When you start streaming to YouTube, one of the first decisions is how to get your video there. You can use software on a computer, such as the free OBS Studio, or a hardware streaming box that does the job on its own. I've used both for the Barn Owl Live cameras, and I have a clear favourite. Here's an honest comparison to help you choose.
Software vs hardware at a glance
| Software (such as OBS) | Hardware streaming box | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free, if you already have a computer | You'll need to buy the box |
| Reliability for 24/7 | Only as reliable as the computer and Windows | Excellent, it does one job |
| Windows updates | Can restart the computer and end your stream | Not affected |
| Power use | A computer running all the time | Very low |
| Overlays, text and scenes | As many as you like | Limited, depends on the box |
| Setting up | Easy to start, lots to learn later | Fiddly at first, then leave it alone |
| Adding more cameras | Limited by the computer's power | Add another box |
| After a power cut | Needs setting up to restart on its own | Usually starts streaming again by itself |
Why I prefer a hardware box
The simple answer is Windows updates. When I streamed from a computer, sooner or later Windows would decide it needed to install an update and restart, often in the middle of the night. The stream would stop, and I'd wake up to find the cameras had been offline for hours. For a 24/7 wildlife stream, that's exactly when you don't want it to happen, as it's when the owls and badgers are most active.
A hardware streaming box doesn't have that problem. It has no Windows to update, no other programs running, and nothing to decide to restart itself. It takes the picture from the camera and sends it to YouTube, and it just keeps going. Since moving my cameras onto streaming boxes, unexpected drop-outs have almost disappeared.
There are other benefits too. A small box uses far less electricity than a computer running around the clock, it's silent, and it can sit in a shed or loft right next to the camera and router. If the power goes off, most boxes start streaming again on their own when it comes back.
Streaming with software
What's good
- It's free. OBS Studio costs nothing, so if you have a spare computer you can start today.
- It does everything. Overlays, logos, text, several cameras on screen, scene changes, and sound from different sources.
- It works with other tools. Programs such as Streamer.bot can switch scenes and react to your YouTube chat.
- It's the best way to learn. You'll understand bitrates, frame rates and stream keys before you spend any money.
What's not so good
- Windows updates can restart the computer and end your stream.
- The computer has to stay on the whole time you're live, which adds up on the electricity bill.
- It needs a decent computer. Streaming uses a lot of processing power, especially at 1080p with several cameras.
- More things can go wrong, from crashes and driver updates to other programs getting in the way.
If you're starting out with software, my guide to streaming on YouTube with OBS takes you through it step by step.
Stuck with a computer for now? Tame Windows Update
You can't stop Windows updating forever, but you can make surprise restarts much less likely:
- Set your active hours. In Settings, go to Windows Update, then Advanced options. Windows avoids restarting during active hours, but you can only set up to 18 hours, so it can't cover a full 24/7 stream.
- Pause updates when something special is happening, such as chicks about to hatch. Windows 11 lets you pause for up to five weeks, then you'll need to let the updates install.
- Turn off sleep in the power settings, so the computer never nods off mid-stream.
- Set OBS to start with Windows and start streaming on its own, so a restart only costs you a few minutes instead of hours.
Streaming with a hardware box
What's good
- Very reliable. It does one job, so there's very little to go wrong.
- No Windows, no surprise restarts.
- No computer needed, which saves power and frees up your computer.
- Easy to add cameras. Want a second stream? Add a second box.
- Recovers on its own after most power cuts and internet drop-outs.
What's not so good
- It costs money. Good boxes for 24/7 streaming are an investment. Cheaper boxes are fine for shorter streams.
- Fewer features. Overlays and layouts are limited to what the box can do.
- Setting up can be fiddly. You usually do it through a web page on your network, and the menus can be technical.
- Fewer updates. You get occasional firmware updates, but not the steady stream of new features that software gets.
For wildlife cameras, look for a box that can take your camera's RTSP network feed and send it to YouTube. These are sometimes sold as "media gateways" or "transcoders". I share the boxes I've used, and how they've done, in my guide to streaming wildlife cameras to YouTube.
Tip: check your camera's settings for an RTMP option. Some network cameras can stream straight to YouTube without any box at all. They're usually less reliable over long periods than a proper streaming box, but they're worth trying.
The best of both
You don't have to choose one or the other. A setup that works well is to put your always-on cameras on hardware boxes, and use OBS on a computer for special streams, such as a live Q&A or a highlights show.
You can also run Streamer.bot on your computer to handle your YouTube chat commands and timed messages. If Windows does restart, the chat bot pauses for a few minutes, but your cameras keep streaming because they don't depend on the computer.
Which should you choose?
- Brand new to streaming? Start with OBS on a computer you already have. It's free and you'll learn a lot.
- Streaming events, talks or games? Software. You'll want the overlays and scene changes.
- A camera that runs 24/7? A hardware box. This is where it earns its money.
- Several cameras on different streams? Hardware scales more easily: one box per stream.
- On a tight budget? Software on a spare computer, with the Windows Update tips above.
Questions people ask
Is hardware or software better for streaming to YouTube?
For 24/7 streams, such as wildlife cameras, hardware is more reliable because it isn't affected by Windows updates or computer crashes. For one-off streams with overlays and scene changes, software such as OBS is more flexible, and it's free.
Why does my stream stop in the middle of the night?
If you stream from a Windows computer, the most common cause is Windows restarting to install updates. Setting active hours and pausing updates helps, but a hardware streaming box avoids the problem completely.
Do I need a computer to stream to YouTube?
No. A hardware streaming box can take a camera's feed and send it straight to YouTube without a computer.
Can I use OBS and a hardware box together?
Yes. Many people put their always-on cameras on hardware boxes and use OBS for special streams with overlays and graphics.
If you'd like to see hardware streaming in action, come and watch our live wildlife cameras from the Peak District. They run day and night, and if you have a question about streaming, just ask in the chat.
Paul