The manufacturer Magewell appeared on the AV equipment scene about 10 years ago with converters for USB video connectivity and other functions. They have expanded into PCI capture cards, NDI interfaces, and live streaming. I often spec standalone “appliances” for generating the primary stream of a live production, rather than using software on a computer, because they tend to be more full-featured, and are sometimes easier for non-technical users to operate.
I decided to check out the Ultra Encode AIO streaming encoder/recorder because the product I’ve been using for several years is quirky, has a difficult user interface and limited features. I was able to really explore the AIO in my home office and also used it on a real event.
I must say, I really like this product. It’s a metal chassis with connections on the back for SDI and HDMI (with loop-thrus), USB-A and C, ethernet, analog audio in/out, a pair of Wifi antennas (included, along with rack mount ears) and an actual power switch. The front panel has USB-A and an SD card slot, plus a small touchscreen. The screen can show input video, stream and recording status, current ethernet addresses, and can be used to start and stop streams and recordings.
One of my favorite features is that there are four methods of connecting to the built-in webGUI. This solves an irritating problem I encounter regularly, when a device uses DHCP as the default method for getting a network address and leaves me to figure out what address it got. (Thankfully I’m starting to see more devices with default static addresses, or a DHCP primary address and a static “out-of-band” address that is only used for the GUI.)
The Ultra Encode AIO covers all the bases. The wired and Wifi ethernet connections default to DHCP, but the current addresses are shown on the front screen. In fact, one page on the touchscreen has a QR code that will provide the current Wifi address to your phone. I find that a bit overkill, but at least they are trying to help! The AIO also has a built-in Wifi access point which has a static IP and is on by default. So a computer or phone can find the AP in a list of nearby Wifi devices, connect, and enter the IP in a browser.
Lastly, it includes a rather unusual USB NET out-of-band capability. Connect the rear USB-C port to a computer (via USB-C or A), type the provided static IP into a browser, and the GUI comes up. Somehow this works, it’s spooky. It’s possible to change the addresses and log-ins from the System/Network menu (though I would leave the two static IPs in default so they are always accessible).
The landing page of the pleasantly uncluttered webGUI is the Dashboard, which has a low-res version of the selected incoming video, with audio meters (both of which update every second). It also shows the status of connections, the stream and recording settings, and network and CPU activity. As someone who likes to know what’s going on, this status info is much appreciated. (There are also live status lights for various connections on the rear panel—I only wish they were on the front.)
Use the Encode and Record pages to set up both a Main and Sub (secondary) stream encode, as well as local recording to USB or SD card, or recording to Network Attached Storage (NAS). The two stream encodes can have different video and data parameters, while the recordings can follow either the Main or Sub. Interestingly, up to four different audio encodes can be created and then selected within the Main, Sub or Record functions. The available video codecs are H.264 or H.265, and the parameters for streams and recordings are quite extensive
After encoding parameters are set, the actual streams are controlled from the Live menu. Multiple streams can be created and used simultaneously, chosen from a range of transport protocols that include the usual RTMP and RTSP, as well as NDI|HX, SRT, and other options. It’s also possible to select which of the output connections–wired ethernet, Wifi, or optional cellular–is given priority for a stream. The stream setup page has a Test button that will validate the connection with the specified host server without needing to actually log in to the streaming platform. Very handy! (Note that some platforms may start a real stream when testing.)
The AIO can partially automate the stream setup process using a device code. When creating a new stream, you can select Youtube, Facebook Live or Twitch (as of this writing) and the AIO will offer a web link and device code that sets up a new stream directly. It’s similar to linking your home television to a service like Netflix. You must still log in to a valid account on the platform, but it’s not necessary to create the stream online and then enter the URL and Stream Key in the encoder. I prefer to enter the details manually, but some users may appreciate this functionality. Though I suppose that if the platforms decide to change how streams are set up that could invalidate the process used by the AIO (presumably fixable in a firmware update).
All the streams that have been created are listed on the Live page, and can be individually “armed” to start running when the main Destination button is activated. Arming a stream also adds the Start/Stop function on the touchscreen, which includes a counter showing the stream run time. In fact, the AIO has counters on several of the GUI pages which are super handy for confidence and tracking.
The Recording menu shows the status and file system of connected media, and available record times. Here you select which video and audio encodes are used for recordings, and those can be wrapped as mov, mp4 or ts files. You can also run a speed test on the recording media to make sure it is fast enough for the intended encode. Recordings on each media are shown in a library view that includes a thumbnail, file size and recording length. This is something my previous choice of streaming encoder only does halfway, which is not very helpful.
The AIO has so much functionality it really requires time to get familiar. For example, while you would normally choose either SDI or HDMI as the video input source, it’s possible to use them both with built in side-by-side or picture-inpicture modes. Also there is surprisingly extensive capability for adding overlays to the outgoing streams, including text, clocks, or uploaded graphics. These can be adjusted for size and transparency, placed anywhere in the video frame, and can be different for the Main and Sub streams.
As for performance, in many hours of testing, and use in a real streaming event, the AIO worked flawlessly. The webGUI is responsive and streams start almost instantly. Connectivity to Youtube and Vimeo worked as expected, and there were no audio-video lipsync problems, as I’ve seen with some encoders. The unit has vents but no fans and runs fairly cool considering all it’s doing.
Of course, the downside of having all this capability is added complexity. Even leaving most settings at defaults there are still many parameters to tweak. I would not leave an inexperienced person to set up and run a stream from scratch, even by using the “device code” function described earlier. But part of the value of a streaming appliance is that a knowledgable technician can do the setup, then let nontechnical users activate streaming and recording using just the touchscreen.
I should note that I had some minor complaints about the webGUI when I first got the unit, and I conveyed those to Magewell’s U.S. representative. Over the course of writing this review two firmware updates were released that addressed most of my issues, as well as making other improvements. Kudos to Magewell for responding to user input!
Finally, I do wish the documentation was better. My test unit shipped with a little quickstart guide that contains the IPs and default logins for Wifi and USB networking, but the actual description of how to connect is a bit muddled. The same is true for the larger manual available online. But the GUI has some instructions and mouse-over tips, so I’m willing to give the docs a pass in this case. I have already spec’d the Encode AIO for a current project.
