can be fitted to these to give you video inputs like HDMI and/or SDI. These cards can allow connection of single or multiple cameras.

Supporting one camera input 

• DeckLink Mini Recorder – HD input card for HDMI and SDI cameras
• Intensity Pro 4K – HD and UltraHD (4K) capture card for HDMI cameras
• DeckLink SDI 4K – HD and UltraHD (4K) capture card for SDI cameras
• DeckLink Studio 4K - HD and UltraHD (4K) capture card for HDMI, SDI & Analogue cameras

Supporting multiple camera inputs

• Decklink Duo 2 – 4-channel capture card for HD and UltraHD (4K) SDI cameras
• DeckLink 8K Pro – 4-channel capture card for HD and UltraHD & 8K SDI cameras
• DeckLink 4K Extreme 12G – 2-channel capture card for HD and UltraHD (4K) SDI & HDMI cameras
• DeckLink Quad 2 – 8-channel capture card for HD cameras

PCIe Cards in Laptops

PCIe cards can’t fit into a laptop. However, if you’ve got a Thunderbolt connection, you can attach a card very easily using a Sonnet expansion chassis. 

An even easier solution for laptop users is to attach a UltraStudio Mini Recorder device to Thunderbolt. This instantly gives you an SDI and HDMI input for a single camera.

Streaming and Encoding

To stream video from the computer, it needs to be encoded. Install Wirecast software and get streaming to YouTube, Facebook Live, Twitch or any other network, or even multiple networks at the same time to reach every audience. Blackmagic cards support other software such as vMix or OBS, but we don’t think either can match the ease of use, functionality or flexibility of Wirecast.

Using Windows or Apple based Wirecast Studio and Wirecast Pro software turns your existing computer into a complete switching, titling and streaming unit. If you want a dedicated turnkey Wirecast machine, that’s pre-configured and ready to roll, then take a look at the Wirecast Gear bundles here.

Power under the Hood

If you want to go further, you’ve got all the power you need to create a complete TV or web channel. Telestream Wirecast software can take several input sources like a microphone, two cameras and a computer presentation then allow you to mix and switch between them. 

Features such as Picture in Picture and side by side views are also included. These features can allow you to show your CEO’s presentation from their connected laptop and a camera image of your CEO at the same time. We suggest using a HDMI to USB capture box to present the CEO’s laptop output to the Wirecast computer.

Remote Interviews

With Wirecast you can bring in guests from around the world for live interviews and discussion. All they need is a webcam and a web browser. It’s amazingly simple, but very powerful.

Logos and titles

Wirecast allows you to store logos and titles and be able to overlay these on top of your video. This helps to brand your video and add information such as a CEO’s name and role. We suggest creating the titles in advance and plan where to use them. This could be a full screen static card at the beginning and end and lower third titles during the stream.