Earlier today I was getting ready to live stream on Ustream.tv and I saw a new feature to Ustream was added. They decided to go ahead and make their own Ustream Broadcaster application which gives you the ability to stream live right from the application. Instead of using the usual Ustream Broadcaster which is web-based and doesn’t really give you many options, you can now use this desktop application.

Ustream gives the users of the App the following:

  • Easily manage video and audio sources
  • Browse, drag and drop audio and video files
  • Start and stop recordings
  • Pop-out a chat room or Social Stream
  • Display your desktop via screencasting capability
  • Update your status and syndicate to Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and AIM
  • Broadcast using Picture in Picture
  • Create multiple transitions
  • HQ Recording!!!!

The app is OK in terms of what it provides. This definitely is a step up from the web-based Broadcaster, however this app is a little bit hard to use. Once I started using it, it seemed a bit clunky and I didn’t know where most of the stuff was placed. I eventually found it, but Ustream should do a bit of a better job in where they place their features.

In short, this is basically camtwist with the ustream broadcaster built in. CamTwist has more viewing features, but you can view screencasts and switch from camera to camera from the ustream producer app.

Overall, I like the app after a few minutes of using it.

Really like the App? You can buy the pro version which is one payment of $199. The full features include:

  • Unlimited number of cameras
  • Importing movies and audio
  • Unlimited transitions
  • Allows you to use overlays, layers, and add titles
  • Support for HDV source
  • SD/HD bitrate support
  • Includes 7 encoding presets, including HD
  • Ability to save to disk in same bitstream
  • Support customizable picture-in-picture