Great Product But Needs More Perks
As a person who works in live streaming/broadcasting, I have a fair share of experience with multistreaming platforms. I know Switchboard is trying to market themselves differently with their unique feature StreamShare but I can't help compare the leading multistream platform out there.
What I Love!
1. Streaming destination
They have 10 important streaming destinations + RTMP. Restream has 36 & Castr has 35. But as long as your destination support RTMP these numbers don't really matter.
2. Stream Server
They have 10 Stream Server, they covered 5 out of 7 continents they are missing South Africa. Comparing to Restream (26) and Castr (15)
3. Templates
I really love this feature, no more daily Copy/Paste just to update the Title of the Live Streaming for the day.
4. Workflow
Currently, I have 8 Restream and 5 Castr accounts because each live stream needs a different encoder input, none of the two has this feature. This feature would greatly help me manage 10 live stream programs in just one account.
5. Workspace
With 5 codes you can easily resell up to 10 programs. Alternatively, this is also helpful in creating 10 teams so they'll have limited access to their own live streaming and destination (authentication). Like #4, as the "Admin" of our company, I can easily manage all teams without switching accounts.
6. 2FA
Just added security for admin. For paranoid users like me.
7. No Switchboard branding
At 35/mo (regular price) there's no branding compared to Restream's $49/mo
8. Automatic Title & Description Update
No more going to each destination to update the title & description, you can update it right on your Switchboard.
What I don't like:
1. UI... for some reason UI seems to have a learning curve but actually, it's simple. It just that the way it is designed looks a bit confusing but actually is not.
2. No Automatic Live Stream (In the Roadmap)
Currently, you have to "Go Live" in your encoder go to Switchboard, and press "Go Live" in order to start the live stream.
My Wishlist:
1. Unified chat
Make this available and you can compete with other platforms!
2. Automatic Live Stream
See I don't like #2
2. Streaming Recording
This is useful as a redundancy, just in case users forgot to record from their Encoder.
3. Backup RTMP (Failsafe)
It's good to have a failsafe or backup RTMP input just in case the primary RTMP connection got disconnected.
4. RTMP Pull Link
Similar to StreamShare but the user doesn't need to have a Switchboard account in order to have a secured source of RTMP so they could broadcast your live stream in theirs.
6. RTMP Source
Opposite of #5 no need for an encoder, just get the RTMP link from the broadcaster so you could stream their broadcast as well.
7. Stream pre-recorded videos
8. Schedule a live stream of recorded videos
I have some suggestions when it comes to their monthly pricing and feature, but due to the character limit, I have to end here.
Grab this deal while you can.