Software Video Encoders Support

OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is the most widely used free video encoder for live streaming. It is open-source, supports a wide range of streaming protocols and servers, and runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It offers scene management, audio mixing, and advanced output settings, making it suitable for both beginners and professionals.

In your encoder's stream or output settings, enter the server URL, port, and stream key provided in your Primcast dashboard. Most software encoders label these fields as Server, Stream Key, or RTMP URL. Our tutorials for OBS, WireCast, xSplit, and other encoders walk you through exactly where to enter these values step by step.

For 720p at 30fps a bitrate of 2,500–4,000 kbps is recommended. For 1080p at 30fps, aim for 4,000–6,000 kbps. Your internet upload speed should comfortably exceed the bitrate you select. If viewers experience buffering, reduce your bitrate or output resolution in your encoder settings.

Dropped frames are most often caused by a bitrate that exceeds your upload speed, high CPU usage from encoding at a resolution or framerate that is too demanding, or an unstable network connection. Try lowering your output resolution, reducing the bitrate, or enabling hardware encoding (if your GPU supports it) to reduce the CPU load.

Some software encoders like OBS (with plugins such as obs-multi-rtmp) and WireCast support simultaneous streaming to multiple destinations. This typically requires additional upload bandwidth for each stream destination. Check the documentation for your specific encoder to see whether multi-destination streaming is supported natively or via a plugin.