One of the big hurdles for first-time streamers is the live streaming software. So many options… Can you use the free OBS or do you need a premium solution like Wirecast? What should you look for when choosing streaming video software?
Jun 18, 2020 Free download and install the video frame capture software on your Windows or Mac computer. Launch this program after the installation. Click “Add File” to import a video. Well, you can drag and drop a video file to its main interface directly too. Step 2 Record frames in a video. There is a small preview window on the right panel of the. The Video Capture category contains software that will allow you to record video from external devices or content on your computer. Capture game footages, webcam feeds, or make video presentations.
Jul 16, 2019 Full list of the top Video Capture Software apps that are similar to Streaming Video Recorder, including Camtasia 2019, FlashBack Express, Bandicam Screen Recorder, Free Screen Capture. OBS Studios, also known as Open Broadcaster Software, is a free and open source software program for live streaming and video recording. Features of the software include device/source capture, recording, encoding and broadcasting. Stream on Windows, Mac or Linux. ScreenFlow is a screen recording software that works pretty well for your Mac device. It offers a free trial version although it's not a total freeware. You can easily create videos for streaming with its easy to use video editing option, screen recording tool and sharing tool.
We’ll answer these questions, but first let’s set some things straight.
What is streaming video software?
Your camera produces a raw video signal which has to be encoded in order to be broadcast over the web. The streaming software is responsible for the encoding of your live stream. After encoding, it will deliver your live video in one of two formats—RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) or HLS (HTTP Live Streaming).
Typically, RTMP allows for lower latency but HLS has adaptive bitrate streaming which means that it can adjust the video quality to accommodate any fluctuations in the viewer’s internet connection.
Live Streaming Setup And Equipment
Before you start streaming your video content and before you even download that streaming software, you will need the best live streaming equipment.
Computer Hardware
- Computer: Streaming live video isn’t as power intensive as, say, playing games or developing software but you do need a computer that can keep up. For live streaming, we recommend a computer with 8GB of RAM or more. This amount of RAM should ensure that your computer won’t slow down even when you have multiple programs open (as streamers often do).
- Computer Accessories: Your basic live streaming setup should also include an HD camera for high-quality videos and a microphone that will display crystal clear audio. The Logitech C992x is one of the highest rated cameras for streaming (displays in 1080p HD), and the Blue Yeti Nano microphone is a highly rated USB microphone that can sit on your desk as you’re talking into it.
Capture Card
The capture card is what gets the video signal from your camera (connected by HDMI) to your computer. It allows you to transmit the raw video content without sacrificing the quality of your live broadcast.
The MiraBox Capture Card is one of the most highly rated capture cards available, supporting all 1080p/720p devices including games consoles, set-top boxes, and DSLR cameras.
Best Free Streaming software
#1 OBS
Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) was created back in 2012 by Hugh 'Jim' Bailey. This lightweight and versatile video capture software is the go-to solution for many live streamers. Besides live streaming with a camera, you can also use it to stream your desktop, record a video game or record your computer screen as mp4.
- Video and audio mixing. You can switch between sources and mix your audio in real time to create a dynamic, professional-looking broadcast.
- Multistreaming. With OBS you can stream to multiple destinations at once—Twitch, Hitbox, YouTube Live, Facebook Live, and more. This is quite impressive, especially when you consider that OBS is free live streaming and encoding software.
- Advanced streaming settings. With OBS, you have full control over the video quality. You can adjust the frame rate and lower the resolution if you like. You can adjust the audio latency if the speed of your audio doesn’t match the speed of the video. You can even use chroma key (the “green screen”).
- Transitions. OBS features various scene transitions for post production such as “Fade”, “Cut”, “CloudWipe”, and more.
- Plugins. In case you need to expand the functionality of OBS studio, you can head to their plugin repository. There are dozens of plugins that will enable you to do anything from adding stream effects to using your smartphone as a remote.
The downside?
OBS is truly powerful streaming video software. It’s on par with streaming video solutions that cost hundreds of dollars which means that it can be difficult to set up for a beginner. There are lots of menus and settings and, if you’re new to live streaming, you can easily find all of this overwhelming. Also, since this is free software, you don’t get access to round-the-clock tech support.
