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      Why Is Wirecast Showing High CPU?

      Tips To Reduce CPU Usage In Wirecast

      Checking High CPU Usage

      Pictured below are multiple images of Wirecast displaying errors due to high CPU usage. As seen below, the System CPU is far too high, causing the frames-per-second to drop below the 30 FPS preset. Additionally, we know the stream icon is not green but orange, red, and red with a disabled icon. These icons mean there are issues with the stream, the stream has been interrupted, and no connection, respectively.

      wirecast-high_CPU-all.png

      Note: We recommend CPU usage remain below 65% for most of the stream. Short spikes of CPU usage over 65% are not unusual.

      How to Lower CPU Usage

      Output Settings

      If you are recording your stream through Wirecast, check the output settings in the top menu bar under 'Output.' Then ensure the encoding preset is the same for both streaming and recording. Pictured below are the Output Settings, and the encoding preset is "Test Live," but each school will have a preset made for them when first joining Striv.

      Screen_Shot_2018-12-27_at_3.07.49_PM.png

      Streaming and recording using the same encoder uses less CPU than two different encoders.

      Stream to one destination (and share) rather than multiple destinations

      Preview/Live View in Broadcast Area

      You can lower CPU usage by changing the view in the broadcast area. For example, you should select the button labeled below as 'Display Preview Only' or 'Display Live Only.' 

      status_bar_active.png

      Also, disabling live icons can lower CPU Usage. Wirecast > Preferences > Performance disable Live icons

      Restart Wirecast or the Computer

      First, try restarting Wirecast. If that fails, then restart the computer. This is often successful but takes valuable time and will interrupt the live stream.

      Wirecast and other applications can slowly encounter non-fatal errors that continuously take up system resources. Over time those errors can add up and significantly affect the performance of a computer.

      Encoding Settings

      The last resort in lowering CPU usage is to decrease the stream quality. This is done in the output settings in the top menu bar under 'Output.' You should see a dialog box similar to the one pictured below. Select 'Encoding' and decrease to 'Striv 480p'.

      Screen Shot 2022-07-12 at 8.46.06 AM

      To lower the stream quality, select 'Striv TV: Striv 480p.'

      Computer

      • Quit all programs not needed for streaming.

      • Don't have an open browser monitoring the stream on the same computer you're streaming

        from.

      • The Apple M1 chip is capable of streaming through Wirecast. However, if you want to go with an Intel CPU, it is recommended to use an i7 with 6-cores.