ATEM Mini setup advice - please please!

I would like some advice as to the best option please!

I have the ATEM Mini of course.

I was wondering how would be best to minimise 'issues' of stability, streaming dropouts etc. Basically I need to have this running as reliably as it can from my home studio.

SO.. please can you advise on the best option..

Setup 1

ATEM Mini - using webcam out to an iMac which is using Ecamm Live (or OBS) as the encoder ONLY

ONE of those inputs is a laptop running ecamm live - but it's being used for VT playback and Skype etc and not encoding (master prog out is being sent to the encoder Mac)


Setup 2
Macbook Pro running Ecamm Live (and encoding).
ATEM Mini webcam out into the MacBook which is the MAIN program out.
NO laptop into the ATEM as a source (thus freeing up another input into the Mini)


I know there are pros and cons - Ultimately though what would people think is the best?

The reason I hesitate to push it ALL through the MacBook (setup 2) is because I'm worried about it falling over on encode AND switching- which is why I thought about letting the other Mac do the 'heavy lifting'


Thoughts please!

Thanks and stay safe all.

It depends from your needs .. IF ecam is your final destination , then Setup 2 is OK .. IF any streaming destination is your final , Setup 1 is OK .. I preffer to use single computer , for single thing .. So i like use one computer for videoconferencing and secondary for stream with OBS , or i preffer HW streaming , so Im using Teradec CUBE ..