OBS Studio System Requirements And Specs
![Capture Capture](/uploads/1/2/6/3/126358734/902899819.jpg)
OS compatibility | Windows 7 or higher, macOS 10.10 or higher, and Ubuntu 14.04 or higher |
CPU Requirements | Intel i3-2100 3.1GHz or higher |
Ability to capture desktop | Yes |
Ability to capture webcam | Yes |
Streaming to multiple destinations | Yes |
Streaming with multiple cameras | Yes |
Encoding formats | H.264 software encoder, NVIDIA NVENC hardware encoder, Intel Quick Sync hardware encoder, AMD VCE hardware encoder |
#2 Nvidia Shadowplay
If you have an Nvidia graphics card, you might be in luck. GTX 650 and higher desktop graphics adapters support Nvidia’s proprietary streaming video capture software—ShadowPlay. ShadowPlay takes advantage of an H.264 hardware encoder (NVENC) that is integrated into the Kepler GPU. This technology supports live streaming in up 4K at 60 frames per second. Pretty impressive!
- Hardware encoding. This is a huge advantage because it generally means faster video streaming. However, ShadowPlay is optimized especially for game streaming. If that’s your element, you’ll easily fall in love with ShadowPlay.
- Instant Replay. Another feature that gamers will love. It automatically captures kills, match wins and other important gaming moments in the background. And even if there is no major event, the last 30 seconds of your gameplay are always saved. You can download the recording to your hard drive by pressing a button.
- GIF creation. Another nice-to-have feature for gamers is the ability to create GIFs. You can select a portion of a ShadowPlay video, edit it and share it on Facebook.
The downside?
ShadowPlay is designed for game streaming. You can also record your desktop and overlay your webcam but if you’re looking to live stream an event or a church sermon, it won’t do. Unless you’re looking specifically for game streaming software, you might want to go for one of the other pieces of software on our list. By the way, if you do have one of the supported graphics cards, you can set OBS to use Nvidia’s hardware encoder, NVENC, and enjoy the same performance that ShadowPlay allows.
Nvidia ShadowPlay System Requirements And Specs
OS compatibility | Windows 7, 8, or 10 |
CPU Requirements | Intel i3-2100 3.1GHz or higher |
Ability to capture desktop | Yes |
Ability to capture webcam | Yes, but only as an overlay |
Streaming to multiple destinations | No |
Streaming with multiple cameras | N/A |
Encoding formats | NVIDIA NVENC hardware encoder |
#3 Streamlabs OBS
Video Streaming Capture Software For Mac Download
If you can’t get your head around using OBS, then Streamlabs OBS (SLOBS) might be just what you need. It’s a variation of OBS with a less steeper learning curve.
- Easy to set up. After installing Streamlabs OBS, the program will test your system and configure the live streaming settings for maximum performance. This is based on your computer hardware and internet speed.
- Live streaming add-ons. These are interactive elements that you can insert directly in your live stream. For example, the Alert Box displays a notification when someone subscribes to your channel while you’re streaming. It’s a nice way to personalize your live streams and welcome new subscribers.
- Themed layouts. Another reason to use Streamlabs OBS is that it comes with 340 themed layouts that help you make your live streams look professional. Besides the actual live stream, you can also display a “Be right back” animation and a “Stream starting soon” animation. Most of the themes are designed for game streaming but there are also other options like themes for sports streaming. Oh, and there is a mobile app that you can use to control your live stream remotely. Pretty cool!
- Lightweight. SLOBS is pretty awesome on the encoding side, too. This streaming and encoding software uses automation and machine learning to optimize the live stream for best performance.
The downside?
There is hardly any but, if we have to name one, it would be that SLOBS is not OBS. Although it is built on top of OBS, it’s managed by a completely different team and, so, you can’t hope to get the latest OBS updates on SLOBS. But you are getting quite a lot, as we can see, so it’s probably not that much of a problem.
Streamlabs OBS System Requirements And Specs
OS compatibility | Windows 7 SP1 64 bit or higher |
CPU Requirements | Intel Core i7 or equivalent |
Ability to capture desktop | Yes |
Ability to capture webcam | Yes |
Streaming to multiple destinations | Yes |
Streaming with multiple cameras | Yes |
Encoding formats | x264 software encoder, Intel Quick Sync hardware encoder, AMD VCE hardware encoder, NVIDIA NVENC hardware encoder, |
Best Professional Streaming Software
#1 XSplit
XSplit is a live streaming and video-mixing application developed and maintained by SplitmediaLabs. It comes in two flavors—the free limited version called XSplit Gamecaster and the premium version called XSplit Broadcaster.
- User friendly. If you are a complete beginner at live streaming, perhaps you’ll find XSplit Broadcaster a bit confusing and overwhelming. However, compared to OBS, it is much more user friendly while giving you full control over your live streams.
- Video mixing. XSplit Broadcaster has the ability to broadcast from various sources (video mixing). These sources are known as “Scenes” and allow you to switch between your desktop, a browser window, your webcam or even a Skype conversation.
