There are wide variety of video captured from camcorders, digital cameras, game player, webcams, cell phones, and more, however most of them save video in different video formats.  This can cause problems, for example when you want to upload your video to a broadcasting service company such as YouTube, Facebook, and Livestream, etc., but their service doesn't support the video's format you uploaded.  In a short, we have to encode the video to corrected format and then upload the encoded video to broadcasting service company.

In this video encode section including the conversion of video signal into a standard format and then transmit the video content to networks (which is known as upload).

There are 2 different encoding methods for converting the video format, one is software encoding and another one is hardware encoding.  We list the encoding methods in the following table

Commonly asked Questions :

1.) Which encoding approach is better?

Ans: There is no optimal approach, it really depending on your applications. Generally, we classify the applications into following 2 categories;

· If you like to do live stream broadcasting, we would recommend you go for the external hardware encoding approach to avoid any software encoding process slowing down a PC’s CPU speed and consequently affecting the upload speed.  (Please visit our web link in bandwidth considerations for information in how to establishing a stable broadcast link)

· If you prefer to record video to a PC first, and edit the video content before uploading to network for broadcasting, you may just use the free X.264 encoder software

2.) A graphic card is classified as a hardware or software encode?

Ans: A graphic card is hardware encode, however a graphic card need a driver program in order to operating under the Windows environment.  The driver would also consuming some of CPU’s speed.

3.) An UVC capture card is classified as a hardware or software encode?

Ans: An UVC capture card is just a video capture card connecting to PC’s USB port for run under Microsoft provided  USB Video Class (UVC) driver.   So no need to install any additional driver to run under the Windows environment.  The capture card is not consider as a part of the encoder.  The capture card still need the CPU’s loading to run the X.264 encoder.

In case you have any further questions, you may email us ia-tecs@hotmail.com

Codec   

EncodeMethod                                                       

Descriptions                                                                  

  Buy Product

H.264

Software Encoder                     

Software encode video is a very CPU intensive operation. May take 60% -100% CPU load

Capture Card +

Software Encoder    

Capture card would use a little bit of CPU usage  for encoding video.  

Note: A video capture card is graphic card requires a good heat sink to reduce the internal IC temperature, there are few video capture cards in the market using plastic case which is not good for a long run, please buy a capture card with a metal case for reducing the IC operating temperature

HDMI-USB 3.0 Broadcast Card

SDI-USB 3.0 Broadcast Card

HDMI+SDI-USB 3.0 Broadcast Card

External Hardware

Encoder      

No CPU loading or usage during encoding 

H.264 Encoders  (wired)

H.264 Encoders (Wireless)

H.265

External Hardware

Encoder       

Get up to 40 –50% bit rate reduction compared to  H.264.

But need a H.265 decoder due to most of media server is still using H.264

H.265 Encoders (wired)

H.265 Encoders (wireless)