Switching Broadcast Without Going Offline

[robistech]

What I do is have a second computer set up as a master control switcher, running XSplit. In XSplit, I have a video playlist set up to run reruns, a test slide, a technical difficulties slide, and a source in XSplit that takes what I'm broadcasting on a VGA monitor on my switching machine (running Wirecast), converted to Svideo with a VGA scan converter, and then input into the machine using an Ezcap 116 capture card. It's not a perfect solution since I get interlace lines on the live stream video when we're live, but it works. This way, if Wirecast crashes, I can switch to the technical difficulties slide by clicking on one button until I can get the machine rebooted. Also, by offloading the live stream rendering to another machine, I've reduced the CPU usage in Wirecast on my switching computer down to less than 50 percent.

One solution I'm going to try soon to improve the live stream quality is the Avermedia Game Broadcaster HD PCIe card so I can input the VGA signal directly and not have to convert it into an interlaced format. It also has an HDMI input as well so I plan on using that eventually when I upgrade the switching computer.

Thanks for the reply. I also thought about doing it this way, but like you said, the video quality was way worse than if I just broadcast straight from WC. I think the correct solution would be going HDMI out of the WC machine, and then HDMI on the streaming machine. The problem is that method can be pricey. Anyone have any other ideas?

[Linuxcooldude]

I have two different shows as a single template. For you it might be too hard integrating everything together.

Try putting second show on a separate master layer as to keep both shows separate, then switch to the second master layer once your ready to start second show without having to switch templates.