- Multistreaming to social media. You can quickly connect your Facebook, YouTube and Twitter account and even broadcast to multiple destinations simultaneously (multi-streaming).
- Advanced encoding settings. Since this is professional streaming and encoding software, you have full control over the encoding and rendering options. XSplit Broadcaster allows for streaming in up to 4k UHD @ 60fps. You can also record the system audio and your microphone on separate tracks for more flexibility when editing.
Price
In terms of pricing, XSplit Broadcaster is on the low end. You can get a 3-month license at $8.32/mo, a 12-month license at $5/mo and a lifetime license at $199. We think that’s quite a fair price for premium video mixing and broadcasting software that comes with 24/7 support.
The downside?
Some users report that XSplit slows their machines down. Also, it is not available for Mac.
XSplit Broadcaster System Requirements And Specs
OS compatibility | Windows 7 SP1 64 bit or higher |
CPU Requirements | 2nd Generation Core i5 CPU or equivalent. |
Ability to capture desktop | Yes |
Ability to capture webcam | Yes |
Streaming to multiple destinations | Yes |
Streaming with multiple cameras | Yes |
Encoding formats | x264 software encoder, Intel Quick Sync hardware encoder, AMD VCE hardware encoder, NVIDIA NVENC hardware encoder, AVermedia H.264 hardware encoder |
#2 vMix
VMix is powerhouse live streaming encoder software. If you are looking for a high-end video mixer and switcher that’s capable of almost any video production task, this is it. The interface actually looks like one of those advanced audio/video mixing consoles that are used at news broadcasting companies.
- Broadcast in 4k UHD. With vMix you can broadcast in up to 4k UHD using all types of video capture devices like webcams, video cameras, data storage cards, and more.
- Remote video production. You can even bring “guests” and give them the rights to mix your video and audio remotely. In other words, you can have a remote video production team working with this software. Crazy!
- Effects and templates. Besides the ability to mix media content from various sources, vMix also offers transition effects such as flip, rotate, fade, cross zoom, color correction. You can also customize the appearance of your live stream with the pre-designed templates. Having this sort of flexibility allows you to produce live broadcasts that can easily rival shows with million-dollar budgets.
- Multistreaming. Like XSplit Broadcaster, vMix also allows for streaming to multiple platforms at the same time. You can broadcast to Facebook Live, Ustream, YouTube Live, Twitch etc.
- Advanced video production. When it comes to the advanced features, vMix has all of them and then some. You can set a green screen with Chroma Key, use color correction and start or stop your live stream at specific geographic locations. The multi view feature enables you to use multiple camera positions to show different angles of your broadcast.
Price
vMix comes in 6 different packages - Basic, Basic HD, SD, HD, 4K and Pro. The Basic version is free to use. The package prices vary between $60 - $1,200 depending on the features.
The downside?
Video Streaming Capture Software For Mac Free
vMix is professional live streaming and video mixing software which is why it has a rather steep learning curve. If you are just getting into live streaming and you have no idea how to use advanced features like chroma key, then vMix will probably be biting off more than you can chew. Our recommendation in that case would be to start small.
vMix System Requirements & Specs
OS compatibility | Windows 7 or newer |
CPU Requirements | Quad Core 3.4 Ghz |
Ability to capture desktop | Yes |
Ability to capture webcam | Yes |
Streaming to multiple destinations | Yes |
Streaming with multiple cameras | Yes |
Encoding formats | H.264 software encoder, NVIDIA NVENC hardware encoder, Intel Quick Sync hardware encoder |
#3 Wirecast
Wirecast is live video streaming production software by Telestream. It is a software video switcher and mixer that allows you to dynamically mix media from various sources like audio files, video files, cameras, microphones, and so on.
- Video and audio mixing. Wirecast’s video and audio mixing capabilities are quite impressive. You can switch between up to 8 audio tracks and include footage from external sources such as Skype. You have fine-grained mixing control, e.g. set a video file to start from a certain point or make it loop when it’s finished playing.
- Pre-made graphics. To make your broadcasts look polished, you can take advantage of over 200+ pre-built graphics that you can insert directly into your live streaming videos. Whether you need a “Starting Soon” screen or a “Live Stream Offline” screen, chances are that Wirecast’s graphics library has the solution you need.
Usb Video Capture Software Mac
- Easy to use. Wirecast is focused on streamlining the video mixing and production process. Although there are many advanced features, the software doesn’t overwhelm you. For example, you can record the live stream to your hard drive with a few clicks.
