Video has become an essential marketing and advertising tool for today’s companies. While it can be used in several ways to draw attention and bring in business, livestreaming is one of the most popular options. It’s one of the most engaging forms of video marketing and one of the most versatile. From broadcasting special performances to providing tutorials and unveiling new products, it allows companies to connect with their audiences in a variety of ways, which aids in building stronger relationships and driving sales.
Sending Livestreams to the Masses
Of course, livestreaming isn’t usually an impromptu event. Maximum effectiveness requires a great deal of planning and just the right production techniques to reach audiences and draw them in. Beyond that, companies can’t simply send their broadcasts straight from their cameras to their audiences. Somewhere along the way, they need to be encoded. Encoding transforms raw video into the right format to send it along to viewers. It compresses livestreams into smaller files without sacrificing video and audio quality.
Two methods are used for this purpose: hardware and software encoding. Both are important, but they’re entirely different processes. Read on to learn more about the differences between the two and the advantages of software encoding versus the benefits of using dedicated hardware encoders.
Delving Deeper Into Hardware Encoding
First, let’s delve deeper into hardware encoding. This process entails using dedicated equipment, like a GPU or graphics card, to encode video. Hardware encoding offers much faster speeds than software encoding, and it gives users the real-time encoding capabilities needed for livestreaming. It doesn’t require as much processing power, either. As such, it’s not likely to overload users’ computers and interfere with their performance and responsiveness. Low CPU usage is particularly helpful when using mobile devices because it doesn’t drain their batteries as quickly.
That being said, hardware encoders can have certain limitations. Not all of them are compatible with all types of equipment. That means the other equipment companies use for video production and livestreaming must be compatible with their hardware encoders. At the same time, some video encoders offer less flexibility than software solutions.
Taking a Closer Look at Software Encoding
That brings us to software encoding. Instead of being separate physical equipment, software encoders are virtual. They give computers and other livestreaming equipment sets of instructions for processing and compressing video to be sent to viewers. They work on any computer without needing extra equipment or posing compatibility issues. They give users more flexibility and possibly more control and customization options.
On the other hand, software encoders also use a great deal more power. They can slow down users’ computers and lead to performance issues while they’re in use. They also process video far more slowly than hardware encoders. While software encoders can sometimes produce better results, they’re also not nearly as fast or efficient as hardware encoders.
Choosing the Right Encoding Solutions for Livestreaming
Livestreaming is a highly effective tool for entertaining audiences, boosting engagement, and creating strong connections with customers and prospects. It can help companies build their followings and draw viewers into their conversion funnels. It’s an extremely versatile marketing and advertising solution. Both hardware and software encoders can be crucial for livestreaming, but the two aren’t quite the same. Though software encoders have their benefits, hardware encoders tend to be faster, use less power, and allow companies to take full advantage of the power of livestreaming.