Create a New Encoder Preset

An encoder preset contains a set of input and output settings your hardware encoder will use to capture, store, and send content to the cloud. To stream events, the encoder preset must match the video and audio signals your camera/switcher is sending to the encoder. When you configure an encoder preset, Studio will display the bandwidth you’ll need to accommodate the configuration you select.

If you’re using the software encoder with ProPresenter, audio and video input/output settings will be configured in ProPresenter and not Studio. 

Create a New Encoder Preset

1. Navigate to Settings > Encoder Presets.
2. Click Add Preset in the top-right.
3. Give the encoder preset a custom name.
4. Choose the format standard, NTSC or PAL. NTSC is the standard broadcasting format in North America and Northern South America. PAL is the standard broadcasting format in Europe, Africa, Southern South America, and parts of Asia.
5. Choose your input and output formats.

The input format must match the signal being sent from your camera or switcher. If it doesn’t, you’ll see color bars or a dropped stream. You can find this by clicking on the encoder in your encoders page to bring up its details. Learn more about fixing color bars. Follow the step-by-step instructions below to see what input format your encoder is receiving.

Find the video input format your encoder is receiving

You can check what the detected input is by manually starting and stopping your encoder. You can do this manually by clicking Start and then after it starts, Stop, next to your encoder on the Dashboard or Encoders Page. The detected input signal only updates after the encoder is stopped. 

1. To check the detected input signal, first refresh your web browser.
2. Navigate to Settings > Encoders.
3. Click the encoder you're using.
4. Under Details, see detected input on card 1.

If you want to manually enter the matching output format, see our recommended formats in the table below. 

Choose the video codec and playout behavior 

Now that you’ve got the correct video input and output formats, you can continue creating the new encoder preset. 

1. If you’re using a dual-channel server-grade encoder, select 1 or 2 video channels. All other encoders are single-channel and you’ll only be able to select 1. 
2. If you select 2 video channels, a channel 2 offset option will appear. The offset denotes if you want the second channel to start encoding before (negative numbers), at the same time (0), or after (positive numbers) the first channel. Select the channel 2 offset.
3. Select the video codec. 

When choosing the codec:

• For web destinations, we recommend the H264 codec. You can use any browser to access the content and the codec caps resolution at 1080p which is the maximum resolution you can use when broadcasting to the web. 
• For multisite, we recommend the HEVC codec. It allows a higher resolution to be played back by a decoder in a physical location where the H264 web browser limitation doesn’t exist.

4. Choose whether you want hardware acceleration on or off. Leaving hardware acceleration on means content will encode faster but video quality may be lower. Turning it off will result in using software to encode, which results in slower encoding but could lead to higher video quality. Only the E2221 and E4300 server-grade encoders support software encoding.

Encoders that do not support software encoding will default back to hardware encoding if you select software encoding. 

5. At the bottom of the page, our Bandwidth Recommendation Calculator will show you the dedicated upload bandwidth you’ll need at these settings to have a high-quality stream. It is calculated as 2.5x the total combined bitrate. Test your internet speed with a speed calculator such as Fast internet-speed checker.

   

6. Click Add.

The encoder preset will now appear in Encoder Presets and be ready to use with your hardware encoder.

Recommended Output Formats per Detected Input Format

When you select an input format, Studio will automatically recommend an output format for you. If you need to manually select your output format, below is a list of recommended output formats per input formats so you viewers have a great streaming experience.

Any conversion within your encoder preset will cause a slight decrease in the quality of your video. This is why frame rate conversions should only be done if necessary for bandwidth restrictions or if you need deinterlaced video (e.g. upscaling from 1080p23.98 to 1080p60 requires additional bandwidth and may produce a slightly less quality video than a standard 1080p23.98 output would produce).