- Restreaming. The Wirecast live video streaming software creates a single stream that can be broadcast to multiple social sites like YouTube Live, Facebook Live, Twitch.TV, Periscope or to a live streaming platform such as StreamingVideoProvider (to publish the live stream to your website).
- Streaming Hardware. Besides streaming software, the company also offers a complete live video production system called Wirecast Gear. Wirecast Gear removes the need to purchase a computer configuration or a streaming box. It’s got everything that’s necessary to start broadcasting and it is pre-loaded with the latest version of their streaming software. You just have to plug in your cameras and microphones and you can start streaming.
Price
Wirecast has two different price packages—the Basic version at $495 and the advanced version costs $995. The company also offers premium support at $99/year.
The downside?
Just like vMix, Wirecast is professional streaming software with hundreds of menus and options which could be confusing for a beginner. Compared to vMix, the interface is a bit more user friendly so it’s relatively easy to get up to speed and start using this live streaming software. The price is a bit steep and, if we have to be honest, OBS offers many of Wirecast’s advanced video streaming features for free.
Wirecast System Requirements And Specs
OS compatibility | Windows 7 or higher, Mac OS Sierra or higher |
CPU Requirements | i7 quad-core @ 2.8GHz+ |
Ability to capture desktop | Yes |
Ability to capture webcam | Yes |
Streaming to multiple destinations | Yes |
Streaming with multiple cameras | Yes |
Encoding formats | H.264 software encoding, Intel Quick Sync Video hardware encoding, NVIDIA NVENC hardware encoding, Apple Hardware Accelerated H.264 |
Cheat Sheet: How to choose live video streaming software
Twitch/game streaming software | XSplit Gamecaster, SLOBS |
Live streaming software for beginners | Nvidia Shadowplay, SLOBS, XSplit Broadcaster |
Professional, user-friendly streaming software for Mac and PC with 24/7 customer support | |
Powerful streaming software for PC | vMix, OBS |
YouTube live streaming software | OBS, SLOBS, XSplit Broadcaster |
Free streaming software for Mac | |
Free streaming software for PC | OBS, SLOBS |
Facebook live streaming software | OBS, SLOBS, XSplit Broadcaster |
Low CPU usage streaming software | OBS, SLOBS, Nvidia Shadowplay |
Webcam streaming software | OBS, SLOBS |
The Verdict - What is the best live streaming software?
Our favorite is OBS studio because it’s free open-source video streaming software that’s in the same class as paid video streaming software like Wirecast and vMix. You can do just about anything with OBS studio, including advanced video and audio mixing, using chroma key (the “green screen”), streaming to multiple platforms, and more. OBS studio uses relatively few system resources which means that you won’t need to invest in an extremely expensive computer in order to run it. There are dozens of plugins that are developed by the community and allow you to add all sorts of additional functionality.
Further Reading & Resources
In recent times, video streaming has become very popular when it comes to consuming media content online. However, it is not all the time that this content is available to download on your local Windows PC or Mac since some of these videos can be taken down without warning. Consequently, there comes the need to grab this content in another method when downloading is no longer a viable option.
In turn, the idea of a screen recorder software proves the best alternative option to exploit. Actually, the process to record streaming video has never been this easy especially when you consider the boatload of tools in the market that have been crafted to quench this need. The best streaming video recorder program, online or offline, will be able to grab video content from services like YouTube, Netflix, Skype among others in that perfect hassle-free way.
Definitely, choosing the best app to record a live stream with is not a walk in the park but the solutions featured here are guaranteed to kick the ball out of the park for you in a very convenient way. With that in mind, we dive right into the world of software to capture streaming video and have some good insight on what each has to offer.
6 Great Free Tools to Capture Live Streaming Video in Windows 10 & Mac – Free Download
![Video Streaming Capture Software For Mac Video Streaming Capture Software For Mac](/uploads/1/2/6/3/126358734/477758521.jpg)
Software Name | Supported OS | Offline Version | Download Link |
---|---|---|---|
Windows | Full Version | Free Download | |
Windows/Mac | Free Trial | Free Download | |
Windows | Free Trial | Free Download | |
Windows | Free Demo | Free Download | |
Windows | Free Demo | Free Download | |
Windows/Mac | Full Version | Free Download |
1. TalkHelper Screen Recorder(Recommended)
TalkHelper Screen Recorder is a great streaming video recorder program with comprehensive support for all versions of Windows PC. In a single click, you will be able to achieve HD output quality in MP4 format without the need to tinker with any predefined options.
