Galicaster-PRO vs Lecture2Go

Galicaster-PRO is lecture and conference recording software for building a multi-stream recording unit on recommended hardware. It supports dual-stream recording at multiple qualities and live streaming, with separate presenter and presentation feeds. Two feeds can be combined in a configurable side-by-side layout or an intelligent picture-in-picture stream. Real-time media processing includes QR code recognition and slide-change detection. Its browser-based panel provides live audio and video monitoring, recording controls, profile and repository management, and system information. The maker says the panel works without plugins on desktop, Android, and iOS, while user roles can restrict access to functions such as monitoring and repository access. Supported capture sources include HD-SDI, HDMI, component, composite, RTP network cameras, Datapath cards, VGA, and DVI presentation inputs. It integrates with Opencast Matterhorn for scheduled recording and automatic ingestion, and the product page lists a REST interface plugin. Galicaster-PRO is deployed on-premise and is usually sold with a Galicaster unit; software licenses are available under certain conditions. Pricing is on request, with special discounts for Education. Direct streaming supports only a small number of clients, though streams can be sent to an external streaming server.

Lecture2Go is the University of Hamburg’s web and self-hosted video portal for watching, listening to, and downloading recorded lectures. Its recording system synchronizes the speaker with the presentation. Viewers do not need accounts; login is reserved for producers. Search covers titles, series, people, keywords, and closed-caption text, with caption results linked to the matching video time. The player supports subtitles, German sign-language translations, and keyboard control, with German and English subtitles when available. Producers may enable MP4, MP4 with German Sign Language, MP3, M4A, and PDF downloads. Protected videos can use password links or embeds in university learning-management systems. Public series expose RSS feeds, and podcasts can link to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Since June 2024, uploaded German and English media receive automatic subtitles using open-source solutions. The software is based on Liferay CE and includes Opencast, Subtitle2Go, Elasticsearch, and Video.js. An open-source version is available to educational institutions.