Hardware Encoders

Hardware encoders provide a compact and portable streaming solution and can be especially useful on film sets. Using a hardware encoder means that you can stream to your room without a computer.

tip

Our hardware encoder step-by-step setup guide can be found here

Hardware encoders have an HDMI and / or SDI port. A source, like an SDI camera feed, is plugged into the encoder and a connection to the internet is established using ethernet, wifi, or mobile data - depending on the encoder's features. The encoder is usually configured using a mobile or web app where the encoder's video and audio settings are adjusted, stream keys are entered, and streaming is started.

General Requirements

Most hardware encoders will work with Louper, provided they support the following:

• RTMP or SRT streaming protocols
• H264 / x264 video
• AAC or Opus audio
• Ability to set B-frames to 0
• Ability to set Keyframe Interval of 2 seconds or less
• Ability to set custom RTMP or SRT urls

note

To work with Louper, the stream you send must be encoded with zero B-frames and a Keyframe Interval of 2 seconds or less.

Tested Encoders

• Magewell Ultra Encode AIO
• Magewell Ultra Encode SDI
• Magewell Ultra Encode SDI
• Teradek Vidiu Go

Untested Encoders

If you have used one of the below devices with Louper, please let us know.

• Teradek:
  • Vidiu X
  • Cube series
  • Bond
  • Prism
• Videon:
  • Edgecaster
  • VeraStreamer 4k
  • VeraStreamer SDI
• LiveU Solo
• Magewell Ultra Stream
• Kiloview E2

Incompatible Encoders

• AJA Helo (as of March 2022, AJA is aware of the issue and is working on a fix)
• Blackmagic:
  • Web Presenter HD - RTMP output mode. It does however work when used as a USB capture device.
  • Atem Mini Pro - RTMP output mode. It does however work when used as a USB capture device.

Blackmagic Encoders

We’ve received mixed reports when using Blackmagic Streaming Encoders (for example, the Blackmagic Design Streaming Encoder 4K / HD). Configuration can be challenging, as streaming endpoints are managed via XML files, and stream stability may be inconsistent in real-world use. While some setups work as expected, others have reported disconnects, difficulty maintaining stable streams, and limited error visibility during troubleshooting. We recommend using Magewell encoders instead.