Review: Wowza ClearCaster

Once the unit is paired, you can access the options shown in Figure 4 (below) from the ClearCaster website, though we used default settings for all tests. Ditto for the button controls on the front panel, that allow you to monitor stream status, adjust audio levels, check stream health, and check stream settings, none of which we had to access during our testing. The LCD panel on the front of the unit displays the number of viewers, comments, and other interactions during a live broadcast, which is always useful.

Figure 4. Configuration options you probably won’t need to adjust

We tested with a camcorder connected via HDMI, which ClearCaster instantly recognized. Once it sees the input, the display directs you to facebook.com/live/create to start your live stream. As you can see in Figure 5 (below), the talent view monitor includes a preview monitor, plus audio levels and input/output specs.

Figure 5. ClearCaster directs you regarding how to get started.

From the Facebook page, you enter the typical parameters for Facebook Live broadcasts, and a few moments after selecting ClearCaster as the live encoder, you’ll see the preview shown in Figure 6 (below). Click Go Live on the bottom right to start the show.

Figure 6. Starting the show in Facebook

By this point, ClearCaster will have tested your bandwidth, and automatically configured the optimal encoding parameters into the unit, which it will continue to monitor during the broadcast. Once you start the broadcast, ClearCaster will display the countdown clock shown in Figure 7 (below), a nice touch that allows for a crisp start for your production.

Figure 7. You’re on in 3 .... 2 ..... 1.

During the performance, you can opt for one of the two Talent View layouts shown in Figure 4, with the view on the left shown in Figure 8 (below).

Figure 8. Here’s the talent view monitor showing great support from my adoring fans.

Software Robustness

Wowza crows about how well ClearCaster supports the Facebook API in their marketing materials, and after testing, I’ve concluded that they have every right to. My final test (Figure 9, below) is available in this Facebook Live video. Here are Wowza’s claims and how I tested them.

Figure 9. Our final test video

Comments sent quickly through to talent view monitor: Wowza claims that comments coming through from viewers are routed into the ClearCaster talent view within six seconds, which helps foster an interactive feel with viewers. About 3:20 into the video I tested this, and found that it was more like under 2 seconds.

Stream will survive an internet disconnect: Wowza claims that if you lose your internet connection, the stream is buffered on the ClearCaster with the transmission resuming once the connection is restored. I test this at 4:10 in the video. It’s a bit confusing, because I move off camera to disconnect the cable and when I come back into view, I’m saying, “so I disconnected the cable.”

What happened live was that Facebook Live displayed a “Live Video Interrupted” message in the video display window while the Internet was down, but didn’t store that in the archived stream. As Wowza promised, ClearCaster stored the incoming video and simply started rebroadcasting from the point of the stoppage once the video was restored. Note that Facebook Live will stop the broadcast after three minutes without a signal, even if you’re connected with ClearCaster.

Of course, this operating schema introduces latency into the video; if you’re disconnected for two minutes starting at minute 10 of the broadcast, when the connection restores, your viewers will see minute 10, even though the live feed is at minute 12. In most cases, that’s the desired result, but if you’re broadcasting a live event also broadcast on other media, like a soccer match, you might want the option to restart the live stream directly.

The broadcast will automatically restore itself after a shutdown: Every so often, your encoder loses power, whether due to a power outage or an unfortunate trip over the power cord or power strip. Ideally, the unit would boot itself up and restore the stream as efficiently as possible. I test this about 7:00 into the video. In the archived stream, you see a short break after which I reappear in the middle of the screen. In the live feed, there was another “Live Video Interrupted” message while the ClearCaster was down, with the video stream automatically restored once the ClearCaster started to rebroadcast.

The only hiccup was that you have to manually turn the unit on once the power restores. This sounds obvious, but since the unit lights up when you reconnect the power, it’s a bit tough to tell that it’s not restarting. Once I clicked the power button to get the unit going, it rebooted and immediately went back into broadcast mode and reconnected to Facebook Live, showing another 3… 2… 1 countdown and restoring the stream. As I comment in the video, it’s pretty slick.

Speaking more technically, this smooth recovery evidences the deep integration with the Facebook Live API that Wowza talks about on their website. Now that I think about it, while $6,500 isn’t cheap, it pales in comparison to the cost of blowing a high-profile live event, whether on your own nickel, or for a client. If you absolutely, positively have to stream a successful live event on Facebook Live, ClearCaster is very definitely worth a very hard look.