Laptop

[Steve Kownacki]

We use MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013), 2.4 GHz Intel Core i7, 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3, Intel HD Graphics 4000 1536 MB.

Setup 1 for stream only (way too much lag to imag)
Wirecast 6, 2 BM miniRecorders SDI, USB3 to ethernet, encoding 2 720p streams (fb & yt), and local .mov record. Wirecast also does the video roll-ins & graphics. Still has processing overhead available. Here’s a pic.

Setup 2 for imag & stream
As above, but output a traditional switcher with embedded audio SDI to the wirecast laptop. The streamed show you can then overlay logos, or squeeze back the show, add a live cam for standup interviews, roll in some other content when the live event get boring – like looping PPT during dinner. Sometimes I’ll add a focusrite scarlet USB (either directly to laptop or thru the USB3 ethernet adapter that adds 3 ports) to grab a mix-minus from the soundboard. That way I don’t have a risk of copyrighted music going out and someone else monetizing.

Usually just work on the laptop screen and the whole thing is and octopus/spaghetti pile. Hmm… maybe I should cut some holes in the top of a roadcase to hide all that mess.

Steve

[Craig Seeman]

[Steve Kownacki] “Wirecast 6, 2 BM miniRecorders SDI, USB3 to ethernet, encoding 2 720p streams (fb & yt), and local .mov record. Wirecast also does the video roll-ins & graphics. Still has processing overhead available. Here’s a pic.”

Since later versions of Wirecast (now at version 8.1) can use Apple H.264 (Intel QuickSync) you can get even more overhead.

[Craig Seeman]

[Rich Rubasch] “Also, if you use a laptop, do you also use a second monitor for Wirecast windows, Little Snitch, the live feed etc? Curious if the second screen is the answer or a second laptop like a Macbook Air.”

I use a second computer to monitor the stream destination. I’d avoid using things like Little Snitch when streaming.
Keep in mind the CPU is being used by everything you have running so I dedicate my on location streaming computer to that task alone unless I’m bringing in a guest by Skype. When I do that I use a second monitor and capture that. Wirecast 8.x with Rendezvous may be an alternative to Skype and the second screen but there’s still some kinks to be worked out.

[Steve Kownacki]

All in all, LOTS of testing before a gig with the exact setup you plan on using. We even have a startup/power up routine, and which applications you start in what order. Turn off everything you don’t need including virus protection. Anything to help success.

Steve