GoCast vs lectureStudio

GoCast is a self-hosted platform for streaming and recording lectures. Organizations can run it on their own servers, keeping streaming data processing and storage under their control. It can automatically stream auditorium lectures according to schedules, while lecturers can also stream using OBS, Zoom, or other software. Lecturers manage videos through a self-service interface, and course and student enrollment information can be imported from CAMPUSonline. Live streams are recorded automatically, and video-on-demand uploads are supported. Post-processing can detect silence, create searchable transcripts, and generate thumbnails. Live chat lets listeners ask questions and upvote them; lecturers can run polls and mark or hide questions. Course access can be public, limited to enrolled or invited users, or restricted to users logged in with an LRZ ID. GoCast is open source under the MIT license and listed as free. Deployment requires worker or runner servers and shared storage. Its self-streaming guide warns that streams may be unreliable and recordings may be corrupted, and recommends keeping a local copy.

lectureStudio is a free, open-source tool for presenting PDF-based lectures. It supports dual-screen presentations using a tablet, computer, or laptop with a projector, and presenters can mark slides with digital ink or highlights. The software records audio and video, then provides post-processing tools to correct slide errors without making a new recording. Students can participate in real-time quizzes and chat through smartphone browsers. Slides must be converted to PDF before use; the FAQ describes workflows for PowerPoint and LibreOffice Impress. Recordings can be exported as MP4 videos or lectureStudio .plr files for sharing through an LMS or file-sharing service. Institutions can host the software on-premise, and the maker says it can integrate with institution-wide Single Sign-On facilities. The maker labels lectureStudio GDPR compliant and says on-premise hosting can help address data-protection concerns tied to external services. It supports Windows, macOS, Linux, web, and self-hosted use, with live streaming listed. The project is on GitHub under GPLv3, and contributions are welcome. A FAQ and technical support contact are available.