WIRECAST SWITCHER PRO
WIRECAST SWITCHER PC
WIRECAST SWITCHER PROFESSIONAL

WIRECAST SWITCHER PRO

We use Pro Presenter software on a Macbook Pro to project lyrics and scriptures on a screen during worship. Why buy a separate switcher and recorders when you can build or buy a computer that has a BETTER switcher and BETTER recording capability? Wirecast has it all! Wirecast has everything needed to real-time edit an event and record it, and it was also designed to be the encoding software needed to stream events. If we had bought a stand-alone switcher and the ‘stack’ of recorders, we would have needed to eventually buy a computer with encoding software to stream events on the internet. Cameras and wiring were installed during the next few months and our ﬁ rst recorded event with the new system was on Ap– John Michael Talbot’s ‘Lords Supper’. It was a pretty fast process! The computer was assembled over Christmas break 2014 and operational by early January.

WIRECAST SWITCHER PC

Luckily, I was able to save money and assemble a system from scratch, rather than buying an i7 PC and having to add all those items. They also recommended putting the software and operating system on a solid state drive (SSD) so access would be immediate. The tech guys on the Wirecast forum were incredibly helpful, and told me that in order to simultaneously process basically four video feeds (three from the cameras on the Matrox board and the one being currently edited), we would need at least an i7 computer to handle the load, along with a massive drive for the video ﬁles. Right around that same time, a member had some funds drop into their control, so we moved ahead and ordered everything including the Wirecast software. Mounting robotic controlled cameras (PTZ) on the walls instead of stationary ones would raise the price tag, but even with stationary cameras, I would have much better quality using Wirecast on a PC rather than switcher with a pile of recorder decks on a shelf. Then with a Matrox VS4 on board, we could simultaneously record each camera feed for any needed post-editing.

WIRECAST SWITCHER PROFESSIONAL

Telestream’s Wirecast software on a PC could be used as a professional quality switcher to make real-time event recordings. The only products I found that could do everything we wanted were either the systems the ‘mega’ church were using, or a patchwork conglomeration of items from different companies…except one. Going back to the drawing board, I listed exactly what we needed and started researching. If we were going to spend that much money, were there other options out there we’d missed? I needed to make absolutely sure before I pulled the trigger. Once the plan was in place, the second guessing began.

Our budgeting allowed for four years of gradually buying the equipment we wanted, with a price tag of around $4,000.

If we could add a simple switcher and one more deck we could do real time edits allowing us to record ANY event in the sanctuary, including our regular worship services, to burn to DVD for our elderly and shut-ins.

Doing this, I could accomplish the same thing without the clutter, but I would still have to spend time in post-edit. However, we made a decision to hard-wire stationary cameras mounted to the walls above the audience recording to decks hidden away. But it doesn’t have to be! Now, as a minister at one of those smaller congregations in the heart of the Texas hill country, I have to be satisﬁed using clumsy cameras on tripods. After serving a decade at one of those ‘mega’ churches with all the fantastic bells and whistles and state-of-the-art tech video recording hardware along with the professionals to handle it, I can agree that it’s mostly true.

Wirecast switcher