You get to choose whether to capture streaming video in full screen or alternatively just select a region on the screen where the video is being displayed. On top of recording the audio coming through the system from the video you are watching, you can also include your own narration using the microphone.
For personalization purposes, you can also opt to include the webcam footage as an overlay on the main clip. You will also be opened up to real-time annotations, adding watermarks or logos, highlighting the cursor, pause/resume the recording as you wish and even get to schedule a recording like that of TV in the instance it starts when you are not around. Better yet, this offline program is free to download.
2. Apowersoft Streaming Video Recorder
This is the best streaming video recorder program that you can use to record a live stream on YouTube, Blip TV or any other source in an easy and fast way. It boasts of a unique feature whereby, it is able to detect when a video is playing on the screen and starts recording it automatically without your intervention.
You will be able to output the video to popular video formats and even specific hardware like Apple devices, Android devices among others. The output, both audio and video, is guaranteed to be of the highest quality and you can always confirm this via the supported preview option. It is also able to record streaming video in the background even when you have minimized the source.
On top of all this, you are also opened up to some video editing options, in the end, to help enhance the final video even further. Apart from the offline version that you can download, you will be happy to know that the online version of this screen recorder software supports all the available web browsers.
3. FlashBack Express
FlashBack is exclusive to the Windows PC and happens to be the best program to capture streaming video that offers high-end HD capture without any lags whatsoever, efficient video editing capabilities on top of various rich customization options.
As you record a live stream, you can rest assured that there will be no intrusive watermark in the final video and you will love the fact that you are not limited in any way when it comes to the length of time you can record. It does not matter where the video is streaming as it can be captured in either full-screen mode or on a selected portion of the screen.
On top of that, you can also add the webcam footage in real-time if the need arises. Besides capturing the system audio coming from the live video, you also get to add commentary to the clip using a microphone. This screen video recorder will also come in very handy when you need to directly share the stream record easily to a streaming site like YouTube.
Video Capture Software Mac Free
4. Camstudio
Camstudio is a great app that will not only record a live stream and save in AVI format but will also go the extra mile to convert the same clips into the SWF file equivalent that are known to be bandwidth friendly.
Video Streaming Capture Software For Mac Free
Even as you record the streaming video you can choose to personalize the resulting video using footage from the webcam by implementing the picture-in-picture mode. You will also love just how crystal clear the resultant videos are and in fact, you may not even tell that they were recorded.
You also get the chance to capture and highlight the cursor path if the need arises during the process to capture streaming video. This screen recorder app will also empower you with the option to annotate the video as you wish like for instance adding text comments to the recording clip. Better yet, you will have no issues when it comes to capturing the system audio for the video and at the same time choose whether to capture the video in fullscreen mode or just as a portion.
5. iSpring Free Cam
As one of the best apps to record streaming video, this free offline program will give you an experience of a kind. You will be open to customizing the capture area be it the full screen or even a specific area in case the streaming video cannot be adjusted to the whole screen.
The recordings you make will be of the highest quality possible and saved in a common WMV format. Besides saving the video files locally, this tool to record streaming video also helps you upload the clips directly to YouTube without leaving the app all in a single click. For convenient navigation, you have several customizable hotkeys at your disposal for you to accomplish tasks faster.
Better yet, this streaming video recorder also happens to carry video editing capabilities under the hood for you to tweak the recorded video before you share. Your videos will be complete as audio from the system or microphone will be captured all on a simple and instinctive user interface.
6. ScreenRec
ScreenRec is a top free and online streaming video recorder software for both Windows PC and Mac that delivers a plethora of features compared to the offline counterparts. It will offer a secure way to capture streaming video by preventing unauthorized downloads and also lets you restrict file access by setting passwords.
For the best video quality, you are advised to play the streaming video in full screen although you can also select a specific area to capture in the instance you don’t want content from the whole screen. Besides that, you are also opened up to convenient hotkeys like to start and stop the stream record without having to click buttons or navigate menus.
Besides the video, audio plays an important part in the video and that is why this tool to record a live stream enables you to capture system audio with the option to include voiceovers via the microphone. It is one of the best streaming video recorder software considering that it also offers free cloud storage up to 2GB, real-time upload, and the ultimate video sharing experience.
Best Streaming Video Capture Software
No matter the platform you are on, Mac or Windows PC, you are spoilt for choice and only the preferences you are looking for will be the dealbreaker in order to settle on one. All these tools have a free version to download offline or access as an online service in order to take care of the core business even before any extra features. Actually, the process to capture streaming video should no longer be tedious nor time-consuming when you are opened up to such great and comprehensive tools. The ball is now in your court.