The streaming business is very popular at the moment and many of the popular streamers earn a lot of money by streaming games or other videos. That is why so many people try to make their own channels and stream. You might think who wants to sit and watch how other people play games, and the answer is millions of people.
The streaming business is enormous as Twitch announced, last year in May they had more than 15 million daily active users and 2.2 million broadcasters and the number is increasing every day. However, if you want to create the perfect quality setup for streaming, it could be confusing and difficult.
That is why in this article we will go through some of the basic rules that you should follow in order to create the streaming setup capable of recording quality footage.
1. Good Computer
The first thing that a good streamer should have is a powerful computer. Your computer should be able to record and play complexed games at the same time without any quality loss, which is why you have to invest in a good computer.
The streaming can be done from desktop PC or laptop and Twitch recommends having at least Intel Core i5-4670 processor or AMD with similar performance, 8GB of RAM, and Windows 7 or newer (Mac users can also stream with equivalent computer performance).
However, the most important thing on your streaming channel will be your internet connection. If you want to have smooth videos without glitching the game it is necessary to have a stable optics internet connection with high Upload (at least 3MB) and Download speed.
If you are streaming modern games, your PC must have a graphics card capable of handling all the complexed games as well as DirectX 10 or up support.
Some pro streamers use two computers that are wired separately and they use one for gaming and the other for broadcasting, but you can start with only one without any problem.
2. Streaming Software
The software that will help you broadcast your gameplay to the world is an essential part of any streamer tool kit. The most used streaming software is Open Broadcasting Software (OBS) which is free and XSplit which is also free but it may require a paid subscription in order to unlock some essential features. Twitch soon will be launching their own streaming service called Twitch Studio which will make everything easier.
Whatever software you will use, you have to setup the perfect scenario in order to look appealing to the viewer. Pay attention to detail and make sure everything (camera or microphone) is setup where it is supposed to be.
3. Microphone and Camera
The microphone has to be good quality so everyone can hear you clearly. You can use the headset microphone or buy a standing one whichever way you feel more comfortable. You can buy a microphone ranging from $35-$120 which will be perfectly good for your first stream. Pro-streamers even connect multiple microphones in order to produce better quality videos.
The camera is also an essential part of the streaming business and it has to be at least Full-HD and high quality. There are different types of cameras from $45-$100 and some of them are even designed for streamers. Logitec C922 will allow you the possibility to remove the background automatically without the use of a green screen.
4. Create a Twitch Account
Once you have all the necessary equipment you can create your Twitch account for free by visiting Twitch.tv. It is recommended that you add your personal custom avatar, banner and description so you can be more recognizable among streamers.
These are the basic steps for creating your own streaming channel, and it is a simple process that can bring you a lot of benefits. You do not need to be an expert on the games, but just like in sports, you won’t bet on NFL, if you don’t know the football odds. So if you want to stream your gameplay or open a channel for a different thing, make sure you follow these rules.
Author: Mario Petkovski
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