No. The Ultra Encode family are standalone hardware encoders — they operate entirely independently of any computer. You connect your video source, configure the streaming destinations once via the browser-based Web UI, and the device handles all encoding and streaming autonomously. No PC, no OBS, no drivers required.
The Ultra Encode AIO supports up to six simultaneous streaming sessions. These can be any combination of supported protocols — for example, two RTMP streams (YouTube and Facebook), two SRT streams, and one HLS stream simultaneously. Note that some protocols have limits: at most one HLS, one RTSP, and two NDI|HX2 streams per session. NDI|HX3 requires exclusivity and cannot run alongside other protocols.
The Ultra Encode supports RTMP, RTMPS, SRT (Caller and Listener), RTSP, RTP, HLS, MPEG-TS over UDP, and TVU ISSP. Pre-configured presets are available for YouTube, Facebook Live, Twitch, WOWZA, and other popular platforms. Any RTMP or SRT compatible platform is supported, including custom RTMP servers, CDNs, and contribution uplinks.
The Ultra Encode AIO has both an HDMI input (HDMI 1.4a/DVI-D) and a 3G/6G SDI input in a single unit. It also has a 3.5mm analogue audio input and output. You can encode from the HDMI input, the SDI input, or mix both inputs together into a picture-in-picture or side-by-side composite output. The standard Ultra Encode HDMI has only HDMI input; the Ultra Encode SDI has only SDI.
The Ultra Encode AIO encodes up to 4096×2160 (4K) at 30fps from the HDMI input, and up to 4K from the SDI input when a 6G-SDI signal is present. 1080p60 and 1080i are also fully supported. Encoding formats include H.264, H.265 (HEVC), NDI|HX2, and NDI|HX3. Maximum bitrate is 32Mbps per stream.
Yes. The Ultra Encode AIO supports simultaneous streaming and recording. Files can be recorded to an SD card inserted in the device, a USB-connected external storage device, or networked storage (NFS, CIFS, or SMB). Recording and streaming can run concurrently with no performance penalty.
Yes. The Ultra Encode AIO has a built-in scheduler accessible via the Web UI. You can configure up to eight streaming/recording events with specific start and stop times, either as one-off events or recurring schedules. This is useful for automated broadcasts such as daily services, scheduled lectures, or recurring sports coverage.
Yes. The Ultra Encode AIO supports up to eight user-configurable overlays per output profile, including text (with customisable font, size and position), images (PNG or JPEG), a live clock, and timecode. Different overlay configurations can be set for the main and sub-stream profiles independently.
The Ultra Encode family is designed for professional and high-density use cases with support for 4K, H.265, multiple simultaneous streams, NDI|HX, scheduled streaming, and local recording. The Ultra Stream is a simpler, more affordable one-click streaming solution focused on ease of use for straightforward live streaming to one or two destinations. If you need multi-protocol, multi-destination, or 4K streaming, Ultra Encode is the right choice.
Yes. The Ultra Encode AIO supports NDI|HX2 and NDI|HX3 as streaming output protocols. NDI|HX3 is the latest generation with improved compression and quality. Note that NDI|HX3 requires exclusivity — it cannot stream simultaneously with other protocols. Full NDI (High Bandwidth) output is not supported; for Full NDI, a Pro Convert encoder is more appropriate.
The Ultra Encode is configured via a browser-based Web UI accessed over your local network. You can connect via Ethernet (the device supports DHCP), Wi-Fi (if a Wi-Fi adapter is connected), or USB NET (the device appears as a network adapter when connected via USB-C). An LCD touchscreen on the front panel shows the current IP address and basic status.
Yes. Magewell Control Hub provides centralised management for all Ultra Encode devices on your network alongside Pro Convert and Modator devices. Control Hub enables monitoring, configuration, firmware updates, and alerting across the entire fleet from a single web interface.