The Magewell Ultra Encode AIO is a hardware encoder that takes the stress out of livestreaming. No computer required. No software to figure out. Just reliable streaming that works every single week.
One of the first things I noticed is how easy it is to integrate this with whatever you’re already using. It supports HDMI and SDI inputs, so you’re covered no matter your switcher setup.
For audio, you’ve actually got a few options. There’s a 3.5mm input and output jack, or you can use audio embedded in your HDMI or SDI signal.
In our setup, we send audio from our soundboard into the analog inputs on our ATEM 1M/E switcher, and then pass that embedded audio over SDI to the Magewell.
Here’s where the Magewell really starts to shine: it can stream to up to six platforms at the same time. Whether it’s Facebook, YouTube, or your church website, you can broadcast to all of them at once without extra gear or a subscription.
It works with major streaming protocols like RTMP, SRT, and NDI HX, so no matter what you’re using now—or what you might upgrade to later—it’ll probably work just fine.
Platforms like Church Online are also supported, as long as they offer an RTMP stream key and server URL.
Just make sure your network can handle it. You’ll need 5 to 8 Mbps of upload speed per stream, so do the math if you’re pushing multiple streams at once.
One of my favorite features is the ability to run a substream. Right now, we use the main stream for recording and the substream for livestreaming.
That way, we keep network usage low with an 8 Mbps livestream while getting a higher-quality 16 Mbps recording for post-production.
And yes, it supports up to 4K resolution and a wide range of frame rates. Recording is super easy too—you can save your services straight to a USB drive, SD card, or network storage in formats like MP4 or MOV.
If your internet goes down mid-service, no worries. The Magewell keeps recording locally, so you’ll have a clean backup even if the stream drops.
You can schedule livestreams and recordings to start and stop automatically. This is perfect for recurring events like Sunday morning services.
We typically overshoot and set the stream to go 4 hours, just in case things run long.
Overlays are also supported, so you can add your church logo or a fallback image in case the encoder loses video input. It’s a nice touch for maintaining a professional look.
Worried it’s going to be too complicated? Don’t be. It does take a little setup, but after that, it runs on autopilot. I’ve put together a free Magewell Ultra Encode Setup Cheat Sheet to make it even easier.
And the encoder has a built-in screen where you can monitor your video input, audio levels, and more—before you ever hit "Go Live."
The device connects via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, and while both work fine, I’d recommend Ethernet for the most stable connection.
One thing to note is it doesn’t failover automatically—if one connection drops, you’ll need to switch it manually.
In the box, you’ll find the encoder, a power supply, and a small mounting plate. You’ll need to provide your own HDMI or SDI cables, and possibly rack-mount hardware if that’s your setup.
It’s not the cheapest encoder out there, but it’s built like a tank. This is professional-grade gear made to run reliably every single week.
Magewell offers decent support and documentation, but if you want fast answers from a team that actually understands church tech, check out Collaborate Worship All Access.
You’ll get direct access to us and our private Slack group where we troubleshoot together.
Compared to options like the Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro or Web Presenter, the Magewell Ultra Encode AIO is just on another level. The build quality, color accuracy, and compression are far superior.
It avoids that overly compressed, soft look that you sometimes get with lower-cost encoders, especially when you’re streaming to multiple platforms at once.
So yes, you’ll pay more upfront, but you’re getting a smoother, more reliable, more professional stream.
And you save money long-term since you don’t need a streaming subscription service to hit multiple destinations.
Check out my Encoder Recommendations Cheat Sheet for some comparisons between the AIO and a few other options.
There are a couple of things I wish were better.
First, the scheduling sometimes randomly turns itself off—even though we never power the unit down. I haven’t figured out why yet. If you know, drop a comment.
Second, the touchscreen isn’t as responsive as I’d like. Especially when stopping a stream, there’s a slight delay before it confirms your input. Not a big deal, just something to train your team on.
Also, I’ve seen minor jitter or artifacting once or twice during a stream. Not sure if it’s the encoder or something else in the chain, because the recorded footage looks perfect.
This encoder isn’t for every church.
If you’re just getting started with livestreaming and using something simple like OBS on a laptop, stick with that for now. There’s no need to overcomplicate things right out of the gate.
If you’re only streaming to one platform and don’t need all the fancy features, you can probably save some money with a lower-end encoder.
That said—if you’re ready for reliability, scalability, and no more Sunday morning tech headaches—this is the upgrade to go for.
