Tool Reviews

How to stream? A popular question from gamers and just players who have something to say during the game, or want to share their successes. Actually, it’s not as difficult as it seems. All you need to do is prepare, choose the appropriate technique and you’re done! You can record your adventures.

The dream of owning a streaming channel usually begins with observation. Look at other streamers, study their techniques and tricks (not only in-game), count how many times they reminded subscribers about the donation, and you’re done. It’s time to go live.

But streaming, according to the most successful masters of their craft, is not only a game, and not only a skill. The main thing, perhaps, is your personality, charisma and ability to communicate with people at a distance, provided that you are separated not only by space, but also by a screen / camera. The audience should feel like they are in the same room with you. And of course, you need to understand that low-quality equipment and lags can seriously disrupt the experience.

So you have to think about how you look and how you sound.

Source: Esports Talk

Lighting

When you play, the audience wants to see your face. That’s why they watch streams. And that means you have to look the part and provide quality lighting, otherwise you can sit in the corner of the screen in terrifying shadows like the main villain from the movie.

The best option, and one that most streamers enjoy using, is the LED ring light. Most of them are variable light sources with a diffuse coating that gives soft shadows and spectacular reflections in the eyes.

For example, Yongnuo YN-608 LED. This luminaire consists of 608 LED lamps covered with a diffuser.

However, there are situations when such lamps, on the contrary, look strange or give an unsuccessful effect. For example, for streamers who wear glasses. In such cases, it is better to use a full-fledged softbox in general. It will just give a measured soft light without harsh reflections. Just do not forget that there must be an LED lamp inside, otherwise the counter will spin faster and the light itself will be warm, like from spotlights.

You can always give preference to an LED panel or another type of lighting, but then you can safely deal with the installation, and here everything becomes a matter of taste and preferences of the streamer. It’s always best to do some test recordings before going live. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect, but it’s important that the streamer likes it.

Source: Logitech

Camera

Streaming, like all other online activities, has also moved to 4K. This happened quite quickly, and almost imperceptibly, but this fact cannot be ignored. So you have to pay attention to your webcam. A built-in, even a good built-in webcam is no longer enough, and you will have to look at more professional devices.

For those who are serious about blogging and streaming, the best option is the Sony A7 Mark III. A full-frame mirrorless camera that, although it doesn’t cost a penny, will remain relevant for a long time. She also shoots videos in 4K and is the choice of most of the most popular YouTubers today.

But, of course, not everyone can afford such a toy, especially if they go all out on a gaming computer. Alternatively, you can choose the Sony Alpha a6500. It will cost much less, but in terms of functionality it is not too inferior. The advantage of such cameras is very obvious, because when twitch gets off the ground and starts to gain popularity, the blogger will probably want to move to YouTube. And then such a camera will come in handy.

There are other options for those who still decide to stay on the webcam. Logitech creates the most advanced high definition webcams today. True, it is limited to 1080p, that is, Full HD. But still, the Logitech C920 is a must-have for a streamer. The advantage of such a camera is that you can stream live with it, which is impossible to achieve simply using a Sony camera without additional devices. And the price here speaks in favor of Logitech.

But if you still choose Sony, and count on online streaming, then you will have to purchase the appropriate accessories. In this case, we are talking about the Elgato Cam Link 4K device. Such a device is relatively inexpensive, but it allows you to synchronize a Sony camera with a PC and go on the air. This is exactly what we need from her. Here it is important not to forget to check if the adapter fits the camera, in this case, most devices from Sony, Panasonic and even GoPro are on the compatibility list, so there should be no problems.

What do we get from the camera? Everything is extremely simple, high-quality picture. The viewer sees the streamer, his emotions and facial expression when he has to fight the invincible boss once again. Why, if not for this, do we watch streams?

But even though we’ve figured out the picture, it’s still only half the battle. Then there is an equally difficult task that requires no less intricate solutions, namely sound. Let’s talk about how to sound spectacular on the stream.

