When it comes to live streaming, everything seems a little frightening. But with a little planning and a solid setup, you’ll find the whole thing manageable. Success overnight is unlikely. However, with the appropriate equipment, some ability, and a little luck, you could become the platform’s next sensation. If things go well, you might be able to make live streaming your profession. Regardless, before making your first live broadcast, there are many things to consider.
Streaming is not rocket science but it’s also not a walk in the park. Aside from the specific equipment, this activity requires personality. Think of it as an infusion between man and machine but with character. After all, a million-dollar piece of equipment is useless if the streamer does not possess any of the human universal traits. With that out of the way, let’s proceed to our main topic so that you can start streaming in no time.
Starter Streaming Setup Tips for the Twitch Platform
Due to its popularity, our beginner’s tips will lean towards the Twitch platform. If you have other platforms in mind, don’t worry since aside from creating an account, most of the things that you need to get started are the same.
Basic Streamer Set-Up
The things you need to become a streamer or the basic streaming setup is made up of hardware and software elements. Always remember that expensive equipment is not necessary if you are just starting.
1. Hardware
Hardware is one of the three main components of streaming. Just like software, hardware plays an important role in streaming. Below are the hardware essentials for streaming.
a. Smartphone
If you have a steady internet connection, your phone should be adequate if you are not going to stream video games. The fact is, though, that desktops and laptops offer significantly more versatility. They are more adaptable, too. Smartphones, on the other hand, have limits. Thus, experimenting with your stream will be challenging but not impossible.
b. PC or Laptop
Consider purchasing a graphics card that can handle DirectX 10 or above if you plan to stream video games. When possible, stream on a desktop computer because they typically have more power than laptops. Streams may be handled by laptops with the necessary specifications, however. For streaming, PCs and laptops are both suitable. Although gaming laptops can manage themselves, desktops are better suited for streaming high-end games. If you’re using a desktop to stream games, you might want to think about using two monitors—one for the gameplay and the other for stream monitoring.
Minimum Requirements for PC and Laptops:
- Intel Core i5-4670 processor (or its AMD equivalent, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 1600)
- 8GB of RAM
- Windows 7 or newer or Mac
2. Audio Equipment
Audio is as important as visuals due to its ambiance-creating element. When a live streamer’s audio is problematic, viewers are quick to pick it out. You must be audible to your intended audience. The audio must also be clear enough so that it doesn’t detract from the message being conveyed. Your phone’s microphone is probably adequate if you’re streaming. For a more conventional streaming arrangement, you may also use professional microphones that are reasonably priced.
One of the best microphones that will not break the bank is the HyperX SoloCast. You can purchase one of the highest-rated microphones on Amazon for $39.00.
3. Camera or Webcam
Using the camera on your phone to stream is appropriate for people who are just getting started. Twelve-megapixel cameras are common on modern smartphones. While it won’t capture the finest quality video, it’s a viable alternative if a specialized camera is out of the question. Given that the majority of people own smartphones, it’s an affordable method to start streaming right now.
Smartphone cameras are inferior to webcams. Affordable cameras with excellent image quality are widely available. One of the best webcams that you can purchase is the Logitech C920S HD Pro. This professional webcam can capture motion in 4K vans and has a 5X zoom option. You can purchase this camera on Amazon for $62.80.
4. Software
For software, there are two platforms that we can recommend for newbies. Check out the description of these free platforms below.
a. Twitch Studio
Twitch Studio is a free streaming app that was created from the bottom up to meet the needs of new streamers. It gives you the option to stream straight on Twitch and makes stream setup guided and simple.
An assisted stream setup feature in Twitch Studio recognizes all your streaming hardware automatically. Additionally, it has inbuilt alarms, overlays, and themes that can be customized to give your stream the coolest appearance possible with the least amount of fuss. Since the core of Twitch is the community, Studio also allows you to monitor your discussion.
b. Streamlabs OBS
Similar to Twitch Studio, Streamlabs OBS is also free. The key distinction is that Streamlabs supports numerous platforms while Twitch Studio exclusively supports Twitch and offers a restricted number of possibilities. Because of its extensive possibilities, Streamlabs is a large program, but it is feature-rich and gives users more choices without requiring plugins or additional software.
In summary, if you are going to use Twitch as your main streaming platform, then Twitch Studio is for you. Nevertheless, if you want to stream on other sites, then Streamlabs is the software for you.
Livestreaming Over the Years
Over the past few years, video content’s popularity has skyrocketed. That is primarily due to the rapid evolution of video technology. In the entertainment world, live streaming’s popularity has been correlated with the gaming industry. Today, 63% of individuals between the ages of 18 and 34 watch live streaming regularly. As per Statista, three of the top live streaming platforms (Twitch, YouTube Gaming Live, and Facebook Gaming) have an estimated 7.5 billion combined hours of content watched by the third quarter of 2022. Out of the 7.5 billion hours, over 5.7 billion hours were credited to Twitch, making it the most popular live-streaming platform on the planet.
For the most part, the advantages of live streaming outweigh those of traditional news broadcasts. Unlike traditional broadcasts, which are often one-way conversations between a newscaster and the viewer, live-streaming encourages audiences to offer feedback on the content they’re viewing. With that said, now that you have the basics of streaming, it’s time to put that into action by starting your channel. By the way, it’s a wonderful moment to start since Twitch is anticipated to hold the top spot as a live streaming platform for many years to come.
Images source/s: Amazon, Creative Commons
