Live streaming is a new Internet phenomenon driven mostly by Twitch, similar to what happened with video thanks to YouTube. It was born to bring creators even closer to their audience and in the process, it is bringing hundreds of new influencers to fame. Doing live streams has been in fashion for several years, however, there is still plenty of opportunity to join the movement. And here, we show you how to start streaming.
From here we provide you with a detailed guide of everything a person needs to make live broadcasts. With all the necessary equipment and knowing How much does a Twitch streamer earn? you will be ready to start.
What equipment do you need to start doing live shows?
What equipment and devices do I need to start streaming? To a certain extent, it depends on the content you want to produce, although, in general, the following products are essential for live streaming:
1. PC
Generally, having a good PC is an essential requirement for streaming, taking into account that the computer must be able to record and upload FullHD video to a streaming platform. In addition, it will have to do so in real time and with the lowest possible latency.
As if this were not enough, most streamers are dedicated to broadcasting their video game matches. If you also want to aim for this content format, Your PC must be mid-high range to be able to run video games, record the screen and share live video every second. It should be noted that the performance requirements can be quite high with more modern video games.
2. Microphone
No matter what you want to convey, For every streamer it is mandatory to have a decent microphone. No one, least of all in 2022, would find it funny to listen to someone talking for hours into a microphone that keeps cutting out.
Still, you don't need to spend a fortune on a studio-quality microphone, as there are thousands of value-for-money options that can be enough to get you started in the industry. Also, don't forget that a microphone, whether expensive or cheap, will sound terrible unless you use a pop filter.
3. Camera or Webcam
This point follows a similar logic to the previous point. When streaming You need your audience to see you And to achieve this, most streamers, both new and world-class, tend to prefer webcams.
It is worth noting that for the first live broadcasts you do not need a 4K webcam, but you do need one that records clearly, fluidly and in FullHD; at least. Also, we cannot ignore that many content creators prefer to keep their identity hidden and, for this very reason, some do not need a camera at all.
4. Headphones
You'll rarely find a streamer who doesn't record their streams with headphones on, especially considering that they're usually dedicated to live gaming. These will help you receive alerts better, focus your attention on the game, and not get distracted by external sounds. And most importantly, your audience will not receive any sound from your surroundings (or from your PC).
5. Keyboard and mouse
This point is more aimed at those who want to become gamer streamers. Having A good keyboard and mouse give you serious advantages in video games., and they will undoubtedly be useful for streaming those epic games that make any live broadcast better.
Generally, in either of these two peripherals, a fast and reliable response with minimal latency and minimum margin of error is sought. However, attributes such as ergonomics, types of switches (for keyboards) and DPIs (for mice) depend greatly on each player.
See price of keyboards and mice
6. Broadband Internet
To start streaming You will need a very stable Internet connection with good bandwidth; even more so if you plan on playing video games while recording the live streams. Since, if you want to know if your Internet meets the requirements, you should look primarily at its upload speed. This measurement will determine how fast you can upload video to the cloud and should be at least 4.5 Mbps to stream in FullHD quality.
However, keep in mind that each streaming service requires a different bandwidth. It is also advisable to purchase a plan with more Mbps than you will normally use in your live streams. This will ensure that a drop in Internet speed will not cause interruptions in the transmission.
7. Personalized space
The best thing is to create your own background design for streaming. You can get ideas from gamer rooms But the best thing is to sit down and think about what color you want to identify you. The design and color will make your personal brand, so you will have to work hard on it. You can use LEDs, pictures and the most popular thing today: wall papers.
What programs and tools do you need to start streaming?
To record live shows, programs such as OBS Studio, StreamLabs either XSplit Broadcaster, which allow you to capture any video or audio source and stream it live to a streaming platform. In addition to these, Twitch and Facebook also develop their own pieces of software for live streaming, these are called: Twitch Studio and Live Producer.
Among these programs, The most recommended and used by streamers is OBS Studio. This is a very complete and reliable software, funded by large companies such as Twitch, YouTube, Logitech, Facebook and NVIDIA. OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) stands out for having the advanced features that professionals need and the user-friendly interface that new streamers are looking for. We also recommend that you take a look at the following:
- Which is better OBS or Streamlabs?
- Xsplit vs OBS: Which is better?
- Best programs for streaming on Twitch
- Best programs to stream on Facebook
- Best Overlays for streaming
What does it take to be a good streamer?
Some tips to have a better community that will help you become a better streamer:
Good communication
Maybe you didn't take it into account yet, but The first thing you need to start streaming is good communication. Keep in mind that to engage an audience it is essential to be able to speak fluently, maintain a good tone of voice and control your gestures (non-verbal communication is also taken into account in audiovisual content).
Also, in this case, we are talking about recording live, so there is no opportunity to do a second take and you will have to be completely fluent in front of the camera. However, you should not worry too much about this point, as everyone, including the most successful streamers, stutters the first time they speak to a camera.
Be constant
The previous point leads us to also talk about consistency and perseverance, another indispensable factor to become a successful streamer. As we pointed out, No content creator ever made a perfect live stream on the first try, so continuing to try is key to improving and, little by little, gaining the attention of an increasingly larger audience.