Source: High Ground Gaming

Audio

The sound in the stream is no less important than the video, all jokes, comments and remarks should not disappear behind the noise or drown in the screams of children and the noise from pets. Therefore, you will have to stock up on a separate microphone that will cope with the suppression of extraneous sounds. There are two types of microphones: dynamic and condenser.

Larger dynamic and can handle high volume, they are suitable for more emotional streamers who are not averse to yelling or arguing at the top of their voices.

Capacitors are more sensitive and designed for high frequencies.

The dynamic microphone is, of course, the more common and acceptable option.

Most streamers choose one of two models. The first is Shure SM7B. Top microphone suitable for podcasts, videos, etc. It picks up loud and harsh sounds, performs well and looks pretty cool.

Rode Podcaster speaks for itself – popular and convenient.

An alternative to these microphones will be the Blue Yeti condenser. Much loved by presenters, streamers and bloggers, it combines low cost and quality. If you dig into the settings, you can get a lot more out of it than just good sound. No wonder this microphone flashes in almost all YouTube content.

However, not all streamers choose microphones. Many, on the contrary, prefer headphones, the same ones that are used for gaming.

Depending on your budget and available space, headphones may be a better option. In this case, we advise you to pay attention to two models: SteelSeries Arctics 7 and HyperX Cloud Flight.

Both the sound they reproduce and the one that is recorded are of excellent quality. It does not interfere with the fact that the audio of the game itself will be clearer than from the speakers.

Source: TechCrunch

Additional devices and software

It doesn’t take much to start streaming. But when the channel begins to gain popularity, you will have to think about how to automate some processes. In this case, the convenient Elgato Stream Deck device will come to the rescue. This is a keyboard attachment that syncs with the most popular streaming services and allows you to bind certain tasks to the keys. The device is fully programmable, using software that can be downloaded from the website. With Elgato Stream Deck, you can switch between inputs, adjust audio and video channels, take screenshots, even send reminders to subscribers before the start of the stream.

When all physical devices are installed and configured, the only thing left is to choose an application that will record the stream in order to send it to Twitch, YouTube or Mixer. Most often, gamers choose OBS Studio, a completely free application that allows you to work with all three streaming portals.

An alternative would be Xsplit Gamecaster, an app with a simpler interface but far fewer streaming options. If a gamer has a serious PC with multiple monitors or wants to stream several streams at the same time, OBS is better. But here everything is very subjective, and we recommend trying both and choosing what seems more convenient. The Gamecaster, for example, is usually more suitable for beginners.

Both apps, however, allow you to add handy panels to your screen, such as follower comments, and so on.

Source: TheSixthAxis

Console and smartphone

Streaming is available not only to PC gamers, but also to console players. Actually, streaming from the console is much easier, almost all the hardware is built into the device, so you don’t have to torture yourself with choosing a video card or webcam. Both Microsoft and Sony are well aware that their fans enjoy broadcasting their gaming success online.

There is only one decision left to make – Mixer or Twitch for Xbox or YouTube or Twitch for PS4.

Everything is extremely simple and there is only one moment, control over the process on the console is more limited. For example, it is more difficult to simultaneously stream.

This does not mean that you cannot expand your capabilities. one option is a capture card such as the Elgato HD60S. It connects the console and TV, sending the signal from the console to the computer, where everything else is done through the same programs that we noted for the PC. So you can get both the benefits of the console, and the control as on the PC.

But the possibilities are not limited to this, because now there are many mobile players. And this means that there are several times more games for streaming, both content and requirements.

Fortunately, it’s still more primitive with a smartphone than with a console. The gamer already has all the hardware, including a front camera that will allow you to record reactions, and a microphone from which you can comment. You just need to download the application, for example, the same Twitch, understand it and start streaming.

Everything is ready, now no matter where you want to play: on PC, console or smartphone, everyone can start their own channel and stream fights with rivals. Do not forget that everything else will depend equally on the quality of the content and the ability to promote yourself. A streamer’s personality is his main asset, and you need to stay interesting, fun and sociable.