What’s Your Choice of Encoders?
Hardware Encoders
When you have to convert the format of data, it’s time to look out for the encoders. We can obtain the encoders either in hardware components or as software applications. In video streaming, the camera feed is converted into streamable data. The popular formats for converted data are RTMP and windows media streaming. In case of video streaming legal applications, it is essential to prefer reliable and easy to use options. There are two types of encoders i.e., hardware and software encoders.
Hardware encoders: They are the processors which make use of designed algorithms to convert the data into streamable format. We can obtain them in portable boxes or even in large fixtures depending upon the type of application. Each encoder is manufactured to produce a specific quality of video. Unlike the other type, we don’t have much flexibility to adjust the video quality. To produce hardware components, we have to design, choose a manufacturing process and fabricate them. It is a time consuming process and it is for this reason, we can find them equipped with old fashioned compressors or decompressors.
Software encoders: Here, we use the programmed software applications to convert the video files. The generated output video is of appreciable quality and we can also adjust it. Unlike the hardware types, upgrading the existing versions is simple. When it comes to latency speed, hardware encoders are far better than software types as the computer runs multiple programs simultaneously.
We strongly recommend you to prefer hardware encoders over software encoders for the following reasons:
- Existing equipment can be made free: Employing hardware encoders relieves other components from taking up the encoding job. This can help you to obtain higher responses from the setup and a smoother graphics.
- Integration of plug and play scoreboard: The hardware encoders are capable of harvesting real time data from score boards. This can enable the viewers to witness the accurate results.
- Easy to use: When you go with the software types, there are URLs waiting for you to copy and paste to start the streaming process. The hardware types are completely automated eliminating the excess work. All that you have to do is, plug in the box and start your streaming.
- Lower bandwidth: We can transcend the scenes behind the video behind the scenes by this device. By doing so, we can achieve the best picture quality.
- Network: The path of data transfer from the encoders to the serves is monitored. You don’t have to search for an additional bandwidth as the videos will be stored on the servers. This continuous monitoring helps us to troubleshoot the network issues with ease.
- Economical: The price of hardware encoders is far less than that of the software types. Unlimited events can be streamed by using a single encoder.
- Hassle free: When you use a hardware encoder, you don’t have to keep worrying about the computer related hassles like memory, CPU usage and network issues.
Hardware encoders are the preferred choice of professionals as they yield crisp and high quality videos. They are built purposely to encode and we can transmit for days together without a hiccup.