What Is an Encoder?
An encoder turns your picture and sound into the compressed stream that goes to the platform. It can run on the graphics card or the processor.
The short answer
The encoder does the squeezing. Graphics-card encoders often leave the processor free for the game, while software encoders can look better but use more processor. Streamdzy’s Health check shows which one your PC can use.
How to do it in Streamdzy
- Read the definition, then find the same word in Streamdzy: under Settings, in the scene, or on the Go live screen.
- Try it in a short test recording or a private stream, so the word means something you have seen.
- Read the feature page for it to see the settings, then set it up for your show.
- Check the pricing page for how use is counted. Every feature is free.
What to know first
Definitions are general; platforms and tools set their own limits and names, so check each platform’s guidance when a number matters to your show.
Questions
Which encoder should I pick?
Start with the one the Health check recommends for your PC.
Want all of this in one app?
Streamdzy is a free streaming and recording app for Windows: several cameras, your phone as a camera, going live to many places at once, and recording first so a bad connection never costs you the show.