Many of us live streamers do talk interview shows in which the participants are not in your studio. Whether you’re interviewing guests or taking calls from viewers, Wirecast easily integrates with Skype and equivalent video calling services such as ooVoo.

Wirecast has a unique utility called Desktop Presenter. Unlike other screen grabbers DTP (as many of us call it) can bring in audio in addition to video. Also, unlike other screen grabbers, it can bring in both video and audio from other computers on a LAN (Local Area Network) and works cross platform. A wired gigabit network will give you the best performance.

Wirecast-Skype audio setups can be very elaborate with multiple Skype computers all feeding into a mixer with video and audio feeds returning to the guest.  While that gives you a lot of control, it can also be an expensive and complicated setup for some.  There was a time when certain streaming systems required separate computers, hardware, video and audio inputs, as well as returns for Skype integration. Using Wirecast and DTP, the point of entry can now be a  lot less expensive and simple.

In this tutorial you’ll learn how to handle Skype in a simple single computer setup. Additionally you’ll learn how to layer your shots to create a professionally looking switched-feed in which you can go from guest to host to two shot all while keeping the host’s audio active.

Once you learn these basic techniques you might even consider getting a Skype Group Video (Premium) account in which you can have multiple guests on simultaneously (much like the complicated setup I described above), but you can do it all on one computer using the same techniques I show in this tutorial.  If need be, you can certainly use a second computer on the LAN to take care of the Skype Group Video call. All this is possible because of the unique power Desktop Presenter offers with Wirecast.

Check out last week’s show, where Stephen and I talked about sports broadcasting in Wirecast, IP cameras and more. Check out “Telestream Wirecast” on Facebook and @wirecast on twitter for more information.

and the live post show Q and A from last weeks episode

This week Stephen Heywood and I will be talking about both of our upcoming trips to NAB, as well applications for Wirecast in the world of sports.

For the live show check out this link today at 10am PST 1pm EST

Check back later today for the youtube video links.

There are several ways to create composite shots in Wirecast.  Here’s a simple one, using the Mobiola webcam app in conjunction with another camera shot, that demonstrates a simple composite shot.

Any particular demo videos you’d like me to feature here in The Streaming Room?  Let me know!  Email me your suggestions for demo videos and I’ll do my best to get them posted.

In case you missed last weeks Episode of WirecastHelps, check out Stephen and I as we discuss wirecast, focusing on streaming bandwidth, and encoder settings.